The Rancher's Answered Prayer

“If you need a hand, maybe I can help out,” Wyatt volunteered.

“You know anything about cutting calves?” Rex asked.

“Not really,” Wyatt admitted, “but I ought to, and I’m a fast learner.”

“Can you ride and rope?” Wes asked.

“That I can do, but I might be a bit rusty.”

“You’re hired,” Rex decreed. “We’ve got a bumper crop of bull calves this year, and the sooner we make ’em steers, the sooner they’ll fatten up for market.”

“I can call our ranch foreman, Delgado, to come over if you like.”

“Now, why didn’t we think of Delgado?” Rex asked.

The men all headed for the door, Wes joking, “I’m getting married soon. I’ve got enough on my mind. Why didn’t you think of Delgado? You’re the brains of the operation.”

“Y’all heard him, boys,” Rex bantered. “I am the official head of the Billings brain trust. Just remember that.”

They were stomping into boots and reaching for hats in the foyer when Wyatt pulled out his cell phone to call Delgado. While he waited for the other man to answer, Rex glanced at the hat pegs on the wall, asking, “Where’s your hat? You’re gonna need it.”

“Oh, I don’t have one,” Wyatt admitted, breaking off when Delgado finally answered. Wyatt explained the situation and heard the delight in his foreman’s voice as he agreed to hurry over to the Billings ranch. “He’s on his way,” Wyatt announced, sliding the small phone back into his pocket. He looked up to find Wes and Rex standing with piles of battered cowboy hats in their hands.

“Let’s try this one,” Wes said, passing a stained, cream-colored hat to Wyatt.

After a moment, Wyatt realized he was meant to try on the hat. Unfortunately, it wobbled atop his head like a crown.

“Too small,” Rex announced, plucking the hat off and pushing it into the bottom of his stack. “Maybe the straw.” He plunked it onto Wyatt’s head. Wyatt pushed it up out of his eyes.

“Too big,” Wes decided. “Let’s go with the old silver belly.”

Tired and more than a bit floppy, the once handsome hat nestled down onto Wyatt’s head as if made just for him.

“That’s the one,” Rex announced.

“It’ll keep the sun from baking you, at least,” Wes said, “but the satin lining’s not exactly cool.”

“Good thing it’s not full summer yet,” Dean put in, grinning as he pulled a baseball cap from his hip pocket and slung it onto his head.

“How come you get away with that?” Wyatt asked, only half teasing.

“Aw, I only wear cowboy hats to impress my wife,” Dean said, “and that thing you’re wearing would surely not do it.”

They all walked out laughing, but Wyatt couldn’t help thinking that a cowboy hat, even an old droopy one, surely made a man stand just a little prouder. As he strode along in the company of these men, Wyatt felt a surprising twinge of guilt at not calling to explain the situation to Tina. Then again, he decided, he hadn’t promised to help repair the house. He was doing exactly what they’d agreed he’d do.

For some reason, he thought of her scrubbing that old skillet with such vigor. Then he pictured Callie Billings moving around her comfortable kitchen, and a pang of something like regret or disappointment struck him midchest. Ridiculous.