Justin: Cowboy At Heart

Part 6

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            “Dusti?  Could you come here please?”

            Dusti looked up quickly from pulling her boots off.  She didn’t like the sound of her mother’s voice.  She sighed softly, hung her hat on the coat rack, and headed for the kitchen.  She stopped just outside the kitchen.  Kayla wasn’t around, but Roxie was there sitting on Chance’s lap.  Dusti frowned a bit before stepping onto the linoleum floor.  Just what were her parents trying to pull?

            “Good.  Now that you’re all here there’s something your mother and I need to tell you,” Hunter said, glancing at his wife.  Rachel nodded, her bluish gray eyes shining.  “We…”

            Dusti jumped to her feet, her fists clenched at her sides.  “Go head dad.  Tell us and a complete stranger who isn’t even part of our family yet how we’re losing the house!  How the bank is foreclosing on us!”  She saw the surprise flash across her parent’s faces but she didn’t care.  Tears slid down her cheeks.  “You guys might not care!  But I’m going to save this place!”

            “Dusti!” her mother demanded.  “Stop right there!”

            Dusti spun on her heel and ran out of the kitchen, ignoring her mother’s demand.  She didn’t care if she had overreacted.  Her parents had precious little Roxie now anyhow.  She was the daughter they had always wanted.  They could do whatever they wanted, but she wasn’t losing her home.  She ran straight to the barn, not sure what she was going to do now.

6

            Justin slipped his hat over his wavy black hair as he stepped out on the porch.  He could tell he was going to need a haircut soon, he just hadn’t made it into town long enough to get one yet.  Today wasn’t going to work either.  He had something more important to do.  Justin leaned against the porch, crossing his ankles.  He could just see Colt and Shayna bringing in some of the cattle for the vet to look at.  His parents were in the corral with the vet, waiting to help.  He didn’t see Wyatt though, which was odd.  Normally he was in the middle of everything.

            Justin stepped off the porch, making sure he had his keys.  It looked like his family had the cattle under control.  He would be back later to help with the horses.  He was just about to his truck when he heard someone calling his name.  Justin spun around, surprised to see his baby brother jogging toward him.

            “Hey, where you going?” Wyatt asked, his slate blue eyes dancing.

            Justin chuckled.  Somehow Wyatt always seemed to be cheery.  Today was no different, but he was sure dressed nice.  He was dressed in a red button down with dark blue jeans and his worn boots.  He was wearing his champion bull-riding buckle, but his normal black hat was missing, leaving his dark brown hair exposed to the cool May morning.

            “I have a couple errands to run,” he answered Wyatt.  “Wanna keep me company?”

            “You betcha!” Wyatt grinned, jogging down to the Ford.

            Justin laughed as he watched Wyatt.  Well, he certainly wouldn’t mind the company.  His second errand of the day still had him a bit jittery.  Hopefully having Wyatt with him would make it easier.  He quickly headed down to his truck before Wyatt got impatient.

            His first stop was the First Union Bank of Montana.  “I’ve just gotta check a couple things at the bank,” he told Wyatt.  “Why don’t you head down to Poppy Mario’s and get two pizzas, some wings, and pop?”  Wyatt raised a brow.  “It’s my second errand.  I’ll explain when I get back.”