Page 31 of The Wild Card
“No. Though if you want them, I’m sure I could ask.”
“No, thanks. Cow-free is just fine.”
Excitement starts to simmer and hum as I stare out over the field with fresh eyes. Hope appears, filling me like a warm current underneath my skin. I’d almost forgotten the feel of this emotion and am filled with a surge of gratitude for my father.
To say it wasn’t easy when we lost Mom would be an understatement. And even though we were all fairly young, the mark her presence and then her loss made on us all can’t be diminished. But Dad dedicated himself to being the best single parent he could, corralling and guiding us while also giving us freedom and so many opportunities.
“Thanks, Dad. I don’t know what I’ll do with it, but … wow. Thank you.”
“You’re a man with big dreams. You’ll figure it out in time.”
Will I?
With the very public way Liza is responding to our breakup, dreaming big has been the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve been more focused on laying low and staying small.
“Also, you know you’ve got a lot of questions to answer about Molly.”
“I know.”
“Want to answer any of them for me right now?”
“Not particularly.”
Tank chuckles and starts back toward the truck. “I have a feeling your brothers—and brother-in-law—don’t have my patience.”
As though proving his point, my phone starts buzzing with a phone call from Pat. I’m not in the mood to deal with him.
My mind is too full of possibilities and excitement. I don’t want to burst the bubble.
But the phone immediately rings again. I’m not sure why he’s calling when he could text instead, but he keeps on. And he probablywillkeep calling all night long unless I answer.
“You gonna get that?” Tank asks.
I sigh and swipe to answer as I climb into the truck. “What’s so important that you’re blowing up my phone, Patty?”
“Where are you?” he demands.
“Out with Dad.”Checking out a cow pasture that just might change the course of my life.“Why?”
“Because yourgirlfriend”—the way he says the word tells me he’s suspicious of the whole thing—“is at Backwoods Bar, and from what Chevy said when he called me, she might could use a little help.”
“Thanks.”
“For the record, Lindy and I love this for you. But the best couple name we can come up with so far is Colly, and so we might need a brainstorming sesh to?—”
I end the call while Pat is mid-sentence and turn to Tank. “Mind making a little pit stop?”
“This have anything to do with the woman you’re pretending to date?” His smile is a little too knowing.
Well, that was unexpected.
“Is there anything youdon’tknow?”
“Plenty,” Tank says with a laugh. “But when it comes to you boys and your sister, not much gets by me.”
Apparently not.
CHAPTER 8
