Page 74 of His Eighth Ride

The truck got emptied almost as fast as they’d filled it, and they all loaded up again and started the drive back to Twilight Fields to get the second half of the farm loaded and moved.

Animal feed, supplies, equipment. The chicken cages filled the back of Uncle Boone’s truck, and Lindsay loaded her horses into her trailer and sent Lars on his way with them.

“You guys have been working hard,” Dad said.

“I’m already abusing you,” Keith said as he lifted a saddle in each hand. “The last thing we wanted was to not be ready for you.”

Dad grinned at him. “I’m so proud of you, son.”

“Yeah?” Keith hesitated before leaving the barn. “Why’s that?”

“Because you wanted something different for your life, and you went out and found it. Worked for it.”

Keith had done that, but he didn’t think he’d done anything special. “Lots of people do that, Dad.”

“And many more don’t,” he said.

Gloria came into the barn and found them standing there. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Dad said, turning toward her. “Just telling Keith how amazing he is.”

“He’s taking it well,” she quipped. They chuckled together, and even Keith laughed.

He wasn’t sure how, but after he put the saddles in the truck, it seemed they’d gotten everything. He and Lindsay walked through it all again, and she nodded. He texted his father to go, and they’d be behind them in her truck.

Lindsay wandered over to the fence separating the epicenter of the farm from the fields beyond, and she put her foot up on the bottom rung. He’d approached her in this same position before, in another place, at another time.

He gave her a few moments to herself, and he didn’t have to wonder or ask what she was thinking or feeling. She’d told him everything while they’d been planning this move, this wedding, all of it. He’d laid on her couch and held her while she talked, while she wept, while they made their plans together.

He loved her so deeply, and he couldn’t wait to continue to get to know her. He approached and eased to her side. She looked over at him, and he put his arm around her and drew her close. “This is such a beautiful place,” he murmured.

“I’m going to miss it.”

“Me too.”

The wind tried to converse with them too, but Keith couldn’t tell what it wanted to say. Lindsay said, “I’m going to love our new place.”

“Me too.”

“Let’s go,” she said. “Shadow and Sunshine are going to love the new pasture.”

“They sure are.” Keith placed a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Linds.”

“I love you too, Keith.” She smiled at him, a measure of light and happiness chasing away the melancholy that had descended on them for a minute there.

“Let’s go finish today, and then tomorrow is our day.” He led her toward the truck and opened the driver’s door for her. She got behind the wheel, and Keith wasn’t surprised to find her wiping her eyes before she put the truck in gear.

“Here we go,” she said, and the truck started down the lane and off the farm she’d bought for herself—for her fresh start—several years ago.

Keith thought about what his dad had said. He hadn’t been happy at the Hammond’s farm for months before he’d left. Then, he’d struck out at a different place, trying to find new people, new friends, new opportunities.

And now, he had them. A pretty woman at his side. The chance to buy into Blackhorse Bay. A mini-farm of his own.

“God is good,” he said quietly.

“That He is,” Lindsay said. “That He is.”

twenty-three

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