Marrying The Rancher

While loading the dishwasher, she listened to Wyatt reading and explaining the pictures that went along with the story. There was no mistaking Scotty’s delight. She had to smile over his rapid-fire questions. And yet the man kept up.

Soon done in the kitchen, Tandy still lingered. She didn’t want to interrupt them so she assembled ingredients for chocolate chip cookies and got busy mixing. It didn’t take long.

The timer sounded when the first sheet was done. Suddenly Scotty appeared beside her as she took the pan from the oven. He clutched the book and poster and literally bounced up and down with excitement, almost tripping over Mr. Bones.

“Mama, those smell so good. Can Wyatt and I have some? And will you take a picture on your phone of me with my book and poster? I wanna send it to Mark. Then can I call him? I bet he doesn’t know mama and daddy wolves stay together their whole lives. And their pups go off like people kids do. Wyatt said if either the mama wolf or daddy die, they live with the pack but don’t get married again. Did you know that?” He moved closer to the stove, turning serious when she eyed him with a slight frown. “Okay, wolves don’t really get married ’cause they don’t got churches like us, but it’s com...com...what’s that word you used, Wolf Man? Uh, Wyatt,” he rushed to say, no doubt because Tandy set the pan of cookies down really hard.

“I said they have a committed relationship,” Wyatt whispered to Tandy, walking into the kitchen. “I could’ve said studies suggest wolves mate for life, but then I’d have to explain what that means.” He wrinkled his nose and scratched the side of his neck, all while offering Tandy a self-conscious shrug. “I was explaining how wolf packs resemble a town in how often families band together.”

Finding his discomfort endearing, Tandy slanted him a smile. “Raising curious, precocious kids can be a challenge. Scotty, let me unload these cookies to the cooling rack and put the next pan in to bake before you take any.”

As she worked, she eyed her son. With her having been away, she worried that he hadn’t received many gifts for no reason. Thanks to Wyatt, right now Scotty was dancing on air. It buoyed her spirits to see him so exuberant.

“I suppose you can call Mark. Let’s see, it’s still early enough in Honolulu so you won’t interrupt their dinner.” She checked her watch as she deftly set the timer again.

“I can take his picture if you’d like,” Wyatt said. “I’ll set up his call if you need to refill that pan. I’d hate for you to burn those great-smelling cookies.”

“That would be helpful, thanks.” She wedged her phone out of her pocket.

Wyatt reached for it and their hands tangled. Tandy almost dropped the phone. He caught it, and she mumbled, “Mark’s number is under Lucinda, his mom’s name.”

Touching her arm briefly as he slipped by her, Wyatt glanced around the small kitchen. “How about you go back and sit on the couch, Scotty? You can unroll the poster, hold it to one side and have the book on your lap. That way we’ll get everything in one photograph.”

“Yay, yay, hurray! Mark will be so jealous. That’s the right word, isn’t it, Mama?” Stopping at the door, Scotty flung the question back over his shoulder. “That’s what Mark used to say about me when he pinned up new surfing posters.”