Chapter 60

“Wow,” Dan said as the twins, Rachel, and Holly left to help Adalin. “I never imagined getting ready for a show was so much work.”

Soon Adalin and the girls were back, carrying garment bags, makeup cases, and hair care caboodles. After one last check to make sure all was ready, the group walked back to the house. They sat in the yard, listening to the sounds of night insects as they watched the dancing fireflies and gazed at the western sky as the clouds on the horizon turned from pink to orange to grey as the sun set.

“I got to meet your new trail horses,” Dan said to Adalin. “I bet it’ll be fun for all of you to go for rides together.”

Adalin laughed. “That’ll be the day! I like horses—from a distance. It would take a lot of persuasion to get me up on one.”

Dan looked across the yard at Scott, who was talking with Kyle and Erick, asking them how they liked the horseshoe pit. Dan furrowed his brow. Adalin doesn’t ride?

Scott noticed Dan was looking in his direction. He smiled and gave Dan a wink.

“Time for bed,” Adalin announced.

Sarah and Susan grumbled, but in the end kissed their grandmother and father, and hugged Rachel, Kyle, Holly, Erick, and Dan.

When they got to Dan, he said, “Good luck at your show tomorrow.”

“I wish you could be there,” Susan said.

“Yeah, you should come…in case we need a vet,” Sarah added in a hopeful tone.

“I wish I could, too,” Dan admitted. And he meant it.

“Why don’t you?” Scott asked. “You told me you lived in Taylor, right?”

Dan nodded.

“Well, the show is at the county fairgrounds. I think they’re near Taylor, aren’t they? The twins would love it if you did.”

It took Dan a nanosecond to make his decision. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”

Susan and Sarah hugged him again, this time adding a kiss on the cheek, and went happily off to bed, taking little Sadie with them.

Before Adalin followed them she gave Dan a hug. “I probably won’t see you before you leave. It was so nice to have you here. I know the girls are excited that you’re coming to the show.”

Erick and Kyle said their goodnights. Holly and Rachel were staying overnight and going to the show with the twins, Scott, and Adalin.

A few minutes later, Dan said, “I better be going. It’s a bit of a drive and you guys need to get your rest.”

Scott walked Dan to his car. They stood in the gathering darkness. “I’m really glad you were here tonight and happy you can come tomorrow.”

They were inches apart. Dan assured Scott he felt the same. Scott laid a hand on Dan’s shoulder. If this were a Hollywood production they would lean toward each other and then…fade to black. Dan reminded himself it wasn’t Hollywood. He said goodnight, got into his car, and left.

* * * *

Hope you had a good time tonight. I fed Lad and Lady around 6:30. Was going to take them for a walk, but Elmer got a sudden inspiration to go out to eat and to a movie. Doesn’t happen very often. So I just let them out in the backyard. Sorry. Hope it’s okay with you. I know you’ll be tired. Julee.

Dan smiled as he read the note. Julee was a gem. How could it not be okay when she did so much for him, so willingly? Besides, he was still so keyed up from his evening with the Wagners that a walk with the dogs might be just what he needed in order to relax and get to sleep. Lad and Lady were overjoyed at the prospect of a late night stroll. They brought Dan their leashes and were ready to go.

As they walked along under the star-filled sky, Dan, as usual, discussed the evening with them. After all, who else did he have to talk with about his feelings, hopes, and dreams except his two best friends who would listen completely without judgement?

“You’d really like Susan and Sarah. They’re neat kids. They have a new puppy named Sadie. You’d like her, too. She’s a mutt like you guys. Had a beagle for a mom same as you. Scott is so…so…”

Words to describe Scott to his dogs failed Dan. Even to them he couldn’t express what he was really feeling about the man. Or, maybe it was that he couldn’t admit it to himself. To do that might upset the tentative hold Dan had on suppressing his real feelings.

“So…cool,” he finally ended up saying. “Adalin is nice, too. And so is grandma Greta. I tell ya, kids, you’d love living on the…uh…visiting the farm.”

He sighed. Who was he kidding? Life was so unfair. He’d found the man who he could love on all levels and share a life with. And he was out of bounds.