“She’ll do well, but the rabbit competition is tough.” Tommy wiped his hands and turned back to Tony and Christine.
“First place blue ribbon. I can feel it,” Tony said.
“Can you say that again?” Josie asked.
Tony said it again then asked, “Could you not hear me?”
“Oh, Mister, I could hear you just fine, I just wanted to hear you say it again,” Josie said. “You talk funny!”
“You little rascal,” Tony said, pretending to chase her. Josie ran off to play with the other kids.
As the demonstration practice ended, Joe Taylor found Tony.
“Hey, before you head out—want to give my new John Deere a spin? Mary told me you love to drive.” It was a new row crop to replace one he’d had for years, since the boys were still in high school. “We’re getting ready to break it in at harvesttime.”
“Now we’re talking, Joe! You think I can handle it?” Tony joked and he gave the big green farm vehicle a once over.
“No doubt about it.”
“Hey, Christine. Get over here! Let’s take this thing for a ride!”
Christine had been holding one of the steers with a leather rope and chatting with some of the parents who were loading up the livestock to take back to their homes.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said gently. Then in her typical voice, she yelled, “Don’t you dare leave without me, Tony Russo.” She jogged over to the tractor and shimmied her way up onto his lap. “Yee-haw, let’s go.” She pretended to swing a lasso as Tony started down the road.
The Taylors watched them go, and Mary had her hands over her eyes. “I can’t watch,” she said. “Please don’t hit the barn.”
Jake laughed and put his arm around her, and suddenly Mary didn’t worry anymore if her parents knew that she had fallen for him.
AFTER THE 4-Hrehearsal, the Taylors called everyone over for homemade ice cream. They had a choice of vanilla bean, strawberry cheesecake, and maple bacon.
“All three for me,” Tony said, having the time of his life. Christine playfully swatted his belly but talked herself into a scoop of vanilla bean.
Joe Taylor ducked into the house for a moment and came back with an envelope.
“Mary, do you have a minute?”
Mary finished her ice cream cone and wiped her hands on a napkin.
“Sure thing. What’s up?”
“I got this in the mail yesterday. Grace and I wondered if you’d look at it. Some big law firm from Washington, D.C., we’ve not heard of before sent it—it’s an increased offer. It’s a serious number, but we still aren’t selling. Our neighbors got one too, too, and I’m not sure how strongly they’re committed to holding out.”
“You bet.” Mary glanced at the letter and took her phone out of her back pocket. She snapped a photograph of the letter. “I’ll take a look at it later and send you a note.”
“Thank you, Mary.”
“Happy to.”
“Hey, your parents are a real kick in the pants.”
“They’re something else, that’s for sure. Thanks for having us.”
“Thanks for brightening up the day. We like having you around, Mary.” He glanced over at Jake. “And so does our son.”
Mary smiled and tried to hide her blush.
Chapter 51