Page 10 of The Cowboy Who Came Home

“This is Finn Ackerman.” He looked up, pure question in his eyes.

“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “That’s all he said.”

“Maybe he got interrupted.” He set down her phone. “When did he get home?”

“This morning.”

“This morning?” Alex half-chuckled. “He’s probably swamped out on that ranch. His parents, his aunts and uncles. Cousins everywhere. Siblings.” He got up and picked up a couple of boxes of Rice-a-Roni and headed for the pantry. “He’ll call you later, I’m sure.”

“They were having a big party tonight.”

“So tomorrow,” Alex said. “He’s always liked you so much, Edee.” He put the rice away and returned to the counter for the last item that needed to go into the pantry: a couple of sleeves of instant yeast. He jabbed them toward her. “You know, you could text him back. Maybe he’s waiting for that.”

Edith picked up her phone, trying to think of what she could say to Finn. “It’s just—it’s been so long since I’ve texted a man.”

“You text me all the time,” Alex said.

“You know what I mean.” She looked at the words on her phone—This is Finn Ackerman—her mind blank. She had no idea what to say back. She hadn’t flirted with anyone in years. She didn’t know how to be with anyone but Levi. “I loved him so much, you know? When you fall in love with someone like that, you think you’ll never be able to do it again. That no one will ever be able to take his place.”

She looked up, feeling lost and untethered and hating it.

“Do you feel disloyal?” Alex asked. “Because you shouldn’t. I was here with Levi, Edee. He wanted you to move past him. Find someone else. I know he did.”

“Yes, well.” Edith remembered the slow mornings when she’d go into Levi’s bedroom and crawl into bed with him. They’d lay there in the soft morning light, nothing said between them. He’d simply hold her, and she’d listen to his heartbeat, and then, after a while, he’d say something like, You’ll meet someone else, Edee.

You’ll fall in love with him, and maybe he’ll be able to do what I can’t. Marry you. Love you for your whole life. Give you babies and as many cats as you want.

She’d smile then, but such a gesture with words like that always came with tears. Near the end of his life, he’d started to change what he said to, Promise me you’ll try to meet someone else, Edee.

I know God doesn’t want you to be alone forever.

Promise me you won’t be too sad after I’m gone.

Promise me you’ll write me into books and always love me, but don’t box up your heart.

Promise me.

Promise me.

Promise me.

Edith had promised him too, because it had meant so much to Levi. She’d have done anything to make him happy, make him more comfortable, make him smile in those last days and hours of his life.

“I miss him a lot today,” she murmured.

Alex sat down beside her again. “I know you do, Edee. I can see that on your face too.” He put his arm around her and pulled her into his side. Edith collapsed against the strength of her brother, her eyes burning yet again with unshed tears.

“What would I even text back?”

Alex took a moment, and then he said, “How about something like—It was great to see you today, Finn. I hope your party is fun.”

“That sounds so fifth-grade,” Edith said.

“But it says a lot,” he said. “I know I’d like it if a certain redhead from the feed store would send me those simple words—it was great to see you today, Alex.”

Edith laughed then, because Alex did have a pretty massive crush on Nicki Johnston at the feed store. He went even when he didn’t need to, and that was one errand Edith never had to do.

“Why don’t you just ask her for her number?” Edith asked.

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