Page 25 of Cattle Stop

“Obviously.” Oh shit, he really means. Well, Whit was going to find out what Cooper’s been up to at some point, and maybe it’s better that it’s here at the bar and not in the cool, steely silence of their room. Whit’s room. Whatever.

Cooper claps Drew on the shoulder, drops onto the stool next to him, and says, “Consider your gates fixed. Almost fixed. About to be fixed.”

“You got all that done today? Out in the back fields?” Drew asks.

Cooper takes the glass brimming with beer from Penny and clinks it against Drew’s. “I’m good, what can I say?”

Whit straightens on his stool. “The gates in the back fields weren’t broken.”

“So listen to this, right? Gates are supposed to hold cows in. Those gates? Yeah, no, they were like a suggestion of a barrier, at best. And now they’re being replaced, so you’re welcome.” Cooper takes a long drink and glances toward the door, but Brad’s not here yet. Which is too bad ’cause he might’ve liked to see Whit and him already going a round or two.

Whit pushes his pint glass away so he can lean around Drew. “Being replaced with new gates?”

“With new gate-like equipment.” Cooper tips his beer toward Whit. “You’re welcome, too, though I know how much you love fencing, sorry for actually finishing a project.”

“Almost finishing, apparently,” Whit says.

“More done than it was, thank you very much.”

“Were you going to tell me?”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Guys,” Drew says.

Whit opens his mouth like he’s got more to say, but the door swings open and Cooper spins away and lifts a hand. “Brad, hey.”

Whit lets out a soft scoff. “You invited him?”

“We’re just meeting here, it’s halfway.” Cooper slips down to his feet and calls over, “Got them?”

“They’re in my truck.” Brad snaps his gum, and Cooper tries not to grimace at the wet smack.

“I can grab them now.”

Penny points a finger at Cooper. “Don’t you dare take that glass outside.”

“Yeah, I’ll stay for a drink first,” Brad says and smiles at Cooper.

Well, damn. No getting the cattle stops installed tonight if they’re going to idle away the evening here. Though Drew’s lifting a hand to wave at Brad and that’s at least something beyond the thousand-yard stare he’s had going on. Maybe Drew will stay out for another bit if all of them are here enjoying themselves. Cooper presses his lips together and sits back on his stool.

Whit leans back to fix Cooper with a look behind Drew. “You bought those cattle guards?”

“Cattle stops, and yep, they’re ours now,” Cooper says as Brad grabs the stool next to his.

“I got an offer on the land,” Brad says and nods when Penny points a glass at the line of beer taps. “The lager, please. They don’t want the equipment, so I told Coop he could just have them.”

Drew stills with his glass half-raised. “You got an offer?”

“I got an offer and found a new place, a sweet brand-new apartment building, so I might actually stand a chance of being warm next winter without hauling in tractor loads of firewood. Which—the tractor’s gotta go too, if you guys want it.”

“How much are you selling it for?” Drew asks, then ducks over his beer glass. “No, uh, no thanks.”

“An apartment?” Cooper tries not to frown. Brad’s knee knocks into his own.

“Get this—modern plumbing.” Brad snaps his gum again as he lifts his glass for a drink.

Gum and beer. So gross. Cooper touches his fist to his mouth and clears his throat.