I used to live near the ranch that my family owns. The house that I bought when I turned twenty-five wasn’t even a mile down the road, in fact. I could lie and say I enjoyed living there, but the truth is that I wanted to be farther up the mountain.
My papa built the cabin I live in now, and left it to me when he passed. Whether or not I’d ever move there wasn’t clear to me in my twenties, but the older I got, the more I realized how much he and I were alike.
Now that I’ve moved in, I like that the nearest neighbor is eight miles away. I love our friends and family, but enjoy nature and time alone just as much, so it’s perfect for me.
You can’t put a price on being able to walk off your back porch and go for a hike anytime you want either.
I lift my palm that’s resting on the top of the steering wheel to check the speedometer. My foot eases off the gas pedal a notch, slowing to a snail’s pace. I have snow tires and plenty of winter storm driving experience, but better safe than sorry.
The road begins to wind as I carefully drive up the mountain. As the crow flies, it’s not extremely far to my cabin, but it takes all of twenty-five minutes to get there from the ranch on a normal day. Now because of limited visibility, I’ve already been driving for thirty, and still have a little ways to go.
The cab of my truck fills with the ringtone of an incoming call, and without checking the caller ID, I know it’s Mom. My sister already told her I was leaving, if I had to guess. Out of habit, my thumb presses the accept call button on the steering wheel.
“You’re lucky I haven’t passed the old, abandoned gas station yet.” It’s where I usually lose cell service altogether.
I can almost hear her satisfied smile through the speakers. “Oh, good. I was hoping I’d catch you. How are the roads?”
Squinting, I focus on the flurry of white out the windshield. “Not great.”
“Not too late to turn back and spend the weekend here,” she croons. “Everyone will be hunkering down to wait out the storm together. We could play cards, bake, watch old movies . . .” Her voice trails off as she tries to come up with the most enticing argument.
I feel slightly guilty hearing her suggestions. She knows good and well that I’m not big on get-togethers, but she invites me every time anyway. It’s been a while since I felt like things at theranch were all in order and I could have a weekend to myself. So I’m not going to squander the opportunity.
“I’m sure it’ll be fun, Mom. The roads will be just fine in a few days, and I’ll come over then.”
“You’d rather shack up with Katie all weekend, is what you’re saying.”
My tone threatens to sharpen, but I tamp down the urge.
“We broke up.”
The line goes silent for a beat, but she can’t hold in her sarcastic response for long. “Repeat that one more time for your old mom, I want to make sure I heard you correctly.” Her tone is laced with delight.
“I said we broke up.”
“There is a God.”
“I thought youwantedme to have a girlfriend?”
“Well, maybe I’m guilty of that a little bit. But I want you to be happy first and foremost.”
In the past, she’s never shied away from telling me that she wants me to settle down. It was annoying at first, and it felt like a lot of unnecessary pressure, but the last thing I want is for her to waste time worrying about me.
I’m just fine on my own, and I know I put too much stock in the idea that having a girlfriend will put her at ease. The truth is that she’s rooting for me to be happy whether I’m with someone or not.
“I know. I am, okay? Listen, I might lose you here in a minute. Just a head’s up.”
“Stop deflecting,” she laughs.
“I’m not.” Maybe a little.
Her defeated sigh cuts through the phone like a knife to my chest, but I ignore it. “Alright. Well, be careful.”
“Always am,” I answer. “Remind Fletcher to check water and break ice as much as possible since I won’t be there for afew days. I’ll try to make it out sooner, but not sure what this weather’s gonna do.”
“Fletch! Ledger is on about the stock tanks again!” I smirk as I listen to her yell, presumably down the hallway where my brother-in-law sits to chat with my dad in his office every night. Her voice returns to a normal decibel as she reassures me it’ll be taken care of. “Don’t you worry, everything here will be in tip-top shape in your absence.”
I’ve heard that before. I roll my eyes just before taking the last turn before home. Fletcher married my sister, Cheyenne, a few months back. My dad gave him a job, and he’s a decent guy, I guess. My sister loves him, at least. Jury’s still out on whether or not I think he deserves her.
