34. PAIGE
34
PAIGE
Leaning forward, I finish putting on my lipstick.
“Babe, you ready?” Rhett calls out from the bedroom.
“Yup!” I check myself in the mirror one more time. I’m wearing the dress and boots Rhett bought me, and for once, I took the time to do my makeup.
He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my shoulders. “Damn, I married a beautiful woman.”
I smile at his reflection. “You’re looking pretty handsome yourself.” He’s wearing a button-down light blue shirt, jeans, and boots. His thick beard is trimmed, and it looks like he took the time to comb his hair.
I’m looking forward to messing it up when we get home.
Rhett kisses my neck. “Do we have to go? Because I’d rather sit you on this counter and have my way with you.”
“One dance, that’s all I’m asking for.”
“We can stay longer than that. I’m just teasing. Kinda.”
I chuckle. I’m dying to have my way with him too, but we’ve never been out on the town before, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to stake my claim. Amber got Rhett for homecoming and prom and so many firsts I’ll never have. So I’ll take all of the country dances and fairs and whatever local festivals I can get for the foreseeable future.
In a weird way, I feel like showing up on Rhett’s arm tonight proves I wasn’t just a sad little wackadoodle in high school.
We hug the boys goodbye. Pauline is babysitting tonight.
I grab a light wraparound sweater in case it gets chilly. Texas in the fall can be so unpredictable. It was sixty last night, but now it’s warm and breezy.
I can’t believe it’s already October. I need to ask the boys what they want to be for Halloween. It’ll be fun to sew their costumes.
As Rhett and I drive into town, he’s quiet.
“Are you worried about the auction?” It’s next weekend, and I’ve seen his mile-long to-do list.
“Yeah. I’m cutting it a little close ’cause Harlan’s loan repayment is due the following Monday, but I wanted to hold off as long as possible to get those steer as heavy as possible.”
“Will he be at the Mixer? Should you explain the plan to him so he knows you’re on top of everything? You know, to reassure him?”
His hand slips over mine. “That’s not a bad idea.”
I nibble my bottom lip as I think about what Cash told me over the summer, that we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket. “Have you ever considered diversifying the ranch so we don’t just raise cattle?”
He glances over. “Sure, I’ve thought about it, but we haven’t had the funds to invest in anything else. I’m open to it, though.”
“How do you feel about sheep? I’ve been watching this rancher on YouTube who said she earns four hundred percent more raising sheep than cattle.” There’s no way I’m going to tell him this was Cash’s idea because that might turn him off. But Cash’s suggestion made me curious, and I found a lot of info online that supported his assertion about sheep.
Rhett’s brows lift. “Four hundred percent?”
“If I send you the link, would you watch a few videos? This rancher has tons of resources on regenerative agriculture. The best part is the return on investment for sheep is nine months versus, what, thirty-three for cattle?”
“I like that turnaround time.” He whistles. “Look at my wife, the expert. And yes, I’ll watch a few YouTube videos.”
A huge smile tilts my lips. And Cash said Rhett wouldn’t listen to me. “I just want us to shore ourselves up financially so we can weather the storm if the prices on cattle drop again.”
Lifting my hand to his lips, he kisses me. “Sounds good. Thanks for researching that, baby.”
I’m grinning the rest of the drive into town.
The Mixer is being held at the grassy square in front of the courthouse, which has a gazebo, benches, and picnic tables. Tonight, it’s lit up with twinkle lights that stretch across the oak trees that surround the little park. There’s a makeshift dance floor and stage where a country band is playing. Local vendors line the perimeter.
In a few weeks, we’ll have a carnival for Halloween and then all of the Christmas festivities. Maybe living in Wild Heart isn’t so bad. As I glance around at all of the friendly, familiar faces, a warm feeling settles over me.
Baylee runs up and gives me a hug. “Hello, my spicy burrito. I wanted to introduce you to someone.” I give Rhett a look because I’ve been dying to meet Baylee’s new man. She waves forward a handsome guy in a cowboy hat. “This is Sean.”
We chitchat a few minutes, and I covertly snap a photo of them smiling at each other and send it to the Walker brothers’ chat.
Check out Baylee’s new man. Don’t they make a cute couple?
Rhett smirks after he reads it. “I know what you’re doing.”
“What’s that?” I play dumb.
Maverick immediately responds.
Who the fuck is that?
My husband chuckles when he reads the message. “Houston, we have liftoff.”
As I watch Sean twirl Baylee around the dance floor, I whisper, “Mav can shit or get off the pot. I’m just moving things along.”
Beau and Jace join us, and Beau waves his phone at me. “Nice play.”
I laugh. “I do what I can.”
Rhett grabs my hand. “Okay, my little shit-stirrer, we gonna dance or what?”
“I’m all yours.”
He swoops me into his arms and twirls me around the dance floor to an old George Straight song. Between the bittersweet notes of the song and the scent of Rhett’s heavenly cologne, I’m totally swooning. “I had no idea you could two-step this well.”
“I have a few hidden talents.”
Glancing around, I realize how many people are watching us. “People are staring. Do you think it’s because of Amber?”
He shrugs. “They’re just jealous I’m here with the prettiest girl in town.”
For a grumpy guy, he can be such a sweet talker. “Is she still pissed at you?”
“Don’t care if she is.”
Rhett’s been granted temporary sole custody, but to make it permanent, the boys have to do a session with a family psychiatrist, who will submit his findings to the court. Since then, he’s only communicated with his ex via a parenting app, which he prefers.
Since that showdown with Amber, we’ve been learning how mean and downright abusive she was to the kids. It’s heartbreaking. At the end of the day, I guess it was worth being Amber’s punching bag if it means she won’t be allowed to emotionally abuse the children anymore.
Over my shoulder, I spot a familiar face. “Harlan’s here. Over by the stage.” I steel myself for the bomb to drop. Did Marcus tell his uncle we dated or was he too embarrassed to admit I left him and got hitched to someone else a week later?
Once the song is over, Rhett and I go over to say hi.
“If it isn’t my favorite newlyweds. How’s married life treating you?” Harlan asks.
Relieved he isn’t calling me out for fraud, I grin up at my husband. “Great. Rhett built me a chicken coop, and now we have farm-fresh eggs every day.”
Rhett winks at me. “Someone once told me, ‘Happy wife, happy life.’ Can’t say they’re wrong.”
Harlan nods. “That’s the secret.” He shakes out his wrist and glances at his huge gold watch. “Where’s Mary Sue? That woman said she’d only be gone ten minutes. She’s coordinating the winter food drive at the church.”
I hold up my phone. “Please tell her to call me if she needs volunteers. I’d love to help.”
“Why, thank you, darling. That’s mighty nice.”
A distinguished-looking gentleman joins us. Harlan pats the man’s back. “Paige, have you met my brother Prescott? He oversees the bank here in town.”
Prescott holds up his beer to Harlan. “And don’t you forget it.”
Harlan chuckles. From what Rhett has explained, Harlan is the president of the company, but his younger brother is the local branch manager.
Prescott motions to Harlan. “Have you seen Tiffany? She’s supposed to meet me here.” He rolls his eyes playfully when he turns to us. “My wife means well, but she’s late for everything.”
Another guy walks up to our group, and Harlan mumbles something to him I can’t make out before he introduces him. “This here is my son Jimmy. Took some hard work, but he finally got the Gibson ranch up and running.”
Jimmy’s tall and lanky, and he doesn’t smile. Just nods at us.
After a minute, Harlan turns the conversation to business. “How are things on the ranch? You gearing up for the auction?”
My husband nods. “Yes, sir. We’ll be ready.”
“No trouble fattening up your herd?”
“No. They’re looking good.”
Stepping back, I motion behind me. “I’m going to say hi to some friends and let you chat.”
I say a little prayer my husband has all the right words to inspire Harlan’s confidence. We’re so close to our goal, and I don’t want anything to go wrong.