He had his hat in his hand. He grimaced. “Sorry for the interruption. Oh, hi, Mrs. Callister,” he said, nodding at Sassy, who nodded back. “We’ve got a fence down,” he continued. “Damned…darned bull ran through it to get to another bull. They had a real bad fight and the young bull’s crippled. May have to be put down. I need permission to get fencing materials at the hardware and call the vet to look at our bull.”

“You have permission for both. Tell them I said it was okay.” She grimaced. “It was Old Charlie, wasn’t it?” she asked with a sigh. “That will be the second young bull he’s crippled. I’m afraid this is going to be the last time. We can’t keep a bull who’s that aggressive. He’s showing his age, too.”

He sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that, Miss Michaels. You’re right. It’s just, well, I’ve got sort of attached to Old Charlie…”

“Then take him home with you,” she said suddenly. “You’ve got several cows of your own and you lost your bull. You can have Charlie. That will solve my problem and yours, too.”

His face brightened as if it was facing sunlight. “Miss Michaels, that’s the kindest thing…thank you!” He hesitated. He knew her financial situation. The bull was a purebred Black Angus, from a known bloodline. “You know, you could sell him for a good bit of money…”

She smiled. Her face changed. It was pretty when she smiled, but she did it rarely. “Bill, if I sell him, I’m putting some other poor rancher’s livestock at risk. What if the new owner got mad and sold him for beef?”

Bill grimaced.

“So we’re not doing it. You take Charlie home with you, and you’re welcome. Okay, go get the part-timers started on that fence. I have to go to a party in my honor,” she said with a grimace. “Mrs. Simpson is giving it. She’s read my latest book, SPECTRE, the one that’s on the USA Today bestseller list, and she wants to introduce me to some people.”

“I was invited, too,” Bill said, flushing. “Guess I’ll show up later when I get the fence fixed. And I’ll bring the trailer for Charlie in the morning, if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine. I’ll see you at the party, then.”

“Nobody will dance with me, but I’ll go drink punch and eat finger sandwiches anyway,” he chuckled.

“I’ll dance with you, Bill,” she said gently.

He flushed more. “That would be kind of you. Otherwise, I guess I’d just be a wallflower.”

“Me, too,” she laughed. “But you’re the only man I’ll be dancing with.”

“So now I’m really flattered.” He knew about her past. Most local people did.

She didn’t mind Bill knowing. He had a soft heart. What a shame that he’d never found another woman to appreciate it. He’d lost his wife and daughter to tragedy. He drank infrequently and Mina was fetched to get him safely home. He’d follow her out of a bar like a lamb.