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I’d never have this opportunity again; that was what it boiled down to.
“I’m sorry, Dusty,” Evan said.
I looked up and swallowed. I was a grown man now, and my eyes didn’t sting like they did when I was a kid. At least, I wouldn’t show it. “It’s alright. I’m going to bed. Night, all.”
Dad and Evan grunted their good-nights, but Luke followed me down the hall. “Man! Why wouldn’t you just tell them the truth?”
I turned around. “Because there’s nothing to tell, Luke.”
“Sure as shootin’, there is. Don’t tell me you weren’t puttin’ some moves on when you were working with Jess. Dude! Chicks dig a guy who loves kids. You’ve probably got her wrapped around your pinky by now!”
“Not so as you could tell it.” I shook my head. “She brought Austen today.”
Luke hissed and sagged against the opposite wall. “That sucks.”
I lifted a shoulder, trying to act philosophical. “Some things just aren’t meant to be. You know the old saying about the Lord closing a door.”
“Ain’t He supposed to open a window? That’s a load of bull crap. You got to kick that door open yourself.”
I gave a rueful laugh and shook my head. “It’s no good. She’s made her choice. I might as well learn to live with it sooner or later.”
“Yeah, well, they ain’t hitched yet. Don’t give up till the writing’s on the wall, little brother.”
I tried to smile and failed. I just pounded a fist on my big brother’s shoulder. “Thanks. Night, Luke.”
Jess
“No Dusty today?” I stood on my toes to scan through the windows, over the tops of the kids’ heads. No gray truck had pulled into the driveway, and no blue-eyed cowboy had shown up to greet the kids like they were the most important people in the world.
Morgan shook her head. “No. I guess they’re short-handed at the ranch. He called me the other day. He didn’t say anything to you?”
My forehead creased, and I felt my lower lip quiver just a bit. “No, he didn’t. I would have thought he would.”
“He thought he’d be back in a couple of months, but you know how it is for the ranchers. One day at a time.” She pointed at the window. “But I have good news! Audrey said she’d help, and here she is now.”
I looked outside and saw the black Lexus rolling up and turning off its lights. “I thought she’d have her hands full, too.”
“Well, she keeps dentist hours,” Morgan chuckled. “And she spends most afternoons trying to keep Lizzy out of trouble anyway, so she figured she might as well bring her up here. I told her you’d show her the ropes.” She checked her watch. “Whew, okay. I’ve got a Zoom call with someone who’s thinking about sponsoring us, so are you good? Biz and Markum, one of the retired show horses that came up from Oklahoma, are both waiting in the indoor ring for you to use. Do you need anything else?”
“We should be fine.” My voice sounded a little hollow, even to my own ears.
“Great. Sorry to race off. Thank you a million, once again!” Morgan blew me a kiss and power-walked off to her new office.
I let my gaze wander around the reception room. It still wasn’t finished. Neither was the arena, which didn’t have sand or siding walls yet. But the place was serviceable, at least. To its clients and volunteers, it was a labor of love, and people are more forgiving of works in progress when the heart is invested, too.
I couldn’t help remembering the work party two weeks ago—before Dustin got lost and Marshall got hurt. Everyone had such a great time pitching in together. There’d been joking and teasing, laughter and a spirit of camaraderie with all of us working for the same goal. I could almost hear the echo of voices still, and see the faces that bustled around the room with huge smiles.
But one was missing.
Dusty had worked as hard as anyone—maybe harder than most. But he’d been outside with the table saw, missing out on the joy and fun we were having indoors. We couldn’t have done anything without him feeding us the cut materials, and he managed to stay ahead of three different work crews, all needing something from him. He’d just worked out there all morning, head down, probably freezing, but never complaining, just doing what needed to be done.
And no one ever thanked him.
The world needed more guys like Dusty Walker, I decided. Just decent men. Not flashy or ostentatious. Maybe not even charismatic or funny—although, once you got to know Dusty, he could be both. He was kind of like my dad in that way. A quiet sort of man who gives to everyone but saves his best for the people closest to him. I was lucky to have him as a friend, and I was going to miss working with him.
The door jingled, and Audrey stepped inside, pulling off her chic winter hat and leather driving gloves and shepherding her niece Lizzy ahead of her. “Jess! I hear we get to work together today.”
That did sound like fun. A girl needed girl time too, right? I grinned. “That’s the rumor. Ready to get started?”
