The Longest Ride

Sophia tries to help the old man trapped behind the steering wheel. His eyes are closed, his head is bloody, but he is breathing. She offers him a drink from her water bottle. The old man mumbles something about a letter that Sophia can barely understand. When the paramedics arrive and gingerly lift the old man out of the front seat, Sophia searches the vehicle for the letter and finds it on the floor of the front seat. Sophia and Luke follow the ambulance to return the letter to the man. At the hospital, the doctor tells Sophia and Luke that the old man, Ira Levinson, is in critical condition. Ira wants to see Sophia and asks her feebly about the letter. When Sophia shows it to him, he asks her to read it. It is his letter to Ruth. Sophia reads it, tearing up, “You are my wife, but more than that, you have always been my one true love […] When I gaze into the depths of the universe, I know my time is coming when I will hold you in my arms once more” (361-62). After putting the letter in the man’s hand, Sophia leaves the room.

Months pass. As spring approaches, Sophia worries about life after graduation. She has not received an internship or even an interview. In April, Sophia’s academic adviser suggests she attend an upcoming art auction in Greensboro. Most of the East Coast art museum reps will be there. The collection is reportedly worth millions. It will be a chance to network and maybe find a job.

Without competition prize money, Luke struggles to maintain the ranch and to meet mortgage payments. Uncertain about attending an art auction, Luke nevertheless agrees to go. Sophia reads about the auction and realizes the collection belonged to the man they rescued. He died the day after they brought him in.

The art collection is exhibited in the cavernous Greensboro Convention Center. Walking among the paintings to be auctioned off, Sophia is stunned by the magnitude of the collection and the important artists represented, including Warhol, Johns, Pollock, and Picasso. As the auction begins, Ira’s attorney makes brief opening speech that the value of art comes not from the accomplishments of artists but from how each work shapes the experience of its viewers. The sophisticated buyers from big markets are restless for the sale to begin.

The first item is a painting titled Portrait of Ruth. The artist is identified only as Daniel McCallum, deceased. Even to Sophia’s untrained eye, it is the crude and amateurish work of a child. The audience is unmoved, clearly eager to get to the big-ticket items. No one bids. Luke, who carries only his traveling money, on impulse bids $400 and gets the painting as a gift to Sophia.

At that point the attorney returns to dais to read a codicil from Ira. In it, Ira explains that the collection only meant something to him because it meant so much to Ruth. The art collection reflects their love, and Ira would trade it all for one more day with Ruth. And so, he directs that whoever purchases the Portrait of Ruth, the least valuable item in the collection, but the only one that meant anything to Ira, would be given the entire collection. With that, the auction abruptly ends.

The auction explodes in pandemonium, the reps outraged and angered. Luke and Sophia are quickly ushered to a meeting room in the convention center where Ira’s attorney explains that indeed the entire collection is theirs. He advises they hire an estate attorney and arrange to sell the art soon—the events of the day will only make the collection more valuable. Luke cannot believe his good fortune: “Luke drew a deep breath, finally coming to terms with the enormity of it all. The wealth. The ranch. The life he could create with Sophia” (392).

For Luke, the next months unfold like a “fantasy” (393). The auction of the Levinson Collection in New York nets more than enough money to settle his medical bills, pay off the mortgage on the ranch, and even begin the long work of bringing the ranch back up to profitability.

Luke celebrates Sophia’s graduation with her family. Until she finds work in a museum, Sophia will stay with Luke at the ranch. Luke at last shares with Sophia what happened in Florence and why he decided to retire. He set aside his fear and rode Big Ugly Critter, his wild nemesis, to win the competition. Then, he turned down the pick-up truck that went with first place, taking the prize money instead. With it, he bought Sophia an engagement ring, which he gives to her now.

That night after the two have sex, Luke watches the night sky, thinking about how fortunate he has been. The money will save the ranch—but “Sophia was the real treasure he’d found […] worth more to him than all the art in the world” (398). At that moment, a shooting star crosses the sky. Luke smiles, certain that the stranger who changed their lives is looking down on him in approval.