Jill Marie Landis - Homecoming

Hattie smiled and nodded encouragement. Joe crossed his arms and figured the girl was out to prove him wrong—or crazy.

“Hattee-Hattee,” the girl whispered.

The years seem to drop away when Hattie laughed and clapped as if it were the greatest feat ever accomplished.

“I’m so proud of you, child!”

“Don’t you think just one Hattie would do?” Joe leaned against the fence post, watching the exchange, afraid his mother’s joy might actually seep into him—if he let it.

“Hattee-Hattee is close enough for now,” she said. “Close enough, that’s for certain.” She reached for Deborah, wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

Deborah slipped out of her grasp and gathered the hem of her dress up to her knees again.

Joe couldn’t help but look down. It was a moment before he caught himself.

“You’d better teach her not to do that,” he advised Hattie before turning around to focus on the cattle milling in the corral, trying to forget the sight of the girl’s well-turned calves and ankles.

“She’s making progress, though. Isn’t she, Joe?”

“Except for the fact that she keeps lifting up her dress. She’s doing better than I expected,” he admitted grudgingly.

“But…?”

“I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude, Ma.”

“Uh-oh,” Hattie muttered.

Joe followed her gaze. Deborah was on her way back to the house on her own.

“If I don’t stop her, she’ll track mud right into the house.” Hattie hurried across the yard, then paused to call out, “I have a feeling she’s going to surprise you.”

As he watched Deborah walk away holding her skirt above the mud like a barefoot queen, he couldn’t help muttering to himself.

“That’s what I’m afraid of, Ma. That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

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