Page 2 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

He could be anyone here, as he often thought about who he’d be in a group of people who didn’t know him, didn’t know the last name Glover, had never heard of him or his family.

“Howdy, fellas,” a young woman said, and Link automatically signed it for Mitch. The woman glittered and grinned and giggled and she added, “Names?”

“Lincoln and Mitch Glover,” Link said.

The woman couldn’t be older than Link, and in fact, she was probably a few years younger. She looked down at her clipboard, then glanced back up. “You’re this way, please.” She turned and walked into the crowd, and Mitch once again led the way as he followed her. Link wished he could live his life that fearlessly, because if that woman said anything to Mitch, he wouldn’t be able to communicate with her.

She led them to a table that seated eight but only had one couple sitting there, and Link smiled at John and Nina Malone. He owned both hardware stores in town, and he nodded over to Link and Mitch.

“You’re here,” the woman said. “You can sit anywhere, but the tables are full tonight, so we ask that you don’t leave a single seat between couples.” She smiled over to Mitch, who stood there with a smile on his face. “My brother and Nicki are so glad you could join them tonight.”

Ah, so she was Alex’s sister, and definitely one of the younger ones. Alex and Edith had several siblings that Link knew of, but they all lived in Florida still. Of course they’d make the trip to Three Rivers for their brother’s wedding, and Link pulled out a chair across from the Malones and sat down.

Mitch sat beside him, and Link had deliberately put his back to the rest of the party. He didn’t want to look around at everyone walking in, holding glasses of champagne, and making small talk. He was just fine, sitting here and talking to Mitch.

Too young for you, Link said with a smile, and Mitch laughed.

You’re right, he said. She’s pretty though.

You think everyone is pretty.

Mitch didn’t wipe away his grin, but he did shake his head. Glass half full, brother.

Sure, Link said. Then he leaned forward, and with his hands still moving so Mitch could keep up with the conversation, he asked, “How are you, Mister Malone? How are things in the paint shop?” He added a smile to his questions, because Momma would’ve.

John Malone smiled, his relief not hard to see and feel. “It’s going great, Link.” He glanced over to Mitch as Link signed what he’d said. “How’re you boys up at Shiloh Ridge? Don’t suppose you need more of that blue paint for that barn?” His eyes shone like bright lights on a dark night.

Link chuckled and shook his head. “Uncle Bishop just had it redone last year, Mister Malone. I don’t reckon he’ll do it again anytime soon.”

Mitch tugged on his sleeve, and Link turned to look at him. What about wrapping my truck? Could he do that?

Link relayed the question to John, who looked right at Mitch as he said, “Not me, Mitchell. If you want to wrap your truck, you’ve got to take it to Ginny at the sign shop.”

The sign shop? Mitch asked.

“Yep,” John said with a slow nod. “Now, if you want me to paint your truck, I could get you in touch with Barry, a new mechanic in town who customizes in….” He looked over to his wife. “What did he say?”

They grinned at one another. “Tricking out vehicles,” Nina Malone said as she lifted her wine glass to her lips.

“Tricking out vehicles,” John said, and Link laughed as he signed it to Mitch. “Does that even make sense to you young cowboys?”

“Sure does,” Link said with a grin, glad he’d decided not to sit here silently.

“Glad it does for someone.” John chuckled as another couple arrived, and Link looked up at the pair of women. Mitch lurched to his feet, his hands smoothing down his tie and buttoning his jacket.

He clapped his hand on Link’s shoulder as Alex’s sister gave them the same spiel about where to sit, and they looked at the two chairs between Link and John, and then the two between Mitch and Nina.

“What about over there, Abby?” one said, and they moved to go around Link and Mitch. To Link, it felt like a complete stab in the fleshiest part of his heart, because they’d clearly chosen Mitch over him.

Nothing new, but still. Didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

“Hi,” Abby said as she sat next to Mitch. She had the dark hair he liked, and he positively beamed from every pore. He touched his chest and signed, and Link leaned forward a bit.

“He’s Mitch,” he said. “I’m Link.” He looked over to the other woman, and they looked like sisters. Cousins. Something. They were probably relations of Alex’s too, or maybe Nicki, though the Johnston’s had been living in Three Rivers for years.

But Link knew better than most that people had aunts and uncles and cousins, and these two dark-haired women could be related to Nicki as cousins.

“You two are Abby, and….” He looked at the other woman, and she smiled as his fingers finished spelling out Abby’s name.

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