Page 60 of Loving Decker

She laughed. “Is this one of those moments when we’re having a disagreement?”

“I guess so.” He shifted in his seat to fully face her. “Should we try an ‘I feel’ statement?”

“Totally.” She waited.

“Oh, me?”

“Well, yeah. You feeling something you want to share?”

He studied her then opened his mouth, and then closed it as the others joined them. Maverick was there, and Dylan too. They were overly amused, and he knew exactly what was going on.

“Can we help you, brothers?” Decker tried intimidation.

Maverick laughed. “Yes, I would love to hear what you’re about to say.” He pulled up a chair.

Dylan did the same. “Yes, me too.”

Faith covered her mouth with one hand and tried not to look like she was about to laugh.

“Oh brother. Do you all want to know how I feel? Fine. I feel like I’m betraying my father to sell his land. I feel this horrible ache in my heart to think that when I look out over the land, I won’t see Faith. What I’ll see is a bunch of housing developments. I feel like losing the land is losing my dad all over again and the woman I love.” He stopped. “The woman I have always loved but been too dumb to see it.”

Faith’s eyes held tears, and the brothers were silent.

“Oh, and the part about all y’all. When anyone talks about selling, I know you’re not trying to do this, but I feel like you are attacking those two things, my most precious memories and the most precious person in my life. So I struggle to maintain my composure.” He exhaled long and slow, trying to release some of the tension.

“And how do you feel now?” Pastor John too? He had been standing just outside Decker’s view.

“Better.” Decker smiled. “Hearing myself talk made me realize that no one is attacking me by trying to sell their land.” He tapped his leg with Faith’s hand in his own. “It made me feel better to get some of that off my chest.” He looked around. “And embarrassed that I said so much.” He pointed to them all. “Don’t you ever get yourself in this sort of situation. It’s like a truth serum.”

They all laughed. But Faith’s eyes were still shining, and the adoring look she was sending his way just might have made being vulnerable in front of his brothers and the local pastor worth it.

Maybe.

Chapter Twenty-Three

A town fair was an amazing thing. No one who loved town fairs could resist another, and that’s why Faith knew this whole thing was going to be a wonderful success. She walked the fairgrounds just before sunrise, getting everything ready. She’d set up her bake sale booth, her cakewalk booth, and got Electric all settled in her stall. Then she went in search of Mama Dawson. They were in charge of organizing the 4-H events and helping the kids know where to go. Since they were going to be at the check-in desk, someone had also asked them to take tickets. She had people sitting in at each of her booths and working with her every step of the way.

So, Faith was feeling like a huge part of this fair. And loving every second of it.

Bailey was coming with a bunch of celebrities, including some bigger names, and those tickets were sold separately. All the food venues and trucks were an additional amount of points per ticket. It was somewhat of a complicated process to check everyone in, and she wanted to make sure she and Mama Dawson understood what to do.

She loved the fairgrounds right before a big event. It was still and felt like something was about to rise, like it was on the verge of a great energy.

She imagined the empty paths around the arenas filled with people. She could smell the food, hear the crowd’s happy chatter and the distant announcer for the current events or shows. It was a beautiful thing.

They had people coming with animals to show. Judges passing out ribbons would be hidden among the typical family guests. She could so easily be caught up in the thrill of it.

A part of her was so grateful she would be barrel racing again. It just felt like her. And she loved feeling like herself again. With so much going on, she’d lost a bit of her energy, her spunk, her tease. But she knew it would come back. Decker was already helping on that front.

Mama Dawson was sitting at their spot, ready to meet the guests who wouldn’t start to show up for another two hours yet. But the vendors, the competitors, the performers, they needed to be checked in as well, and they would all arrive early. She and Mrs. Dawson would be ready.

She sat next to her at their table.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. Faith, we’re gonna be two busy people, I’m afraid.”

“I agree. Maybe we can set up a couple more tables or something? Or a line to our right at least?”

“Yes, I think that would be a good idea.”

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