Page 40 of Shattered Melodies

They woofed in agreement, their tails thumping against the ground.

I straightened up, taking a deep breath of the clean, crisp air. And then I set off towards the north pasture, my boots crunching against the gravel and my mind whirling with thoughts I couldn’t quite pin down.

Hank was in the stables, brushing down Drumstick with long, steady strokes. Despite his age, he was still as strong and solid as an oak tree, with a work ethic that put men half his age to shame.

“Morning, boss,” I called out, tipping my hat in greeting. “Where’s the rest of the crew?”

Hank chuckled, shaking his head. “Probably still sleeping off last night’s festivities. You know how those boys get when they hit the town.”

I grinned, leaning against the stable door. “All too well. Remind me to never challenge Dean to a drinking contest again. That boy can put away whiskey like it’s water.”

Hank snorted, giving Drumstick a final pat before turning to face me. “You’re telling me. I had to practically carry him home last time. Nearly threw out my back in the process.”

Hank had taught me everything I knew about ranching, about life. How to ride a horse and mend a fence, how to weather a storm and stand tall in the face of adversity.

He had never judged me, never questioned my choices or my feelings. He had just been there, steady and solid as a rock.

Just like he always was.

We worked together in comfortable silence for a while, mucking out stalls and filling troughs with fresh water. It was hard work, but it was honest work. The kind of work that settled my mind and soothed my soul, even on the darkest of days.

As we worked, Hank started humming an old country tune, his deep baritone echoing off the stable walls. I couldn’t help but grin, shaking my head in amusement.

“You know, Hank,” I said, leaning on my pitchfork. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a bad mood. What’s your secret?”

He chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “No secret, really. Just a matter of perspective, I guess.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “Perspective?”

He nodded, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Yeah, you know. Like when you’re knee-deep in horse shit, you can either complain about the smell or you can be grateful you’re not neck-deep.”

I barked out a laugh, nearly dropping my pitchfork. “Jesus, Hank. That’s one hell of a way to look at things.”

He grinned, shrugging his broad shoulders. “Hey, it’s gotten me this far. Figured it might work for you too, what with all the brooding and moping you’ve been doing lately.”

I felt my cheeks heat up, a flush of embarrassment creeping up my neck. “I haven’t been brooding,” I mumbled, staring down at my boots.

Hank snorted, giving me a knowing look. “Sure, kid. And I’m the Queen of England.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Okay, fine. Maybe I have been a little preoccupied lately. It’s just with the old Denison place getting bought up and all the memories it’s bringing back…”

I trailed off, not sure how to put into words the tangled mess of emotions that had been swirling in my gut ever since I’d seen those trucks.

But Hank, being Hank, seemed to understand without me having to say a thing.

“Liam,” he said softly, his voice gentle and knowing. “It’s okay to miss him, you know. To wonder what might have been, if things had gone differently.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the old ache throb in my chest. “I know. But it’s been so long, Hank. I should be over it by now, should have moved on.”

He shook his head, a sad smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Kid, let me tell you something. When you love someone, really love them it’s not the kind of thing you just ‘get over.’ It stays with you, becomes a part of you. And that’s okay.”

I looked at him, surprised. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

He chuckled, a faraway look in his eyes. “I am. I ever tell you about my wife, Abigail?”

I shook my head, suddenly realizing how little I actually knew about Hank’s life outside of the ranch.

“She was a firecracker, that one. All sass and spirit and more guts than sense, sometimes. We met when we were just kids, barely out of high school. And I knew, from the moment I laid eyes on her, that she was the one.”

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