Chapter 27: A Kind Word From Dad

Jesse's POV

I woke at four with Abby's hair across my arm and her breath on my chest.

I lay there a long time and didn't move.

Saturday had come, and I still didn't know what my wife would say on that lawn.

I knew only that I'd be standing next to her.

At five I fed her horses, because I couldn't sit still.

The colt nickered over the gate for his oats, and I leaned my forehead against his neck.

"Not a word of this to anyone," I told him.

At seven the first trucks started down the Renner road.

I could see them from Abby's east pasture, a line of dust going toward the big house.

Caterers' vans, rented tents, three hundred white folding chairs on a flatbed.

My father had ordered a hundred years of ranch with a band, a bar, and a banner across the barn that read CENTENNIAL.

At nine Kit came out of the bunk house with Lottie on her hip.

Lottie had on her good yellow dress and her too-big straw hat.

Kit had borrowed a blue blouse from Abby and it hung off her shoulders.

"Do I look like someone who tells the truth?" she asked.

"You look like someone who's going to," I said.

She almost smiled.

Lottie reached for me with both arms.

I took her, and she put her palm flat on my cheek, the way she did every morning now.

"Jes," she said.

It was the first time she had said my name.

I had to look at the barn roof for a second.

At ten I borrowed Abby's farm truck and drove to the main house, because mine was sold.

I wasn't planning to see my father.

I went in the kitchen door.

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