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Something’s out there.
I jump at the hand on my arm.
“We have to tell, Dad,” Fallon hisses. “Now.”
I chuckle and give her a shove. “Okay. You first.”
“Christ, I need a beer,” Fallon says.
Charlie, stomping past, makes a growl of consternation as she yanks his from his hands. She slugs it down.
“C’mon, you little chicken.” I loop my arm through hers. Slowly, we approach our father.
“You here to ambush me, girls?” Our father gestures at the couch and we sit down beside him. He’s grown his mustache out, nearly to the end of his chin, in true cowboy style.
“Something like that.” I glance at Davis. Everyone’s eyes are on me like a spotlight. “It’s time for secrets.” At the mention of our old game, my sister smiles. “We have something to tell you.”
At the dart board, Ruby and Charlie still.
“I may be an old man, daydreamer, but I don’t miss much.” My father grins at the ring on my finger. “It’s about fucking time you two stopped dancing around it.”
Davis clears his throat and nods.
“A real good life is hard to find. A good love is even harder.” Stede’s eyes bounce from me to Davis. “But you two got it. And you hang tight to that.”
“Here, here,” Ford calls and lifts his beer.
“And…we’re moving to Eden,” Davis says, pride resonating in his voice.
Hoots come from all around.
“But that’s not all.” Fallon’s voice comes out strained. “I have to tell you something, too.”
Across the yard, Wyatt stares into his beer.
“I…” For once in her life, words fail her. Fallon’s panicked eyes dart to me.
I take pity on my sister and go first.
I slip my father’s hand into mine. “I want to buy The Corner Store, Daddy. I want it to stay in the family, but I want…I want to turn it into a bakery.”
“A bakery, huh?” My father wears his surprise well, stroking a finger down one side of his mustache. His gaze drifts to Fallon. “I don’t know how Fallon feels about that.”
Fallon inhales. “Let Dakota have the store. I don’t want it.” She bites her lip and takes my father’s other hand. “I’ve been training with Pappy Starr.”
Our father’s breath hitches.
“I’m riding bulls,” Fallon says. Every muscle in her body is rigid. “I’m going to enter the PBR.”
Silence. For two straight minutes.
“Give me your blessing, Daddy. Please.” Fallon’s lower lip trembles. If there’s one thing that will get her to cry, it’s our father.
After a pause, he nods at Fallon. “I give you mine, baby girl,” he says, but I don’t miss the concern in his eyes.
“Thank you.” Two bright spots of color appear on Fallon’s cheeks. She looks at Wyatt and juts her chin out in that defiant way of hers. “Give me yours.”
The brothers swing their heads to him.
