He didn’t know why. But he obeyed. Besides, he hadn’t set eyes on his brother since he left.
Nothing could have prepared him for his father. Skin and bones, the man was coughing up blood and could barely stand. But he was just as mean as ever. His eyes were pure evil. Full of hatred and anger.
Then today, it happened.
Father blamed him for everything bad that had ever happened. Again.
But this time, Julian scoffed at the old man. Even told him that his words couldn’t hurt him anymore. Nor could his fists. He’d grown at least four inches taller than his father and had worked hard labor at ranches all these years. Probably outweighed his father by at least seventy-five pounds now.
When Father saw there wasn’t any fear in him, he struck the devastating blow.
“I killed your mother. Rotten woman.” He’d spat in Julian’s face, then laughed as he confessed that he’d buried her out in the garden.
Julian’s sanctuary.
He’d stared in horror at his father.
Father meant to hurt him. Always wanted the last word. The last strike. Like plunging a knife into Julian’s chest.
Julian’s mother was the most wonderful person to ever live on this earth.
His father, the worst.
That was when Damian stepped in and took care of their father. It hadn’t taken much to squeeze the life out of the man.
“I killed her...” mean ol’ Walker spat.
Julian didn’t want to remember those words, but they were seared into his brain. Repeating over and over. He shuddered one more time as he stared at the lifeless heap.
“The distractions are gone, Julian,” Damian hissed. “Don’t let him have the last laugh. It’s time to clear your mind.”
He accepted his brother’s words and went over to the pump to splash water on his face. All distractionsweregone. The Lakemans had left. It was time to finish and clean up the mess. He grabbed the corners of the sheet wrapped around his father’s body and dragged it out to the garden.
It was over. The years of torture and ugliness were over.
His father was over.
Gazing around at the overgrown mess that had once been his greatest joy, Julian dropped the sheet and picked up the shovel.
The garden was his biggest—and only—regret when he left Walker Creek years ago. But it couldn’t be helped. He’d fought with his father one day—much worse than ever before—and they’d beaten each other bloody. Days later, when he was healed enough to go, he packed up his things and didn’t look back.
Father found him all these years later because he was controlling and domineering. And every rancher in the country seemed to know him. But at least he’d let Julian be for a while.
Well, things would be different now. The ranch belonged to Julian. Damian wanted nothing to do with the place. Would he leave?
It didn’t matter. Julian could do whatever he wanted. He could change everything. Clean up the place.
Starting with the garden.
With each plunge of the shovel, Julian imagined his life without Randall Walker. It made him smile. Something he hadn’t done since...
Mary.
“I promise, Mary. It will be beautiful again. For you.”
Eight long hours later, he surveyed the newly tilled up space. All the dead foliage, weeds, and grass were gone. What was left was the dark rich dirt he’d hauled up a decade ago. A clean slate. Ready for more good soil and plenty of manure.
Father was buried. Julian would have to plant something thorny atop him. Because that’s what he deserved.
