“Evenin’, kids. What can I talk you into buyin’? Missus interested in a picnic table? I’ll make you a great deal. Picnickin’ season is over and I’m tryin’ to get rid of the rest of my stock.” The man had two days’ worth of white whiskers on his round face, a bald head, and bright blue eyes.

“How long you goin’ to be set up in Henrietta?” Raylen asked.

“I live up the road a piece. I’ll be here until Thanksgiving if there’s anything left to sell. That’s so I’ll be out of Mama’s hair while she fixes up the holiday dinner. Kids are all comin’ home this year. Got six and it’ll be a zoo at our house with them and all the grandkids,” he said.

Raylen ran a hand over the swing. It was sturdy and well-built. “What are you askin’ for it?”

“Summer price is three hundred, but it’s the last one, so I’ve got it down to two hundred. I’d throw in one of them Adirondack chairs for that price too, just to get rid of the stock. You want one of them picnic tables for your backyard too? More you buy the better the price. I knock twenty-five off each big piece when you buy two or more,” the man said. “I know you. You’re one of Cash’s boys, ain’t you? He bought a set of them rockers over there for Maddie’s Christmas. I’m haulin’ them out to hide in his barn on Monday while she’s over at the beauty shop. Want me to haul any of this stuff for you?”

“I’m his third son, Raylen. Guess I won’t be needin’ anything right now since Daddy already bought the rockers,” he said.

“How ’bout you, missus?” the man asked.

“Not tonight. Maybe I’ll be back in a couple of days. I really do like that swing,” Liz said.

“Well, darlin’, you and the husband, there, y’all have a seat in it for a few minutes. You’ll really want it when you see how good it sits,” he said.

Liz smiled. “I better not or Raylen will throw me out beside the road for griping all the way to Wichita Falls about how much I want it.”

***

Raylen steered Liz toward the pickup. “Thank you so much for the generous offer, but we’ve got to be going tonight. We might stop back sometime.”

“That is some sturdy furniture. I really, really like that swing,” Liz said.

Raylen settled Liz into the truck and pretended to fish in his pocket. “I left my keys on the table over there. Laid them down to run my hand over the wood. Be right back.”

The old fellow looked up and grinned. “Which pieces you want me to put in the barn, son?”

“The picnic table, the swing, and two of those chairs.”

“I’ll just charge you for the table and the swing. Throw them two chairs in like I said I would. Go on now and you can pay me when I deliver them on Tuesday. I knowed you’d come back. She can swing the new babies in that swing and your grandbabies will eat off that table. I don’t do no shabby work,” he said.