Page 73 of Pigeon

“Maybe, but Tessie’s driving has conditioned us all to take serious evasive maneuvers anytime she’s spotted behind the wheel,” he answers, justifying the ditch dive.

Nodding, I agree that our reaction was reasonable.

“We going fishing or sitting here waiting for Rex to kill off two members?” Craig asks as he and Luke stop beside my chair.

“How do you know, uh, forget it. You hear everything,” I mutter. “Ready to head out, Trigger?”

“Yep, let’s go, boys.”

Standing in the kitchen, Trigger and the boys out fishing, I think back to what Ivy asked this morning. Walking out the door and to the bunkhouse, I open the door. Looking around, I don’t see any lights on anywhere. I close the door and walk to the barn, heelers at my side.

Each stall has a small outside fenced-in area, so none of the horses are locked inside all the time. Ivy only keeps a few horses in the barn or the pasture close to it. The ones we ride regularly and the few mares that had foals this spring. The mares and foals are in a small field together now off the end of the barn, and I stand and watch the little ones play. All legs and attitude, they practice their big horse skills like running, bucking, and rearing. The mares graze peacefully nearby, knowing their baby isn’t far. When my phone vibrates, I pull it out and answer with an irritated sigh.

“Yeah?” I answer abruptly.

“Not the proper way to answer a phone, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” my father responds.

“My phone, I’ll answer it however the hell I want to. What do you need?”

“Heard you got married. That true?” he asks.

“Yep, I did,” I answer curtly.

“Elope?”

“No, we didn’t elope, and we didn’t have to get married if that’s your next question,” I answer while pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Thought maybe you eloped since we didn’t receive an invitation. Church wedding then? Hurt your mother’s feelings when she heard about your wedding,” my dad says with reproach in his voice.

“Didn’t figure you’d make the trip. Not for my wedding, anyway,” I answer in a flat voice.

“We have to be in Denver day after tomorrow. Thought we could meet your new wife,” he says, completely surprising me.

They’ve never once asked to see me when they’ve come to the Denver area before. I’m instantly suspicious as to why they’re so curious to meet Ivy and not sure I want this meeting to take place. My wife has had enough shitty relatives to last her a lifetime, and I don’t want mine to become another nightmare for her.

“Not sure that’s a good idea, Dad.”

“Why not? She’s family now.”

“How’d you hear that I got married?” I ask while ignoring his question.

“Your brother heard through a friend. Told us.”

“I’ll check with my wife, see what her schedule looks like, and let you know,” I answer, being completely done with this conversation.

“Make it happen, Elijah. Only right we welcome our daughter to the family,” my dad replies before hanging up.

Hitting Ivy’s contact, I wait for her to answer. When she does, I know she’s busy with something.

“Hey,” she answers, breathless.

“You okay?”

“Yep, just flipping fabulous,” she replies, then gives a little laugh.

“You sure?” I ask because her tone says otherwise.

“I’m fine, honey. Had a little issue with loading the draft horses, but I’m technically okay.”

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