skills? Of course.
“Two pies?” another cowboy asked, and August handed him the tin foil packets. The man—obviously a Walker—took them and stooped to put them in the fire.
“You okay, Jeremiah?” someone asked, and he took the time to stuff August’s packets in the fire before he straightened, a grimace on his face.
“Yeah,” he said.
“I’m pretty sure your wife needs you, bro,” the man said. He looked at August. “I’m Skyler Walker.” He stuck out his hand and shook August’s.
“August Winters,” he said.
“The August Winters?” Skyler asked, looking at Jeremiah, then Ward, then Ace. “The one we’re not supposed to like?” He moved his gaze down to August’s boots and back to his hat. “I like him.” He grinned like he knew exactly what he was doing. “Of course, I’ve always been the black sheep of the Walker family.”
“We like August fine,” Preacher said, appearing at his side. “He’s an excellent cowboy and a great father.” He looked at August, no smile in sight. “He’s going to make things right between him and Etta, I’m sure of it.”
“I’m trying,” August said. “Just waiting for the pies.”
“Let’s go over it quickly,” Ward said, bending down as if he wasn’t talking to August. “Do you need any tips? Anything? What’s the plan?”
“Plan?” August asked, looking at the few men who’d gathered around. “I was just going to apologize and try to explain.”
“Oh, cowboy,” Squire said. “You need more than that.”
“You need flowers,” Skyler said. “I won Mal over with flowers.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s all it took,” Jeremiah said dryly. “It’s food he needs, you guys. Thus, the apple pies and ice cream.”
“Food and flowers?” Preacher asked. “She’s not a man, you fools. What she wants is to know that she is absolutely the very first thing you think of in the morning, August. She wants to know that you will love her from now until forever. She needs to know that yes, you made a mistake, and it won’t be the last one, but that every single time you mess up, you’ll fix it.”
“Yeah, that’s good,” Ward said. “I like how that sounds.”
“Me too,” Squire said. “Say all of that.” He looked at Finn. “Take notes, son. You might could use some of this with Edith.”
“What are you boys talkin’ about over here?” a woman demanded, and everyone jumped.
“Hey, darlin’,” Squire said, sweeping his arm around the woman. “Just checking on the cobbler and chatting about that new horse trailer at the IFA.”
“Did you see that one?” Jeremiah asked. “The one with the shutters that open at a certain speed?”
“Wasn’t it incredible?” Ward said. “I told Bear we needed it, but you know how Bear is.”
“How is Bear?” Bear asked, and once again, everyone turned toward him, August included. He did enjoy the camaraderie among all of these cowboys, and under different circumstances, he’d love to stand here and chat with them about ranching, horses, and trailers.
Bear had a way of striking fear into a man’s heart, but when August looked at him, he found compassion mixed with determination. “I need to steal August for a minute,” he said. “Are his pies done?”
“Forty seconds,” Jeremiah said. “That’s almost a minute.”
“Should do,” Bear said. “August?”
August hadn’t texted Bear and asked him to just tell him one thing: If Etta could possibly, if the circumstances were right, forgive him. No one had answered him.
“Sure,” he said. “Be right back.” He stepped away with Bear, and for how little August wanted eyes on him, he certainly felt plenty. They didn’t go far, and Bear tilted his head down. “Etta’s saving you a seat over there, and she’s got it in her head that you two are going to eat and talk. True?”
“I hope so,” August said. “I’m in love with her, Bear. I’m not going to make this worse.” Well, he might, but he’d been praying for a solid ten hours since getting Ward’s text about that night’s welcome home party for Etta.
Bear nodded, his eyes skating over to the tables of food and back to the firepit from where he’d pulled August. “All right. I’ll do my best to help you with the women.” With that, he walked away, putting his arm around Sammy, who clearly wanted to know how the conversation had gone.
“August,” Jeremiah called. “Apple pies are up.”
He went back over to the fire and took the paper plate with the two tin foil packets on it. “Thanks.”
“Ice cream is over here,” Liam Walker said. “Did I hear you say you wanted caramel