Page 92 of Cattle Stop

“Oh, yeah, good, it’s a real pain, actually, ’cause now he and the old bull aren’t getting along and Whit’s got the barn, like, partitioned in two.”

“You have a second bull?” Cooper asks.

“We kept back a lot of the heifers. Coop, this wholesale thing, I should be sending you a commission, I’m pretty sure.”

Cooper realizes he’s picking at his pant leg only when a thread comes loose. He smooths it with his thumb. “Send me some more fencing,” he says. “These goats are out of hand.”

“Can’t, we’re using it all to pen in that damn bull. But Whit says he can do it, and you know Whit.”

Cooper purses his mouth. “Yeah.”

“Stubborn asshole, but whatever.” Drew shuts the water off again. “I haven’t heard any loud noises from the barn lately, so he’s probably close to proving whatever point he’s trying to make to that poor animal.”

“Sales are going well, then?”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re still milking and only dried off some of the herd for the fall. Hence the second bull.”

“That’s great.” Cooper’s reflection in the window stares back at him, watery and wan. “I’m—I’m glad.”

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you, Coop.” Drew draws in a breath, the sound of it clear through the phone. “I think I can swing the wages for a second position here.”

“Awesome.” His tone falls too flat.

“I mean you, you idiot.”

“Oh.” Cooper rolls the thread between his thumb and forefinger, the end of it fraying.

Drew’s silence hums down the line. “Is that a yes?”

“Um.”

Cooper pulls at the thread, working it a bit looser. Closes his eyes too, and pictures the kitchen and Drew puttering around in it. The maples will likely be shedding their leaves right now, and woodsmoke will be hanging low over the barnyard, crisp and fresh. He’s sure Drew’s right that Sadie’s on her bed next to the woodstove, waiting on the next season to come, and with it, warm sunshine and green grass.

He could be there for it. Settle in, call it home, and put down roots. So fucking tempting. A life full of those fields and that land and Penny and Drew and Sadie.

And Whit.

Does Whit miss me? he so wants to ask. Think about me at all? Does he bring guys around? Is he dating someone by now and have you met them?

“You know what, I’m actually good out here,” Cooper says.

“What?”

“I’m—yeah, I’ve got a new best friend. She’s a goat, and we don’t actually like each other, but we’re making it work.”

“But I’ve got a job for you,” Drew says. “Is it a money thing? I know I couldn’t pay you much before, but now—”

“It’s not a money thing.”

“Full-time work, Coop. And I finished your room, so you’d have your own space again.”

“I’ve got a job, though.” Cooper wraps his arm around himself, over his stomach. “And a cute little cabin.”

“The hell? Why aren’t you tripping all over yourself already getting packed? Is this Cooper Langston? Please put him on. I’d like to talk to him.”

There’s a joke in there, he’s sure. No, this is Looper Cangston, so sorry for the confusion. Something silly and dumb, and Drew would laugh and Cooper would too, and he’d promise he’d be back to Two Pines as soon as he could work out a replacement for himself here in Oregon and not leave Cheryl in the lurch.

“I can’t take the job,” Cooper says. “Thank you, but I can’t.”