Page 48 of His Eighth Ride

West screeched, which startled everyone, and he flapped his arms in apparent joy.

“Yes, you tell ‘im,” Mike said with a giant smile. “Say ‘hello’ to Uncle Hunter.”

“Eh-o,” West said, performing his trick on command.

Hunter grinned and grinned, and he said, “Hello. Who’s there?” back to the little boy.

“Weh—Weh,” he said, and Hunter chuckled.

“He’s smart.”

“And he knows it,” Gerty said. “Opal plays with him all day long, teaching him all kinds of things. So we obviously can’t take any credit.” She nodded past Hunter and Tuck. “I have to take this in before I drop it.” She left, but Mike stayed out on the porch while Hunter hung another couple of streamers.

“Opal must be coming with Tag,” Hunter said casually.

“Yeah.” Mike turned and looked out toward the parking area as the rumble of an engine came onto the farm. It wasn’t Tag and Opal, but Matt and his family.

“How are we feeling about Opal and Tag?” Hunter asked. His fingers started to sting, and he kept working to get this job done.

“Tag’s great,” Mike said. “We’ve always loved Tag. Great worker. Great with horses. He’s like part of the family.”

“Sure,” Hunter said. “Sounds like Cord. Doesn’t mean you like Tag and Opal together.”

“I do,” Mike said. “Listen, are Keith and Lindsay coming tonight?”

“Yeah,” Hunter said as Matt led the way up the steps. “Keith’s coming tonight, right?”

“Yep,” Matt said. “A little later, though. They’re having dinner at Blackhorse Bay with Lindsay’s uncle and father. Then they’ll head this way.”

“How’s the wedding planning coming?” Hunter asked.

Gloria perked right up. “Amazing. It’s going to be spectacular.” She guided her teenagers past Hunter and Mike and into the house.

“Where are they getting married?” Mike asked.

“Blackhorse Bay,” Hunter said. “They’re planning to buy into it once they’re married.”

“I heard she was selling her place,” Mike said as Cord came outside.

“Going okay?” he asked.

“Almost done,” Hunter said.

“Who’s selling their place?” Cord asked.

“Lindsay,” Hunter said. “Keith’s fiancée. It’s too far from Blackhorse Bay. Matt said they’re looking for something closer to that.”

“And they’re north of here, right?” Cord asked.

“Yeah,” Hunter said, noting the interest in Cord’s voice. He wore it plainly on his face too. “About forty minutes…why? Are you and Jane looking for a farm?”

“Sure,” Cord said. “Why not?”

“Because you own a busy mechanic shop,” Mike said.

“You have a farm and you work eighty hours a week in the city,” Cord shot back, grinning at Mike.

“It’s Gerty’s farm.”

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