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.
“Could be,” I said and hoped he was right. “So, you’ve never told me if you’re attached or not. Are you married?” He gave me a look of both shock and disgust all rolled into one.
“No fucking way. I’m far too young for that,” Noah said.
“Well, a few people might disagree with that. But seriously, are you seeing anyone?”
“I could possibly be seeing a few someone’s but either way I never kiss and tell.” He put his finger up to his lips, zipped them, locked them, then threw away the key.
“You’ll give me more details eventually,” I said.
“Maybe,” he said before walking over to the milking station as Keith came back to where I stood.
“Well, that’s it for today. I’m going to get everything packed up. See you Friday,” he said like it wasn’t a big deal, but he needed to know at the same time.
“Yep, looking forward to it.” And I was.
The rest of the week went by in a blur of milking and feeding schedules mixed in with maintenance on everything from fences to the barn, and I loved every fucking minute of it. Finally, it was Friday. I’d just finished the last milking session and headed back to the house.
“Got plans tonight?” Asa said, even though he knew I did. The day Keith had asked, I’d asked Asa at dinner if it was okay for me to take off a little early.
“Yep. Going into the big town.” The two of us walked back to the house but I knew after I left, he’d be out in the barn or wandering the property looking for anything to keep him busy. “You can tag along if you want.”
“And ruin your first date with that mountain of a man?”
I stopped in my tracks and in a split-second thought about what he’d said but still couldn’t believe my uncle, who admitted to being older than dirt, was talking about Keith like that. “Could you repeat that?” I said because there was no way.
“Hey, I might be old but I’m not dead. Keith is a hunk.”
I grinned then because that shit was funny. “A hunk?”
“Yep, and I’m secure enough in my masculinity to admit it.”
“Well—I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“Go get ready for your date, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he said with a wink and a tip of his John Deer ballcap.
“What the—” I shook my head and hurried inside. First John Wayne then Keith. This had been a wild week. Now to shower and change.