“Shit!” he whispers, slapping his thigh.
The girls both giggle and try to urge him closer. They’re still a good fifteen or twenty feet back.
“He won’t hurt you, Uncle Hank!” Sawyer says, tugging at his arm.
“Uh, yeah, Thing One, you’ve got that right.” Hank’s feet are glued to the floor. “I ain’t giving him the chance.”
“Come on, Uncle Hank, he’s friendly! You can come just a little closer,” Avery says.
“No sirree, I can see all the black stripes and teeth I need to from here,” Hank says with a nod. “Damn. He looks even bigger than that night I saw him in the trailer.”
“That’s because he’s standing up!” Sawyer says, smiling so hard her nose scrunches.
Curious, Bruce walks toward us with a loud yawn, and then he lets out a small half-interested rawr.
“That’s his way of saying hello,” I tell Hank, who looks like he’s about to run for the hills.
Bruce comes closer for a better look, propping his head above the wooden wall around the pen, his furry orange and white face pressed to the mesh. His tongue flops out like a big dog for several seconds, before he lets out a grunting yawn.
“Uncle Haaank! Come back!”
I hear the shuffle of feet and by the time I turn around, only Grady stands behind me. Hank has already flown the coop with the girls close behind him.
With a grin and a shrug, Grady laughs. “Hot damn, I don’t think I’ve seen Hank move that fast in years.”
“Well...Bruce takes some getting used to.” We exit the barn together and I wait while Grady secures the locks.
Hank leans against his truck, looking like he’s just survived the headless horseman. The girls are both busy trying to explain there’s nothing to be afraid of.
“That was just his way of saying hello!” Sawyer insists.
I suppress a laugh.
“Yeah, little ladies, if you ask me that was one big-ass hello,” Hank says, looking up as we approach. “Dang, man. Can’t believe you’ve got a full-grown tiger!”
“This is news?” Grady chuckles. “I told you, and you saw him that night we fixed the barn.”
Hank laughs. “Yeah, well, it was dark that night after the storm. I barely got a glimpse of him lying down in his trailer.” He pats each girl on the head. “You two go get your stuff so we can head on out to the rodeo. Least the Selleck bulls are still the scariest critters there.”
The girls run to the house.
“Only ’cause Joyce got all her cheating husband’s bulls in the divorce,” Grady says with a smirk. “I left my wallet in the house. Hang on, I’ll be right back.”
As he walks away, Hank looks at me.
“That’s some cat, Miss Willow. Hope you’ll excuse me for turning into a cowardly lion.” He laughs, shaking his head. “Don’t know how you did it, neither, but thanks!”
Frowning, I ask, “Thanks? For what?”
“Oh, you know...Grady’s been dead set against having any furry friends around here since before Brittany died. You sure turned his butt around, big-time.”
“Well, it’s not like Bruce will be staying here permanently,” I say. “It’s just temporary. A freak accident.”
“I feel that, but it’s more than just the giant cat. He’s almost back to his old self with the way he is around you. I knew it’d take time—a helluva lot of time—but well...all I’m saying is it’s good to see him livin’ it up again. He’s focusing on his own life, not just the bar and the twins. Before the other night when your boy went on a tear, he barely spoke to me.”
“Oh, I...” I trail off, lifting my brows, wondering where this is going.
“Yeah. I think he always thought I blamed him for my sister’s death. I never did. Not for one hot minute. He did everything he could for her, and more. Fixing that barn door with him was just like the good old times, and it’s all thanks to you, Willow. I’m hoping to see a whole lot more of ’em.”
“Of what?” Grady asks, approaching us.
“Ah, tigers, man. What else?” Hank says with a wink for me. “But hell, I prefer it when they’re at a zoo behind glass. A nice thick big old slab of window.”
Grady slaps Hank’s shoulder. “Yeah, you’re right. He’s pretty intimidating, even for a rough-riding cowboy.” Grady then takes several bills out of his wallet and pushes them toward Hank. “For the rodeo,” he explains.
“Huh? Keep your cash, Grady, I’ve got it covered,” Hank says. “I already bought the tickets.”
“You don’t get it.” Grady stuffs the bills in Hank’s breast pocket. “They’ll eat this much worth of fried cheese curds, corn dogs, and cotton candy—probably the first hour you’re there.”
The girls come flying out of the house then, both dressed in jeans, boots, plaid shirts, big belt buckles, and cowboy hats that match their shirts and boots. One pink and one purple.