Cowboy Daddy. Carolyne Aarsen

      “Oh, buddy,” he whispered, pulling Justin in his arms. He gave him a tight squeeze, his own heart contracting in sorrow. It had been only six months since they stood together at Scott’s grave. In the busyness of life, he sometimes forgot that. He held Justin a moment longer and as he stood, he caught Nicole looking at them both, her lips pressed together, her fingers resting on her chin.

      She understood, he thought, and he wondered if she was remembering her own sister.

      Their gaze held and for a moment they shared a sorrow.

      The rumbling of the tool chest broke the moment. “I got it. I got it.” Tristan called out.

      Kip gave Justin another quick hug, patted him on the head and turned back to the tractor with a sigh.

      “What do you have to do?” Nicole asked.

      “It’s a basic fix,” Kip said as he pushed a piece of cardboard under the tractor. “Replace a leaky fuel line, but whoever designed this tractor has obviously never worked on one.” Kip bent over, squinting at the nuts holding the old line. Then he grabbed the tools he needed, lay on the cardboard and pulled himself under the tractor.