“As you can see,” Marion said, “the property is extremely private and secluded, but just a thirty-minute drive to the amenities of Denver. The ranch covers two hundred and ninety acres and one-fourth mile of Corral Creek, which—”

“Ranch?” I blurted. “Two … what?”

“Yes, this tract was originally a gentleman’s ranch and summer home for the—”

“Ah, could we”—I touched Hannah’s shoulder—“step out briefly?”

“Sure, of course.” Marion parked and remained in the car while Hannah and I stumbled around to one another. Cool, pine-scented air and stillness surrounded us.

I snagged her hand and pulled her into the meadow.

Several yards from the Prius, we stopped.

“Is she out of her mind?” I laughed. “Have we finally driven her crazy?”

“Maybe she took us out here to shoot us.” Hannah giggled.

“Right? I mean, Jesus.” I stared at the vista. “Did you hear that shit? A creek? Almost three hundred acres? Hannah, that’s more land than … I even know what to do with. I’m sorry, I”—I wrung my hands—“we’ll have to be clearer with her.”

“Yeah, for sure.” She glanced at me and then at the meadow and mountains. “I mean, it’s definitely beautiful.”

“Oh, very. Too bad it’s so, ah…”

“Crazy?” she offered.

“Yeah, ridiculous.”

I cleared my throat and we stood there in silence, surveying the land.

In retrospect, I realize we were feeling one another out. The house itself didn’t matter. Nothing could be said against that land and its absolute beauty. Thick groves of trees stood in the distance, filled with mystery, and forest carpeted the mountainside. I wanted to be there when night fell. How powerful that night would be, and the wind and the stars.

I wanted to own it. I had never conceived of owning so much land, and maybe part of the allure was the insanity of it.

And now, I thought, you have to say good-bye to it. Hannah would never—

“Let’s see the house,” she said.

“What?”

“Just for fun.” She toed the earth. “We came all this way.”

I led her back to the car, the phrase “just for fun” digging at me. See the property of your dreams, just for fun! Rub salt in your wounds, just for fun!

“Honestly, I’m not sure I want to see it,” I said.

“Well, I do.”

I frowned as we got back in the car.

“Stunning, right?” Marion smiled uncertainly at us. I glared out the window. Fuck all this house-shopping, and so much for my rejuvenated mood.

“It really is,” Hannah said. “Can we see the house?”

“Just for fun,” I muttered. No one heard me.

“Of course!” Marion stepped on the gas and we rolled deeper into that gorgeous world. It closed around us and filled me with longing. I must have looked like a little boy staring out the window. Can I have it, please?

Marion pointed out “improvements” as she drove: a paddock, a horse barn, another, smaller barn and a cabin.

I refused to look at Hannah, who was probably snickering.

The house stood on the northwestern side of the property, at the base of a large rock outcropping. It was, quite simply, the killing blow to my hope—a chateau-style refurbished lodge with a white stone exterior and a giant, solid joke of a front door.

A joke, yes. This house and land were a practical joke at my expense.

Nine bedrooms. Six bathrooms. Five fireplaces.

I sneered at the rustic, elegant interior. Light wood and pale stone gathered the day’s last sun. Hannah squealed in the kitchen, skirting around the granite island like a child.

“So beautiful,” she said.

“And completely modernized with new appliances,” Marion put in.

On the second floor, they tried to lure me into one of the two libraries.

“You’ll like this,” said Marion, and Hannah yanked my sleeve.

“Matt, look how many shelves this place has.”

“I don’t want to see it,” I snarled. “I’m tired.” I threw myself into a nook at the end of the hall. Hannah’s phone buzzed.

“I’ll give you two a moment.” Marion drifted down the hallway.

As Hannah thumbed her cell, I stared out the window at the blue evening.

I pretended it was all mine.

Soon, I could go for a run across the meadow, or an ambling walk with Hannah. Two hundred and ninety acres. We could get lost …

“Shit,” she said.

I snapped out of my daydream.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s … Seth. Well, Nate.” She wiggled her phone. “He texted me. Seth was in the hospital last weekend. They just released him. God, why didn’t we hear about this sooner?” She stabbed at the screen.

My dark mood shifted.

“Why was he in the hospital? Who are you texting?”

“He collapsed after a show on Friday. And I’m texting Nate.” She glared at me. “He didn’t say what happened, exactly, but I’m pretty sure we can guess…”

With Marion in hearing range, Hannah just gestured.

I snatched her phone and read her half-written text.

Out with Matt. Will call ASAP. Pls give more

“More what?” I said. “Out with Matt? What the fuck? How long have you been—”