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He wasn’t a real rancher yet, but he would learn. He enjoyed learning, studying something, especially something he enjoyed. Working with the land, being among God’s creations, gave him a sense of peace he could no longer find in any other parts of his life. Except, he thought, walking with Hannah.
He had plans for the weekend. There were fences to mend. And he needed to irrigate the south pasture of grass and alfalfa he had planted in the spring. He had the cattle grazing off the overgrowth in the north pasture, soy fields that hadn’t seen a bean in at least a decade. He’d sell the steers in the fall for some liquid assets and keep the heifers to expand his herd.
The acres he’d planted would produce enough hay for the winter, if the spring was wet enough. He should be able to get at least two cuts. He thought about all the other expenses, like grain and supplements and vitamins for the mamas, and a veterinarian to show him the ropes with the first births. Though he had some medical training from the Marines, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to stuff his arms up to the shoulder inside a cow on his first go round.
By afternoon he still had plenty to do, but he was exhausted to his bones. He had driven in several new fence posts. He still had to haul manure out to the stockpile. But what he really needed to do, what he had been avoiding for weeks, was the pile of paperwork sitting on the kitchen table. If he didn’t get his books in order soon, he’d never be able to catch up.
As he walked back to the house, he saw Hannah pushing Mae’s stroller up the drive. He waved as he watched them approach. She reminded him of a renaissance painting, with the afternoon sun haloed behind her.
“What brings you by?”
Mae waved a plastic container in her hands and gabbled something he couldn’t understand.
“We made cookies,” Hannah translated for her. She passed him a plastic container with scribbled writing on the top.
“Thank you.” He lifted the lid to catch the scent of warm vanilla and sugar. “Isn’t this a nice surprise. You babysitting again?”
“I’ll be working for Olivia, now that she’s gone back to work.”
“That’s great!”
She nodded. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like it was your fault that I lost my job.”
His face fell. “You don’t have to apologize. I was butting into your business.”
She shook her head. “You were right to be concerned.”
So, she too had felt nervous about Troy’s behavior that day. He held up the cookies. “I was just about to take a break. Would you want to come in and have some with me? I have cold milk.”
Hannah hesitated but for only a moment. “Sure, that sounds great.”
She picked Mae out of the stroller and he gestured her toward the house. He opened the door, then stopped dead before stepping inside. The gun was still sitting on the kitchen table. “Let me just grab some plates and glasses.” He pointed toward the dining room. “Please. Sit.”
He rushed into the kitchen and swept the weapon into his hands, cursing himself. He ran up the stairs, locked the gun in the safe in his closet, then hurried back down. He grabbed the dishes from the cupboard.
Hannah looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry if we’re interrupting.”
“It’s a welcome excuse to not have to dothat.” He nodded at the papers stacked on the coffee table. “I’m afraid I’m terrible with organizing my paperwork.”
“Do you use any software programs for it?” she asked, sitting Mae in her lap. “There are a lot of good products out there.”
He shook his head, placing a cookie on a plate and passing it to her. “Any programs you recommend?”
“Sure, but it’s what works for you. There are just programs that are much easier to use.”
“Easier sounds nice.” He was surprised, and it must’ve shown on her face.
“I’ve worked with them before. I could help.”
“That’s really nice, but I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” She shrugged. “It would be fun.”
“You think spreadsheets arefun?” He couldn’t wrap his head around the idea. He poured the milk. “I hate that part of the business.”
“Are you happy, being back in Prairie Valley?”
Her question felt personal. In his family, they only ever made small talk. Feelings never came into it.
