“Strawberry or in-season peach ice cream is always a favorite. Maybe vanilla-peach-caramel?”
“That sounds amazing.”I thinkyou’rekind of amazing.
“About ten miles up the highway, there’s a small orchard that’s on the barn-quilt tour. They have great peaches. Krissy knows all about them. You’ll have to ask her to show you where that orchard is.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“Ready to make the other two, or should we save that for another day?” he asked.
“If you have time, I’m up for trying it while I still remember everything.”
“Fine by me.” He smiled and shrugged. “I have nowhere I need to be.”
For two hours, they made pies and Adam shared stories with her about growing up visiting his grandpa in Antler Creek. All the land on the hill used to belong to his grandparents, along with the feedstore where the two met.
She enjoyed hearing about how he treasured his summers and every school break that he got to spend in Antler Creek, and there was no question in his mind that someday he’d live there.
She envied that he was so sure of things, and although the family rift seemed to be about his major decisions, he seemed not to hold a grudge over it. Quite the contrary, he missed his folks and held on to the special things they’d shared, hoping someday they’d understand the goals he strived for.
She looked out the kitchen window, over at his barn. The big red structure had a loft in the middle, but it looked as though over the years, they’d just kept adding stalls, giving it the look of a giant bird with wings that went on and on. “Why don’t you have a barn quilt?”
“I think that’s more the kind of thing the woman of the place picks out. I never heard of them growing up, but I see them all the time on the road now.”
“I think they’re neat. I’m trying to paint one.”
“Where are you going to put it? On the bunkhouse?”
“Sure, why not?”
“I don’t know. I guess because it seems like something people do for the long term, not at a place they’re renting. But it’s nice.”
“It’s just a board screwed to the building. Not too hard to take down.”
“True. Let me know how it turns out.”
“I might need your help hanging it. You could end up being the first person to see how it turns out. That is,ifit turns out.”
“Have faith in yourself. I have a feeling you can do just about anything you put your mind to.”
I used to believe that.“Thank you, Adam. It’s been a long time since I did something just for fun.”
“You’ve got to balance the needs and wants in order to be happy.”
“For a crazy cowboy, you sure have good advice.”
“Well, it might look like I’m just throwing caution to the wind on a wild run, but I can promise you that I’ve planned this out.” He rubbed his scarred hands together. “I know exactly what my goals are and how I will get there.”
“Did you always know?”
“I’ve always loved rodeo, but my priorities have shifted along the way. Especially the last few years,” he admitted. “My goals are long-term, but I have to hit every milestone if I’m going to achieve them all in time.”
“Sounds like you’re racing a ticking clock.”
“I am. Sort of. It’s critical that I make the finals and do well in them this fall. My whole future rides on that.”
She wished her future was that focused. She admired him for that, even if it was crazy for someone to want to tie himself to a bull, even for just eight seconds. Then again, what else could you complete in that short amount of time and call it done?
9
