“Once we get the barn done later today, the womenfolk brought the fixings for a meal.”

The barn raisings she’d been to while growing up had always ended with eating and dancing. With so few socials, they had to make the most of every minute.

Flynn jerked his head toward a couple of steers someone had brought along. “Also figured while we’re all together, we oughta have a cowhand competition.”

“Won’t object to that.” She hadn’t participated in any more since Independence Day. While a part of her missed the thrill, she’d been too busy to think on it much.

“Good.” Flynn glanced at Wyatt and Brody, who both nodded as though to encourage him. He sighed and then plunged ahead. “Reckon, then, that you won’t object to joining in the competition. This time as yourself.”

Her pulse trickled to a halt. Had she just heard Flynn correctly? Was he giving her permission to join in the competition?

As if seeing the confusion in her expression, Wyatt stepped in. “Yep. We discussed the issue with the organizers. And they agreed. If a woman’s good enough, then she oughta be given a fair chance, same as the fellas.”

“Well, howdy-doody.” She stared from Wyatt to Brody to Flynn and back. Clearly her brothers had worked some kind of magic with Mack Custer and the other competition organizers to get them to agree on women participating. Maybe now that they’d already watched her compete as Buster Bliss and knew she was skilled, they were more willing. Whatever the case, she couldn’t believe her brothers were not only supporting her competing, but were making sure she wouldn’t be shut out.

“You gonna stand there all day catchin’ flies?” Judd’s question was laced with mirth. “Or are we gonna build a barn?”

Only then did she realize her mouth was hanging open. She snapped it closed. What could she say to her brothers? She wanted at the very least to thank them, but her throat clogged with a sudden swell of emotion.

Brody and Wyatt had already turned to the wagon beds and were starting to unload the lumber alongside the other men and boys. But for a second longer, Flynn watched her. His eyes spoke what his words didn’t—that he was sorry for everything that had happened over the summer with Jericho and hoped she’d forgive him.

Her heart welled with love for this man who’d taken care of her and raised her through the years. He’d loved her the best he’d known how. He hadn’t been perfect. Nobody was. But he’d stuck with her through thick and thin, and she was grateful for that.