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“That’s fantastic,” said his sister-in-law Shelby.
“It’d be nice to get some of your beadwork to sell,” said Cara. “And some art, maybe. I think it would be amazing to have work by indigenous artisans, so that people can get an idea of the real Lone Rock.”
“Happy to oblige,” said Shelby. “I love the idea of local art being featured.”
“You can recommend anybody whose work you love locally.”
“Now I’m drunk with power.”
“Investing in business,” said his dad. “That’s unlike you.”
“Well. I’m changing some things. I’m done with the rodeo.”
His dad nodded slowly. “I thought you might be.”
“Done with the rodeo and looking to buy land around here. So that Cara and I can build a house and start a family.”
“I’m so happy for you,” said Callie, beaming. “This is just great.”
But for some reason, his family’s joy wasn’t quite touching him all the way down, and he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why. Cara seemed happy, and he wanted more than anything for her to be happy. No question about that. None at all. He was doing all of the things that he had decided to, and he had announced it, he was certain.
He didn’t know why uncertainty was following him. Because there really wasn’t any reason for uncertainty. They finished up dinner, and Shelby and Cara had gotten involved in discussing logistics for selling art and featuring art throughout the hotel for sale, and he and his brothers took the opportunity to go into his parents’ game room and throw some darts.
Usually, Callie would’ve joined the boys. But not today. Chance threw the first dart and hit the bull’s-eye. The problem with this was they were all too good.
“Seriously, though,” said Chance, when Kit’s dart came from behind and hit his, knocking it out of position. “Congratulations. I’m glad that you finally opened your eyes to what you guys had this whole time.”
“Same,” said Kit.
Flint and Boone exchanged looks with each other. His brother-in-law, Jake, raised his glass of whiskey. “Absolutely. Marriage is the best damn thing.”
“It is,” Chance agreed.
“Spoken like a man who keeps his balls in his wife’s purse,” said Flint.
“Spoken like a man who has a diss track about him that’s currently number one on the country airwaves,” Chance shot back.
“It is not a diss track. And it isn’t about me.”
“It’s about you,” said Boone.
“You’re a turncoat,” said Flint.
“The thing is,” said Chance, “I think opening yourself up to all this... It’s tough. It’s tough to let go of all the shit that you’ve been through and decide that you want to... Hope.”
“Don’t go too far,” said Jace, picking up a dart and flinging it at the dartboard. He missed the bull’s-eye. What the hell was that about?
“It’s not about hope or anything like that. It’s just... It makes sense. I’m not gonna be in the rodeo forever. Not by a long shot. And I needed to decide what to do. I felt uncertain, but it was only because I was avoiding the most obvious thing. Clearly, going all in on being here is the answer. And then... Cara and I... You know, something happened.”
“When exactly?” Chance asked.
“Not your business. But a couple of days ago.”
“A couple of days ago?” Three of his brothers asked that at once.
“Yes,” he said.
“And you just... Decided to marry her when the first time you’ve actually ever been with her was a couple of days ago?” Kit asked.
