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The sound of her voice messages tore at my heart. But the memory of my father’s threat was enough to make me delete it every time.
A few months into the circuit, I received a call from Mom. Her voice had been shaky. I knew she’d been crying.
“Max, your father… there has been an accident on the ranch. A bull got loose and gored him. You need to come home.”
I rushed home and met Dad at the hospital with its persistent beep of machines and overwhelming smell of antiseptic.
My father was frail, a mere shadow of the imposing figure he once was. His injuries were fatal. My usually strong mother was by his side, her eyes swollen from tears.
“Max,” Dad rasped. “Promise me, son.”
I leaned in closer, struggling to keep my emotions in check.
“Promise you what, Dad?”
“The ranch is not doing as well as we made out. But you… you can change that. Make it thrive. Make it surpass even the Harringtons.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I nodded.
“I promise, Dad.”
His hand reached out and held mine.
“And buy their ranch.”
I froze.
“Buy the Harrington Ranch, Max.”
He squeezed my hand hard.
“Promise me you’ll do it with all your heart.”
“I promise with all my heart. I’ll do whatever it takes to buy Harrington Ranch.”
He lay back on the bed, a little smile tugging on his lips. I shuddered, shivering from a cold that was only in my bones. When I went back to the ranch, I couldn’t call Anna when I'd soon be planning to take over her grandpa’s ranch.
Dad passed away shortly after, and Mom followed, reminding me to fulfill the promise I made to my father. It became clear to me then. I had to honor my father’s last wish, no matter how long it took.
With a heavy sigh, I returned to the present. I glanced at Jesse, then forced a smile.
“Thanks, Bulldog. I’ve come a long way from those rodeo days. But the past has a way of catching up with you, doesn’t it?”
He chuckled.
“Remember that picture you used to keep in your locker? The one of the pretty girl with those striking blue eyes and that summer tan? You used to swear she was the reason you won so many times.”
I sighed. “That was Anna.”
“You even had her photograph in your wallet, if I recall correctly. Yeah, you used to moon over her picture. Man, you had it bad for her.”
I tried to keep my voice even.
“She’s here on the neighboring ranch. It’s her grandpa’s.”
Jesse looked surprised for a second before his face broke into a wide grin.
“Well, now! If that ain’t a sign from the man above. Maybe it's time for a second round, cowboy.”
