Page 63 of Home Hearts Hooves

“Good, she’s still off with her sister, and Nial will kill me if I lose the last apple pie she left us in this wager, but I reckon I’m good.”

I turn in the seat to face him.

“Well, what is it?” I ask, more than a little curious. I racked my brain for every idea to help out the Fletchers. The grants are the only thing that I could come up with, but I’m more than happy for anyone to uncover a solution because culling half a flock of sheep is not a result I want for this farm or any other.

“Walk them up to the back four acres on Beaker Brothers,” Dean says, and the Fletchers both frown.

“What are you saying?” Mr. Fletcher asks.

“I’m offering you the back four acres to feed your flock. I called Nial, and he agreed. We aren’t using it, and it’s totally overgrown, but the sheep will have fun breaking it down.”

Just when I think I have this man figured out, he goes and surprises me yet again with how amazing a man he is.

“I’m no charity case. What will it cost me?” Mr. Fletcher asks cautiously.

“Nothing.”

“You can’t be serious. Why would you do this?”

“Why would I help a farm that’s been here since before I was born?” Dean asks as tears begin to well in Mrs. Fletcher’s eyes.

“It is a generous offer,” I say, and Dean shakes his head.

“Look, as far as I see it, we’re trading here. That land is way too overgrown for me to make any use of it, and you need grass for your flock. There’s a narrowing of Beaker Creek that is close to your land; you can run them through there. It’ll mean working on the fences to fit a gate to make moving them in and out easier, but it’s probably a day’s work at best with the guys you have here, and we can help, too.”

“You’re serious then?” Mr. Fletcher asks again.

“As a heart attack.”

Mrs. Fletcher wraps her arms around her husband and hugs him tight, then hugs Dean, not as tight because she’s careful of his leg, and I wish it would be totally acceptable for me to reach over and hug him, too, because this man is the best of men, I’m sure of that now, and I can hardly believe I almost blew my shot to date him.

Friday night is going to be our first date, but I can honestly say, I’ve never met a better man, and I can actually picture myself never wanting anyone else ever again. So really, while it might be our first date together, it could be the last first date both of us ever have, and that thought makes my chest swell and my cheeks flush.

“You’re amazing,” I tell him, and he fixes me with those big, dark eyes.

“Just following your example, Doc.”

Chapter twenty-one

DEAN

THE BESTEST BROTHER OF THE GAYS

“Thescreenisallset up, and it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful night,” Nial says, joining me as I wheel the popcorn cart down toward the cinema setup. “Skye will be on popcorn; Connor has led out a few of the cows to create a cuddle zone—”

I stop walking, ready to interject on behalf of the cows who probably don’t want to be right up close to a movie screen and loud noises, but Nial continues.

“He’s put it further back than the rest of the seating and we’ve fixed a few portable mini speakers over there so that the guests that sit there can still hear the movie just fine.”

Okay then. I start walking again. Really, I’m shuffling with this boot on, but it hurts far less now than it did even a few days ago.

“What movie did you decide on?” I ask.

“Your favorite, of course.”

“Calamity Jane, seriously?”

“Yep, figured it would help if it was a movie you’d seen a billion times. You know, so you won’t mind missing it to make out with Preston.”

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