Chapter 1
Joanna sat in the armchair, squeezing the handles tightly as if she could get lost, staring at the white, half-crumpled paper on the table.
With trembling hands and half-strength, she reached for him once more and began to read.
Dear Miss Chadwick;
“With sincere regret, I inform you of the difficult condition of your mother, whose life is coming to an end, at any moment.
Her last wish is to see you for the last time, to calm her tormented soul.”
Awaiting your arrival, always loyal-Timothy Shaw-
“Her tormented soul,” she repeated to herself.
She threw the letter on the table and went to the window, laughing, with sadness.
It was a beautiful summer day outside, and she remembered how much such little things once meant to her in life.
To be able to hear the chirping of birds, see nature in its full glory and be completely happy, like once, like five years ago...
She closed her eyes, turned her thoughts elsewhere, and ran away from everything that haunted her, but unconsciously returned to the painful past. ....
The sun was already high in the sky, while she was preparing ‘Thunder’ in the barn.
“Forgive me, my love, I exhausted you out more than usual, today, but I promise you I won’t tomorrow,” she said, panting, gently caressing the black colt.
“You’re exploiting the poor animal again, haven’t you had enough of playing, little girl?” She heard a deep, familiar voice behind her.
“Mike!” She exclaimed happily, throwing herself into his arms.
“When did you arrive?”, she asked him, still not believing that he was there.
“This morning, but you were already riding,” he looked at her thoughtfully.
His hands were still on her shoulders, and touching them gently.
“You’ve grown since I was gone.”
“For an eighteen-year-old girl, you’re still frivolous,” he said with an unusual glow in his eyes.
She blushed at his words, which angered her.
“Considering you are twenty-five years old, are way too serious!“
“Relax, you’re home,” she said, giving him a meaningful look.
“Yes, I’m home,” he said quietly, without taking his eyes off her.
She shuddered for a moment, averting his gaze, but quickly recovered.
“I don’t intend to stay in the barn all day, I have smarter things on my mind, like lunch for example!“, she commented cheerfully.
”Then you’d better get going because if your father sees us talking like this, there will be a chaos”, his voice wasn’t calm.
“No I’m not worried about that, not in the least,” she said, walking toward a house.
He was watching her with a strange glow in his eyes.
Her golden hair shone in the sun, while the wind carried her gently in all directions, and in her tight shirt and tights, she was even more beautiful.
She turned suddenly, and looked at him with eyes full of longing, then disappeared behind the closed door, and he could only think that he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
“Where have you been for so long Joanna?“Her mother was angry.
“Every time, we’re waiting for you”, Mother was unsatisfied.
She tried to explain, but her father abruptly interrupted her.
“I’m not going to listen to your excuses anymore, either be here on time or you’ll starve!”
“For God’s sake, I’m not a child anymore, you don’t have to act like I’m a baby , father!” Tears threatened, her to betray her.
“While you are in my house, you will behave , and according to my rules!” He yelled at her.
“Then I wish you a pleasant lunch!” She hissed angrily, got up from the table, and went to the kitchen, ignoring her mother, who was calling her.
Bessie already had sandwiches ready for her, just like before.
“My child, what are you doing?
“Your father is a little nervous this morning, because Jack is very unwell, and this time the fall from the horse almost killed him ,” she said worriedly.
“Is that why Mike is here?” She forced herself to ask.
“Yes honey, his father will have to go to the hospital and he will run the ranch”.
“That’s why he was kind of absent this morning, I don’t know why he didn’t say anything to me,” she commented thoughtfully, in disbelief.
“Ah, you wonderful, chubby woman!“ Jo hugged her, laughing, while Bessie giggled, continuing to work.
Her thoughts took her to her father...
That serious man, with extravagant manners and firm convictions, was so different from her mother, who, unlike him, was petite and fragile, with brown hair and blue eyes, which at first glance gave off warmth, but were cold, sometimes too much.
She always stood by her husband, supporting him, with the same coldness on her face.
In appearance, Jo was similar to her mother, just that her hair was lighter, with blond strands, but in nature, she was like her grandmother, she had the same blue-green eyes, which would change color when her mood was changed, with incredible shine.
Joanna was full of life, growing up with Bessie and Mike, not paying too much attention to the strictness, that her parents had for her.
They were too busy with themselves, they didn’t even pay attention to her, but now things were changing.
She was the only one of her parents, and a rich heiress, of course, she knew that the possibility of her own choice would not be an option for her, or maybe...
That night, 5 years ago, still haunts her, like the worst nightmare, and she was so happy and full of life then...
Could she have changed something, would things have been different if she did...
Can anyone change what he feels at a given moment in their life, hoping for the best...
I think not.
Being of a certain age is one thing, but the wisdom that comes with age is another, learning from your mistakes is difficult, but certainly better and more effective than someone else’s.
A man cannot control what he feels when he loves unless he stops feeling, and that would mean that he does not exist because a man without love is a dead man, just an ordinary shell.
