My mother shrugged as my father approached. He took one look at us, and instantly the tightness in his jaw started to ease. Relief washed across his face. I could understand where he was coming from. Neither of us wanted to fight or argue. My mother had always acted as the liaison in family matters for him, especially when it came to relationship issues.
“Do we still need to talk?” He asked.
“Come on, honey,” my mother said. “I want to get good seats before the auction.”
He grunted as she started to walk in, giving my hand one final squeeze. My father didn’t immediately follow her, making me nervous in the process. I shifted my weight in my feet, unsure of what he wanted from me now. My mother had already told him that things were done being discussed for the day in her own way. He let out a weighted sigh.
“Suppose at some point we will still need to talk about Calumet.”
“It’s not a conversation we need to have today.”
“Sure, I couldn’t agree more. Recon if I don’t say what’s on my mind now though, might never happen.”
“Pa –
“Now hear me out, boy. I brought you into this world, and I will knock you clean out of it if you try and talk over me.”
I nodded.
His gaze leveled on me. “Nothing. You hear me, boy? Nothing in this world or the next is as important to a man as his children. Sure, we might tell our woman that it’s them, but deep down, that boy of yours is what makes your heart beat.”
“I don’t –
“If you leave Calumet, it won't go to your brothers. It won't go anywhere. You need to get that woman and your boy. If it takes the next fifteen years, then so be it. Calumet is your home, sure enough, but family is family. Find yours, make it yours. You’ve got my support.”
My jaw dropped as he walked away after my mother. Never in my life did I think I’d hear my father say that anything in life was more important than the ranch. How was I supposed to react to that? Knowing that I had his blessing to do what I needed to get Stacy and Harrison back in my life, though, had lifted a weight off my shoulders I didn’t know was there. Taking a deep breath, I turned to follow him, but someone caught my eye.
Across the fair where the pens stood with goats and other small livestock that children could pet, was Stacy. She had Harrison in her arms, a hip kicked out as a seat for him as he leaned over the pens to feed the animals some grain. Stacy's face lit up in pure joy with each giggle that the goats licking tongue elected from the little boy.
“Why don’t you go over to her?” Hailey asked.
I jumped. “Shit, woman, you move like a damn cat.”
“You should go talk to her, you have a few minutes before the auction starts.”
“Look at them,” I said. “They both look so happy. I don’t want to ruin her day like that.”
“How do you know it would ruin her day? I don’t think you’re in much of a position to be diving into the thoughts of a woman you’re scared to talk too.”
“I’m not scared,” I grumbled.
Hailey laughed. “Sure, you aren’t, big boy. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“Have you talked to her at all?”
She shook her head. “I’ve called a couple times but didn’t get an answer.”
Hailey hesitated.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked.
“Have you been into town lately?”
“No. Haven’t been much of anywhere except the ranch, just haven’t been sitting at home waiting around to get verbally abused by my entire family either.”
“Walker, there is a ‘for sale’ sign at the gallery now,” Hailey said.
My heart lurched. Even though I knew it was coming, I still didn’t want to think about a world without Stacy in it. For some reason, I’d let myself believe that her threats to leave were hollow. The news that she wasn’t sticking around almost knocked me off my feet. Behind us, a microphone screeched to life, making us both jump along with the audience already in the barn as the auctioneer started to introduce himself.
I looked back to where Stacy had been. It seemed we weren’t the only ones that were startled by the noise. Stacy was now looking in our direction, her cheeks flushed red as Harrison squirmed to get