Page 187 of Dusty Spur Ranch Cowboys

I stand beside Arizona with Sadie’s hand in mine.

Sadie has drawn herself in a yellow dress with mismatched boots, while a crooked heart stretches above the group.

She taps my green shirt. “That’s you. I used green because brown is boring.”

“It looks good.”

“You’re holding my hand, and Arizona’s holding yours.”

A thick purple line connects my hand to Arizona’s, while she reaches toward Red with the other. Willy stands on her opposite side, leaving no gap between any of us.

Sadie has drawn the family she already believes we are.

I brace one hand against the table as the picture brings the courthouse back to me. Tori spent the morning cutting herself out of Sadie’s life, while our daughter spent the afternoon drawing four people who stayed.

Arizona steps beside me. “Are you okay?”

Sadie studies my face. “Don’t you like it?”

“I love it.”

“Then why do you look sad?”

I crouch beside her and pull her into my arms. “Sometimes being happy hurts a little when you weren’t expecting it.”

“That sounds strange.”

“It feels strange too.”

She hugs my neck. “You can keep it in your room.”

“I want everyone to see it.”

“Even Uncle Willy?”

“He’s in the picture, too.”

Willy moves toward the table and studies his purple pants. “My inclusion raises the artistic value.”

Red sets down the steaks. “You look like you’re carrying a ham.”

“It’s pie.”

Sadie laughs as I stand beside her.

Arizona lifts the drawing and carries it to the refrigerator. “This belongs where everyone can see it.”

“The Texas magnet is strongest,” Sadie says.

Arizona fastens the drawing beneath the Texas magnet, and I step back with the rest of them.

My figure stands where Sadie believes I belong, beside her and Arizona, with Red and Willy close enough to share the same crooked heart.

I spent years measuring the future through the next responsibility. I needed to keep Sadie safe, keep the ranch running, and make certain every promise to my daughter was one I could keep.

Hope felt dangerous because trusting it left too much room for disappointment.

Sadie has drawn it in purple crayon and pinned it to our refrigerator.