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“What is there to enjoy? You are working with Deltex and when I searched them up, I saw that they acquired many lands across the country which they have turned into either hotels or resorts. Is that what you want the ranch to be? All our memories would be gone, everything we experienced as kids.”
“And you think that isn't what I want? You think I want those memories to linger? What the hell do you think I am? I don't want anything to be left over. I want it all to go away. Thinking of this place annoys me deeply. It is like a scar I want to remove.”
“Your daughter will never see it, you know? She won't see the trees and feel the sun on her face as she gallops through the grass. She won't see the sunset atop the hill and just know the quiet serenity of it all. Do you want her to never know of suchexperiences? To even know that they can be had?” He asked. Kenneth shook his head.
“She will have those experiences somewhere else.”
“I am trying to reason with you, Kenneth…”
He was cut off when Kenneth grabbed him by the front of his sweater and pulled him closer.
“And I am trying to warn you, brother. Do not interfere with what I am doing. If you don't want to help me then get the hell out of my way. Do you understand?” He asked. His eyes were wide with anger. Austin clenched his teeth and held his brother's hand then he slowly took it off his sweater.
“Don't do that again,” Austin said calmly.
“Get out, Austin.”
“You didn't want that reunion, did you? You didn't truly want us to be brothers again. No, that isn't your style. You were just looking for a tool you could use. You wanted me to help you get your revenge. That is the only thing that ever meant anything to you. You are willing to ruin everything just so you can get the satisfaction of watching that family crumble,” he said.
“Get out, Austin,” Kenneth said, his voice eerily calm and his eyes cold. Austin nodded and walked away, saying nothing else to him. He could feel Kenneth's eyes on his back, but he knew that nothing would change the man's view, nothing would make him change his mind. He continued walking.
†
In the quiet of the Stonehouse, the fire's soft glow illuminated Hayden and Lenanee as they lounged together. The easy cadence of their conversation echoed through the room, a gentle counterpoint to the crackling fire.
Hayden, his eyes reflecting the dancing flames, spoke with a thoughtful tone. "You ever think about family, Lenanee? About the ties that bind and how sometimes they can feel like fragile threads?"
Lenanee, leaning comfortably against the cushions, met his gaze. "I have thought about it many times. Sometimes they feel so strong that you can't break through and there are times when it is almost like they are not there, merely imagined. Everything is different when it comes to Family. Family, the very source of support, yet it can be a box of complexities."
“That was…when did you start studying philosophy? You sound…different,” Hayden said with a gentle smile. Lenanee shrugged.
“I’m not studying philosophy. I just think a lot when I'm drawing. I mean...my hands are moving but my mind wanders at times,” she said. He laughed.
“Yeah, I suppose,” He said.
Hayden nodded, a distant expression on his face. “My father told me, as his own father told him, that we started this ranch with dreams and shared burdens. But you know, over the years, I've seen families unravel. Betrayals, backstabbing – it's as if the very roots that nourished them turn against each other."
Lenanee traced circles on Hayden's hand, a silent encouragement for him to share more. "It's a harsh reality, isn'tit? How the ones you expect to stand with you through thick and thin sometimes end up being the source of the deepest wounds."
Hayden sighed, the weight of unspoken stories evident in his eyes. "I've seen brothers turn against each other, and it leaves scars that don't easily fade. The trust, once broken, becomes a haunting echo of what used to be."
Lenanee squeezed his hand gently. "It's a testament to the strength of what we have that we weather these storms together, Hayden. Not all families are so fortunate."
He managed a rueful smile, appreciating the solace of their shared space. "True, Lenanee. Our Stonehouse may not have all the answers, but it sure knows how to cradle us in its warmth."
“How well do you know him? I mean, saw the two of you grew up together but…”
“We didn't grow up together. He was already grown by the time I was old enough to know any of it. Ten years older than me. I looked up to him and Marcus. They were good at everything they did, and I wanted to be like them. They seemed to like me until their father's death, and everything went to hell after that.”
Hayden blew breath through puffed cheeks and ran his hand through his hair.
“I wish it was different,” he said.
“You don't think there's anything you can do to…”
“I don't think there's anything. Austin also advised me to do nothing at all. I should just sit here and watch, I suppose,” he said.
“And you trust Austin on the…” there was a knock on the door. Lenanee turned to look at it then she attempted to stand but Hayden held her hand then walked to the door.
