Page 2 of Wildest Forever

“Son,” the quietness of his voice causes my skin to erupt in goosebumps and I can't even hold back the tears as the raspiness of his voice hits me right between the shoulder blades, winding me in an instant.

I turn, seeking him out and I don't care that I am a thirty-year old man, I throw myself into his body as the tears soak through his sky blue checkered shirt. His arms envelope me, holding me tight.

No words are said.

He just lets me sob into his chest, comforting me like I am a little boy who needs his dad.

But that was just it.

I did need my dad.

He wasn't here.

My chest rattles as I suck in a breath before I feel it cave in, the unbearable ache presenting itself.

“It's okay, it's okay,“ he soothes me, his head bowing and I feel his nose on the top of my head as he inhales heavily.

I have no idea how long I stand in his embrace, but it felt like time had stopped still.

It was only me and him.

The sound of a branch cracking underneath a boot has me lifting my head and looking over Buck's shoulder to see three men standing in suits, head tilted as they take in the scene in front of them.

I move back, sniffling as I do, quickly picking up my cowboy hat and place it back on my head as I try and hide my red rimmed eyes.

“What do we owe the pleasure,” Buck spins, hands in the front of his dirty denim jeans as he steps forward, head tilting to the side and he sizes up the three guys in front of him.

“Here to talk about taking this land off you.”

And Buck lets out a throaty laugh.

“Then we have nothing to talk about,” he gives a soft nod as I step up behind him, but he holds his arm out, silently telling me to stay where I am.

“Come on, you surely don't want to run all of this land at your age,” the tallest one looks down at Buck before giving his two suited friends a toss of the head and a laugh.

“It'smyland,” I find myself saying, tilting my head higher, thumbs hooked into my belt and the low afternoon sun reflects off my sheriff badge.

His eyes fall to it then settle back on mine.

“Okay, let us take it off you then,” his lips twitch as his fingers flex around the handle of his briefcase and I shake my head.

“I can't do that I'm afraid,” I go to step forward, but Buck stops me again.

“What does this land have over you apart from a few cows, horses and a wooden house?”

I suck in a breath, rage burning beneath my skin and Buck drops his head for a moment before lifting it and glancing at the rolling hills.

“What does this land have over us?” I repeat the words and I clench my fist by my side.

“Yeah?” the one beside the main guy looks at me, and I see the softness that flashes across his eyes.

Buck lets out a shaky breath before speaking. “This land isn'tjustland. It's so much more than that. It's where my daughter grew up, it's where my son grew up and still lives, working on this land every day, it's where my family are, my friends, my blood...” Buck trails off and this time he lets me stand beside him, my shoulders rolled back and my chest pressed a little further out. “It's where we make a living. Sure, it's tough at times with the harsh winters and the constant rising costs of living, but we make it work. We have to. This is not just land, it's a choice,it's a home, it's our life.” Buck continues and his eyes slice across all three of them.

“My best friend, who's land you are standing on, he is buried under the oak tree, he is part of the soil, part of this land, this ishome. This is his. His body is buried with the place he loved the most, so in answer to your question, what does land have over us...” Buck turns to look at me, “it has everything over us. We live and breathe this land.”

I nod, stepping forward.

“As my father imprinted onto us,live by the ranch, die by the ranch.”

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