Page 105 of Freeing the Wild
“Here you go, honey.”Penny drops the key in my hand and smiles up at me.I already got the main key from the lawyer, but it’s still symbolic to have Penny place the spare in my hand.
I sigh.“It still doesn’t feel real, Pen.”
“Well, it’s all yours.You’ll probably want to change the name now.”
I look up at the main house of Penny Lane.The brick exterior needs a power wash and, at some point in the near future, the windows will need to be replaced too.But it’s all mine.Well, it will be in twenty-five years when the mortgage is paid off.I was happy that the bank not only offered me a competitive loan, but also granted me a line of credit for remodeling and anything that needs to be done to help fix this place up.The money is in the land, they said.I guess saving all my money for the last eight years was worth it when I was able to walk in there with a third down and still not deplete my savings.
“I’m never changing the name, Pen,” I tell her now, pulling her in for a side hug.“This is Penny Lane Rescue Ranch forever.”
Penny turns to me with glassy eyes.“Oh, I didn’t expect tofeel so emotional.There are just lots of memories here with Will and Anna.”
“It’s your home.Always.”I tell her, letting her go.“And besides, you already promised you’d stay on for at least the next year while I get on my feet with this place.”
I’m not moving in quite yet.I want Penny to take her time getting all her personal belongings packed up.She’s leaving me all her furniture since her new condo comes furnished.
“You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.The only difference between now and two weeks from now is, at the end of the day, this place will just be where I work and not my burden to bear.I’m sixty-eight.It’s time to have some fun!”
“You’ve definitely earned it.”
“Oh.Here’s Anna!”Penny waves to her daughter, who is coming up the drive.She’s here with her husband to help get Penny set up and to see her new condo at the Magnolia Grove Gardens retirement community near Cave Run Lake.The condos have a beautiful exterior with a full courtyard.There’s shuffleboard and pickleball in the summer and full lake access all year round.Magnolia Grove Gardens is somewhere Penny can live semi-retired without having to garden, or deal with caved-in roofs.That’s all my problem now.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as Penny climbs into the passenger-side door of Anna’s car with a wave and saying she’ll be back in a few hours.I glance at the messages from Wade and Asher.
ASHER
Sorry I can’t be there tonight.I’m working a double.Fucking dog-tired though.
No worries, man.Keep the town safe.We’ll catch up next week.
SARGE
Beer and pizza is on us.We’ll be there in a half hour.
Sounds good.I can’t fucking believe I bought this place.I’m gonna miss being at the ranch all day every day.
SARGE
We knew it was coming at some point.But thanks again for staying on to make sure Dusty is ready.
Also don’t get emotional on me.
Wouldn’t dream of it.See you all soon.
I grin.I was met with nothing but encouragement when I talked to Wade the other day before officially making Penny an offer.He was happy to see me take on my own place.All he asked was that I stay on staff with him every morning for three months and that I’m available to answer any calls to make sure Dusty is ready to take over as top hand, which I have no problem with.Plus, Dusty is already ready.He’s been my shadow for two years now.
I take a moment to let today sink in.I can’t wait to start sanding and restaining the floors, and Asher has already told me he’ll help redo the kitchen cabinets for me.My chest tightens at the thought of how I’ll make this place my own.
I snap a selfie of me with the house in the background and send it to Cassie.
Bigger front porch to drink my coffee on.
We haven’t really talked in the last few days since we lost control on the phone.I know she’s gearing up for the biggestshow she’s ever played, and the other night sent my head spinning anyway.I have no idea what the future holds for us and, at this point, it feels almost like we’re prolonging the inevitable.But for some reason I just can’t let her go.
I spend the next hour working on the weeds in the garden as I listen to the album Cassie sent me after our phone call.The artist is Wyatt Flores and he’s really fucking good.However, the glow of buying the ranch dims the moment I see my dad’s truck pulling up the driveway.
I watch as he opens the driver’s door.He’s looking older these days.His hair is more gray than the sandy brown it used to be.
“You keeping this place a secret?I had to find out from Jolene Ashby in the grocery store that you bought it.”
