“It’s weird now that Dad’s with Cady.” Cheyenne hesitated on the steps. “He used to be home every weekend night unless there was something going on at the church. Now, look. I never thought it would happen, but he’s dating.”
“He sure is. He trailered up his horse and drove off about an hour ago. Said he and Cady were going for a ride. He looked pleased as punch.” Sean took another sip of root beer and let the feather-light summery air puff over him.
“What about you?” Cheyenne twisted around to walk backwards. “There’s no one you have your eye on?”
“Who? Me?” He stared off into the distance. The cow was going to hurt herself straining over the fence like that. He climbed to his feet, doing his level best not to think of pretty Eloise. “No. I’m done with relationships. They’re for the birds.”
“I know the feeling.” Cheyenne seemed satisfied at last, and he realized she didn’t want him to feel alone. That would explain why she was hesitating.
“What are you up to?” He set aside his can.
“I’m having dinner with a friend. Wait, you know her. Eloise, remember? We’ve been friends forever.”
“Blond hair, green eyes, is real quiet?” Surprising how the mention of her could make him smile. “Saw her today at the Steer In.”
“Yes. That’s Eloise. She’s home to stay, just like I am, so we’re celebrating with cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes. I can bring you an order home.”
“No. Mrs. G. left me on casserole duty. She’s got the timer set and a salad in the fridge.” He ambled down the steps and dug into his jeans pocket. The cow, scenting the molasses treat he found, hopped up and down excitedly. “Eloise is the one who used to skate, right?”
“Ice dancing. She won two world championships.” Cheyenne nodded as she hesitated at the corner of the garage.
A long span of mown grass separated them, and he had to speak up to be heard above the mooing cow and the twitter of larks. “What happened? Did she get injured or something? I saw a cane in her car.”
“She was in a serious car accident.” Cheyenne frowned, sad for her friend. “It’s amazing she walks, but she’ll never skate professionally again.”
Emotion punched him in the gut, reminding him life could be a tough road. He handed over the molasses treat and gave Buttercup a pat as she chewed happily. Sunshine gleamed off the cow’s sleek black coat. Her pure white face and white tipped ears made her look as cute as a button. He thought of Eloise and couldn’t guess what it would be like to lose a goal like that, although he knew what tragedy felt like. His older brother Tim, an Army Ranger, had been killed in action. The family had gone on but the loss had marked them all.
“Oops! I’m late.” Cheyenne darted around the corner and out of sight, her words carrying to him on the breeze. “If you change your mind, you have my cell number. Keep a close eye on Sunny and if you think she’s not doing all right, call.”
“I know the drill,” he told Buttercup as he rubbed her nose.
She gazed up at him with puppy-dog eyes, sank her teeth into his hat and lifted it off his head.
“Funny girl.” He rescued it from her and dug another treat out of his pocket. Life was good on the Wyoming range, and he was glad to be a carefree bachelor in command of his life. So what if it got a little lonely? He could handle that. If the thought of Eloise Tipple’s lovely face made him reconsider, he had to admit he was lonelier than he’d thought. It wasn’t easy being a lone wolf.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he admonished Buttercup. “I really am a lone wolf.”
The cow shook her head as if she didn’t believe him for a second.
“Is that you, honey?”
“Yes, Mom.” Eloise tapped through the shadowy kitchen and pushed open the back screen. The music of the nearby river serenaded her as she stepped onto the patio.
Helene Tipple looked up from her cross-stitch piece. “Did you have a good time catching up with Cheyenne?”
“I did.” She leaned her cane against the patio table and eased into a cushioned seat. Another positive about being back—there was no place like home. Their conversation had covered everything essential while neatly skipping the painful. “Cheye and I are going riding this week. I get to go over to the ranch and see all the new foals.”
“That’s nice, dear.” Mom poked her needle through the embroidery hoop and fussed with the stitch. “I was talking with your grandma today.”
“You talk with her every day.” Eloise rolled her eyes, already bracing herself. She knew exactly what her mom was going to say because they’d had this conversation many times before. “She told you about my upcoming blind date, didn’t she?”
“She is pretty excited about this young man. She wants you to call her. Take a few moments to gather your strength first.” Mom’s eyes twinkled as if she were enjoying herself.
“Yes, because this is so amusing.” Eloise shook her head, laughing, too. “This is my life. My grandmother is finding dates for me.”
“And don’t you disappoint her.” Dad spoke up with a rattle of his magazine page and a grin.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She loved her grandmother with all her heart. No one on earth wanted to disappoint Gran. “Even if she is torturing me.”
Her parents chuckled as if she’d made a joke. Sure, her personal life was a laugh a minute. Shaking her head and laughing at herself—what else was a girl to do?—she hoisted up out of the extremely comfortable chair and made her way to the kitchen. As she dialed the phone, her gaze drifted to the large picture window overlooking the patio. Her parents made an iconic picture, sitting side by side beneath the striped table umbrella. Their silence was a contented one, broken by quiet murmurings and gentle smiles, a sign of their long and happy marriage.
Not everyone got the fairy tale. That was simply a plain fact. Eloise leaned against the counter and listened to the phone ring.
“Hello?” Gran warbled cheerfully. “Is that you, Eloise? Your mama promised you would be calling me.”
“Yes, it’s me, Gran.” Theirs was a lifetime love, too. She adored her grandmother. She would do anything for her, which was why she was doomed. “You might as well get to the point.”
“I talked with Madge.” Gran’s excitement vibrated across the line. “This is what I learned about George. He manages an office-supply store over in Sunshine. He’s a good Christian boy and he wants to get married.”
“Why can’t he find someone to marry him who actually knows him?”
“Well, he is terribly short but you don’t mind that, do you? A short husband is better than none at all. It’s what’s inside that counts.”
“Yes, it is.” Who was she to be arguing with that? She leaned her cane against the cabinet doors and prayed for fortitude.
“I have high hopes for this one. Don’t worry, I’m looking out for you, sweetheart.”
“I’m looking out for you too, Gran. I’ll drop by after work tomorrow.” Her grandmother needed a little help around the house these days, and she was happy to do it. That way they could spend quality time together, another very big advantage to being back home again.
After chatting for a few more minutes, she bid Gran goodbye and hung up the phone. The peace of the evening filled the kitchen like the rosy light of the sunset tumbling from the western horizon. The entire landscape glowed as if painted with a luminous pearled paint. Her mind drifted back over her very good day and lingered on the memory of a man with a black Stetson holding a strawberry