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“So, how did the hailstorm affect your place? Hope it wasn’t too bad.”
I sighed, explaining how badly the ranch had been affected.
“Your ranch seems to have fared much better,” I said.
He leaned back, his gaze thoughtful.
“We had a few things to repair, but then I’ve been replacing the roof with sturdier material over the years. Regular maintenance makes a difference; it helps to keep everything in top shape.”
His words reminded me of Grandpa and how he used to be meticulous about the ranch’s upkeep. A wave of nostalgia washed over me. Following it closely was sadness at how the ranch had deteriorated.
Well, the ranch was mine now. We were finally seeing some profit despite the setback. I’d soon start following Grandpa’s footsteps in the area of maintenance too.
“Grandpa was particular about maintenance,” I said sadly. “In a few weeks, or as soon as we have enough, I plan to reroof the entire ranch. Or at least as much as we can afford.”
Max’s eyes lit up with admiration.
“That’s the spirit, Anna. Grandpa William would be proud.”
As we talked, Max’s genuine concern resonated deeply with me. Every shared word, every glance between the two of us made me want him more.
But lurking beneath the surface was an undercurrent of worry. The image of Max talking to Richard at the festival still played in my mind. That was almost twenty-four hours ago. I needed to ask him about it now.
Since I was confronting him about my suspicions and asking questions, I decided to start from years ago when he’d abandoned our relationship.
“Max, why did you leave me years ago? You left Marfa and ignored my calls. Why?”
As the words tumbled out, I could hear the hurt in my voice. Max’s expression turned somber. He breathed in deeply.
“Anna, it wasn’t easy. I had to join the rodeo because…” He paused as if gathering the strength to continue.
I bristled. Yes, I’d heard rumors about his whereabouts.
“I know about the rodeo, Max. But that doesn’t explain why you left.”
He looked away, sadness coloring his features. His hands clenched, his knuckles whitening.
“My father gave me an ultimatum. He said I had to end things with you or he’d handle you himself.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“Handle me? What does that mean?”
“He threatened to hurt you if I didn’t end my relationship with you, Anna. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t break up with you face-to-face when my feelings for you were so strong. So, I chose the rodeo. I thought it was the only way to keep you safe.”
The room seemed to spin around me. I began to see Max in a different light. The man I believed had callously abandoned me had actually sacrificed his happiness to protect me.
“But why didn’t you tell me?” I asked. “Why keep me in the dark all these years?”
He looked down.
“I was afraid that if you knew the truth, it would put you in more danger. You were fearless. It wasn’t beyond you to confront my father and ask him why he was stifling his son,” he said chuckling without mirth. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. A torrent of emotion flooded through me—anger, relief, love, and an overwhelming sense of loss of all the years we could have had together. I blinked the tears away, determined to ask all the questions I had.
“Then why didn’t you tell me when he passed on?”
He stood up and walked to the window.
