Scout stood as I got closer, and I ran a hand across his soft fur. “We’re safe. For now.”
He whined then bolted away as if he suspected I’d cave to Jocelyn’s whims and plant one on him.
“Mal, you in here?” Nate called.
I readjusted my hat to fit better across my brow as I exited the tractor bay. “What’s up?”
His skin had darkened since returning from Nashville, one of the ranch’s visual imprints. “Betsy just called. She said she has an opening in her schedule tomorrow if I wanted to come down to her studio to do the recording.”
I rubbed my palm against my cheek, unshaven facial hair like sandpaper scratching at the surface. “I think we can manage without you for a few days.” I slapped him on the shoulder. “Knock ’em dead.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Go. Be a huge star.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.” He gave me a hopeful smile.
My phone vibrated against my chest, but I didn’t want to pull it out in front of Nate. He’d ask questions that I didn’t want to answer—or tease, which I didn’t want to hear. Whatever Jocelyn and I had—if we even had anything at all—felt too fragile to share.
“I’ll go get the Whalen group set up to ride the fence line and check for snags.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder.
“Thanks, Nate.”
“Sure thing.”
I waited until he left before pulling my phone back out.
Jocelyn:
Good news! Mama is getting discharged!
Malachi:
That is good news.
Jocelyn:
Thanks for distracting me from
the awful sounds and smells
of the hospital.
Malachi:
Not sure how much help I
really was, butyou
can count on me anytime.
Jocelyn:
I’ll ttyl.
Even though I didn’t text much, I knew ttyl stood for talk to you later. I deposited my phone back into my shirt pocket and grabbed the end of the hose, dragging it to the water troughs to fill them up.
For the rest of the day I tried to think of things I could text Jocelyn to talk about, but the abscess I’d discovered in one of the cattle’s hooves didn’t seem like a good conversation starter. The sun lowered in the sky now, casting brilliant swatches of pinks and oranges in its last hoorah before retreating fully for the night. Jocelyn was probably getting her mom settled. Maybe making a heart-healthy dinner or relaxing on the couch with a movie. Either way, she was missing out on the tapestry before me. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone, took a picture, and sent it to her minus a caption. Some things didn’t need words.
