Page 21 of Big Rowdy Cowboy

“Oh, look,” Greer, my older brother drawls, “our favorite celebrity has deigned to join us.”

I nod to Noah, who tosses me a pair of gloves. I pull out the blade and take the wire cutters to cut the wire that my other brother, Barrett, is working with.

“Hey, go easy on him,” Noah says. “You know he has a face for radio. That’s why he was out there doing all those interviews.”

I flip him the bird and cut the wires.

There are still a couple of hours of work left. There’s no way we’ll finish it before my date tonight. The usual wave of guilt hitsme because I’m not around to help my brothers carry the farm load anymore.

For all the money I’ve poured back into keeping this place afloat from my earnings, I still feel guilty for not being here to help them with the manual labor most days.

Greer opens his mouth like he’s about to insult me again. But before he can, I hear one of the utility vehicles and glance across the field.

I frown when I see Walt in the driver’s seat. I don’t even know if he should be driving that thing these days.

He hobbles out, favoring his hip slightly. He needs surgery on it, according to Noah. I’m assuming that’s who he’s here to see today. Not only is Noah dating his granddaughter, but he and Walter have been friends for years.

I tip my head to greet him and focus my attention back on the fence while Noah talks with him. The two of them shoot the breeze for several moments. It’s obvious from the way Noah keeps looking at him that he thinks something’s wrong.

Finally, Greer is the one to call it out. “Not that we don’t like your company, Walt, but you don’t normally come visit us at the end of a long day on the farm. Is something going on?”

Walt scratches his salt-and-pepper beard.

Noah asks, “Do you need help down at the bookshop?”

Walt finally shoves his hands into his pockets and says, “The thing about it is, your mama’s a pretty lady.”

My brothers and I exchange a look. All work on the fence stops.

We wait for him to say something else.

When he doesn’t, I think about the looks I saw him sending my mom at the picnic. “Are you here looking for our permission to date her?”

The idea seems crazy to me. Mom has been single ever since dad passed away. I never imagined that she would find someone else.

“Not quite,” Walter answers, “but you’re closer.”

Greer swears under his breath.

Noah pieces what Walter really wants together for the rest of us. “You’re not looking for permission to date her. You want to marry her.”

Barrett looks at the three of us before he shrugs, all of us communicating wordlessly with each other. “She’s a grown woman, Walter. She doesn’t need us to tell you that. You don’t need our permission.”

“It’s not our permission you’re looking for, is it?” Noah says after a beat of silence has passed.

Walt finally glances at me. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why he’s looking at me. Then he says, “It’s not permission I’m seeking.”

I pull off my work gloves and clap Walt on the back, happy at the thought of adding him to our family. While I never thought my mom would date, I want her to be happy with someone, the same way I’m happy with Dotty. “If it’s a blessing you’re looking for, you’ve got it.”

Again, Walt blows out a frustrated breath. “It’s notyourblessing I’m after.”

Noah’s expression changes, lighting up with awareness. “It’s Mom. Mom wants our blessing.”

Walter jerks his head toward me. “One in particular.”

For a moment I wonder why my mom could possibly want my blessing. Then the answer comes to me because I was there. I was the one with dad as he took his final breaths.

“She’d never want to do anything that made you feel she was disrespecting him,” Walter explains.

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