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A wry smile formed on my lips.
I rubbed the stubble on my chin, recalling the incident in the barn. The warmth of Anna’s hand. The soft scent of her hair. The inviting curve of her lips. And the strong conviction that radiated from her as she spoke of her faith.
My own sins weighed heavily on me, the worst of them being my ambitions for her ranch. I had coveted the very land she loved.
Anna had said she was a Christian. And I couldn’t even tell her I was one too. Were my actions even remotely Christian-like?
The memory of a Sunday sermon about the dangers of greed flashed through my mind. I had strayed from the godly path. Here I was, planning to force Anna out of her inheritance because of greed.
I wondered when enough would be enough. How far would I stray before I didn’t even recognize the man in the mirror?
Jesse’s voice brought me back.
“You’re miles away, man. Everything okay?”
I nodded. “She rejected me, Bulldog.”
He looked like he wanted to probe further but then gave a resigned nod.
“Well, some things are complicated.”
Jesse and I continued discussing. He had come to town to visit his mother and would be leaving the next day. After he said goodbye, I was left with my thoughts.
The sun had risen fully, shining brightly on the ranch. I longed for Anna, wanted to be the man she saw in me. But first I needed to confront the problems I’d created.
I walked into the living room, my stomach rumbling in reaction to the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting in from the kitchen. Luna came into the room, holding an envelope.
“Mr. Max, this came in the mail from Houston.”
There was a foreboding sensation in the pit of my stomach. I took the envelope from her, realizing that Richard’s shadow loomed even from miles away. The stark white paper felt out of place in my hands.
“Thank you,” I said, dismissing her.
She left.
Tearing the envelope open, I quickly scanned its contents. The legal jargon did little to mask its true intent. It was a reworded version of the contract he’d given a while back. Richard was rushing the process. Even though he lived in Houston and only visited Marfa occasionally, he wanted the Harrington ranch land to become his as quickly as possible.
My fingers brushed over the smooth paper. I felt the rigid embossed letterhead. But my thoughts were miles away.
Setting the document on my desk, my mind recalled Anna’s determined face. Her Christian values and how easily she had rebuffed my advances.
I inhaled then exhaled loudly.
“I’ll tell Richard the deal is off when the time is right.”
Just then, the shrill ring of my phone shattered my contemplation. The caller ID flashed Richard’s name, his timing impeccable as ever.
The sound of daily life on the ranch outside filtered in—distant hooves, birds chirping, the rustling of leaves. For a split second, I wanted them to be louder than the insistent ringing.
I stared at the phone for a long time, but I didn’t pick up.
Instead, I silenced the phone, plunging the room back into its quiet state.
The contract and Richard’s call were a reminder of all the choices I’d made in the past. My soul yearned for redemption. For a way out of the web of deceit I had put myself into.
But for now, I simply sat there. I stared into space, hoping that clarity would come in time.
11
