“Colt’s nice, ain’t he?”
“What?”
“I see the way he looks at you.” The way Colt looks at me? Does he make it that obvious? “You used to be best friends, but I sense there’s something more to it now. I laughed nervously, and I think I gave myself away right then and there. “Heck. I was right. Your old man may be old, but he ain’t stupid.” We laughed again. “Y’all ain’t told Walt yet, have you?”
“No. Dad, can we keep this between us? Please?”
“Of course.”
“It’s just…complicated.” Colt had now made his way over to us.
“You know?” I put my hand on my head, realizing he had heard our conversation.
“Yes. I could tell by the way you look at her. And listen…it’s okay with me.” He placed a hand on Colt’s shoulder, gripping it slightly. “If she’s happy, that’s all that matters to me. Can I ask you one thing, though?”
“Sure.”
“What makes it so complicated that you ain’t told yourdad yet?” I wasn’t sure how my dad would react, but I knew Colt. He would tell him the truth.
“Before Daisy came here, he asked me to promise him that I would keep it strictly business…professional...and that nothing would happen between me and Daisy.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I guess I broke that promise.”
“Well, son, you do need to tell him eventually. Got any idea why he made you promise that?”
“I don’t know.”
I have been wondering about the same thing since I found out, and I still don’t have an answer.
“I think he thought he was protecting you.”
“Protecting me? How?”
“We all saw how the two of you always hung around each other, ever since you were little, and how you wanted to do everything together. No one could separate you. And the way you two looked at each other then is the same way you do now.” Colt glanced over at me, then we continued to listen. “Daisy lives in the city, and your dad was probably afraid that if you spent a lot of time together this summer, something could happen, and you’d get your heart broken. He doesn’t want to see you get hurt, Colt.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“Once you have kids of your own, you’ll know how it feels to want to protect someone like that.” We sat there for a few more minutes, watching the cattle. “Thanks, you two, for coming to bail me out today. You were of good help.” I gave my dad a smile and he returned it. I had missed being able to talk to him.
By the time the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the fields, we had spent the whole day with my dad on myfamily’s ranch. I was grateful to Walt for telling me and Colt to come. It meant a lot to me to be able to reconcile with my dad. It was something my heart needed for a long time.
After spending this time here, I realized how much I had missed these moments. I enjoyed the work, the laughter, the talks, and the memories. I glanced over at Colt, busy teasing a calf, and felt grateful for this summer.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Colt
On the drive back, I wanted to check on Daisy and make sure she was okay. I knew she was struggling on the way there, and even though it seemed like she was okay when I came out of the house, I wanted reassurance from her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m good. I’m really good.” I loved hearing her say that. I was so happy that she got some reconciliation with her dad today. I knew she needed that. They both needed that.
“So…your dad knows about us?”
“Yep. He’s not going to say anything, though.”
