The journey to Montana was long and grueling. Lila stared out of the train window, watching the landscape transform from bustling cities to sprawling countryside. Her heart was a mix of nervous anticipation and unrelenting questions. Damon sat beside her, his quiet presence calming her as they neared the unknown.
"Do you think he'll want to see me?" Lila asked, breaking the silence.
Damon glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. "If he's half the man your mother described, he'll regret every moment he's missed."
His words brought a flicker of hope, but it was quickly overshadowed by fear. What if Jacob had moved on, leaving no space in his life for her?
They arrived in a small Montana town late in the afternoon. The ranch wasn't far, but the air was thick with tension as they drove down the winding dirt road leading to it. The property was vast, with rolling hills, grazing horses, and a small wooden house at its center.
A man in his late forties was tending to a horse near the barn. His hair was grayer than in the photograph, but there was no mistaking the resemblance. Lila's breath caught. This was him… her father.
Damon parked the car and Lila stepped out slowly, her legs trembling beneath her. The man turned, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers.
"Can I help you?" he asked, his tone guarded.
Lila held up the photograph. "Are you Jacob Monroe?"
His expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face. "I am. Who's asking?"
She took a deep breath, her voice shaking as she said, "I'm Lila. Your daughter."
Jacob froze, the reins in his hands slipping to the ground. For a long moment, he didn't speak, his eyes searching hers as if trying to piece together a puzzle he had long forgotten.
"My daughter?" he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," Lila replied, tears brimming in her eyes. "I've been looking for you."
Jacob stepped closer, his face etched with disbelief and guilt. "I never thought… I didn't think I'd ever see you."
"Why did you leave?" Lila asked, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you come back for me?"
Jacob's shoulders sagged under the weight of her question. "I was a coward, Lila. I didn't think I was good enough to be your father. Your mother… she deserved better and so did you. But not a day went by that I didn't think about you."
Lila's heart ached at his words. "You should have tried," she said, her tears falling freely now. "You should have been there."
Jacob reached for her hesitantly, his hands trembling. "You're right. I failed you. And I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you'll let me."
They spent hours talking in the small house, piecing together the fragments of their shared past. Jacob told her stories about her mother, painting a picture of a strong, passionate woman who had loved her deeply.
Lila listened, soaking up every word. For the first time, she felt a sense of belonging, even in the midst of her pain.
Damon watched from a distance, giving them space but staying close enough to support Lila if she needed him.
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jacob stood with Lila by the fence. "I can't change the past," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "But I want to be part of your future, if you'll have me."
Lila looked at him, her heart torn. She wanted to forgive him, to let him into her life, but the scars of his absence wouldn't heal overnight.
"I don't know if I'm ready," she admitted. "But I want to try."
Jacob nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and sorrow. "That's more than I deserve. Thank you."