Wandering Heart by Rita Hestand Page A

barbed wire out back. Cut up
pretty bad. He was chasing something out of the hen-house but we
never found out what. Coop doctored him like a real vet and he let
me help. You should have been there, Mom."
    Angela was so
busy reprimanding herself she barely heard Josh's next words.
    "He knows so
much about everything. Not just the land, but how to take care of
things. He knows how to make things work. He says maintenance is
more important than anything on a farm. But you know it's kinda
weird though. I mean the other day and all. He knew Partner was in
trouble almost before it happened. Yeah, I saw him look up, while
we were mending the fence and all of a sudden he was running. I
didn't know what was wrong, so I took off after him."
    "Oh?"
    "Yeah, and he
knows when you're on your way home, too. It's like he's psychic or
something."
    "Really? He's
probably just more conscious of the time than you are, honey."
    "Yeah, maybe,
but he never checks his watch." He paused. "I think he sort of
likes you."
    "We're friends,
Josh, I told you that."
    "No, I mean I
think he really likes you."
    "Why do you say
that?"
    "I don't know.
It's just a feeling. And the way he looks at you. But you know why
I like him the most?"
    "Why?"
    "Because he's
the one person who talks to me about Dad. I mean, besides you. I
can ask him anything, and if he doesn't know the answer, he'll
think about it and let me know later. And he don't mind answering
questions. He don't treat me like a kid."
    "Doesn't."
    "Right,
doesn't."
    Angela smiled
sadly, realizing how much Josh needed a father figure in his life,
and wishing it was Greg he was bragging about.
    "You know,
Josh, sometimes parents have to be the bad guys. Like now. I'm
sorry, but you're until going to have to march on over to Mrs.
York's and take your lessons this afternoon, understand?"
    Josh frowned
and nodded grudgingly. "Okay. Oh, wait, there's Pete and Tim. I
gotta go, Mom. See you."
    He was out of
the truck almost before she pulled to the curb. She watched him
greet his friends and give her a backward wave before she pulled
away from the curb. She knew he was upset about the piano lessons
and that he hated it, but he did need to learn something besides
farming.
    Heading for the
office she felt down. If only Josh would try a little harder to get
along with Greg. And if only Greg would make a special effort
toward Josh and effort like Cooper made. The men in her life
weren't co operating.
     
    *****
     
    That evening,
before sundown, as she drove down the long drive to the circular
driveway in front of the hundred-year-old farmhouse, she noticed
Cooper and Josh playing ball by the side of the house. She stood by
the truck watching them for a few minutes. Josh was right. Cooper
did have a terrific backhand.
    Wanting to
spend a little more time with Josh, she sauntered around the house
toward them.
    "Hey, guys,
what are you doing?"
    "Just messing
around, want to join us?" Cooper invited.
    "Sure, why not?
Let me change my clothes and I'll be right out." She dashed inside,
threw on her grubby pair of jeans and a worn-out sweatshirt that
had an Aggie phrase on the front of it, and ran out of the house,
breathless.
    "You didn't
have to rush, we aren't going anywhere," Cooper teased.
    "Let's bat a
few," Josh suggested. He grabbed his bat from the side of the house
and found a good position.
    "You want to
umpire, or pitch?" Cooper asked her.
    "I'll be the
bad guy."
    "Call 'em like
you see 'em," Cooper laughed.
    They were two
strikes, one ball and three out of bounds. Josh flexed his arms,
and took position. Angela hunched down, giving the signal for one
more pitch.
    Then without
warning, everything went black. All she remembered was Cooper
pitching a slightly curved ball, and Josh swinging. The ball went
up, and when it came down, she was out cold on the ground.
    At least that
was what Cooper and Josh said happened, as she struggled for
consciousness.
    She reached for
her eye, and flinched. "Oh, I must have