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“It wasn’t a pony. Casper was a full-sized horse for a kid,” I argue with him.

“He was about ye high.” Alex stands, showing that the horse barely went up to his waist. “Casper was a Shetland pony.”

Everyone is laughing, and I can’t help but laugh too because that horse was a little shit and we never got along, but I was determined to break him, which by the way, never happened.

As Patsy gabs on about wanting to open a winery, I can’t help but notice the empty seat next to Mom. I glance out the window and see the sun is starting to set over the horizon and begin to worry about Dad. As I stand to go figure out where he is, the front door opens and my father walks in, muddy and stinking of sweat, but a big smile fills his face when he sees me. I don’t even care. I get up and run to him and give him a big hug. “Daddy!”

“Hey pumpkin, I missed you. So glad you’re home, even though it’s only for a few days.” He always gives me a hard time about staying in California. When I told them I wasn’t moving back to Texas, that’s when he decided to stop funding my adventures, which is how Drew and I became roommates. So, in a roundabout way, I can thank him for bringing us together.

“Go wash up, Scott. I’ll make you a bowl.” Mom stands and laughs.

Dad looks over at Drew then back at me. “That’s your boyfriend I need to threaten?”

I give him a stern look, and he smiles. “I know you’re growing up and you won’t always be my baby girl.”

“Yes, I will, Dad. No matter what.”

“Is he treating you right?”

I nod. “He loves me. He’ll protect me. And if he doesn’t, I’ll kick his ass.”

“That’s my girl.” He gives me another hug and heads up the stairs. Dad was never one for big crowds though his family was huge. When he married Mom, it doubled in size. Growing up, we always had get-togethers, and somehow he’d always find a way to get out of them. But he’s a true rancher at heart. He loves working the land, being with the animals, providing for his family, and enjoying the smaller things in life like sunsets, oak whiskey, and sweet tea. He has a hard exterior at times because there’s no crying in ranching, but it made me into the woman I am today–strong, confident, and not afraid to get my hands dirty.

I return to my seat at the table and Drew places his arm around me. Every single one of my brothers takes notice when I lean into him, but I’m glad Drew stands his ground and doesn’t falter. Growing up around the four of them made it impossible to have an openly serious relationship. The Bishop boys somehow found a way to scare everyone away for the most part. Luckily, I’ve got myself a real man who couldn’t give two shits about their dirty looks and empty threats.

“Benita, it was supposed to be a surprise that I was coming to the wedding, but you know how good the Brooks keep secrets.” I turn and eye Mom and then look over at Aunt Charlotte and Aunt Patsy. They all shrug.

“A secret?” Benita laughs, brushing her long black hair to the side. “I knew as soon as you told Aunt Rose.”

Dad comes downstairs, and Mom makes him a big bowl of gumbo and plops the potato salad right inside the bowl. He eats in silence as everyone chats about the wedding, the new Family Dollar Store being built in town, and who’s pregnant. That’s ‘bout as good as it gets living in West Texas.

I try to find a time to formally introduce Drew to my father. It’s so hard to get a word in edgewise because everyone is talking over each other. Sometimes Drew wonders why I talk so loud, but it’s because I’m so used to fighting to be heard.

“Dad,” I say, leaning toward him, trying not to be too loud. He looks up from his bowl.

“This is Drew, my boyfriend.”

Drew turns and looks at my father. “Hi, sir. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Well, at least he has manners,” Dad says and I give him a scolding look. “It’s nice to meet you, son.”

I give a hard nod. “That’s better.”

Once the sun completely sets, I start yawning. We all place our bowls by the sink while Aunt Patsy and Aunt Charlotte wash the dishes. Benita comes over to me and pulls me into a big hug as my aunts ask Drew questions about California.

“Your boyfriend is so fucking hot! I just, I can’t even,” she says.

I pull away and look her in the eyes and can’t help a girly squeal from coming out. “I know, right.”