Page 29 of My Cowboy Freedom
Chapter 8
Sky
Dent’s Feed and Seed was a homecoming. The big store smelled like sawdust, grains, animal feed, and leather. It was warped and cracked in all the same places and some of the vinyl flooring had worn through. But the retail area still featured brightly lit racks of gardening, ranching, and pet supplies, so I looked around while Tad talked to the girl behind the counter.
Tad told me the son-in-law coming out threw a wrench in the works at Dent’s too, and now his girl was anxious because she didn’t know what would happen with her job.
She looked me up and down.
I couldn’t tell if she liked what she saw.
“Rainey, this is Sky Brody.” Tad introduced us. “He’s new to the Rocking C.”
“Hey, Sky, pleasure to meet you.” She held out a dainty little hand and I shook it.
“Rainey,” I said. “Pleasure.”
“Sky here needs some gear.” Tad made a little shooing motion at me with his fingers. “Go on back there, now. Don’t be shy. Boss says you need decent boots, some wranglers, and a good hat.”
Dent’s selection wasn’t that great unless you needed pet food. What really amazed me was all the things that didn’t used to be on the labels: gluten-free, grain-free, game meat, brown rice, organic, vegan...?
Vegan dog food?
I found what I needed despite the dizzying refresher course in pet-food trends, and when I got back, Tad was on Rainey’s side of the counter, whispering something in her ear that made her bite her lip.
I put my things down and decided I should go hunt up a few more. Give the guy some privacy.
Instead, Rainey pushed Tad away and came around the counter. “Let me see that hat, honey.”
She made me put it on before taking my face between her hands and turning my head from side to side. She tilted hers to study me from different angles.
“Okay?” I asked.
“No.” She picked up a second hat—the only other type they had—rolled it between her hands for a few seconds, and then put it on my head. “Take a look at that one. How’s that?”
I did what she wanted and checked myself out in the mirror. I mostly didn’t recognize myself. I was twenty-six, but to me, I looked older. What is it they say?It’s not the age, it’s the mileage...
“I need a pretty girl’s opinion, Miss Rainey.” I said, “You like this one better?”
“Aw, now.” She tucked a little hank of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. That’s much better.”
“Thanks.”
“Get him a couple bandanas too, honey. Newbie rides drag.” Tad gave a mocking smile.
“You, hush.” Rainey waved the unchosen hat at him. “Don’t listen to him, Sky. They take turns.”
Tad stepped back. “Why you gotta spoil all my fun?”
“Nobody your age likes what you think is awesome anymore.” She said the words with a certain sparkle.
“Says who?” he clutched his chest in mock outrage and she sort of sassed him some more.
These two were used to sparring. Probably, they’d been quarreling since elementary school.
Tad paid for my clothes with cash from the Rocking C. I left them alone so they could make plans or whatever. While I waited, I walked to the corner and took a look at the town of Bitterroot.
It wasn’t much of a town. There was a faded glory to the place, like Fourth of July bunting left up too long.
