“Thank you.” Raylen whistled all the way back to the truck.

When he was back in the truck, Liz glanced over at him and said, “That poor old fellow must get lonely. He sure likes to talk.”

“Reminds me of my grandpa. What does your grandpa look like?” Raylen asked.

“He’s six feet tall and thin as a rail. Totally unlike Uncle Haskell who took after Granny. She was short and round. Pictures tell a different story about her though. When she and my grandpa got married, she was built like a movie star of the forties. She had dark, wavy hair and this big, pretty smile. You could tell by the way he looked at her that Poppa always saw her as that gorgeous woman that he was lucky to get,” Liz answered.

“Were they always carnival folks?” Raylen asked.

She nodded. “My great-grandparents bought the carnival in the thirties. It was cheap entertainment, and folks needed that. Then they retired and gave it to Poppa about the time he and Granny got married. You know the rest. Haskell decided he didn’t want that kind of life but Mama and Aunt Tressa thrive on it.”

She pointed out a western furniture store between Jolly and Wichita Falls. “I want to go there sometime. It’s closed now, but when I get ready to redo the house, I’d like to look at their stock.”

“What have you got in mind for the house?” Raylen asked.

“Comfortable western or maybe early attic,” she said.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Mama and I lived in a trailer my whole life. We don’t use travel trailers or RVs because we’d have to take it into town every time we had to make a grocery or laundry run. We use fifth wheelers that hook into our pickup. I’ve never had space like I’ve got in my new house, and I love it. Early attic is junk you’d find in estate sales. We never got to go to things like that or have anything that wasn’t necessary. So, I might decorate with early attic just so I can buy junk,” she said.

“Then next spring, you and Grandma can hit the estate sales. She loves to go, and Grandpa hates them,” Raylen said.

“That would be great,” she said. “Is that the Olive Garden we’re going to? There’s a mall and a Ross store and a Hobby Lobby. I’m in love.”

The waitress seated them in a corner booth right away, took their drink order, and handed them menus. While they made their selections, she brought Raylen a beer and Liz a Diet Coke.

“I’ll have the chicken fettuccine,” Liz said.

“And I’ll have spaghetti with meatballs,” Raylen said.

“I’ll be right back with your salad and bread. Hey, aren’t you Raylen O’Donnell? I’ve seen you in here with Ace. Where is that cowboy? Haven’t seen him in months. He used to come in once a week,” the waitress said.

“Been busy. Lost his grandpa and inherited a ranch to run. Doesn’t stray as far from home as he used to,” Raylen said.