Page 54 of Crystal Iris
“Do you guys want to stop and pick anything up?” Hoyt asks.
Akira and I exchange a look and say the same thing at the same time: “Coffee.”
Country Brew is a local coffee shop in the resort town of Whitefish, and the barista behind the counter seems to know Hoyt.
“Good morning, Locklear,” the young man says as we walk in.
“How’s it going, Tristan?” Hoyt replies.
“Doing well, thanks for the help with the fence. My family’s in your debt.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad Broc could fix it.”
The man insists our coffees are on the house. A vanilla latte for me, an iced coffee for Akira, and a black coffee for Hoyt.
I want to take a look around, but Hoyt promises to bring us back another day.
“That’s my kind of road trip,” Akira says as we get back in the car.
“You mean, one where you don’t have to drive?” I ask her.
“That, and coffee. I’ll go anywhere.”
Hoyt and I laugh.
Forty-five minutes later, we pass a tall sign that readsLocklear Horse Ranchin metal letters upheld by wooden posts.
“This is where your land starts?” I ask, stating the obvious.
“For now. The government’s constantly trying to steal inch by inch from us. From me.”
“You have to... manage all of this?” I ask, realizing how much greenery stretches out in front of me.
“A lot is left untouched—my father liked it that way, and I agree. The less we interfere, the better.”
“Do you have cows?” Akira asks.
“No, we only breed and train horses here. My dad owned a few cattle ranches, but I sold them all after he died—too much of a headache. I kept only the land I know the government wants.”
“Why not sell them all?” I ask.
“Because I feel like it’s my responsibility… to preserve them. We’ve got enough cities already.”
“Hoyt Locklear, a hero in disguise,” Akira says, making us all laugh once more.
“Holy shit!” she exclaims before I can.
Those are the only words in my head as we step out of Hoyt’s massive truck.
“It should be illegal for someone to live in a place like this. It should be… shared,” she continues, stepping into the immense house.
“And I’m sure this is the part where you say it should be shared with… you?” I tease her.
“Us,” she responds with a grin.
“I’m happy to share,” Hoyt says behind us, dropping off our bags.
The glass windows, framed by wooden beams, line the entire house. It’s rustic yet modernized, with an enormous TV and electric shades. I’m not sure how to take it all in, as the mountains and river outside capture most of my attention. Thick rugs line the floors near the giant couch by the fireplace—the same one I’d seen with my prism. I realize now that I was too nervous back then to fully appreciate the beauty in here. I would call his home perfect if it weren’t for the enormous animal head staring down at me from the wall. Stuffed, repulsive, andvery dead.
