âWell, Beau anâ me thought there was no better way to get the ladies to notice us than to challenge the Davis boys to a little friendly competition. Beau had his eye on Sara Lynn LeMoyne, youâll recall, anâ we figured the girls would pay attention if we tugged you twos into the mud. There was a right big crowd gathered to watch, as it had been goinâ strong since afternoon. I recall that both Emily anâ Sara Lynn was in the crowd.â
âIt was an outright battle,â Sawyer said. âI remember you and me faced off in the front, Boyd. And Ethan behind me, yelling in my ear at the top of his voice, âPull, goddammit, pull!ââ
âThe determination in your eyes was right frightening, old friend,â Boyd said. âAt the last moment I looked away anâ saw Emily watching, cheerinâ anâ clappinâ, anâ I knew that we just had to win.â
âCarters always win in tug oâ war,â Malcolm said, sounding affronted. âDaddy said itâs since we got such strong arms, thatâs why.â
I was laughing so hard I could hardly catch a breath, and Sawyerâs eyes were warm upon me.
Boyd said, âAnâ I was rewarded. Beau anâ me let the rope go slack just long enough to fool the two of you, anâ then hauled for all we was worth. There went Sawyer anâ Eth right into the mud-slick, all churned up from the boots of near every man in Suttonville. Oh, it was a ripe victory. We basked in glory until I felt a sudden cold chill anâ looked to see the glint in Ethanâs eye. See, Lorie, his blue ribbon was covered in mud. I barely had time to move before he launched at me, swinginâ for all he was worth.â
âI was sitting right in the middle of it,â Sawyer informed me. âEthan went near over my head and socked Boyd square in the nose.â
âI then had to defend myself,â Boyd added, as Malcolm laughed and nodded in approval.
âBeau tried to grab for the two of you and fell, and I couldnât get to my feet as the mud was so slippery,â Sawyer said. âThen I got an elbow in the face.â
âBefore you could slap a tick, the four of us was all-out wrestling like a bunch of boars in spring,â Boyd laughed. âJesus, our poor mamas was downright ashamed. Big boys like us shoulda known better.â
âYour daddy waded in and near cracked our heads together,â Sawyer remembered. âAnd for all that trouble, Emily ended up on Nash Gandyâs arm anyway.â
âLord, thatâs right, Iâd forgotten,â Boyd said. He sobered and said softly, âGandy didnât make it past the summer of âsixty-three, not soâs I know of.â
âItâs a wonder we did,â Sawyer said quietly, his gaze on the far horizon before coming back to me. He saw the concern in my eyes and sent me a smile of reassurance, asking, âYou feel up to a ride? Iâll mind the wagon.â
âI think I would,â I said, shifting and drawing back on the reins, halting the team. Sawyer pulled off his riding gloves and I slipped them into place, loving the warmth of the leather that had just been touching him. I hugged Whistlerâs neck before climbing neatly atop her back; Sawyer shortened the stirrups for me, then straightened to his full height and curved both hands around my lower leg.
âDonât ride out of sight, I canât bear it,â he told me, and I promised I would not.
Malcolm doubled back and appropriated my attention immediately, coaxing me to canter.
âPlease, Lorie-Lorie,â he begged. âAces wants to race.â
âLetâs ride ahead a bit, instead,â I told him.
Malcolm shrugged agreeably.
I heeled Whistler and she pranced forward eagerly, following after Aces. Malcolm led us out at a trot; I overtook him easily and for a time we rode abreast while Boyd stayed back near the