“Cake!” Katie cried, racing toward the kitchen. She and Irene had baked another cake yesterday.
A few minutes later, the trio was in the kitchen eating cake while kittens played under the table.
Suddenly, Irene lurched out of her chair and looked out the back window, frowning. “Have you seen—”
“Hayden just left.” Eve had to admit that Irene made a fantastic chocolate cake. She might have a second piece after dinner.
“Oh… I…” Irene turned to Eve, her brow wrinkled.
“Did you hear that?” Katie interrupted, cocking her head.
They all listened.
Meow!
“It’s a mama kitty.” Irene went to the mudroom door, followed by Katie and Eve. She opened the door, revealing a small calico cat. “Hello, there.”
The calico hesitated, crouching low as if about to make a run for it.
And then one of the kittens mewed inside the kitchen.
The mama cat slunk past the humans. Her babies were her top priority, although she kept her eye on the humans, not letting down her guard.
And I shouldn’t either. Not where Hayden and my heart are concerned.
The mama cat began licking her kittens.
While Irene and Katie cooed over their latest feline addition, Eve returned to the latest obstacle to marital bliss—Hayden.
A friendly marriage? Not if Eve had anything to say about it.
*
“Smile for the camera, little doggie.” Hayden snapped a photograph of a good-looking, older bull with his phone. The auction yard had approved taking seventy-five cows and twenty-five young bulls. By Hayden’s estimate, there were still about twenty adult bulls, too many on the various spreads. He intended to post this one for sale on several online livestock exchanges, as well as at the local feed store. “You think we should name him? I read something online last night that said cattle with names are more likely to sell quickly.”
On the horse next to him, Roddy chuckled. “Are you believing what you read on the internet? I thought your generation was smarter than that.”
“Point taken.” Hayden tucked his phone into his back pocket. It was a sunny day, making Hayden wonder if Evie and Katie were out enjoying the sunshine. “I suppose in your heyday, you took advice from the Farmer’s Almanac.”
“Don’t you attack the Farmer’s Almanac.” Roddy shook a finger at Hayden. “Your grandfather kept it on his desk for easy reference. It’s loaded with information I trust more than what you’ll find on the World Wide Web.”
Hayden glanced around the pasture at the Shadow Ridge Ranch, reminded of the good times he’d spent here with his brothers and grandfather. The more he got used to the idea that he hadn’t caused Grandpa’s heart attack or driven the old man to the edge, justifying his harsh words, the more good memories and snippets of positive conversations returned. Those words… “Do you know what my grandfather’s last words to me were?”
“No. But I bet you mean to tell me,” Roddy said, none too happily. “You know I don’t take sides.”
“I’m not asking you to take sides,” Hayden replied, trying to believe it was true.
“Fine. I’ll play along.” Roddy shifted in the saddle. “What were Clyde’s last words to you?”
“Wherever you go, don’t make a living. Make a life.” Grandpa had said those words ten years ago when they’d said goodbye on the farmhouse porch the day after Violet jilted him. Hayden pointed toward the closest outbuilding, a ramshackle barn next to an arena filled with tall weeds. A few sparrows flitted over the leafy tops. “And now that I’m the caretaker of his life’s work, I’m wondering if he should have spent more time making a living by taking care of his properties.”
“That’s fair,” Roddy said in a clipped tone.
Hayden did a double take Roddy’s way, shifting in the saddle and accidentally cuing Red to swing around until the two men and their horses were facing each other. “You aren’t going to defend my grandfather?”
“Didn’t I just tell you I wasn’t going to take sides?” Roddy worked his jaw. “Reality is… Your grandfather was like an older brother to me. You can disagree with your brother, but that doesn’t mean you stop loving him.”
That sounded like something Grandpa would have said before…before that tumor began changing him. Hayden allowed himself a wry smile. But there was something else he had to know. “Did you disagree when Grandpa cast us out?”