“Hello, you ready to talk this through?” he asked.
“No, but maybe we should,” Waylon chuckled.
“Sorry, I thought you were Bonnie. We had an argument this morning,” Rusty told him.
“Over what, if you don’t mind me asking?” Waylon asked.
“Me leaving the ranch in the next few weeks,” Rusty replied.
“I’ll gladly give you a job and pay you more than you’re making over there. I could use an extra foreman with all the new property,” Waylon said.
“Thanks for the offer. The idea just came to me this morning that I should probably leave the place, and I want to think on it a couple of weeks,” Rusty said.
“Don’t jump into anything without sleeping on it would be my advice, but I’d hire you in a minute if you make that decision,” Waylon said. “But the reason I called is that Shiloh and I are having a little barbecue for our hired hands tomorrow evening. We wanted to invite you and Bonnie. Cooper and Abby Joy are coming for sure. She’s been craving barbecued ribs.”
“I never turn down ribs,” Rusty said. “What time and what can I bring?”
“You can bring a six-pack of beer. Shiloh says she’s asking Bonnie to bring baked beans.” Waylon chuckled again.
“What’s so funny?” Rusty snapped.
“Just thinking about the arguments Shiloh and I had before we admitted we were in love. It was a tough time, but seems like we all have to go through it until we admit to our feelings. That’s what Shiloh told me later when we talked about those days. I’m thinkin’ maybe you and Bonnie might be fighting over more than that ranch,” Waylon answered.
“Me and Bonnie in love,” Rusty sputtered. “That’s not damn likely.”
“Just tellin’ you about me and Shiloh. I’m putting you down for a six-pack of beer, but if y’all are still fightin’, then maybe you should bring a pint of something harder.” This time Waylon laughed out loud.
“I’ll bring a damned twelve-pack,” Rusty growled. “And you better make extra ribs because I eat a lot when I’m aggravated.”
“I’ll get another rack, then. See you tomorrow night.” Waylon ended the call.
Rusty tossed the phone over on the passenger’s seat. He had the offer of a really good job, and he would still be in the area with all his friends. Maybe whoever bought Malloy Ranch would hate the place, and he’d have the opportunity to buy it again sometime on down the road. All he had to do was load up his truck, move across the road, and settle into Waylon’s new bunkhouse. He wouldn’t have a room all to himself, but he’d have a place to lay his head at night.
At noon, he parked the tractor and noticed that Bonnie had done the same. They each got into their vehicles without even a simple wave, like they always did when they were heading back to the house for dinner.
If that was the way she wanted to be, then Rusty would give her enough space to cool off. He didn’t even slow down when he passed the house but drove straight to the bunkhouse. All three dogs waited on the porch, and he bent down to pet each one of them. When he straightened up and went inside, they followed him.
He headed straight to the refrigerator, took out a gallon of sweet tea, and drank at least a pint straight from the container. He could almost hear Ezra laughing and telling him that a woman wasn’t worth forgetting to take water or tea to the field with him. He put the voice out of his head while he made himself a ham and cheese sandwich. When he’d gotten out potato chips and pickles, he sat down at the table and bowed his head, but he was too agitated to pray.
Finally, he looked up at the ceiling and said, “God, why did you make women so damned stubborn? Pardon the cuss word. And by the way, thanks for the food.”
No booming voice came down to answer his question, but one of the dogs cold-nosed his hand and made him almost jump out of his chair. “Are you trying to tell me something, Vivien?” he asked the mutt.
She whimpered and wagged her tail on the floor.
“Is the woman you’re named after as bullheaded as her daughter?” He took another long drink of tea and then picked up his sandwich. “I’d rather be eating with her, you know. I’ve always looked forward to an hour in the middle of the day when we could