Chapter 38

Ward turned to look at him. Tyler didn’t return the look directly. He just looked at Ward out of the corner of his eye, smiled, and continued to lead Mike.

“Can we ride ‘em by ourself?” Eddie asked.

“Sure,” Ward said, handing Jack the lead rope. “Ya won’t be able to steer ‘em much. They’ll just walk around and graze.”

Tyler gave Eddie his lead and after a little prodding the two drafts ambled off. The men sought the shade of the back of the chicken house. They leaned against it and watched the boys.

Tyler moved a bit closer to Ward. Their shoulders brushed against one another.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” Ward asked.

“Been thinking of what you said last night, about just living our lives natural and let people think what they will. Decided I’d give it a try.”

Ward was surprised at Tyler’s turn around. “You’re not worried about what folks’ll think about us?”

Tyler shrugged. “Can’t say I’m not. But if we never try we’ll never get to the place we want to be.”