Rustic Hearts

Sophie

When we returned from Denver, I sat down with Daddy and Braxton and discussed the merits of buying a new middle-of-the-line tractor outright or getting a loan for a top-of-the-line model. I laid the entire thing out on spreadsheets to show how, at a low-interest rate, the second option made more sense in the long run.

After my presentation and going over the figures a few times, Daddy agreed to talk to Mr. Stroupe at the bank to discuss the loan. So, he and Aunt Doreen and I are on our way to town. I want her along for all the business discussions and decision-making because she will more than likely be the one to take over for Gram ru

“Do you agree with Sophie that this is a good idea?” Daddy asks the bank manager.

“I do. You’ll have use of the better tractor, which will be more efficient on the ranch, and the better brand will probably save you in maintenance fees down the road. We have your monthly payment extremely reasonable, and the interest rate is the lowest we’ve seen in years,” Mr. Stroupe explains.

“And you can write the interest off on your taxes at the end of the year,” I add.

“Honestly, this is the best way to purchase all the equipment you need on the ranch, including vehicles. You paid cash for your last truck by pulling the money out of a CD. Gram could have left the money in the CD and financed the truck—not only saving you money, but also making you money.”

“How’s that?” Daddy asks.

“The money was making two percent more per month in the CD than the interest rate would have been to finance the truck. For example, if you have ten dollars in an account that is making three percent interest and you decide to buy a toy truck that cost five dollars, you can finance at a one and a half percent rate or take the whole five dollars out of your account and pay in cash. It makes more sense to leave the whole ten dollars in the account and finance the toy truck because it’s gaining double what the loan would cost. Does that make sense?” I try to illustrate the concept as simple as possible without talking down or disrespecting him.

“Perfect sense,” he agrees.

We leave the bank after signing all the paperwork and getting the loan process started.

Aunt Doreen nervously prattles on about keeping up with it all, so I decide to broach the subject of hiring some help on the way home.

“Have you thought any more about hiring an administrative assistant?” I ask her.

She eyes Daddy and then cautiously answers, “Not everyone is comfortable with hiring someone outside of the family.”

“That’s silly. Companies do it all the time.”

“We’re a family company,” Daddy insists.

“I realize that, but someone has to take care of the administrative side of the business with Gram gone, and I think it’s a little bigger than Aunt Doreen can manage.”

Even if I sat and trained her nonstop for the next week, she’s never going to catch on. She has zero experience using e-mail, much less a computer and accounting program. The mountain is insurmountable in the time we have.

“I trust that you know what you’re doing,” he replies in answer.

“I do, but I’m only here for another week or so, and you’ll need someone once I leave.”

“We’ll make do.”

That’s his infuriating answer.

“It’s not that simple,” I start to argue.

“We’ll figure it out, Sophie. We aren’t hiring anyone. If Doreen can’t manage it, then Elle will help.”

Elle has dreams that don’t include being Aunt Doreen’s assistant. She wants to go to school next year.

I drop the subject for now because the stubborn man is not going to budge. It’s not really my problem anyway, so I don’t know why I care so much.

I’m skipping di

I decide that comfortable is the way to go, so I dress in my low-slung jeans, a soft-pink cashmere sweater with a broad neckline so it falls off one shoulder, and brown cowgirl boots. I load a bag with thick wool blankets and homemade snacks provided by Aunt Ria for the drive-in. The nights are so cold, so we’ll be wrapped up to stay warm in the back of Dallas’s truck. I haven’t been to a drive-in before, so I’m excited to experience it for the first, and probably last, time tonight.

Aunt Ria tucks some hand-warmers into my bag along with the brownies and deer jerky. “You have fun tonight and keep your eye on Dallas.”

“I will. I think she’s a little nervous, which is odd. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her nervous before.”

“It’s good that you’re here. That ex-husband of hers did a number on her. She works so hard, and she is a good momma, but she deserves more than just Beau in her life.”

“Says the woman who never remarried after her husband was killed in the war. You’ve never batted an eyelash at another gentleman in all this time, have you? Aunt Doreen and Emmett have been sneaking kisses for years since Uncle Lee took off but not you.”

Uncle Arthur was killed in Vietnam in 1975. They had only been married for two short years, and Aunt Ria has never so much as looked sideways at another man. At least, according to Dallas.

“Sometimes, a love so big comes along, and even if you only get to hold on to it for a little while, it can fill you up for a lifetime. That was my Arthur. I’ve never felt the need to fill his place in my heart. I have my family and friends and have never suffered a single moment of loneliness. One day, I’ll be back with him, and until then, I’m quite content.”

“That’s beautiful. I hope I find that kind of love someday. I’m not the best at maintaining relationships,” I admit.

“Why not? You’re so easy to love, Sophie.”

“I think I’m always waiting for them to decide they want to leave. I expect it. So, I never really let them in, and eventually, they do.” I shrug.

She opens her mouth to say something and is cut off by Elle, yelling down the hallway, “Sophie, a hot guy in a sweet Range Rover is here to pick you up.”