Arriving in the desert!
Clarke had patiently endured all the questions from his family about his battered face. He felt he deserved it all, he had taken the easy way out by not coming home earlier anyway. He told his mother he'd spend an extra night in New York when he flew back. His father said little but expressed his appreciation for Clarke's gesture towards his mother. They had a complicated marriage that Clarke had no choice but to respect.
It hadn't been terribly complicated to secure the rental car. Because Tyler was under 25 they had a extra fee to pay but otherwise it hadn't been hard. The plane ride had been mostly uneventful. Everything was off to a good start. Tyler drove the distance from the airport to the ranch while Clarke played with the radio. A five o'clock shadow adorned his cheeks, his red hair was mussed from sleeping on the plane. He was awake now, even a little jumpy with excitement. He could see stars in the sky, he could smell dusty sage. Abby had been right. He needed to get away.
They pulled into the property and parked, trying to be quiet while they gathered their bags in case anyone was settled in for the evening. Tyler, the taller of the two brothers, put his arm around Clarke's shoulders as they walked to the door. Clarke smiled at him and then knocked. He knew the side door would be open if Liz didn't come down.
It hadn't been terribly complicated to secure the rental car. Because Tyler was under 25 they had a extra fee to pay but otherwise it hadn't been hard. The plane ride had been mostly uneventful. Everything was off to a good start. Tyler drove the distance from the airport to the ranch while Clarke played with the radio. A five o'clock shadow adorned his cheeks, his red hair was mussed from sleeping on the plane. He was awake now, even a little jumpy with excitement. He could see stars in the sky, he could smell dusty sage. Abby had been right. He needed to get away.
They pulled into the property and parked, trying to be quiet while they gathered their bags in case anyone was settled in for the evening. Tyler, the taller of the two brothers, put his arm around Clarke's shoulders as they walked to the door. Clarke smiled at him and then knocked. He knew the side door would be open if Liz didn't come down.