Daisies in the Canyon(73)

Abby followed Bonnie’s orders as they fixed the fence so the pigs couldn’t get out again. Then the two of them carried a couple of cement blocks from the hog shed feed room and secured the area.

“One of them bastards probably dug his way under the fence and the others tore it when they were too big to get through the hole,” Bonnie said. “But this will fix it so they can’t do it again.”

“Thanks,” Abby said. “You said this was the day for it. What else happened?”

“I had finished milking the cow and be damned if a honeybee didn’t spook her and she kicked the milk bucket over. Lost every drop of the milk. I hope you weren’t planning on using the cream for something tomorrow,” Bonnie said.

“I wasn’t.” This must be the big test to see if she would really stay when the going got tough. Well, she’d made up her mind and she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Good. Shiloh is already on a tractor. You’re supposed to call Rusty when you get back to the house. He said that he’s sending you to the feed store in Silverton for a load of pig and chicken feed,” Bonnie said.

The gears in Abby’s head started turning so fast it made her dizzy. She’d be in Silverton. Maybe Cooper would have time for a coffee break. She’d wanted tell him how much it meant to her to see him last night. She called Rusty as she walked toward the house and told him she’d take her own truck so he didn’t have to bring the work truck in from the field. She was downright giddy until Bonnie sniffed the air.

“What? Don’t tell me the house is burning down,” Abby said.

“No, but you smell like hog shit. I’d take a quick shower if I was you, and put on them jeans with the fancy stitchin’ on the butt. And it wouldn’t hurt to spray a little perfume on your hair,” Bonnie said.

“I’m going to the feed store,” Abby protested.

“I’m not stupid. You’re picking up pig and chicken pellets at the feed store. You’re going to see Cooper in his place of work for the first time. You want everyone in the courthouse to smell you like this?” Bonnie asked.

“How did you know that?” Abby asked.

“You had the Cooper look on your face.”

“You are full of shit.”

Bonnie pointed right at her. “You are fighting an attraction, which is worse than bein’ full of shit.”

It was the fastest shower Abby had ever taken in her life. She dried her hair in record time and followed Bonnie’s advice about the perfume. She applied a touch of makeup and hit her hair with a curling iron, all in thirty minutes.

It was eleven o’clock when she reached the feed store. The guys there couldn’t have been prodded into action by a stun gun. They moved so slow that she wished she’d offered to load the feed herself. Finally, a baldheaded fellow in bibbed overalls handed her a bill fastened to a clipboard. She signed it and headed straight for the courthouse.

She parked the truck, checked her reflection in the mirror, and suddenly had second thoughts about even going inside. He’d never invited her to stop by, and it was his place of work. Maybe she should call first. Surprises weren’t always welcome.

She opened the truck door, but couldn’t make herself get out, not without calling first. Even that would put him in an awkward situation. She reversed the situation and thought about how she’d feel if he suddenly showed up at her office in the army unexpectedly.

“Complicated deluxe,” she mumbled.

“Good mornin’. Could I help you? You look a little bit lost. Hey, didn’t I see you at Ezra Malloy’s funeral? You are the oldest daughter, right?” An elderly man extended his hand. “I’m Everett Talley. Knew Ezra his whole life.”

“I’m Abby and yes, I’m the oldest,” she said.

“Well, I’m right pleased to meet you.” He dropped her hand after a firm shake. “Hope y’all are gettin’ along all right on the ranch. You here to see Coop? I heard y’all had been steppin’ out some. If you are, you done missed him. He pulled out in the sheriff car ’bout the time I drove up. See, his space is empty.” Everett pointed toward the reserved spot a couple of parking spaces down from her. “Got to get on down the road. The wife has already called three times. She’s ready to go to Amarillo to do some shoppin’ and I don’t want to be in no more trouble than I already am.”

“Thank you. Nice meeting you,” she said.

She shut the truck door and started the engine. “What now?”

That’s when her phone rang. She fished the phone from her purse and Bonnie’s name came up on the front. “Hello.”

“Where are you?”

“On my way home. You need something before I leave town?”

“How did it go at the courthouse?”

“Do you believe in fate?” Abby asked. “Cooper isn’t here.”

“Yes, I do. My grandparents were very superstitious. There’s a reason you weren’t supposed to see him today. You might never know what it is, but it’s there, so don’t doubt it.”

“Thank you, sis,” Abby said.

“Imagine that.”

“What?” Abby asked.

“You called me sis.”

“I guess I did,” Abby said.