“No,” Jacob said. “I just thought that I should get two. It seemed like the thing to do.”

There was a cooler sitting in between the chairs. “You have beer in that?”

“I do,” Jacob said.

He went and sat, flicking open the top of the cooler and pulling out a couple of bottles of beer. Gabe decided to go ahead and sit down and accepted the cold bottle, popping it open using the plastic arm of the chair.

“I want to talk to you about something,” Gabe said.

“Well, I figured, seeing as you drove all the way up here.”

“How much longer are you figuring you’re going to smoke-jump?”

Jacob took a long pull on his beer. “As long as there are fires.”

Gabe bit back some irritation. “All right. Fair enough. But do you want any other work any other part of the year?”

Jacob looked around. “To help cover all of my living expenses?”

“I figure you’re not going to stay up here forever.”

“I actually figure that I like it up here. If you think this is some kind of temporary phase...”

“I think you feel guilty. I think you feel guilty about Clint, but you’re not going to find an answer up here.”

Jacob chuckled. “That’s pretty rich coming from you. I think you’re still looking for answers in the rodeo. Doesn’t matter where you hide, it’s still hiding.”

Gabe rocked back in his seat. “Is that what you think?”

“Wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”

“Well, as it happens, I’m quitting.”

“You’re quitting?”

“Yes. Because you’re right. I don’t want to do it. What I want to do is establish a ranch for troubled youths. I want to have classes and work programs. On-the-job training stuff. And I think that it would be good to have you around to help. You could help with horses, you could help with basic first-aid training and a whole lot of other things. I think it would be good to spend some time talking about what kind of jobs are available to people who might not have access to college. Figure out ways to facilitate getting the older kids into work-training programs.”

“What prompted all this?”

“A couple of things. McKenna, first of all. She’s someone who could have used help. If we had known about her, we could have given it. Instead, she was left out on her own. Plus...this is what I always wanted to do. Something that connects to horses, in a meaningful way. I love them. And I loved riding, for as long as I can remember.”

“Why didn’t you?” Jacob asked.

“You know why.”

“Because Dad didn’t want you to?”

If there was a safe space on earth, it was Jacob’s remote cabin. And Jacob himself. He was a fortress, and he didn’t share shit with anyone.

For some reason that perversely made Gabe feel like it was the right time to share this. And like he was the right person to share it with.