Page 12 of Herds and Hooves

“I can’t believe I’m seeing what I’m seeing,” Bart said from my side.

“You and me both.” I looked at him and the two of us started laughing while also making sure that JW was safely lifted into place.

“Noah, you come with me and we’ll go drop him off to Kendall,” Asa said before making sure JW was secure and driving off slowly in the jeep with Noah in the passenger seat.

“Who’s Kendall?” Bart asked me as we stood there watching them drive away.

“Hot fireman,” I said before I had time to think about it.

“There’re hot firemen in town?” he asked and turned to face me.

“A few of them actually.”

“Guess I need to get out more. Ready to finish trimming? The girls probably think we’ve deserted them.” He turned to walk to the quad while I stood there wondering when the lost city kid had gotten so full of country. And now I was even more excited to go out on Friday.

“You’ve changed a lot since you’ve been here,” I finally managed to say as I followed him.

“Maybe I was always this way, but it took moving here for me to realize.” He climbed on and started it before nodding to me to get on the back.

“Maybe it’s all the clean air and hard work.” My lips were so close to his ear I could feel his hair brush my face, but when I took ahold of his hips it wasn’t nearly close enough and I hated knowing the ride would be over far too soon.

Eleven

Bart

“How long have you lived here?” I asked Keith who was currently working on cow number four, or Janell as we called her.

“Going on nine years. When Gary offered to show me the trade I thought I’d learn it then move on, but that never happened, I guess I was never meant to leave Foggy Basin,” he said without looking up, and I thought it was a strange answer but didn’t question it.

“Asa loves it here. I can’t imagine him anywhere else. He loves the farm and was worried there wouldn’t be anyone in the family who would take care of it all the way he has.”

“I supposed we all feel the same way around here. Foggy Basin kinda grows on you.”

“Who’s we? You got a mouse in your pocket?” I asked.

“You’ve been around Asa too long, that is one hundred percent one of his sayings.”

“Guilty as charged.” Not that I minded. Asa was cool and he was a breath of fresh air I never knew I needed.

“I really can’t get over the difference in you since you’ve been here,” he said again.

“I’m happy. Really happy. So, about Friday. Where did you want to meet? It’ll save you a trip out here.” I watched while he used his knife to dig something out of her hoof.

“Works for me. There’re a few places to choose from. If you want to just have a drink, the Meadery is quiet and nice. There’s also Pint’s ‘n Pool where we can go to have a drink and play pool. If you’d rather just get something to eat, we can go the diner.”

“So many choices,” I said, and tried not to act as shocked as I was. “I remember coming here when I was a kid and there was one restaurant, but I don’t remember ever going there.”

“That was probably the diner, it’s been open for years but with different owners. It’s pretty good now.”

“Why don’t we go play pool? That sounds fun. Do they have food there?”

“I think they have snacks. But we could go somewhere else to eat.”

“OK, how about we meet at the diner and eat first. I know I’ll be starving by then. Then we can go play a game or two.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone out with someone who wasn’t either a friend or family member, and I definitely didn’t remember going to play pool with someone like Keith.

“Sounds like a plan,” he said, and I was surprised how happy he sounded. I’d spent very little time with Keith, but he wasn’t a ball of sunshine and happiness.

“Sounds like a date,” Noah said when Keith walked over to get something from his supplies.