The Cowboy handed her the shovel.
Their fingers touched.
Neither moved immediately.
The Older Sister’s breath changed.
The Cowboy’s eyes lowered to her mouth.
For one suspended second, the well, heat, ranch, and Younger Sister disappeared.
Then the Older Sister took the shovel.
“Work.”
His smile returned.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She hated the warmth that rose into her face.
They struck water near dusk.
Not a gush.
A slow seep between stones.
The Younger Sister saw it first.
“Water.”
The Older Sister crouched.
Clear moisture spread along the bottom.
The Cowboy knelt beside her.
Their shoulders touched.
Neither moved.
The Younger Sister laughed.
“We did it.”
The Older Sister looked toward the Cowboy.
He looked at her.
No words.
There was something more dangerous in silence.
The Cowboy’s face was close.
Dust on his jaw.
Hair damp at the temple.
The Older Sister could smell sweat, earth, and leather.
His hand rested against the stone beside hers.
She imagined moving her fingers half an inch.
That was all it would take.
She did not.
The Cowboy did.
His little finger touched hers.
Barely.
The Older Sister looked down.
Then up.
The Younger Sister cleared her throat loudly.
They separated.
The Younger Sister smiled.
“I am standing right here.”
The Older Sister climbed out of the pit.
“So keep standing.”
Her sister laughed.
That evening, supper was quieter.
The Younger Sister kept watching both of them.
The Older Sister ignored her.
The Cowboy stared at his plate.
Eventually, the Younger Sister said:
“You two are exhausting.”
The Older Sister stopped eating.
“What?”
“You spend all day looking at each other.”
The Cowboy coughed.
The Younger Sister continued.
“Then pretend you don’t.”
“That’s enough.”
“No.”
The Younger Sister looked at her.
“You’re different around him.”
“I’m annoyed around him.”
“Exactly.”
The Cowboy looked amused.
The Older Sister pointed her spoon.
“Do not.”
He lowered his eyes.
The Younger Sister leaned back.
“You act like he’s passing through.”
“He is.”
The Cowboy’s expression changed slightly.
The Younger Sister noticed.
“So why did he come back?”
Silence.
The Older Sister stood.
“Goodnight.”
She walked outside.
The night air was cool.
She crossed toward the well.
Moonlight silvered the water at the bottom.
Footsteps approached behind her.
She did not turn.
The Cowboy stopped several feet away.
“You always run when conversation gets honest?”
The Older Sister looked toward the well.
“I came outside.”
“That is technically true.”
“You should leave me alone.”
“Do you want me to?”
She turned.
“Yes.”