Sandy and Jason had gone over to the westpasture to check fences.They were astride their Palominos lookingready to chew on each other, postures resembling fighting roosters.Sandy got down off his horse and started fixing wire that had comeloose on a fence.Jason dismounted too, but continued sulking.Sandy shrugged and continued working.Jason began to pace.
“Look.We’ve been friends a long time,” Jasonbegan.He threw his gloves on the ground.
“Yeah, so?”Sandy turned to look at him,dropping the wire he was twisting.“Are you quitting or something?Did I steal your favorite puppy or what?”
“Something like that.”
“Damn it, Jason, spit it out.I haven’t gotall day.”
“… It’s about Lily.”
Sandy could almost see the steam coming outof Jason’s ears.“What about her?”
“You could have any woman in town.Why her?Iwanted to date her.”There it was.The admission fell plop on theground between them.Jason walked around him.
“Is that what this is about?She turned youdown, but not me?Jeez, I didn’t think a woman could come betweenus.”
Jason spit on the ground, moved his horseaway.Steam still poured out of him.“You know I liked her.I toldyou so.”
“You said you asked her out and she turnedyou down.Am I supposed to never look at her just because you likedher?Besides, I didn’t mean for it to happen.It just….happened.”Sandy looked hard at his angry foreman.Could they get past this?“In fact, I’m in love with her and that’s the truth.”
They continued to stare at each other.Jason’s face scrunched, confused.“You’re… in love with her?”Thelandscape was so empty the only sound was a coyote howling off inthe distance.
“So help me God.”Sandy put three fingers inthe air.
“Wow…Wow… Really?What’s that feellike?”He and Sandy began to relax, stepping closer to one another.Their postures were less like fighting roosters and more likesoon-to-be contented cows.
“I know men aren’t supposed to be feeling andsensitive creatures, but damn…I just look at her and melt.She’sfunny, she’s smart, she’s beautiful, she’s sexy….she’s everything.At least to me.”Jason winced.
“Never felt that way about a woman.Sounds…nice.”
“Except there’s a problem – Amy.”
“You’re kidding.What’s she done now?”Jason’s eyes popped as Sandy filled him in on all the littleincidents Amy had done while he was gone.
“Knowing Amy, she’s trying to scare Lilyaway, don’t you reckon?”He wiped sweaty hands down his jeans.
“Yeah, there’s some real damaged wiring withthat one.I guess I’ll have to tell her to knock it off.”Sandyshoved hands in his pockets.“Damn.”
“You know she did this the last time you hadyour eye on someone.Remember that gal who was in town a few yearsback from Ft.Worth?You went to the movies or something with herand Amy about had a meltdown.”
“Yeah, now that you mention it.Okay,suggestions?”
They were on the same side of the river now,working together.Where they usually were.Sandy reached over topick up Jason’s gloves and handed them over.
“I’d let Lily take her on.No woman aroundhere has had the guts to stand up to Amy.She’s used to being topdog.Could Lily do it?”
“I’m not sure.I’ll talk to her about it.Friends again?”Sandy held out his hand.Jason smiled and took it.They shook hands eagerly.
“You bet.Sorry.”
“Don’t be.We’re not always in control of ourlives.Thank God…” Sandy laughed.“I’m happy both of you are in mylife, honestly.”
Jason slipped on his gloves and they wentback to fixing fences with the sun beginning to set behind them.Their horses shifted to find grass worth nibbling on and all wasright again on the Johnson Ranch.
* * *
CHAPTER ELEVEN
