Page 30 of Loving Decker

“I love her.” Faith’s expression told him just how much. He knew her parents had bought the horse. She was getting older but still had some excellent years left in her. “You can ride Thunder.”

“Good choice.” They both walked to the tack room, chose their favorite saddles, and got the horses ready.

When they were up on the animals and riding out across the pasture, Faith finally brought up Randall. “You were funny with him. I was biting my tongue to keep from laughing.”

Chagrined, he dipped his head. “Kind words for my immaturity rearing its head.”

“Well, I did notice some of the same from Randall.” She frowned.

“I know it’s none of my business. It really isn’t. But is there something there, with you and Randall?”

She sighed, and the conflicted look on her face was not comforting to Decker in the slightest. “No.”

He waited without feeling any relief at all. There was more to this story.

“But he’s been here for me, for a long time, and I think he’s getting such a bad break right now. He’s been good to me…” She bit her lip. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“You don’t owe him anything.”

“No, but I sort of do.” She shrugged. “I don’t owe him a relationship, but I do owe him some kindness, some loyalty, some gratitude?” She nodded. “And you were terrible.”

“He was terrible too.”

“Yes.” She laughed. “Mrs. Walton was worst of all.”

“That woman has my undying gratitude.” Decker was funnier than he deserved to be right now, but she seemed to be eating it up, so he kept at it.

“But her point was important at the end. Did you hear that bit?” She bumped his arm.

“The part about how we were all first settlers? The part that Randall shot down immediately?”

“Yeah, that part.”

He tried to exhale all of his tension. “I guess we really are gonna have to sell.”

“I think so.” She nudged Electric to a trot. “But maybe not. Who knows what will happen at the Willow Creek Fair.”

He kept pace at her side. “Did we tell you we’re doing a benefit rodeo this weekend?”

“Grace texted me about it.”

“Good. I’ll be roping. All the guys are doing something. You coming?”

“Is it important to you?”

“Well, yeah. I don’t know what to do in a rodeo without you in the stands.”

“Right. You didn’t even see me before.”

“Of course I did. You missed one.”

“What?”

“You only missed one. Mesquite. And I totally blew my whole event wondering where you were.”

She gasped. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry! I didn’t even know you noticed.”

He shook his head. “I really have a lot to make up for, don’t I?”

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