by Braun, Matt;
“I figured it out.” His words were soft, almost inaudible, so quiet she had to strain to hear. “Just now, I figured out what they said to each other before it happened.”
“Before they ... in the fire ... you saw them say something before they died?”
“Yeah, right at the very last. Probably never said it to each other in their whole lives, but they did then. I know they did.”
Becky looked at him, gripped by the sudden awareness of change. In the midst of death he had found himself as a man, gained gentleness and compassion, the bedrock strength of all truly strong men. A tear spilled down her cheek, and she hugged him fiercely. His arms went around her, pulled her into a circle of warmth and tenderness, and they held each other for a long time. Then he smiled, nuzzled her ear, his voice low and husky.
“Funny, the way things work out. One night Mom told me the land ... Santa Guerra ... was all that matters. I’ve got an idea she’d see it different now.”
“Oh, in what way?”
“Well, she had the notion that the ranch ... how you put your mark on the land ... was the only part of yourself you leave behind. In a way, I suppose she was right, but there’s more to it than that. The things you build, that’s not all you leave behind ... not of yourself anyway.”
“No, not all,” Becky murmured. “There’s much more ... the part of themselves ... the thing they found there at the end ... that part matters most of all.”
“Yeah, I think they’d both agree on that. It’ll last a long time, won’t it?”
“Yes, darling, it will. All our lives.”
Hank straightened, holding her close, and stared thoughtfully at the charred rubble. After a moment, he nodded to himself, laughing, and his arm tightened around her waist.
“You know something? We’re going to rebuild on that same spot. Only bigger, lots bigger! By god, before we’re through we’ll knock their eyes out. A new house ... and a new mistress—”
“And babies, Hank! Lots of babies!”
“Yes, ma’am! All you want, but especially one.”
“Especially one or a special one?”
“Yeah, you’re right, very special! The new patron.”
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 1979 by Matt Braun
ISBN 978-1-4976-3405-3
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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New York, NY 10014
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MATT BRAUN
FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA
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