Page 64 of Bailey

“Are you going to Wolf Creek this year?” Graham asked.

“Yeah, we usually go a couple of times,” OJ said. “I don’t know when, but Bryce said he needs me to come help out at his farm, because you know he and Codi are having another baby, right?”

“Yes, we heard,” Laney said. “Another boy.” She glanced at Graham, a soft smile on her face.

“He said I can help him plant all the pumpkins,” OJ said. “And we can do that spooky Halloween walk again.” He turned toward Bailey, his eyes bright with hope. Graham wasn’t sure how he found time to breathe, and he sometimes wondered how the boy’s mind held all the thoughts that came out of his mouth. “You guys should come. It’s super fun.”

“To the spooky Halloween walk?” Bailey asked.

“I mean, I know Halloween’s not your favorite holiday or anything, but it’s just walking around Bryce’s farm with carved pumpkins lit with candles, and then we get a bunch of candy.”

“That does sound fun.” Bailey smiled at him and glanced over to Reeves.

The man sure didn’t say much, and Graham’s thoughts scattered as he tried to think of something to ask him. “How’s your farm, Reeves?” he finally came up with.

The man’s attention turned toward him. “It’s going great, sir,” he said. “My goats have all had their kids now, and I should have my first crop of alfalfa in the next few weeks.”

Graham’s eyebrows went up. “That’s great.”

Reeves nodded. “Yeah, and Bailey and I are going to finish up her duck pond this next week.”

“Are you, Bay?” OJ asked. “What day can I come?”

“Reeves has an excavator,” she said. “He’ll bring that to move all those rocks right where we want them, buddy.” She grinned at him. “And I’m not getting the ducks for another couple of weeks. I think you should probably come then.”

OJ’s face fell. “But remember, you said⁠—”

“Yeah, I know,” Bailey said over the top of him. “And you helped with the duck pond as much as you and I could do. I suppose you could come stand around while Reeves moves the rocks with the machine, because that’s all I’m going to be doing.”

OJ looked from Bailey to Reeves. “All right, fine. If you let me know when, I’ll see if my momma can bring me.”

Bailey watched OJ for a moment, and he swallowed as he looked away. He took some taco pasta salad and moved to the end of the table, where he picked up a can of peach Fresca and then waited for Bailey to continue down the line.

“Are you going to be going camping a lot this summer, Reeves?” OJ asked. Graham had no idea how many times Reeves had met OJ, but it sure didn’t seem like the first time they were interacting.

“Yeah, I just finished a two-night trip,” he said.

“How long before it’s up online?”

Graham kept his head ducked low as he put veggies and dip on his plate.

“I’m a couple of weeks out,” Reeves said. “I try to work about that far ahead, and these multi-day trips take a long time to edit.”

“You’re making videos?” Laney asked.

Graham looked up in time to see the anxiety on Bailey’s face as she turned toward Reeves. He gave her a warm smile and communicated something to her with only his eyes. Graham wanted to pause time right then, because he loved watching her interact with Reeves this way. Yes, she’d said their relationship was new, only a couple of months old, but they’d obviously spent a lot of time together, and it warmed his heart to see her in a relationship this intimate at all.

“Yes, ma’am,” Reeves said as he turned his attention back to Laney. “I make videos and post them across various online channels.”

“Outdoor videos, Grandma Laney,” OJ said. “He’s the Teton Mountain Man.” He spoke like Graham and everyone should know who that is.

“OJ,” Bailey said sharply.

He glanced at her, and then Reeves, his eyes widening as his countenance fell. “I’m sorry. Is it a secret?”

“He just doesn’t want⁠—”

“It’s not really a secret,” Reeves said, as Bailey cut off. “It’s just kind of like….”