Cliff

Clint can’t help the smile on his face as he walks hand-in-hand with Wendy, his fingers wrapped around hers. It was a good morning.


Jeff just listens to Katie, his heart growing heavy. He’d seen Jason this morning but hadn’t known the whole story about why he’d left Nevada. Now it was making sense.
He slides down from the armrest of the couch to sit, and sighs deeply. “Aw, Katie, I’m so sorry. Things like this are never easy.” He wishes he had some bit of wisdom to share, but he just doesn’t know what to say. He didn’t even know Wyatt…there was no real advice he could give. “You’re gonna be okay…I promise. Things like this just need a little time to work themselves out.” He can hear the tears in Katie’s voice, and wishes he didn’t have to do this over the phone. “Listen, sweety, Jason…he’s here. He got in before sunup this morning.”


Con taps a pencil on his paperwork, his mind everywhere but this. It was only mid morning, but he wished he could leave now.


Jason wanders through an empty field, hitting the trail in the woods. He walks, not keeping any track of time. The ground is rougher here, and he winds up further away from the ranch than planned, his long stride carrying him easily. The path winds upward until he hits the overhang of a cliff. The view is breathtaking as the morning fog lifts toward the sun. He can see the treetops from here, their spring leaves shimmering in the light.
Jason stares down into the depth below. His heart felt like that gorge, dark and being choked out by weeds, unable to see the sun. He takes a step closer to the edge, and a pebble loses its grip on the earth to tumble down, down, down. He fills his lungs with the country air and closes his eyes, letting the terrain envelop him.