Page 39 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

“Electrical fire,” he said. “As soon as we pray, we’ll just dish up some food and head back to my cabin. Or yours. Or something. We can come back in a couple of hours, when it’s dark and the marshmallows and Starburst come out.”

Misty smiled at him. “I can do this.”

“But you don’t have to.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Okay? It’s fine. We’ve had a crazy day on the ranch today, and I’m fine to get away from the chaos for a bit.”

“Okay,” she said, because she wasn’t going to argue with him over this.

Behind her, someone emitted a shrill whistle, and a couple more people joined in. Misty and Link turned back to the group, but he didn’t take her closer. Ward had gotten up on a chair, and he lifted both hands above his head.

“Everyone’s not here yet, but we’re gonna get started anyway. We’ll pray, and then there’s dinner, desserts, and roasting later. Please keep an eye on your kids with the fire and everything, and thanks for comin’.”

He got down and another man that Misty was pretty sure was Link’s uncle Judge got up on the chair. He pressed his cowboy hat to his chest and waited several moments while the other cowboys did the same.

Misty quickly crossed her arms and bowed her head, something she’d never felt before seeping through her.

“Dear Lord,” Judge said, and tears crowded into Misty’s eyes. She knew instantly what this ranch had that she didn’t. That she sorely lacked.

Family.

As Judge prayed with gratitude for the hands which had made dinner tonight, for the people who had come to join them, and for the land they’d been entrusted with, Misty fought a great battle with herself and her emotions.

“Bless the food,” he said, and Misty started to feel more stable. “Bless any who are here who have a special need at this time, like a place to call home or a health issue. We’re grateful for family, for each other, and for the bounty in our lives. Amen.”

“Amen,” rang through the air, but Misty couldn’t get her voice to work. She spun away from the Glovers and all of their guests and walked away.

“Misty,” Link said after her, but she couldn’t stop. Of course, he wasn’t going to just let her rush off, and she heard his footsteps behind her. “Sweetheart.”

She ducked into the shade cast by the silo, a sob wrenching out of her throat. Link caught her then, and she faced him as he said, “Hey, hey, hey. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She grabbed onto him and sank into his arms, his chest.

“It’s something,” he murmured.

Misty couldn’t articulate too much, so she simply wrapped her arms around Link and held on. His family, his reality, literally everything about him was so different from her and hers. She couldn’t help thinking as she stood there in his embrace that he could rescue her from her shell of a life and provide one that was truly worth living.

Chapter Thirteen

Link stepped into his bedroom, a towel around his waist, and found Mitch lying in his bed. “Hey,” he said with a wave. “You okay?” He seemed maybe a bit pale, but Link wasn’t sure

Fine, Mitch said as he sat up. Going out with Misty?

Link nodded and started getting dressed. He faced Mitch and signed. “What are you doing tonight?”

Mitch shrugged and got to his feet. Probably going to my parents’. Something.

“No summer dance?” Link smiled at Mitch and pulled his polo over his head.

Mitch shook his head. Link. He finger-spelled his name quickly, but Link caught it. Sometimes Mitch dropped the last two letters and combined them into a sort of swooping K, and that had become the sign for Link’s name.

Link stilled, because Mitch wasn’t his usual self. “What?” He didn’t sign, but Mitch could read lips.

I’m not happy here, he ducked his head, but his hands kept moving. I’m going to talk to my parents about going back to Virginia. I’ve been talking to the director there, and she says I can come back any time.

“Mitch,” Link said, but the man had his gaze down. Link stepped over to him, needing a belt to keep his pants up. But he could finish getting dressed after this conversation. “Hey, brother.”

He grabbed onto Mitch’s shoulder, and that got his cousin to look up. “I’ll miss you,” Link said. “But you have to do what makes you happy. I know it’s not here. Not right now.”

He backed up as Mitch started to sign. What if I’m not happy there either?

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