Chapter 51

Ward sighed and turned to go back the way he’d come only to find the trail was gone. He was trapped on the top of the mountain, but he was no longer his teenage self. He was Ward, the adult.

That’s when he had woken up. Ward sighed. He realized the dream was a reflection of his life with Tyler both ten years ago and now. They had this wonderful relationship. There were hard patches, but the ultimate prize of being together kept them going. Ten years ago they’d reached the mountain top. The goal was in sight. But the trail had abruptly ended, and Ward had walked away.

Was that where they were now? Was their relationship going to end the same way as it had that long ago summer night? No, this time there was nowhere for Ward to go. For now, Ward was trapped at the top of the mountain. Tyler was his whole life. He couldn’t abandon it as he had before. There had to be a way, there just had to be.

Ward sat up and looked at the clock on his bedside table. It was time to get up. He got out of bed, dressed, and headed for the barn to help with milking.

When Ward arrived at the mill later that morning for work, he went straight to the office. He hoped a night’s sleep had helped Tyler to see things more clearly, more rationally. There was some way to make this work for them; they just had to find it.

When he came into the building, Sarah Anne looked up from her desk behind the counter.

“Hi, Ward,” she said.

“Hi,” Ward replied.

Sarah Anne walked to the counter and handed Ward a manila envelope. “Tyler said to give you this if you came in.”

Ward took the envelope. He didn’t have to open it to know what was inside—his dog tags.Chapter 22

Tyler stood at the window of the mill office. He watched Ward walk across the parking lot while opening the envelope. Ward stopped. He emptied the contents into his hand, then turned and looked up at the window in which Tyler stood. Tyler stepped back. He hoped Ward hadn’t seen him. Tyler watched Ward as he slowly read the note that Tyler had put inside.

I’m sorry, Ward, but I have to think of what’s best for Eddie and Jack. And it probably would be best if you didn’t call anymore at night. Tyler.

Ward hesitated a moment, looking back up at the window. Then he put his dog tags back around his neck, put the note in his pocket, crumpled the envelope, and threw it toward a trash barrel. It missed. He didn’t go to pick it up, but turned and walked toward the mill, shoulders slumped, head bowed.

Tyler clenched his teeth. He loved this man. How could he be doing this to him—again? Then he thought of Eddie, of the fight his son had gotten into defending them. This was the way it had to be. He couldn’t risk his boys being discriminated against because of him. He hoped Ward could understand that.

“Your mother told me about the fight at school yesterday.”

Tyler jumped. His father had come quietly into the room and surprised him.

“She said you were having a hard time talking about it. Said you weren’t very clear on the details.”

Tyler turned and walked to his desk. Trying to look busy and not overly concerned, he pulled out a sheaf of invoices and said, “Hank’s boy, Tommy, did some name calling, and Eddie overreacted. That’s basically it. Not much else to tell.”

“Anything we should be talking to Hank about?” the elder Hughes asked as he sat down at his own desk.

“Don’t think so,” Tyler said offhandedly. “Talked to him at the school yesterday. I think the situation’s under control. Talked to the boys last night, too.”

“Okay,” Tyler’s dad said.

Tyler suspected his father might be thinking there was more to the story but couldn’t tell. Probably Tyler was just being paranoid.

After about an hour, Mr. Hughes asked, “Aren’t you going out to work in the mill?”

“Maybe tomorrow. Want to get ahead on this paperwork.”

When Tyler’s dad didn’t say anything, Tyler looked up to see the man looking at his son over the top of his spectacles. Tyler knew that look. He’d seen it many times growing up, when his dad suspected Tyler was trying to cover-up for some misbehavior.

The elder Hughes didn’t say anything, but went back to his work. After another period of time he said, “How’s that puppy doing? She must be just about ready to come home.”

The events of the past two days had put Addy completely out of Tyler’s mind. Here was a chink in his plan not to see much of Ward until they could tone down their relationship to something more acceptable. Seeing him at the farm would definitely bring back thoughts of what might have been and make it harder for both men to move on.