Page 137 of For Cowgirls and Kings

“I know it.” I offer her a small smile and as if pleasedby it, she physically relaxes. “On a different note, you’ll be glad to know I got my pen finished today, and will take Sven and Childers to my place tomorrow.”

“Want to leave Childers? I like him,” Gus states.

I shake my head, “We rode them together when she was first coming out of her darkness—he’s special. Plus, an old stable hand told me that Dale spent almost every afternoon with him that last month she lived at my house. I’m not letting him go; she’ll want him.”

“I’ll admit, that’s pretty sweet.” Stetson smiles.

“Oh yes.‘Here my love, I kept this horse for you,’sounds way less romantic than‘I sold my families entire empire to move to a shitty town no one actually likes, just to be with you,’” Gus grumbles and Stetson and I bark a laugh in unison.

I still don’t have the right words, but the sentiment is the same. I love Dale, and I’ll do everything to show her that.

FORTY-NINE

ADALENE

July 10th, 2025

My car'sengine wheezes off, the dust outside seeming to settle on the interior just as thickly. It’s a blistering summer day, the temperature already well into the hundreds, and I attempted to dress accordingly. Although it’s not my cut off shorts and a low-tank top,you’re not supposed to dress like that as a teacher,the light T-shirt and gym shorts I’m wearing will have to do.

A second car pulls up beside me, and I turn to wave at the kids piling out of the truck, their faces pink with heat and excitement.The innocence of youth is something I envy.Before they have a chance to get too far ahead, I jump out, jogging behind the girls all filing toward the barn. The air is full of excited chatter, and I pause only to throw a wave at the retreating parents over my shoulder.

“You girls been practicing?” I ask, and a chorus ofyes’sandmmhmmsfills their conversation.

“This is cool that we get to do this, Men!” Reiny’s cheerful voice makes me smile. She’s like her sister in many ways—always smiling, always cheerful, always polite and composed—it’s nice to see her excited over something for once.

“It was your sister’s idea,” I offer, and Reiny’s eyes softenbefore she nods. “I should have thought of it, it’s good practical hands-on practice, but I can’t take the credit. Your sister’s a special one.”

“Faith’s my savior.” Reiny’s face remains forward as we walk into the sale barn, but I can all but hear the sudden flash of sadness that fills her voice.

I just wish I knew how to help her.And how the hell to help Faith.

“Woah, this place is cleaned up!” Stacy whistles.

The lights illuminate the familiar space in a warm glow and I pause. It’s gotten a huge face lift—there’s no longer dust coating every surface, the corral in the center is a new grey pipe material, its rusty counterpart nowhere to be seen, and the bleachers…I freeze.Are the bleachers purple?

“Why do you think they painted them purple Men-Men? Seems like a weird color for an agriculture building.”

I nod, it is an odd color, but I can’t find it in myself to dislike it. In fact, I’m secretly ecstatic to see something out of the norm in this dusty old town that seems determined to fixate on the past. It’s a refreshing change.

“I like it. Maybe it’s for the school colors?” Reiny states, stopping before the arena.

Before I can agree, the back door slides up, people filling in, each leading their own steer. Their coats glimmer in the fluorescent lights, and their bawling mixes with the sounds of chatter and the humming air conditioning unit. It’s a welcome sound, and I can’t help but smile like a fool.

I’ve missed this.

As they near, a familiar man materializes, his sharp features and perfectly pressed attire giving him away in a room of otherwise casual people and kids.

“Nathan!” I wave over the fence, and his face instantly relaxes, a dazzling smile claiming his clean shaven face. Hewalks toward me, tall, lithe, and completely relaxed, like he’s right where he belongs.

I know my friends all dislike him, and although I despise how he treated Stetson, I can’t hate him. There’s something about him that makes me feel seen, and appreciated. He was dismissive to Stetson, rude even, but that’s not the man I know. Nathan’s always been thoughtful, courteous, and kind, and I can’t help but wonder if there was more to that whole story than I know.

Hell, if anyone understands being misunderstood, it’s me.

“Dale—” He pauses, his smile widening as he nears, making his silverish eyes sparkle. “I mean Ms. Mendes.”

I wave him off, “Dale’s fine. I rarely get these hooligans to call me anything besides Men-Men. At least Dale sounds like a friendly term, Men-Men sounds like a chant made up by a bunch of hormonal girls.”

“Men!” Stacy and Dakota scoff in unison, but I just wink, turning my attention back to Nathan.