Page 29 of Loving Decker

“What do you mean, just like that?”

“You’re not even going to look back? You’re selling it all?”

“What’s left of it. The McKinneys sold out long ago. But if we hadn’t, there would be no school. No stadium. No government buildings. When your land abuts government property, sometimes you don’t have a choice, but the town needed those things, didn’t we? No one complained when the McKinneys were the ones to sacrifice.”

And Faith began to understand him better.

“So all this talk of selling the land. This is just a grand revenge tactic.” Decker’s muscles seemed to enlarge every time he talked to Randall.

Faith shook her head. “No, not at all, Deck. Surely you can see he’s just moving on. But I’m sure it was hard when it happened.” She looked from one to the other. But both seemed stubbornly unwilling to yield any kind of goodwill.

Mrs. Walton patted his hand. “I felt it. I cried with your grandma about the sale. I know how much the McKinneys gave to this town.”

He nodded, once, then stood. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Walton, Faith…” His eyes passed over Decker. “But I need to finish my work this afternoon. Is there a way I could talk someone into driving me into town?”

Decker nodded and stood. “We can all go.” He leaned forward to kiss Mrs. Walton on the cheek. “It was good to see you.”

“Oh, you too. Thank you for dropping by.”

She walked them all to the door, and Faith couldn’t shake the unsettled feeling that had joined them.

As soon as they were in the truck, she turned to Randall. “I’m sorry for all that your family had to sacrifice. I never really thought about it.”

“Not many did, honestly.” He shrugged. “But at this point, it doesn’t really matter to us. We’ve moved on. We see the progress as a good thing. And the rest of y’all should too.”

Decker tensed. His hands gripped the steering wheel, but he said nothing.

They drove in silence for a few more blocks.

“The town fair will be fun, the rodeo. Are you gonna ride?”

Randall had wrestled steer back in high school and college.

“Nah, I’m in charge of concessions.” He laughed. “There isn’t enough money in the world that would get me out there with a steer again.”

“That’s fair.” Faith nodded.

When they pulled back into Faith’s driveway, Randall hurried away, climbed into his car, and drove off without much of a goodbye.

Faith watched him until his car disappeared, and when she turned back to Decker, he was watching her.

Chapter Twelve

“So, you and Randall?” He came to stand beside her, leaning up against his truck.

But she apparently refused to have this conversation. She swatted him on the arm and ran toward her stables. “Last one has to ride Piggly Wiggly!”

He tore after her. “Not on your life!”

She laughed. And he ran faster.

They arrived together at the barn door, his breath coming in deeper gasps than he thought their short sprint merited.

But he shook his head. “I’m not riding that piece of stubborn animal.”

Her laugh filled the barn as they entered. “Fine. But I’m riding Electric.”

“As you should. You were made for that horse.”

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