at the gallery. We’ll be taking all the art down and setting up tomorrow night.”
“What a fun idea. I can't wait! Let’s see, we have the family dinner at Thompson’s on Sunday; you could come out then, but I won't be home. We can go meet my mother though she’ll be here. Family dinners aren’t her thing. She loves Jackson's mother, but his father is a little…old fashioned for her.”
“Perfect!” I said.
“You know, you really should think about giving Walker another chance. He’s a good guy. I know he can be a little full of himself when he drinks, but that doesn’t happen often. Even then, he’s got a heart of gold and is about as far from a Wheeler as you can get and still be one.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s got a roaming soul. He loves his cut of the ranch, but the whole reason he is the go-to for breeding stock or new bulls is that he travels. He loves seeing new places. He’ll go to Rome for a good lineage.”
My cheeks flushed. In my mind, Walker Wheeler had been like all the other brothers, which everyone knew about in Texas. They were dedicated to their families and their land, and not much else. To find a Wheeler that enjoyed seeing the world was rare. Had I been wrong about him? My mind flashed back to the night of the wedding briefly before jumping to the months that followed. No.
“I’m sure he is a great guy,” I said. “But I’m not looking to date anyone right now.”
She sighed. “Alright, well if you change your mind, let me know. He definitely showed some interest in you.”
***
I made it home in time to put Harrison to bed before grabbing the baby monitor and heading to the gallery. The quiet space always made me feel secure. Walking around the different pieces of art that I’d created reminded me of why I was working so hard. My work was good enough that several pieces sold during the opening, and with Hailey’s order, I had six new commissions.
“You doing okay?” Matilda asked.
I jumped. “I didn’t hear you come in. I’m fine. How did work go today?”
“You sold another small canvas, and three people called asking about custom work. I think that things are starting to pick up.”
“With those and the gallery opening sales, we are covered for the next few months, at least. I hope it stays this way.”
“You went to look at a landscape today, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “Yeah, and I got more than I bargained for.”
“What happened? Did some old art creep try and get in your pants?”
“Ha! I think I would have preferred that honestly. No, I got another commission, and a few more possibilities, we will see how it goes.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Matilda asked.
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“You know, the only time I’ve ever heard you use the word ‘complicated’ is when you talk about Harrison’s father. Does this new job have something to do with him?”
I cringed. It was both infuriating and amazing that Matilda knew me so well. She was one of the very few people who knew that Harrison's dad was still in the area, despite not knowing anything else about him. If I was commissioned to do the other paintings, I would have to work with Walker Wheeler at least once to see his land. It was confusing and frightening. I needed a friend.
I nodded. “Unfortunately.”
“Yikes. Does he work with the Wheeler family? I know they are a formidable family. Your friend married one of them, right?”
“Oh, boy,” I said. “She did marry one of them. For the record, this information has to stay between us, okay?”
“Of course! It’s not like I know any of these people, and from what I’ve heard, I don’t really want too. A bunch of old cowboys, right? They like their woman tame and docile. Not my cup of tea.”
“Now imagine your son turning into one of them,” I said.
“Wait.” She stammered. “What?”
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but yeah, Walker Wheeler is Harrison's father. I don’t think that I can do this job and not run into him. He doesn’t know anything about me right now, and I want to keep it that way.”
“Holy crap, I don’t blame you for wanting to keep that information to yourself.”
“Listen, I know you didn’t have the best home life with your father always gone,” I said. “But Harrison isn’t going to be raised like that, okay?”