Page 116 of The Cowboy Who Worked Late
“When’s the big day?” JJ asked.
“Sometime in April,” Angel said. “We’re going to get married in April.”
“April, right,” Henry said.
“Not gonna lie, but April is the best time to get married,” Finn said.
“I agree,” Link said, grinning at Finn. They even high-fived, like they’d had any choice in the month they’d gotten married.
Oliver said, “You know, a holiday wedding is beautiful.” He grinned as he scooped up a pile of brisket and sour cream with a tortilla chip. “Easy décor near Christmastime.”
Alex said, “Comeon. Summer is the best time to get married, you guys. You don’t have to worry about the weather.”
Laughter went around the table, and when it subsided, Ollie said, “Aurora found out she’s gonna have another girl. That’ll be three girls, one boy. I’m going to try and convince her we’re done after that.”
Finn chuckled. “Good luck with that, brother.”
Henry couldn’t even imagine having four kids. But then again, a little over a year ago, Henry hadn’t even imagined that he could ever find one person who he could love enough to settle down with.
JJ sat next to Ollie, and he said, “I went on a date last night,” with a sly-as-a-fox grin. That started a hullabaloo that took several minutes for JJ to get through, and he finally concluded with, “I asked her out again, and she said yes.”
Tate grinned at him and said, “We’re going to double too.”
“Oh boy,” Finn said. “You boys going to the summer dances to meet women?” He eyed them as he ducked his head and took a bite of his sandwich.
JJ nodded. “Why not?”
“Because you’re going back to school in three weeks,” Angel said dryly.
“Yeah, ain’t no thing,” JJ said, and Henry could only laugh at the mindset that he’d once had.
Conrad Walker was next. He didn’t say much, and he’d only been coming to the luncheons this summer. But he was strong and broad-shouldered, and Henry thought he couldn’t be much younger than him. Maybe three or four years was all.
“My news is,” Conrad said, his voice soft but somehow powerful at the same time. “That I’m thinking of buying my grandma and grandpa’s farm and moving in with them.”
“You’re what?” JJ asked.
“I might move in with them,” Conrad said. “Gramps needs a lot more help now, and I’m over there all the time doing things for them anyway. Yard work, things around the house, stuff Grandma can’t reach like she used to.” He looked at JJ, as they were cousins. “Been talking about it with them and with my parents. I think I’m gonna move in with them. I might buy their place if it makes sense.”
“That’s great,” Finn said with a genuine quality in his voice.
“It is great,” Henry said. “Being close to family is important.”
Conrad nodded, his news done in only a few words. That only left Paul and Alex, and as Paul sat next to Conrad, he said, “Brielle and I are going to build a house out on the Three Rivers Ranch complex.”
Henry stopped eating completely as he gaped at his older brother. “You are?”
“Yeah,” Paul said, nodding more than usual, almost like if he kept doing it, he’d believe it too. “We’ve been talking to Daddy and Uncle Squire about it. Everyone has to be involved—Ethan and Brynn, and the administration at Courage Reins. It’ll be part of Three Rivers land.”
“There’s a lot going on out there,” Alex said.
“My momma and daddy aren’t ready to retire yet. They have a nice place they can still take care of for a good couple of decades. Brielle and I can’t live there, obviously.”
“You’re getting married in three months,” Finn said. “Is that enough time to build a house?”
“I don’t know,” Paul said. “We just started talking about it, and we’ve agreed that it’s going to happen.” He looked at Henry. “Uncle Squire is having a land surveyor come out to do some measurements to find a plot of land we can legally annex and buy to build on.”
Henry blinked, sure he hadn’t heard his brother right. “A land surveyor?” he asked and looked over to Angel. “A land surveyor.” This time it wasn’t a question.
