The One Who Couldn't Love

Chapter Three

Tate

I manage to fall asleep for the majority of the two-hour drive to Portland. Mr. Stevens made small talk the first part of the trip, but eventually, let's go of the conversation and the rest of the ride is quite pleasant. John plays some smooth jazz, which surprises me because I would have pegged him for a Gun N Roses type of guy. Toward the end of our drive, I woke up just in time to see the city of Portland fly past us as we made our ways to a more rural area.

It was a little unnerving watching us go deeper into the woods, where fewer and fewer cars are on the road until it's no longer a road and just a dirt trail. I'm about to ask if we're headed the right way when I see it. The great gates, surrounded by big brick walls. John takes a small remote from the seat beside him and clicks it, making the door open. We travel in the woods for about a mile more when I see it.

When Mr. Stevens said the main meat processor was located in Portland, I was expecting to find a small farm with a huge factory behind it with smoke coming out, contaminating the atmosphere. What I wasn't expecting was a Victorian-style manor with a beautiful arc at the center that leads to the main entrance. This manor looked something taken out of a Jane Austen novel... and the fields that surrounded it. My god, the fields of bright green grass, with wildflowers growing, barns and so many animals. A german shepherd chased after the sheep, herding them back to where they belonged. There were cows and horses and chickens... it was beautiful.

And the size of this place... the field just expanded as far as the eye could see.

We stop right at the front of the manor. I get out of the car, completely awed by the land I find myself on.

Mr. Stevens rounds the car as John unloads my bags.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Had I known better, I'd say half of Seattle would fit in here," I say, shielding my eyes from the sun with the back of my hand.

Mr. Stevens laughs. "This land might look big, but I think that's a bit of an overestimate." He stands beside me as we watch the animals being herded together by a man on a horse. "Uh, Tate, before we go see Mr. Ward, I want to-"

"Get the hell out of the way!"

We're both startled by the sudden outburst. I turn quickly to find a man galloping toward where we're standing, trying his best to slow the horse down, but he can't. For a second, I think he's shouting at us, but we're too far off from where he's heading. I round the car quickly and see a young boy right in his pathway, picking up something from the floor.

My legs react before I have a chance to. I quickly grab the boy by his arm and drag him toward me, just in time as the man flies past us as he finally manages to reign the horse to a complete stop.

I grab the little boy - who can't be older than six - and make him look at me. His watery blue eyes look back at me, wide and in shock.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Mr. Stevens and John round the car.

"Jesus, Noah, what the hell are you doing out here?" John snapped.

"My thoughts exactly," another voice hissed. I turn to find the same man on the horse, now stalking toward us, fuming with anger. "What the fuck were you thinking? Are you fucking insane? How many times have I told you not to come out here when we're herding the fucking animals!"

"Enough! Don't talk to him like that," I snapped, shielding the little boy with my body. "He's just a little boy."

The man glared at me. "Who the fuck are you?"