Page 276 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“You young men help yourself to the bales on this side.” Mr. Bowden motioned to the right, tugging on his gloves to lend a hand.
Joey and Felix jumped down. Felix pulled his gloves from his back pocket and tugged them on. Joey did the same. “Mr. Bowden, why don’t you work on the wagon helping position the bales, and Felix and I will toss them up,” Joey said.
They worked steadily, tossing bales onto the wagon while Mr. Bowden arranged them in neat layers.
A couple of hours later, Mr. Bowden hopped off the full wagon. “Pull the wagon around to the trough so the horses can drink before the trip back, then you two come up to the house for refreshments. I’m sure you’re both thirsty. I think Erna may have cookies, too.”
“Sounds great, Mr. Bowden,” Joey said. “We’ll come to the house in a minute.”
Mr. Bowden waved and headed out of the barn as they climbed on the wagon. Pulling the wagon through the barn and over to the watering trough, they let the horses drink their fill while they hurried to the porch.
“Y’all take a seat,” Mrs. Bowden poured them tall glasses of liquid refreshment. “Help yourself to the cookies.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bowden.” Felix grabbed a cookie, then sat on a long wooden bench along the porch railing on the east end of the porch. Joey grabbed a cookie and joined him, sitting on the other end of the bench.
She handed a full glass to Joey and one to Felix. “You’re the Bonner boy, right?”
“Yes’m. I’m Felix.” He took the glass and downed half of it, a sweet drink tasting like peaches. “This is good, Mrs. Bowden. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Felix. It’s a peach drink I make from soft peaches.” She took her own glass and settled into a chair. “Your father owns Bonner Store, as I recall. I bet he misses you.”
Felix wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Father sent me to Sterling Ranch for the summer.”
“Turns out he’s a natural-born rancher,” Joey said. He wiped his mouth with his shirt sleeve after downing half his glass.
“It sounds like Felix is an able substitute for Jacob,” Mr. Bowden said. He handed his empty glass to his wife for a refill.
“I've enjoyed having someone to help with the chores.” Joey glanced at Felix and caught his beaming face. “And me and Felix have gotten to be friends.”
Mrs. Bowden passed the cookie plate, and each cowboy helped himself to another. Sugar cookies were Felix’s favorite.
They finished their drinks.
“We'd better head on back.” Joey stood and handed his glass to Mrs. Bowden.
“We still need to unload the bales,” Felix said as he handed his glass over. “We sure do thank you for the drinks and cookies.”
“Oh, ma said to ask if you had any spare early peaches,” Joey said.
“I sure do.” Mrs. Bowden set the empty glasses on a tray. “You two go out to your wagon, and I’ll bring you a basket full.”
“Thanks.” Joey turned to Mr. Bowden. “What do we owe you for the hay?”
“Lessee…two bits a bale times thirty bales comes to $7.50. Add two bits for the peaches, and you owe me $7.75.”
Joey reached into his pocket and counted out the exact amount before they stepped off the porch and headed toward the wagon.
The horses raised their heads as the two approached. They climbed on, and Joey steered the wagon around to the side of the house. Mrs. Bowden waited for them with a quart of early peaches. “Tell your Ma these ain’t as sweet as the later varieties, but they’ll make a tasty cobbler.”
“Yes’m.” Joey took the basket and set it on the floor between them. He tipped his hat. “We’ll see you next time.”
“Felix, it’s nice to meet you.” Mrs. Bowden waved them off.
About halfway back to the Sterling Ranch, Felix wrapped his arm around Joey's waist and lay his head on his shoulder.
“Last night, it felt so good when you touched me, and I liked touching you.” Felix sighed. “I still can’t help but think it’s wrong.”
“Felix, we are a couple of young fellers enjoying ourselves over a summer. We like each other a lot, but by next year, you’ll be in town working your father’s store, and I’ll be heading for college. I expect Ma and Pa will want me to find a little filly and settle down to raise a family. I bet your pa wants that for you, too.”
