“I got to get them while I can or you’ll steal them,” Nita shot back at him.
“Y’all better leave me one with maple icing,” Sharlene said.
“The answer is no,” Ford said out the side of his mouth so that only Joelle could hear.
“No to what?” Joelle whispered.
“No, we aren’t ever going to get them raised, and Iguess we’d both better stick around to see to it that they behave themselves,” he answered.
“Are you saying what I think you are?” Joelle’s breath caught in her chest. Could there be a future for them?
“I’m saying I’m about to fall off the fence into hay and cows,” he said.
Billy Joe whipped around to look at his grandson. “What did I hear about cows and hay?”
“We were wondering if y’all are ready to get back to the ranchin’ life of hay and cows?” Joelle said.
“Great cover,” Ford mouthed without saying a word out loud.
“I love the peace here in this place, but in another three days, I will be ready to start that way,” Sharlene answered. “It’s been fun, and I can’t wait to start planning our Christmas trip, but I miss home.”
“If you miss it that much, then why would you want to live with Nita and let me have your house?” Joelle asked.
“Home isn’t a house,” Sharlene answered. “It’s a feeling in the heart.”
“Couldn’t have said it better,” Nita said with a nod.
“Amen! And amen again,” Billy Joe agreed.
***
Billy Joe declared he was tired of eating out, so he made a pot of pinto beans and fried a skillet of what he called a summer mash-up that included potatoes, yellow squash,peppers, and onions for supper that night. Nita brought a no-bake pineapple pie and corn bread from their room, and Sharlene contributed a small ham she’d baked all afternoon.
“Now I’m homesick,” Billy Joe said after he’d finished his second round. “Ain’t no food we’ve had anywhere that tasted as good as this did.”
“You got that right,” Sharlene agreed.
Nita had a mouthful of food and just nodded.
“Well, I for one have eaten way too much,” Ford declared, “so I’m going for a long walk on the beach. Anyone want to join me?”
“Lord, no!” Sharlene answered. “I’m going to sit here for a little while and then have another piece of that pie.”
“I’ll go,” Joelle said. “We started off the day by watching the sunrise. Seems only right that we watch the sunset over the water this evening. Just don’t expect me to jog.”
Ford slid off the barstool and opened the sliding door for her. “Wouldn’t dream of it. You’d probably embarrass me.” He was glad that she was going with him because he wanted some time alone with her. Sure, they had slept together—as in the same bed, but a foot apart—for more than two weeks. The last couple of nights, falling asleep had been a chore. His mind kept running in circles like a hamster on a wheel. The nightmares hadn’t plagued him in weeks, but he wasn’t at peace and wouldn’t be until he decided what he was going to do about the ranch.
When they stepped out onto the still warm sand, he took her hand in his. “I wanted to hold you last night, to snuggle up with you, and maybe even kiss you good night.”
“Ooo…kay.” She dragged the word out to three syllables.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I figured it out over a bowl of beans and a plate full of food tonight. The ranch is where I belong, and I want to be with you.”
Joelle stopped in her tracks. “For real?”
“Yes,” Ford answered.
“I want to spend more time with Grandpa, not just go on a couple of vacations a year, and thinking about selling the ranch that generations of my family have built makes me sad. I sat there at the supper table tonight and thought about working for a private security firm. I’ve had several offers that I didn’t mention to you until I’d made up my mind. Then I thought about ranching and having time with all of you, and that brought me peace,” Ford admitted.
