Matthew stood motionless in front of the stable door.

The smell of damp hay and cattle feed filled the air.

But what hurt him the most was not the smell.

It was the image in front of him.

His father.

Don Ernesto Rivas.

The man who had worked all his life under the sun.

The man who never asked for help.

Now he was sitting on the dirt floor.

With his back hunched.

And a bucket of cow feed in his hands.

Beside him was his mother, Doña Rosa.

His hands were trembling.

Mateo took a step forward.

-Dad…

Don Ernesto slowly raised his gaze.

For a second he seemed not to believe what he was seeing.

—Mateo…

The old man’s voice broke.

-It’s you?

Mateo ran towards them and knelt on the ground.

—What happened here?

No one responded immediately.

Doña Rosa began to cry.

Don Ernesto looked at the ground.

“It all started two years ago,” he murmured.

Mateo frowned.

—Tell me.

The old man took a deep breath.

—When your uncle Arturo got sick… your cousin Tomás came to help with the land.

Matthew remembered Thomas.

Ambitious.

Always talking about business.

—He said he knew how to modernize the ranch—Don Ernesto continued—. New machinery… loans… investments.

Mateo already imagined the ending.

—He asked us to sign some papers to get a loan.

Mateo clenched his fists.

—What papers?

Don Ernesto closed his eyes.

—The transfer of the ranch.

Silence fell over the stable.

—Dad… did you sign that?

The old man nodded slowly.

—I trusted him.

Mateo felt rage rising in his chest like fire.

—And then what happened?

—A month later he arrived with a lawyer —said Doña Rosa through tears—. He said that now he was the owner.

Mateo couldn’t believe it.

—And did he kick them out?

Don Ernesto nodded.

—He let us stay in the stable… if we took care of the cattle.

Mateo gritted his teeth.

—And the people?

“Everyone knows,” said Doña Rosa. “But nobody wants trouble with Tomás.”

Mateo got up slowly.

His hands were trembling.

Not out of fear.

Of anger.

He took the lottery ticket out of his pocket.

He looked at it for a few seconds.

That piece of paper represented more than just money.

He represented justice.

-Dad.

Don Ernesto looked up.

—This is over.

-What do you mean?

Mateo smiled for the first time since he arrived.

—That this story is going to change today.

He got into the truck.

“Where are you going?” her mother asked.

Mateo started the engine.

—To talk to Tomás.

The ranch house was lit up.

Tomás was sitting on the terrace with a glass of whiskey when he heard the truck arrive.

He got up.

—Well, well… if it isn’t the traveling cousin.

Mateo got out of the vehicle.

—We need to talk.

Tomás smiled.

—Did you come to visit the old folks?

Matthew did not answer.

—I recommend that you don’t get involved in matters you don’t understand—Tomás continued.

Matthew walked until he was standing in front of him.

—Give them back the ranch.

Tomás burst out laughing.

—Legally it’s mine.

Mateo took out his phone.

-Maybe.

Tomás raised an eyebrow.

—But a lawyer from Guadalajara will come tomorrow.

Tomás frowned.

—So what?

Mateo smiled.

—And also an audit team.

Tomás’s face changed.

-What are you taking about?

Mateo stared at him.

—From the loan you took out using my father’s signature.

Thomas turned pale.

—That’s legal.

—Is it safe?

Mateo took one step closer.

—Because the bank is already investigating fraud.

The silence grew heavy.

Tomás put the glass down on the table.

—Who do you think you are?

Mateo took out the lottery ticket.

—Someone who can now afford the best lawyers in the country.

Thomas looked at him in disbelief.

-What’s that?

Mateo smiled.

—The reason you just lost.

Two weeks later, the town’s story had changed.

The bank opened an investigation.

The documents proved that Tomás manipulated the contract.

The ranch legally returned to Don Ernesto’s hands.

The day they returned home, Doña Rosa didn’t stop crying.

Matthew walked through the fields at sunset.

His father approached.

-Son.

Mateo turned around.

—Yes, Dad?

The old man looked at him with pride.

—You taught me something today.

-What thing?

Don Ernesto smiled.

—A man is worth what he takes care of.

Mateo looked at the ranch.

Then he looked at his parents.

And she knew that, for the first time in many years…

Everything was exactly where it should be.