Page 111 of Don't Leave Me Behind
“We won’t waste anymore, will we?”
“No.” I smile, catching the tears that are trying to sneak out.
“Well, what’s in the package, Leni? I thought Ranch Lifewas a magazine. Do they have subscription boxes now? Like those smut boxes I see all over the facebook?”
I cackle, holding my ribs to minimize the pain that flares when I laugh. “Please tell me you are not subscribed to any of those.”
“Not yet.” She grins. “There’s one that offers toys in each box. I’ve considered that one a time or two. Your Pa’s not really?—”
“Uh-uh.” I lift a hand, cutting her off. “Nope, that’s as far as I need that conversation to go, thank you.”
Ma gives me a sheepish smile before nudging my hand that’s holding the scissors. I take a breath, giving myself a second before I slice through the tape and open the box. There’s a note inside from Karina, my new boss.
Leni,
I hope we did your article justice. Our focus groups loved it. I think this issue is going to be a bestseller. I can’t wait to learn more about your family, and hear what you have to say about...well, anything really. Be in touch soon.
- Karina
P.S. I hope I counted right (there’s a lot of you to keep track of), but I sent an issue for each of your brothers, and one for your parents. They should be really proud of you!
Ma reads over my shoulder, her body tipping back before she looks at me. “Leni, what is this?”
I bite my bottom lip to keep from squealing again. Tears fill my eyes when I see the cover. Beneath the titleof the magazine is an old photo of the Kane Ridge Ranch sign. I stole it from Ma’s website, and Karina did the work to get the license from the photographer who took it originally. The subtitle makes those tears fall like rain.
Kane Ridge Ranch: How One Family Turned an Empire Into A Legacy of Love and Abundance.
I flip to the middle of the magazine, staring at the article with my name in bold underneath it. A note from the editor at the top, before my words begin.
“Enter the world of Kane Ridge Ranch, an honest-to-God cowboy dynasty full of back-breaking work and the kind of love we all dream about. Immerse yourself in the story of how one of America’s largest cattle ranches came to be, and how it’s continued on its legacy to the next generation, and the one after that. All through the lens of one of the Kane’s very own. Eleanor Kane’s take on her family’s ranching business is a breath of fresh air. Raw in a way that makes you want to find your way to their spot in the world to enjoy some of the magic she’s infused into this article.”
Ma digs out her own copy of the magazine, eyes darting over the pages as she devours my article.Ourarticle. The one about us. Us ten years ago. The us that I’ve been missing.
Her eyes fill with tears, some slipping down her cheeks. She lifts the magazine, avoiding letting the tears drip onto the pages.
“Leni,” she breathes, the same green in my eyes reflecting back at me. “This is incredible.”
I can’t help the pride that swells in my chest. “They hired me to write more.” My voice sounds small. My inner child is desperately needing this validation from my mother.
“How could they not, Leni?” She stares down at the pages,one hand smoothing over the words, like they’re something tangible. “I’m so fucking proud of you, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Ma.” I lean onto her shoulder, taking in a deep breath of her scent. It’s warm and sweet, and she smells like every happy childhood memory. “They want to do an article on you next. If you’re willing.”
“You’ll be the one writing it?”
“Yes,” I say. She gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Then yes, I’d love to do an article with you.”
“They want to bring cameras in. Pa will hate it.”
Ma chuckles, shaking her head. “Pa will get over it.”
“And maybe, I could help with your retreats too? If you’ll have me?”
Her face lights up, a smile beaming at me. “Of course I will!” She wraps me in a side hug, pressing a kiss to my hair.
We sit in silence for a minute, Ma reading the article again while I flip through the rest of the magazine, taking note of the tone and voice of other pieces. My article doesn’t sound like a competition piece, but one that was meant to be there all along.
