Emma could feel his pain, because she shuddered at the thought of possibly being one of several bridesmaids at such an affair.
“Would y’all go to that wedding? The one in a huge church with all kinds of people around?” Josh asked.
Emma sure couldn’t answer yes to the question.
“Of course, but only if I could wear my bibbed overalls and give away the bride.” Arty chuckled.
“I’d go, but I would go as myself, not a silly dressed-up version,” Filly agreed, “but I’d sure hate to make that drive. I don’t even like to ride an hour up to the grocery store.”
“You haven’t in over a year,” Arty reminded her. “You just make out a list for me and Josh to take care of.”
“Well, I’m going next week,” Filly said. “It’s time for me to get some things that I don’t want y’all to see, and, Em, I’ll be glad to get you one of those phones. I keep one handy for when we lose power out here”—she pointed at Arty—“and I need to check on this old smart-ass right here and make sure he didn’t get struck by lightning.”
A feeling of contentment replaced Emma’s burst of fear over having to walk down an aisle with a bouquet in her hands. If she had Arty, Josh, and Filly with her, she could survive the biggest wedding in the whole state of Texas.
How would you feel about some guy asking you to marry him? Her father’s voice popped into her head.
Scared out of my mind. She had no trouble answering that question.
She looked up and locked gazes with Josh. Her heart threw in an extra beat, and her pulse jacked up a notch or two. Surprisingly enough, she didn’t want to wring her hands and didn’t even blink. She might even say yes if it was Josh who proposed—someday, not right then.
“So, what did you paint today?” Josh asked.
“I started a picture of that beautiful sunrise yesterday morning, but I had no idea what to do with it until I saw a turkey with his tail all fluffed out. I walked out to the spot where he had been and found a small feather. I painted him looking at the sun as it rose, like he was scaring away the dark night,” she said. “I used an eleven-by-fourteen-inch canvas, which is as big as I ever intend to do. What about y’all?”
“Can I see it?” Josh asked.
“Sure. Y’all can come over and see it after we eat.” Emma hoped that maybe they’d even sit awhile and visit with her so the evening wouldn’t be so long.
“I haven’t seen an old tom turkey in a couple of years, but I think I may do a metal piece of one when I finish the replica of this old live oak tree we’re sitting under,” Arty said. “It’s been giving me fits with all the intricate limbs and the twisted trunk.”
Filly laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’ve got faith in your artwork.”
“Sweet Lord!” Arty laid a hand over his chest. “The world is coming to an end. This darlin’ woman said something nice to me.”
“Oh, hush!” Filly slapped him on the arm. “Ignore him, Em. He’s being a smart-ass again, and to answer your question, I’ve been working on a necklace made of tiny wood pieces woven into leather. I’m going to paint rosebuds on the wood when I get the first phase done, and I think I’ll make a matching bracelet.”
“That sounds beautiful,” Emma said. “What about you, Josh?”
“I saw that same turkey, and like Arty, I hadn’t seen one in a couple of years, so that inspired me to draw one. Leo mentioned something about me working a spot of color into a painting, so I thought I’d give that little mesquite grove some green leaves,” Josh answered.
“Well, I can’t wait to see that one.” Filly winked at Josh.
Emma noticed that his cheeks turned scarlet and wondered what the inside joke was. If she had learned anything from living in a dysfunctional family, it was to watch her parents’ expressions. When she came home from college, she could read Victoria’s and Wyatt’s moods simply by looking at them. Something had caused Josh to blush, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it was.
“Maybe instead of rosebuds on my necklace”—Filly abruptly changed the subject—“I will paint small feathers on it. That would give it a more southwestern feel with the wood and leather, and y’all are all working with turkeys, so we could make