Page 59 of Texas Splendor
“Amelia visited.”
“Not being a pesky neighbor, is she?”
“No, I think she’s purposefully trying to leave us alone. She told me you had helped build the house.”
“Helped to add the bedroom and the rooms upstairs.”
“I like the thought of our children playing on a floor you may have hammered into place.” She gnawed on her lower lip, raised a hand, and squinted into the setting sun. “You see that tree over there?”
Austin glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
The tree was not what she would call beautiful. Bent, gnarled, and crooked, it looked as though it had spent much of its time fighting the lonesome winds and seldom winning.
“Can we hang a swing from it?”
“We can hang anything from it that you want, Sugar.”
Two-bits leapt on the porch, wagged his tail, and yipped before settling down beside her hip.
Austin chuckled. “He’s such a ferocious guardian.”
“He’s good company, and he gives Rawley an excuse to visit. He reminds me so much of my brother.”
Austin’s fingers stilled their soothing journey over the soles of her feet. “You really miss your brother, don’t you?”
“Some days are harder than others, but I guess it’s always like that when you lose someone you love.”
He started rubbing her feet again. “Speaking of someone you love, they’re putting the ones they love to bed.”
Night had swept over the land. Loree gazed at the house in the distance. Lights spilled out from the windows on the second floor. A window fell into darkness.
“That’ll be A. J.,” Austin said.
“What does the A. J. stand for?” Loree asked.
“Anita June. Amanda’s middle name is April. When it suits their fancy, they have a tendency to name their daughters after the month in which they were born. Hope you’re not planning to do that.”
“What if I was?” she challenged.
“Then that’s what we’d do.” Austin pointed toward the house. “They’re coming to my favorite window.”
Loree glanced back over her shoulder. Two other windows were now ensconced in darkness. She watched as the light from the last window disappeared.
“That was Maggie’s room. Give her a minute …” The light again burned within the window. Austin chuckled.
“What’s she doing?” Loree asked.
“No idea, but she turns that lamp back up every night.”
“You love her so much.”
“I love ‘em all, but I know Maggie … and Rawley. But I’m slowly getting to know the others.” He yawned and patted her feet. “Guess I’d best get to bed.”
He unfolded his body, took her hand, and brought her to her feet. “Don’t know if you noticed the theater Dee built in town. It’s gonna have its first performance next week. She’s invited the whole family to go.”
“That should be fun.”
“Yeah,” he replied, but she thought she heard doubt in his voice. “You go on in. I’ll be there directly.”
