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I guessed Dan to be in his seventies. He couldn’t hide his worry for his wife, but his smile spoke of fond memories.
“We’ll get going,” I said. I didn’t want to push my luck. “Sorry again to make you come all the way out here.”
Dan lifted a shoulder. “Eh, it breaks up the day. As long as you’re not up to no good.”
“Naw, it’s gettin’ too hot for that,” I said.
He chortled. “Ain’t that right. The heat’s been good for Alice.” His eyes dipped to Delaney’s hand. The logic behind her not wearing her ring made sense. There were times while helping at her place I thought it’d be best to put mine in my pocket. Didn’t mean the primal part of my brain liked her finger bare. He lifted his gaze to mine. “You said you’re going to Texas?”
“I’m from there, yes.”
He bobbed his head. “I knew your dad. How is he?”
Unexpected longing cascaded through me. I didn’t know the answer, but I pressed the flash of guilt and said, “He’s doing good. I’ll tell him I ran into you.”
“Eh, I’d be surprised if he remembered me. I’m quite a bit older, but Alice used to sell eggs to your grandparents.”
Another person talking about family I’d never met was easier than lying about knowing how my dad was doing.
“Well, have a good trip.” Dan adjusted in his seat. “Next time you’re in town, give me a holler. You two can come out here anytime—until we sell it anyway. Let me get this noisy thing out of here before you untie the horses.”
He sped off, and I caught Delaney staring at me.
She was giving me the same look as when she’d said she liked my confidence. “You can charm the pants off anyone.”
“Good business isn’t always about being shrewd and inflexible. It’s about knowing who has the power and how they want to use it. Dan loves this place. Too bad about Alice.” Weird that I felt like I knew the couple from a few minutes of conversation.
Delaney let out a wistful sigh. “I guess we’d better go.”
Puffy clouds in the sky took turns shading us from the sun as we rode in the ditch past Uncle Bruce’s place. The smell of clover surrounded me, and the buzz of grasshoppers nearly drowned out the sound of the horses sifting through the grass. The drone of a different engine cut through the peace.
Delaney looked over her shoulder. “That’s Bruce.”
I was going to wave, but he slowed and parked on the side of the road. He rushed out of the pickup and rounded the hood. Delaney and I rode toward the road.
“I’m glad I caught you,” he called as we neared. “I wanted to make sure to tell you not to be a stranger.” He gave my wife a small smile. “You either, Delaney. Willow and I would love to have you both over.”
She tried to hide her surprise. “Uh…thanks, Bruce.”
He bobbed his head. “You two busy tomorrow night? You could come over then. I know you’re not here long, Archer.”
I glanced at Delaney and let her answer. I wanted to get to know Uncle Bruce more, but she had a loaded history with him. Changed or not, he’d given her reason to be guarded. Regardless, I appreciated that he wasn’t ignoring her now and was being outright neighborly.
“Sounds good,” she answered carefully. “Want us to bring anything?”
“Just yourselves.” Bruce paused, glancing between us, a smile on his face. “We’re really looking forward to it. Glad I caught you.”
His sincerity was staggering. I didn’t sense underlying reasons to have us over other than he wanted to visit. There was no deal getting made. There was no hidden agenda to coax me into dissolving my marriage. He and his wife wanted the company, and they wanted to get to know their nephew.
Bruce hopped in his pickup and drove away. Delaney and I turned the horses for home.
She was quiet, stuck in her head, her shoulders rounded.
“That was out of the blue, I take it?”
She popped her head up. “So far out of what I ever imagined. I think he’s actually happy to have me over and not just enduring my presence to get you there.” She shook her head, and her gaze went distant as if she were lost in the past. “He tried to hold on to control after Derek died. Took care of Kennedy like she was a kid, which I guess she needed for a while. But then he broke down. He’s been so different ever since.”
Losing someone could do that to a person. Would my dad have understood more than the other siblings? Would they have been able to lean on each other?
Bolt knew where we were going. I relaxed and used the time to watch my wife. Her body rocked with Target’s steps. I took a mental snapshot of this moment. Riding a horse in the middle of a broom grass- and clover-filled ditch, she was radiant. The golden skin on her shoulders glowed. Her ball cap shaded her face, giving her a shyness that reminded me of when we first met.
The ride to her place was as quiet as the ride out. She had something on her mind. Did she have another argument with her mom? Or was she like me and thinking about how the clock was ticking and I’d leave soon, but we hadn’t made any decisions yet?
