Here is my contribution to the Carrot Ranch Literary Community blog challenge. The prompt was the greatest gift. I think the question I’m answering here is what does it cost when a son gives up on his father.

My son and his father don’t get along and that means Ben is losing half of himself. My former husband gave us scary times and he wanted to make up for it, so when he got his life under control, he gave Ben the greatest gift he knew how to give—a horse. That’s because when he was going through the worst of his own adolescence, his horse provided him solace. During summers Ben spent in Colorado with him, they rode horses and took packing trips. Those were good times for Ben, but somehow he’s lost whatever they had.

Here’s my horseman son. Doesn’t he look relaxed and competent here?