Page 29 of Shattered Melodies

“There you are,” she said, turning to face me with a smile. “I was beginning to think you’d fallen into a fence post hole or something.”

I snorted, grabbing a beer from the fridge. The cool glass was a welcome relief against my calloused palm. “Very funny, Mom. The north pasture fence is all fixed up, by the way. Should hold through the winter, at least.”

She nodded approvingly, then paused, studying my face. “You look different tonight. Did something happen out there?”

I hesitated, then shrugged. “Nothing much. Just had a good day, I guess.”

Her eyes lit up at that. “Well, it’s about time. I was starting to think you’d forgotten how to smile.”

Before I could respond, the front door swung open, and Dad’s heavy footsteps echoed through the house. The familiar sound of his work boots being kicked off and his tired sigh filled the air.

“Something smells good,” Dad called out, his voice gruff but warm as he entered the kitchen. He paused in the doorway, his eyes moving from Mom to me. “Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence. Thought you might’ve moved into the barn permanently.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help the small grin that tugged at my lips. “Careful, old man. Keep it up, and I might just go back out there.”

Dad chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder as he moved past me to wash his hands. “Old man, he says. I can still outwork you any day of the week, son.”

“In your dreams, maybe,” I shot back, the familiar banter feeling comfortably worn, like a favorite pair of jeans.

Mom shook her head, but I could see the smile she was trying to hide. “If you two are done measuring, dinner’s ready. Caleb, set the table, would you?”

As we sat down to eat, the familiar clinking of cutlery against plates filled the air. For a while, we ate in comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from years of shared meals and shared lives.

“So,” Dad said between bites, “heard from Hank that you two had quite the chat today. Said you might be thinking about making some changes around here.”

I felt a flash of annoyance at Hank’s big mouth, but pushed it down. “It’s nothing major. Just been thinking about some stuff, that’s all.”

Dad nodded, his eyes searching my face. “Well, whatever it is, just remember - you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, even if it is a bit thick sometimes. Trust your gut.”

The gruff compliment, so typical of Dad, made me smile. “Thanks, I think.”

Mom reached out, patting my hand. “We’re just glad to see you I don’t know, more like yourself lately. It’s been a long time coming.”

I felt a twinge of guilt at her words, knowing how much they’d worried about me over the years. “Yeah, well, guess it was about time I grew up, huh?”

Dad snorted. “Bout damn time. Was starting to think I’d have to pension you off to the old folks’ home.”

“John,” Mom admonished, but there was no heat in it.

I laughed, the sound feeling rusty but good. “Nice try, but you’re stuck with me. Someone’s got to keep this place running when you finally admit you’re too old for it.”

Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “Too old? I’ll show you too old. First one to finish their chores tomorrow doesn’t have to muck out the stables for a week.”

“You’re on, old timer,” I grinned, feeling a spark of the old competitive spirit I’d thought long gone.

As we finished our meal, the conversation flowed easily, touching on everything from the upcoming cattle auction to the latest town gossip. It wasn’t anything special, just a normal family dinner. But somehow, it felt like more.

Later, as I helped Mom with the dishes, I caught her watching me with a soft smile.

“What?” I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s just good to have you back, Caleb. Really back.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak past the sudden lump in my throat. But as I looked out the window at the darkening sky, at the ranch that had been my whole world for so long, I felt something shift inside me. A spark of hope, of possibility, of a future I was finally ready to embrace.

It wouldn’t be easy, I knew that. There would be challenges ahead, old habits to break, new paths to forge. But for the first time in a long time, I was looking forward to the journey. And with my family beside me, I knew I could face whatever came next.

CHAPTER 9

---