Good Intentions

JIM’S POV

I awake from a deep sleep, I hear something, movement maybe. I slowly get out of bed and stop at the bedroom door to listen. I hear muffled voices outside, seems to be coming from Will’s room.

I listen as I hear the door shut, a click, the door locked. I slowly make my way down the hall to see whats going on and stop just outside the door. I lean in carefully against the door and listen to them talk.
The amount of rage that courses through my veins, is numbing. Somehow he has figured things out, quite possibly through his dreams and he has entrusted his secrets with her.
I try to listen for any details but am unable to make anything out.

They have gotten close and at this point in the game, too close. I will have to keep them separated at all cost. I’ll have to keep him out of the house and work him hard so all he thinks about is food and sleep. Meghan, I’ll leave it up to her mother to keep her busy.

I make my way back to bed quietly. I crawl in softly so as not to wake Lily. I lie there in the dark and think about the situation at hand. I don’t feel any need to worry about him running away. First, he wouldn’t know which way to go and secondly, the elements. Snow, ice and distance from anyone is in my favor.

I close my eyes and will myself to sleep.



I wake up refreshed, make my way down the hall to wake Will. I gently shake him and he slowly rises from the bed, making his way towards the shower.

Lily has started breakfast, I notice Meghan is still sleeping. I decide to make my way to her room to wake her. She was up half the night talking, she needs to get up and start her chores and schoolwork.
I nudge her and she sleepily looks up at me. “Get up so we can eat breakfast and you can get an early start on your chores and schoolwork.” She slowly gets up and I leave her to get ready.

I go back into my room to get ready and exit about the same time as everyone else is ready, we all make our way to the kitchen, following the smell.

We sit down and eat while I discuss with Will our plans for the day. The ferrier will be coming today to look at the horses as well as the vet to check the horses and a couple of the cows.

I’ve decided I’ll speak to Lily sometime tonight about the issue of Will entrusting his secrets with Meghan and how it needs to be handled.
The more I think about it the angrier I get. I have to keep it under control or I could blow everything. I have to pit her against him, somehow. I wrestle with that thought and decide against it. More can be gained if they talk to each other, he’ll tell his secrets to her and hopefully she’ll tell her mother. I’m not banking on the last thought but its worth a wait and see.

I work Will hard in the barn and stables, cleaning, upkeep and daily routine. It keeps him busy while I help and oversee what the ferrier and vet are doing. All the animals are in good health and the horses hooves are in good condition. I pay them and they are on their way. I look at my watch and notice the day has flown by.

I drive down to the barn to check on Will and his progress and I’m impressed. He has done the job well and in good time. I help him finish up and get things put away before we head back to the house for dinner and a much needed shower for him, he is encased in dirt and dust.

I make some small talk with him on the way back about the farm.
“Can I ask you something kind of important?” Will asks looking to me.
“Sure anything, what you want to talk about?”
“Why me? Why did you take me?”
I’m somewhat surprised he has approached me so bluntly. He definitely has balls.
“It’s a long story”
“Well considering I’m the one that’s been put out, I think I deserve an explanation. I don’t think this snow is going to thaw overnight, so I have time.”
The rage inside me starts to bubble up. How dare he speak to me like that.
“Watch how you talk to me boy!”
“Or what, going to make me work, lock my in my room, drug me? I think were past that, its already been done.”
The urge to strike him boils within me but in the front of a truck, not the safest.

I sit in silence, this is what I hoped I would never have to face and at this point, I don’t know what actions to take.
We pull up at the house and I put the truck in park. He gets out while I sit and think.
I hit the steering wheel in frustration.

This is not going as planned.

Notes