The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, throwing long evening shadows across the dry winter grass.

“You can come out and walk the fields whenever you want,” I told him.

“You’re always welcome on this farm.”

Walt tightened his jaw.

He stood in complete silence while the last of the auction crowd drove their heavy trucks away down the county road.

He stared at the gravel, then gave me the exact same single nod he had given me at Easter.

“I mean it, Walt,” I said.