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“‘It’s great?’” Hudson says. “You’re out there living every kid’s dream and all you can say is ‘It’s great?’”

“I mean . . . yeah.” Noble leans back in his chair and takes a drink from his water bottle.

“Don’t say you don’t like it,” Boone says.

“Let’s just say it has its ups and downs,” Noble says. “I just need a break, you know?”

“Which means . . .” I say, leaning forward, “don’t grill him about work when he’s on vacation.”

“I mean, if I had the best job in the world, I wouldn’t shut up about it, but have it your way,” West says. “Toss me a marshmallow.”

Boone chucks one across the circle, and it hits West in the face.

West jumps up and makes like he’s going to tackle him, and Boone yelps and falls backward off the cooler.

“Yeah, stay down, chump,” West says, sitting back down.

We all react, except for Noble. I glance over at him, and see that his expression is flat. Then, he looks at me, and I can tell he’s not saying something—but wants to.

I don’t know what’s going on with him, with the rodeo, but it’s something. And he doesn’t want to share—not here. Not yet.

I don’t want to be suspicious that maybe he got into some sort of trouble and he’s come here to run away, but the thought does cross my mind. Why else would he show up after all this time, trying so hard to earn his place back in this town?

The questions are loud in my head, so I change the subject.

I tell everyone else about the glamping idea, laying out all the reasons it’s moved to the top of Phase Two. I sense that Noble’s grateful to have the attention shifted away from him.

“Hold up, sister,” Boone says, mashing a gooey marshmallow between two pieces of waffle cone and a Hershey bar. “Are we going to be your free labor again? Because all these extra hours I put in out here have really hurt my social life.”

“Boone, your social life is a one-man tent.” Rowe smirks at him from across the circle.

Rolls of laughter, peppered with “all hat, no cattle” and “popular with the sixty-five plus crowd” fill the cool night air.

Boone stands up. “Yeah, yeah, you’re just jealous of all this and you know it,” he lifts the front of his shirt, winding his hips around in a circle.

We all pelt him with marshmallows.

After Boone sits back down, Noble says, “She’s going to use my trailer to start.”

“Where are you going to stay?” Rowe asks. “I mean, don’t you need it?”

He shrugs. “I’m working that out. But if the trailer helps the ranch, you can have it.”

“Or I can buy one and pay you to fix it up,” I say.

“Whoa!” Hudson says. “I never got paid!”

“You were hardly here,” I say.

“Yeah, you had to go be a fire hero or whatever,” West gives Hudson a shove.

“Excuse me for having a real job,” Hudson says.

They all laugh, then Noble says, “Sorry, I’m not taking any money from you. This trailer is ready to go. And if it goes well and you want another one, I’ll help you find it, and I’ll renovate it for you.”

“With me,” I correct him. “Your décor needs a woman’s touch.”

“Yes ma’am.” He looks at me. “With you. You got it.”