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Roger lifted his brow. “Really? Who?”
“The Nights. Their daughter, Saryn, got divorced and is moving back with her three-year-old daughter. They want a playhouse to rival no other. Evie’s words.”
Laughing, Roger rubbed the back of his neck. “Evie Night. You know the reason she’s most likely hiring you?”
I nodded.
“What is Saryn, two or three years behind you and Ryan?”
Ryan was Saryn’s older brother and one of my good friends from high school. We were still friends.
“She’s a year younger.”
“She moved to Dallas after she married Tim Ackerman,” Roger said, looking at me with an expression I hadn’t ever seen before. Almost as if he was waiting for my reaction.
I snarled my lip. “Who in their right mind would marry that prick?”
“Who knows. She was pretty, if I remember.”
My mind drifted back to high school. To Saryn, her light brown hair in a ponytail, those coffee-colored eyes sparkling as she rode her horse around the arena. Ryan never had to ask me twice if I wanted to go with him and watch his sister barrel race. Any excuse to see Saryn. I’d never told Ryan how much I liked his sister. Growing up, she was always just Ryan’s little sister. Until high school, when Saryn became the beautiful young woman who looked at me with eyes that hinted at something I could never figure out.
“Yeah, she was pretty.”
Roger gave me a quick glance, then looked away.
I drew in a deep breath, then let it out. “Well, anyway, I’m heading out to the Night’s ranch later this afternoon. I’m going to text Ryan, see if he’s around.”
“Tell him I said hey if you do see him. And be prepared, Evie Night likes things big and showy.”
“Big and showy is all I know.”
Lucy walked into the kitchen, now dressed in her own clothes, grabbed a wrapped taco, and waved to both of us. “See ya around, Roger?”
Roger gave her a grin that didn’t really reach his eyes, causing Lucy’s smile to fade slightly. “Yeah, see ya around.”
And like that, she walked out without so much as looking back.
Roger and I stared at the empty doorway until we heard the door shut.
I couldn’t help but notice my brother looked a bit disappointed.
After pulling down the long gravel driveway, I saw the Night house in front of me. The large, two-story ranch had a wraparound porch with rocking chairs and other comfortable seating areas. I’d spent many a night on that porch.
I pulled up and parked to the side and got out of the truck. Glancing around, I took in the beautiful sight before me. There was nothing like the Texas Hill Country, and the Nights owned one of the prettiest ranches in the county. Not that I would ever let my father hear me say that.
Large, live oak trees towered over the driveway and house. The front pasture was short and fenced off, to keep their cattle away from the house. Two horses grazed lazily as one of them lifted its head to give me a quizzical look. When she saw I wasn’t coming with food, she went back to eating the pasture grass. I couldn’t help but smile. Horses always reminded me of Saryn.
I shook the thought away and headed toward the house.
“Truitt Carter! My goodness, look at you!”
I turned to see Evie Night walking toward me. The older woman had to be in her upper fifties, but she was still drop-dead gorgeous. Once upon a time, she’d been the rodeo queen who snagged the heart of the local football hero. Will Night had given up his chance to play pro ball in order to go to college, get the mandated degree for ranchers—whatever the hell that was—and come home to take over the family ranch.
“Mrs. Night, it’s good to see you again.”
She waved off my words. “Truitt, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Evie. Look at you. Good Lord, if they don’t breed them good here in Boerne. Son, how are you still not married?”
I laughed. “Probably the same reason Ryan isn’t.”
Evie raised a brow. “You just haven’t met the woman who wants to make you settle down. Now Ryan, I feel there’s no hope for that son of mine.”
I tipped my cowboy hat at her. “I won’t argue with you on that last point.”
Will walked toward us, a wide grin on his face.
“Truitt, how are your momma and daddy doing?”
“Mr. Night, they’re doing well. Thank you for asking.”
“Call me Will, son.”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
It was the same conversation each time I saw Evie and Will. Being raised in the south, it was hard to break the habit of addressing older folks with respect.
Will clapped me on the back. “You’ve made a name for yourself, son. Ryan tells us you’re starting to build playhouses for folks in other states. I’m sure your daddy is proud.”
