Claudie snorted. “That’s the perfect time. Step up to the plate, little brother. Shockingly, we’re behind. Make us proud.”
By us, she meant a foursome comprised of Claudie, him, Auntie Kat and Auntie Ezzie. Greta, Rio, Grandma Doris and Auntie Carmen made up the opposing team.
The Dazzling Damsels all had good arms. They’d even created a horseshoe pit behind the bunkhouse so they could work on their game.
Their setup might be in better shape than the family one situated in an informal picnic area to the left of the ranch house. In winter this yard was where they staged snowball fights, built forts, and snow families.
In the summer they resurrected the horseshoe pit and hauled the wooden picnic tables out of the tractor barn. The fire pit, set a distance away so random sparks wouldn’t catch the tables on fire, was spruced up by cementing in the stones that had fallen out during a heavy freeze.
He picked up a horseshoe and took his position.
“Hang on a minute, Monty.” Auntie Kat sauntered over. The top of her head barely reached his shoulder, yet she’d forged a successful modeling career despite being short. “It looks like you’ve abandoned that floating arm trick I showed you last summer.”
“You’re so right. I completely forgot.” He’d had Zinnia brain since last night. It was his only excuse and he couldn’t use it.
“Then let me refresh your memory. You do this.” Picking up a horseshoe, she flattened her palm, stiffened her arm and brought it to shoulder height. “Keep your arm straight. No wavering. Swing your arm back down, swing it back up and let that sucker fly.”
“I remember now. Thanks.” Once she’d focused his attention on the game, his brain clicked into gear. He’d been the only one of his siblings who’d adopted Auntie Kat’s new delivery last summer. The Damsels, aka his aunties and grandma, had been using it since this game started.
That he’d failed to notice showed how rattled he was. Why had he thought he could pull off this secrecy thing?
Gripping a horseshoe, he flattened his palm, stiffened his arm and brought it to shoulder height. Then he let it swing down and centrifugal force brought it back up.
She’s here. The growl of Graham’s truck torpedoed his concentration and delivered a hefty dose of adrenaline. As it poured through his system, he couldn’t seem to let go of the horseshoe.
When he finally did, way too high in the arc, it sailed over the stake and keep going. The four people standing there scattered. It finally landed a couple of yards beyond the stake.
Rio let out a whistle. “What the hell was that?”
Shaken by the burst of energy, he gazed at the spot where the horseshoe rested. “I don’t know what happened. It was like the horseshoe was glued to my hand.” And Zinnia was in that truck. Her energy tugged at him but he needed to stay put.
Rio put his fist to his mouth and mimicked a carnival barker. “And for his next trick, Monty Bridger will lift a car!”
“Hilarious, bro.” Funny, but in that moment, he might’ve been able to do it. “Who’s up next?”
“Me.” Auntie Ezzie, even shorter than Auntie Kat, danced up to the plate. “You know what we need? Walk-up songs. We should each have a walk-up song.”
“Tell me what you want,” Rio said. “Greta and I will sing it.”
Greta laughed. “Yeah, we will. Loud, too.”
“Bueno! Sing Beer Never Broke My Heart. I’ll back away and come back in.”
Monty gave thanks for the distraction provided by his quirky family as he struggled to keep his attention on the game. Rio and Greta belted out the first few bars of the Luke Combs tune while Auntie Ezzie pranced up to the plate. She got a ringer, so now all the Damsels wanted a walk-up song.
So damn cute. If he could just focus on?—
“Mister Monty, Mister Monty!” He spun around and here came Tex, legs and arms pumping, his cowboy hat bouncing against his back, the string around his neck keeping it from falling.
Zinnia was a couple of yards behind him, calling his name and gaining fast. The little kid must have gotten a head start. No way could he outrun her.
He was halfway to the horseshoe pit when she caught him and scooped him up in her arms. He immediately started pleading for his freedom while Zinnia tried to talk him down.
What to do? It really wasn’t a question. He glanced at his teammates. “I gotta?—”
“Go, go.” Claudie waved her hands in Zinnia’s direction. “Poor kid looks like he’s ready to cry.”
Sure enough, by the time he arrived, Tex had tears dribbling down his face.
