Mayor Cruz is still talking. "Thank you all for attending today, and caring about Sierra Grande enough to open an uncomfortable dialogue. Part of what makes us great is being honest, and I believe we are stronger because of it."
"Is he trying to get reelected?" Wyatt whispers in my ear. I laugh.
Everyone files out, leaving us alone. Travis looks at me. I think he feels bad for what he caused, but he's still very angry with me. It must be so confusing for him.
"I'm really sorry, Jo."
"I know you are, Trav. I'm really sorry too. And I know it's going to take a long time for you to trust me again."
Travis nods, then gets up and walks out, leaving Wyatt and I alone. Wyatt palms my cheeks, leaning forward and pressing the tip of his nose to mine. "You did it, baby. You stood up for yourself. And your ranch. And your son."
His voice swims with unfettered pride.
"You believed in me."
"Always." He presses a gentle, swift kiss to my lips. "Let's get out of here."
41
Wyatt
My dad'swaiting beside my truck when we walk out from town hall. He has one arm propped on the tailgate, his thumb worrying his chin as he rubs it back and forth.
I squeeze Jo's hand. "Would you mind giving us a second?"
She gives me a relieved smile, and I'm thrilled to see her burdens have been lessened this morning. "You bet," she replies. "Travis and I will grab something from Marigolds."
Marigolds is a stone's throw from here, so she won't have to go far. "Thanks," I say, kissing her temple.
She walks away, Travis in tow. I continue on to my dad.
I stop next to the bed of my truck, perpendicular to him, and rest my forearms on the edge. "Hi," I say. My voice is gruff, but not because I'm upset. I'm so damn confused. Still, I know enough to thank him for what he did back there. I keep my eyes on the dirt and hay stuck in the corners of the bed. "Thanks for everything you said in the meeting. You must really believe in Jo's ranch."
"No, Son. I don't." My startled gaze meets his steady eyes.
"But you said—"
His head shakes, eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know what I said. All of it was true." He changes position, mirroring my posture. "Jo's ranch will introduce new people to the town, good and bad. The same way Dakota's restaurant brought in visitors, and Tenley's presence brought in all sorts of people. I think the concerns of the townspeople are valid. You've always had a gift for seeing deeper into people, and a greater capacity for letting them be human." The skin between his eyebrows furrows. "Your God-given gifts are different than your brothers, Wyatt, but they're no less valuable. If you say Jo's ranch is right for this town, then I believe it, because I believe in you. Simple as that."
I've never been short on words, but right now they escape me. My dad's next question blows my mind even further.
"Can I hug you?"
I stare at him. "You want to hug me?" I point back at myself. "In public?"
He shrugs, more from discomfort than nonchalance. My reaction makes him uneasy, I can tell. He coughs. "I'm an old man now, I don't have to worry about my tough-guy image so much anymore." His grin is lopsided. "That's Wes's job now."
My chuckle moves my shoulders. "Yeah, old man. You can hug me."
I won't say it's not awkward. It's been years since I've hugged my father. His palm slaps my back twice, not too hard, and when he steps back he says, "I love you, Son."
I break eye contact and look at my boots. The sudden pouring of emotion is almost too much for me, like a dessert that's too damn sweet. "I love you too, Dad."
"You know, I thought all this time you've been out fucking off, and ignoring the HCC. But I've been asking around, and it turns out you’ve had a hand in the goings-on of this town. You might've been a little wild when you were younger, but folks around here have nothing but good things to say about you now." His voice thickens. "Warner told me what you've been doing for Mrs. Calhoun. You're a good man, Wyatt. I'm proud of you."
I swallow down the shock. "Thank you, Dad. I appreciate it."
"Since I'm doing all thistalking"—his lip curls on the word—"might as well tell you I think Jo is good for you. I've always liked her." He squints into the sunshine pouring down on us. "Not sure how she's got a kid, though."
