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Dear God in heaven, my heart was never going to function properly around this woman.
Wearing a flouncy skirt, a denim shirt tied at her waist, and boots, she was every cowboy’s dream. I’d been a fool to call her a city girl.
“There you are!” she said. “I was about to climb the fence and haul you over here myself. I’ve been expecting you since six o’clock this morning.”
“With such a big day ahead of you,” I replied. “I decided to stay out of your hair as much as possible.”
Callie hooked her arm through mine, falling into step beside me. My brain went blank for a split second. A warm swell of pride in my chest turned bittersweet. What if Beau was already here? What if he saw me walking with his girl like this?
Callie gestured to a picnic table, set up near the site of the old barn. A few men were clustered around it, deep in conversation. Eight or nine more volunteers cleared away the fire debris—charred wood and scorched metal and piles of ashes. I recognized a handful of cowboys who worked at High Plains Ranch alongside Beau. That meant he was definitely here somewhere.
“A blueprint of the new barn is being sketched out as we speak,” Callie said. “You’re welcome to join the planning and building if you like. There’s less small talk and more action. Or you can help me in the kitchen. Rory and I are making enough peach cobbler, fried chicken, and biscuits to feed a small army. Your choice.”
“I’ll take the barn,” I said.
“Thought so.” Callie gave my bicep a squeeze. “I’m glad you came.”
Then she turned away, waving directions to a new caravan of cars that rolled up her driveway.
***
By supper time, the bare bones of the barn’s structure had been assembled and put in place. It was almost twice as big as Callie’s old barn, with more room for the horses, and plenty of storage space for feed and equipment.
Beau shoved his gloves in his back pocket and clapped me on the shoulder.
“I’m starving, and that barbecue smells delicious. How about we elbow our way over to the buffet table before all the good stuff is picked clean?”
Without waiting for a reply, he strode toward the long table brimming with food, set up by the house. Despite the fact that dozens of people milled around it, scooping dinner onto their plates, Beau didn’t hesitate to dive into the crowd. People parted and welcomed him into their ranks when he laughed, compliments sliding off his tongue as smoothly as melted butter on a hot biscuit.
I chose to hang back, waiting for the immediate rush to die down. The screen door opened with a squeak of hinges and Callie emerged, carrying a massive tray of fried chicken. Before she could put a foot on the steps, Beau was there in a heartbeat, arms outstretched to take the tray from her.
He tilted his chin up as he said something, judging by the way his mouth moved. Callie cocked her hip and shook her head with a fond look of exasperation. When he flashed one of his trademark charming grins, she shoved him in the shoulder and pointed him toward the buffet table.
“Go!” she said, laughing. “Before the chicken gets cold.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. They really did look good together.
Eventually, the crowd dissipated across the lawn or gathered at folding tables to eat. One or two cowboys had the same idea I did—approaching the food only when the coast was clear. I filled my plate with fried chicken, corn, carrots, and watermelon. A small herd of children swarmed the desserts and I decided to bypass it altogether, snatching a biscuit as I made my getaway.
I found myself wandering the pasture, feeling more at home with the land than among the horde of people. As I got farther away from the house, the hum of conversation grew distant, replaced with the buzz of bees on tufts of clover, and the gentle rustle of the wind in the leaves. Callie had blocked off the northern stretch of pasture until she could get the fence fixed. The horses were relegated to the western edge of her property and I went in search of them now.
I crossed paths with Applejack first, grazing slowly beneath the shade of a massive old oak. A few sparrows perched on his swayback, plucking beaks full of his hair to line their nests with. In the distance, I spotted Blossom a few feet away, with Orion, Tennyson, and Hera chasing each other in the sun.
Smiling to myself, I settled beneath the oak with Applejack, my back leaning against the gnarled bark. When Applejack ambled closer, I didn’t mind when he stole a carrot off my plate. I scratched at his forehead until his eyes slipped closed and he slumped to the ground beside me with a heavy sigh.
I stayed that way for nearly an hour with Applejack’s head almost in my lap. The golden sunlight of late afternoon gradually dimmed with shadows of early evening. The snap and crackle of a bonfire bloomed to life near Callie’s house. Figures shuffled closer with their chairs, circling the flames.
I made no move to join them though. Besides, Applejack could use the company.
Just as the sun began to slip below the horizon, a familiar figure traipsed through the pasture. Callie shielded her eyes, scanning the landscape. I gave a whistle and lifted my hand to get her attention. A smile spread across her face as she made a beeline toward me.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” she said. “Should have known you would be with the horses.”
I shrugged. “Guilty as charged.”
Callie plopped onto the grass beside me and held out a Tupperware.
“I saved some peach cobbler for you.”
