AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know I don’t. I just...” He glanced through the kitchen doorway. “I don’t want to run into him.”
Never in his life had Michael wanted to hug someone more. To reassure them that they’d be all right, even if they crossed paths with the bogeyman. McBride was the county sheriff and wouldn’t do anything cruel or violent in public. God knew what the asshole was capable of behind closed doors.
“I don’t blame you,” Michael said gently. “And I know it’ll take time, but this is a pretty big county with several towns. You can’t become a hermit on the off chance you might see him across the street or in a crowded restaurant. Don’t let McBride take your independence away just when you got it back.”
Josiah studied him for several long seconds, his face giving away nothing for a change, when Michael could usually read him easily. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.”
“Anytime. And even if all you want to do is walk half a mile up and down the road, I’ll walk with you.”
“What about your dad?”
“He’ll be okay for an hour, and I’ll have my cell on me in case the stubborn old goat tries to get up and falls.”
“Can we take a walk tonight?”
Michael blinked hard, surprised by the fast invitation. “Definitely. And if we’re going to take a walk after dinner, why don’t you stay and eat with us?”
“I can’t. I, um, I have to change out of my scrubs anyway. I’d feel weird taking a walk wearing these.”
“Totally get it.” If Josiah still wanted to eat his evening meals alone, Michael would respect that wish. “Just knock on the door when you’re ready to walk.”
“I will.” Josiah’s sweet smile lit Michael up inside in a new way. “Thank you, Michael.”
“Not a problem.”
After Josiah left, Michael fixed plates for himself and Dad, and they ate together while watching a rerun ofMister Ed. The show was kind of ridiculous now, but as a child Michael had been enthralled by the idea of a talking horse. He used to spend hours a day in their barn with the horses, trying to coax them into conversations—until Dad caught him, told him the trick of putting peanut butter in the horse’s mouth, and the magic was gone.
Parents were good at breaking their kids’ imagination, either on purpose or by accident. Michael hadn’t always been sure which one the horse incident had been on his father’s part, only that Dad hadn’t wanted Michael going off on some flight of fancy, not while the ranch was struggling.
Another old show came on after, but Michael didn’t pay attention. He cleaned up their plates and the kitchen, then put on a pair of sneakers instead of his boots. The evening was chilly enough for him to grab a sweatshirt to slip on over his work polo. And then he waited. It was almost dusk before Josiah walked up onto the porch. Michael didn’t want to seem too eager for their walk, so he let Josiah ring the bell before he opened the door.
He didn’t often see Josiah in regular clothes. Now he wore jeans and a buttoned-up denim coat and had a black knit cap over his hair. “Hey, ready to go?”
“Yep, let me just grab one thing out of my truck as we leave. Dad, you okay for an hour?”
Dad waved them both off. “I’ll call you if I shit the bed.”
Josiah laughed. “Hey, you’re on Michael’s watch now.”
“Gee, thanks,” Michael deadpanned, amused at the teasing. “Come on.” From his truck he retrieved a flashlight, since the sun was setting and there weren’t streetlights for miles. The yard lights from their property would provide a decent glow from a long distance, but Michael wanted to be prepared.
They walked through the main gate side by side, about a foot of distance between them, shoes crunching on the mix of dirt and gravel. Michael had plans to oil and fix the gate this weekend, and he set himself a mental reminder. Josiah turned right, and Michael followed, allowing him to set the pace and direction. The road was paved but not lined, and the surface had definitely seen better days. The gravel shoulder was no wider than his hand before it met dirt and grass. They crossed the street to walk against traffic—if any came—and Michael situated them so Josiah was on the grass, Michael closer to any passing cars.
The crisp night air bit into his cheeks in a pleasant way, and Michael gazed around the land as they walked. So familiar to his younger self, and yet so different to the man he was today. Foreign and yet also not.
“Do you see that?” Michael asked, pointing to a slight glow on the horizon. “It’s Woods Ranch. They’re our closest neighbors.”
“That seems so far away.”
“It’s not so bad as the crow flies. Or as the horse gallops.”
“I never realized how isolated we are out here, not until you really look around at night and see the lack of other lights. I mean, at Seamus’s house we didn’t have any neighbors within eyesight, but at night we could see their lights in all directions. I didn’t feel quite so alone.”
Michael glanced at Josiah’s profile. He looked straight ahead, jaw set, but his eyes gleamed in the starlight, maybe a little too wet. So many questions dangled on the tip of Michael’s tongue, but this walk was the first solo time they’d had all week. He didn’t want to push too hard and make Josiah shut down.
“I felt alone surrounded by people,” Michael said. “Especially at the parties Kenny threw at our house. Dozens of people, all laughing and drinking and congratulating me for my latest development, but it was like they were talking to someone who wasn’t even there. All the money in the world and no real friends.”
“Sounds awful.” His tone was flat, though, almost...sarcastic?
