broken arms.” We strolled after him, taking our time. “You didn’t have to get him anything.”
“He needed clothes. I just wanted to help.”
Easton sighed but didn’t argue. Money was tight for his family, and he couldn’t deny it.
When he saw how many bags Percy pulled from the backseat, he groaned.
“Jesus, Lachlan. What the hell?”
“I may have got a little carried away.”
“A little? You bought out the stores by the look of it.”
“Wow, East. Look at all this stuff.”
“What do you say to Lachlan?”
Percy dropped the bags and ran to me, wrapping his arms around my legs and almost knocking me over. “I love it. Thank you, Lach.”
“You haven’t even seen what’s inside.”
He bounced back to the bags, and I picked up one in particular, handing it to him and crouching to be at his level. “This one is extra special. Open it first.”
Percy’s eyes shone with excitement as he tore into it. His squeal made it all worthwhile. “East. East, look. Oh, wow!”
He pulled out a tiny pair of kid-size cowboy boots and a hat that was just like the one Easton wore. “These are so cool.” Next came the child-size Levi’s and a checkered button-down. “I’m gonna look just like you, East. Can I put them on?”
Easton laughed. “Go ahead. In your room.”
Percy collected the pile of clothes and raced toward the door before making a U-turn and diving into me once again. “Thank you so, so much.”
“You’re welcome.”
Then he was gone.
“I know what that stuff costs, Lachlan. You’re insane. You spent a fortune.”
“It’s nothing. I have the money. Spending it on Percy felt good. The kid admires you, and he deserves it.”
Easton worked his jaw and kept his eyes on the front door of the house. “Thank you. I love seein’ him happy.”
“Come on. Wait until you see him dressed as your mini-me.”
Easton chuckled and shook his head. We gathered the other bags off the ground and headed inside.
Percy came out of his room as Easton made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was beginning to think they were the cowboy’s favorite.
The kid sauntered into the room with all the swagger in the world. His casted arm didn’t fit through the sleeve of his shirt, but he’d tucked it inside. Percy posed and mumbled a greeting as he tipped his hat. I burst out laughing, and Easton groaned, dropping his face into his hands. Percy couldn’t have smiled bigger.
“You like it, East?”
“I do not sound like that.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “You do, actually. All gruff and mumbly.” I mimicked him, which earned me a shove.
Percy looked great. I knew there was a belt in one of the bags, so I dug around until I found it and stood him on a chair to help him get it on. The buckle was big like Easton’s, and he grinned and touched it reverently after I’d done it up for him. “I just love it so much.”
“I’m glad. Now you’ll look like a real cowboy when you’re out on the horses.”
And that comment tickled him like nothing else.
We sat, and Easton and Percy pigged out on sandwiches while I picked at mine and watched. It was far more domestic than anything I’d experienced in my life. Yet I liked it. It warmed me inside and out.
“You don’t like peanut butter and jelly, Lach?” Percy asked, smears of strawberry jam marking both sides of his face.
“Lachlan prefers fancy food like horse doovers.”
“Yuck.”
“I don’t—” I bit off my argument. It wasn’t worth it because the idiot was right. I was a food snob. “They’re called hors d’oeuvres, not horse doovers.”
Percy and Easton both laughed.
“Whatever.” I took a huge bite of my sandwich that did nothing more than earn me more laughs.
After lunch, Percy took his new clothes to his room and ran back and forth, giving us a personal fashion show as he tried everything on the best he could with a bulky cast.
“You have some strange people in this town,” I remarked as Percy darted off again. “How do you deal with them all in your face, knowing your business? Small town living is so different.”
Easton stretched his arm across the back of the couch where we’d sat to watch Percy. He tugged me closer and traced his fingers over my shoulder. “We have a lot of strange folks ’round here, but that’s what makes it a great town. Why? Who’d you run into?”
“Well, that dickhead Josiah for one. The man can’t speak English to save his life. I don’t