As Coop came over, Kate didn't miss how the boy smiled awkwardly at her, but avoided making any eye-contact. Laura stepped in, thanking him for taking care of the chickens and the ducks while noticing how the boy was keeping his distance.

"Why don't you go take a shower before any hugs can happen," she teased her son before addressing Kate. "He's been out on the field all day helping his dad and I, really pulling his weight out there."

"Mom..."

"And he's really getting a knack for working the tractor lately." Conspiratorally, Laura leaned in as if whispering to Kate's ear. "Clint promised that once he mastered that he could try with the van next."

Cooper's face couldn't be more flushed, one of his shoulder jerking sharply in half a shrug. Kate bumped his arm playfully with her fist. "Hey, totally worth the work. In no time you're going to be driving around the ladies and having your dad being a pain in the ass about being home before ten."

"Eleven..." Coop argued as a soft smile finally spread on his lips.

"Ten," Laura corrected as he guided the pair to come greet Matt.

Kate catching the last of that exchange between Lila and her partner, she quickly understood what was going on. Lila's embarrassment spoke for itself. Honestly, could she blame the girl? Most of the time she felt as if she also was in that exact same queue, waiting for the unachievable.

Coop, finally coming to join the crowd, extended his hand to offer it to Matt while his dad introduced him.

"He is Kate's boyfriend," Nate explained, always trying his best to be helpful.