“Weston Riggs Donovan, you put that hose down right this second.” Mom scolds.
“Sorry, Ma. But she started it.” I lift the hose and soak both Wren and my mom.
They stand there dripping, Wren laughing and my mom scowling, when Cade walks up.
“Uncle! Get Daddy!” Maysie yells in between giggles.
“I will beat your ass if you even think about it.” Cade raises his hands and backs up slowly.
“That’s enough with the hose, Weston, now put it down,” Mom scolds, ringing out her hat.
“Ya, Weston. You heard her. Put the hose down,” my brother taunts.
Oh, it’s on.
I raise the hose, aiming at Cade, when it’s ripped from my hands.
“Would you boneheads knock it off.” Dad stands behind me with a scowl on his face, and we all raise our hands in surrender.
“Ladies, go get cleaned up. West, help me with the steaks, and, Cade, go hang the kids to dry on the clothesline.” My dad winks at the kids, and they lose it in another round of giggles.
“Glad to be home.” A soaking wet Wren jumps onto my back as we all head inside.
“So, how long are you home for, Wrenley Cakes?” I ask as soon as we’re all seated at the table ready to eat.
Wren looks around the room, seemingly uncomfortable, before clearing her throat.
“Actually, I’m home for good.” She lowers her head and shovels in a spoonful of potatoes while avoiding eye contact.
Forks clatter, and the room goes silent until my dad clears his throat. “Well, we’re happy to have you home Wrenley, but you’ll need to find a job. You can’t just be sitting on the farm all day every day. You had a great job lined up in Hadley.”
“I know.” She sighs.
“The rodeo is coming up. Why don’t you get back on the horse and practice your stunts. It’ll be too late to register, but I bet Ben will let you do an intermission show or something.” Hayes suggests, reaching for another roll.
“Absolutely not.” Dad cuts in with a sharp tone, signaling the end of rodeo talk.
When Wrenley was sixteen, dad found her out in the pasture unconscious. Cartwheel vault gone wrong. She was in a coma for a week, and we were all scared that we had lost her. Trick riding has been a touchy subject ever since.
“Dad and I could always use the help. We’re going to start turning the cattle out and we could use the extra eyes. Not tomention we’re still busy branding. Or if you want, you can come on as a volunteer at the fire house. We could always use extra help there. Especially now during fire season.” Colter tells her, breaking the silence.
“Thanks, Colty, but I think I’m just going to apply at some of the little shops in town until I can get my own photography business running. I was looking forward to the job in Hadley, but I miss being home and I’m not ready to give up photography either.”
“If you only want to get a part-time job, I’ll pay you to watch the little tornadoes a few times a week to give mom a break.” Cade adds.
Wren’s face beams. “Sure. I’d love to spend more time with the little terrors.”
The kids giggle, and Wren makes a face at them.
It’s going to be great having Wrenley back. The farm just isn’t the same without her.
After dinner, the girls shove us men out the door so they can clean the kitchen without us in their space. We pop a seat on the back patio, cracking beers, and watch the kids run out on the grass.
“So, Cade, you start looking for after school help yet for the fall?” my dad asks.
My mom has been watching the kids since Cade became a single dad, and while Cade’s been thankful for her help, he’s been thinking about finding someone to help with after school activities in the fall so it’s not so busy for my mom.
“Haven’t found anyone that’s clicked yet, Dad. I don’t want to rush and pick the wrong person. These are my kids we’re talking about, and it’s hard to just trust anybody. Hell, I couldn’t even trust their own mother.”
