The fence post was solid. I had two more sections to check and a water trough that needed the float valve replaced before noon. I had things to do, and letting my fifteen-year-old spend the afternoon learning to hold light for a photographer wasn’t going to compromise anything except my ability to tell myself we were all maintaining proper distance.
“You stay behind the yellow lines,” I said. “Both of you.”
Her frown shifted into a smile so fast it made my head spin.
“Both of you,” I said again. “That’s not up for negotiation.”
“Yeah.” She was already backing toward the barn. “Yeah, obviously. Thank you.”
I watched her go. She shouldn't have to thank me for that. That should be ordinary. I was still working out when I'd made ordinary things feel like victories she had to campaign for.
They rolled out a little after one. I stayed home and replaced the float valve and told myself it was fine. It was fine.
I was in the kitchen at four when they came back. Rory’s voice came through the screen door before she'd cleared the porch steps. I met her outside and she showed me a shot on Bella's camera preview screen she’d taken of a father and his young daughter by the chute. The little girl looked up at her dad with a huge smile, with her whole face wide open.
“Look at the light,” Rory said. “That's what I was holding for.”
Bella stood slightly behind her, watching me.
“Good work,” I said.
Rory went on, cycling through images that she’d captured until I’d seen them all.
I complimented her, my heart feeling light and full at the excitement in her tone. When she was done, she kissed me on the cheek and headed upstairs to shower. Bella took cautious steps up onto the porch. She had dust on her collarbone, and her hair was loose from whatever she'd tied it back with this morning.
“She has a good eye,” Bella said. “I mean it.”
“I know.”
“I thought you should hear it from someone who isn’t related to her.”
I looked at her. She looked back, and the late afternoon light was doing things I was choosing not to acknowledge.
“Thank you,” I said. “For bringing her back in one piece.”
“She was careful.” The corner of her mouth moved. “She listened better than you did on day one.”
“Me?” A sharp laugh escaped.
Bella nodded but before she could say anything else, my phone rang. I almost didn't answer. I didn’t recognize the number, but I knew it was Dana the same way I knew a storm was coming before dark clouds swept in.
“I need to take this.” My chest tightened as Bella gave a little wave and turned away. I waited until she was halfway to the barn before I answered.
“Jace.” Dana’s voice was bright and full of fake cheer, the way it got when she wanted something. “I'm passing through this weekend. I thought I could stop in and see Rory.”
Dammit. She always pulled shit like this. Blew into town with no notice at all and expected us to rearrange our plans to accommodate her. Of course I’d always done it for Rory’s sake. “Where are you staying?”
“The lodge. Just one night, Saturday into Sunday.”
The lodge was forty minutes from Mustang Mountain and three stars nicer than anything in town. Dana didn't do rodeo accommodations.
“She’s helping with the Father’s Day rehearsal events on Sunday afternoon,” I said.
“I'd have her back by one.”
I stood on the porch with my hand on the door frame and thought about the last time Dana had said she'd have Rory back by a specific time. That had been October. Rory had waited on the porch until nearly seven, not saying anything, just sitting with her knees pulled up and her phone dark in her hand. I'd made dinner twice.
“Let me talk to Rory about it,” I said.
