Chapter 10 #3
“So, you gonna tell me why you look like you’re five seconds and a dead battery away from a mental breakdown?” Magnolia hands me a beer before dropping onto the couch beside me with one of her own.
“It’s been a day,” is all I manage before twisting the top off and taking a swig.
“You’ve had long days for years,” Magnolia points out. “It’s quite literally in the job description.”
I give her an unamused look. “Yeah, well, this one’s different.”
She studies me over the rim of her bottle for a moment before it clicks. “Oh, shoot. Today was Chesney’s first day, right?”
“Bingo.”
Magnolia kicks off her boots and tucks one leg underneath herself. “How’d that go? I mean, with the way your face looks, I’d imagine not great.”
I sigh, then take another long pull. “All in all, I guess it went…okay? His main goal coming into this partnership is to find ways to keep more money for the ranch. He spent the entire day in the office above the barn sifting through paperwork and logs, seeing what he could find.”
“Okaaay,” she says slowly. “Did he find anything?”
“Did he ever.” I huff a dry laugh. “Chesney thinks we should turn part of the ranch into a dude ranch.”
Magnolia’s eyebrows shoot up. “As in, the same idea your father had?”
“That’s the one.”
“Like, for tourists and stuff?”
I nod. “Give ’em the cowboy experience is the general idea.”
She considers this for a moment, then smiles. “I kind of love it.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” I groan.
Chuckling, she says, “I’m on your side, always.”
I suck my teeth. “Then why do you like his idea?”
“Because your side is currently stupid and/or stubborn.” She gives me that same sweet smile she gives to people after politely putting them in their place.
“Unreal.” I shake my head, biting back a laugh. “I don’t understand how Chesney’s been here less than a day and already has plans to turn this place upside down.”
She leans back, her eyes softening. “Isn’t that what he’s supposed to do? You said it yourself. What you’re currently doing isn’t working, so some things inevitably have to change if you want your situation to change, right?”
Sometimes I hate how right Magnolia is. She’s always been able to look at things logically, where I tend to be more emotionally driven. It’s a great trait to have, but it would be nice if she could be a little less sensible here and there.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just…” I heave a sigh. “Having him here is already hard enough without him trying to revive my father’s dream at the same time.”
“Well, honey, of course having him here is hard on you.” Her tone softens.
“I would be concerned if it wasn’t.” If anybody understands what I’m feeling and why, it’s Magnolia.
She’s been here for it all—before the accident, before Chesney disappeared, and all the aftermath from the two.
“Other than the dude ranch idea, how did things go?”
“Badly.”
She laughs. “I’m serious.”
I stare out the window, today replaying in my mind. “He acts like nothing happened. Like we’re two strangers who don’t have years of history.”
“Did you really expect anything different, though?”
Dragging in a deep breath, I exhale slowly. “Honestly, I don’t know what I expected. He broke my heart, Mag.”
“I know.” She places her hand over mine and squeezes.
“And I know how hard that was for you. But I think it’s important to remember that this isn’t about that.
This—him here, you working together—is about an obligation you have to this ranch.
It’s about saving the home you love so much.
I know it’s hard to separate the two when he’s here after so long, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors by expecting anything more than making it through this year and getting the ranch back on track.
Chesney has already shown you exactly who he is.
Don’t let him take more from you than he already has. ”
My chest tightens. I don’t say anything right away. Magnolia has never been afraid to tell me things I don’t want to hear. It’s what I love about her. But sometimes the truth really does hurt.
“We were sixteen, Magnolia.” I look at her and swallow past the lump in my throat. “And he was hurting. I don’t know if it’s fair to say he’s shown me exactly who he is, because nobody is the same person they were at sixteen. I sure as hell know I’m not.”
“Maybe not,” she says softly. “But it’s probably for the best that you don’t find out. I don’t want to see you get hurt again. Chesney’s here because of the will, and it’ll do you no good hoping for closure or friendship or anything beyond that.”
My heart crashes into my ribs. “It’s hard. It’s been one day, and it’s already hard. I don’t know how to be around him.”
Her smile is small and sad. “You don’t have to know yet. But don’t let what happened almost twenty years ago decide what the next twenty years look like. Remember what’s important, what’s at stake.”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I let the truth of her words sink in. It’s day one of a whole lot more. I can’t let our past dictate what the future of this ranch will be. No matter how hard that may be.