Page 40 of Say I'm Yours
“I’m free for the day. Let me come help.”
“What?” I ask with surprise.
“I do know my way around a farm.” Cooper stands and puts his hand out. “I’m sure you could use some extra help. There’s never a short list of things to be done.”
He’s right. I do what I can when I’m over, but there’s a lot that I can’t. My father taught me to ride horses, not woodwork. If he’s willing, it would be a lifesaver. “Are you sure?”
“Hurry your cute butt up before I change my mind. We’ve got work to do.” Cooper grins, and I place my hand in his.
“All right.”
I stand and pull him in for a hug. It’s sweet that he’s willing to go over there with me, especially after the morning we’ve had. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve his friendship, but I’m so thankful.
We ride over to my parents’ house and find my father in the barn. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Gracie Lou!” Daddy calls out from the other side of the barn. “There’s my beautiful girl.”
“Mr. Rooney.” Cooper steps forward and shakes his hand. “Good to see you, sir.”
My dad chuckles, “Cooper Townsend, what brings you here to our home?”
My father looks at me and then Cooper. Oh, Jesus. If my father has to pick a side in this, he will be team Trent. It isn’t that my dad doesn’t like Cooper, but he loves Trent. I meanlovesTrent.
They’ve gone fishing, hunting, shooting, and God knows what else together. I don’t know what it is that bonds them, but they’ve always gotten along. My father has never been quiet about wanting the two of us to be married and refers to Trent as the son he always wanted.
I hope bringing Cooper here wasn’t a mistake.
“Daddy, Cooper’s here to help out with some of the things you need done. We were talkin’ when Mama called, and he offered to come out here to get more accomplished than I can do on my own.”
“Well,” he pats Cooper on the shoulder, “that’s awful kind of you helpin’ my little girl. I appreciate the assistance, son.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Rooney. I’m happy to help.”
Daddy gives a very long list of things that he’s trying to tackle, and I try to keep my composure. He prattles on about broken engines, a fence falling down, and the siding he needs to replace. There’s no way he could’ve gotten half of this done. Between the mess at the store and the disaster on the farm, I’m going to have to talk about this with them sooner rather than later. They can’t keep letting things get this bad without any help.
“I’ll get started on some of the fence issues if you want to work with your dad,” Cooper offers.
“You’re so sweet. Thank you. I’ll come find you in a bit.”
Cooper heads off with tools and a plan while I try to supervise Daddy a little. He climbs the ladder and inspects one of the loose boards.
“Hand me that hammer, would you?”
“Sure thing.” I grab the tool, place it in his hand, and observe him for a moment. The last few years have aged him. His once jet-black hair is now mostly gray, his gait is a little slower, and he looks tired. Not that I can blame him. Running a farm is hard work. It’s long days, unforgiving weather, and a lot of headaches. We’ve sold off acres of land over time, which allowed Daddy to scale back, but I know he wishes he had a son to pass it on to.
“So, now you and the Townsend boy are dating?” Daddy says as he bangs the nail.
I knew this was coming. “We’re friends, Daddy.”
“That’s not what I hear.”
My mother and her big mouth. My father lives in a world of working on the farm and watching golf. He has no time for gossip. If this is what he’s hearing, then there’s only one source.
“I think you heard wrong.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my hearing darlin’. As much as I wish that had gone first,” he mumbles, “then maybe your mama wouldn’t nag me so much.”
I giggle. “I think she’d find a way.”
