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“He gives them to us to grow,” Finn said. “That’s what my momma and daddy always say, at least.”

“Yeah.” Edith glanced out the window that sat beyond her desk. “Mine too.”

Finn scraped his spoon along the bottom of his bowl. “Feels like sometimes He gives some people harder challenges than others.”

“Well, that’s true,” Edith said. She took another bite and let her sherbet melt in her mouth while Finn remained silent. They finished their treat, and Edith took the bowls from him. When she turned back, Finn kicked off his second boot and lay down on the couch.

He opened his arms for her to join him, and Edith did exactly that. He stroked her hair off the side of her face and murmured, “Could be a worse afternoon than relaxing with your boyfriend, even if the AC isn’t all the way satisfactory.”

Edith smiled to herself and twined her fingers in his, their hands almost against her stomach. “Could be better if you’d kiss me.” She turned to look over her shoulder, thinking herself clever for inserting kissing into their usually serious game.

“I think I can handle that.” Finn touched his lips to hers, and Edith let her eyes drift closed as she enjoyed the sensation of falling in love with a good man.

The tension in the truck by the time Finn made the turn to head out to Three Rivers choked in the back of Edith’s throat. She’d met his parents before. She’d seen them around town in the past few years, and while his siblings were younger than her, she’d know them on-sight.

“There will be a lot of non-family members there tonight,” she said matter-of-factly. “I won’t stand out.”

Finn said nothing, and Edith had her answer for the storm she’d felt inside him. His nerves screamed from him as the truck moved forward, and soon enough, he rounded the bend and the whole of the ranch, the homestead, the horse training facility, and all of Courage Reins spread before them.

Edith drank in no less than a half-dozen American flags—one on a pole in front of Peter Marshall’s house, at the entrance of Bowman Breeds, and at the homestead.

Finn’s momma had also draped the stars and stripes from the deck, and Edith reached to roll down her window. She thought she’d heard music, and sure enough, a good old-fashioned Neil Diamond song piped out of some speakers somewhere.

Edith’s mouth tipped up into a smile, because the Ackermans had always been great at throwing a party. “Smells good,” she said as her stomach growled.

Three white tents had been set up over the lawn between the homestead and the nearest barn, and as they got closer, Edith saw they definitely weren’t the first ones there.

“Is that Henry?” she asked.

“Sure is,” Finn grumbled as he followed his oldest cousin’s directions for where to park. Henry wore a big white cowboy hat like his father did, and he seemed overjoyed to be waving people down an aisle of already parked vehicles.

“When did he get back?”

“He’s just here for the weekend,” Finn said as he pulled into the next available spot. “Everyone’s here for the weekend.”

“You make it sound like they’re here to commit crimes.” Edith glanced over to him, but Finn gave nothing away as he put the truck in park. He didn’t look at her as he got out of the truck, and Edith stayed put so he’d have to open her door and face her.

Instead of letting her drop to the ground, Finn crowded into the doorway. “Fine, I’m nervous about bringing you to this tonight.”

“I gathered that.”

He kept his head down, and Edith simply let him this time. “There’s just so many of them,” he muttered. “And they’ll say anything.”

“Finn,” she said.

“We should’ve just gone downtown to the fireworks there.”

“Finn.”

He still didn’t look up, but at least he didn’t say anything more.

“I’ve met my boyfriend’s parents before,” she said gently, and Edith realized how much experience she had with such things. “It’s going to be fine. They’re people. I’m a person.” She took his hand gently and said, “Now, take me over there and re-introduce me to your momma and daddy and get me a hamburger.”

He did look up then, his eyes finding hers from under the brim of his cowboy hat. “There will be so much food here. It’s embarrassing.”

“How is having food for a party embarrassing?” Edith meant to tease him, but she genuinely didn’t think Finn would appreciate it. She peered at him, seeing the obvious discomfort in his gaze. “Do you just want to go back to Coyote Pass?”

“Part of me wants to say yes,” he growled almost under his breath. “But let’s just get this over with.”