As he rode south, he watched for breaks in the fence that might have caused Jerrod to follow stray cattle. The fence was in excellent condition. Jerrod loved his horse too much to expect him to jump bare barbed wire.
Drifter was a good horse. If he’d been spooked and thrown Jerrod, he would have returned to the barn by now. It was past feeding time. Either Jerrod was on that horse’s back, or he’d tied him up somewhere.
Alex reached the southeast corner and turned toward the east. He cursed when a few light raindrops dotted the saddle leather between his legs. He hoped his visibility wouldn’t be more impaired than it already was. About a mile straight ahead, toward the lake, he thought he saw a flash of light. Was it lightning? He hadn’t heard thunder. Thunder and a harder rain would make it more difficult to hear far off voices. Maybe it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. But no, there it was again, the light and no thunder. He kicked Stardust into a faster gait. The raindrops were getting fatter and much more frequent. Where was that boy?
The third time he saw the light, he knew it was coming from the edge of the lake. It had to be Jerrod. He was already riding as hard as he safely could, over unfamiliar ground. He couldn’t risk Stardust stepping into a hole and being injured.
As he reined in his horse, a second horse snorted and stomped. The noise came from a small stand of trees to the right. It was Drifter, Jerrod’s horse. Alex tied Stardust to a bush nearby. A small, clear beam of light came from over the bank.
Alex stepped to the edge. Below, the muddy sides had been deeply scored all the way to the water. At the edge, Jerrod looked up from under his beat-up cowboy hat. He was half submerged and shivering. He had a penlight in his left hand. His right arm was wrapped around the neck of a young calf, trying to keep its head from going under.
Alex peeled off his denim button-down, his T-shirt, and his shoes. He emptied his pockets and slid down the mud on his ass like it was a water slide.
“What took you so damned long?” Jerrod asked in a weak voice. His lips had turned blue and his teeth were chattering. “This bull calf has two legs tangled in the grass and roots down below. He was running from me and slid off in the mud. Dumb critter.”
Together they were able to untangle the calf and use their saddle ropes to pull him up. The calf bucked and bawled until he reached flat land, and then he went limp. Alex was fairly certain the little bull was in shock. He probably wouldn’t have survived much longer. There was still a good chance he’d end up as veal before the week was over.
If there was one bit of good news, it was that the rain had stopped before it had really gotten started.
“I thought you didn’t get attached to the livestock,” he said.
“I couldn’t just waste him.” Jerrod shrugged. He tugged off his sodden T-shirt, and then commandeered the denim outer shirt Alex had taken off. “Even with two banged-up legs he’s a valuable animal. Do you have any idea how much veal goes for per pound?”
Alex chuckled and shook his head as he dialed Lacey’s phone number. There wasn’t an ounce of city in that boy.
“Have Jenna call off the search while you bring us a truck. We’ve got an injured calf, but Jerrod is fine. Just go southeast toward the lake and you’ll see our fire.”
By the time he’d covered the calf with Drifter’s saddle blanket and built a fire, Jerrod had already polished off half the food he’d brought and drank a full bottle of water.
As they waited, Alex rubbed the calf’s body to get him warmed up. He wasn’t about to let him die on the ground. Not after all Jerrod had been through to keep him.
Jerrod stared into the fire and rubbed his hands together. “I helped Mom birth that calf,” he said. “It was my first. I couldn’t believe his mother was able to get up and walk after all that. She took to the little guy like nothing had ever happened. How do you suppose a female can do something like that?”
“It’s just nature, I guess.” Alex wished the boy had asked about football. “Females have a way of getting past the bad parts fast so that they can get on with the nurturing. It’s one of those mysteries of life.”
“I guess that’s how they get over the mating part too.” Jerrod broke a stick into little pieces and fed each one into the fire. “I don’t know if I could put a woman through either experience.”
Alex leaned forward and studied the boy. Was he saying what he thought he was? “What makes you say a thing like that?”
“You’ll probably just think I’m weird or something.”
“Of course I won’t.”
Jerrod threw the rest of the stick into the fire and wiped his hands on his thighs. “A few months back, I was working on a fence. I was taking a break in the truck when one of the bulls mounted a female. It was kind of scary to watch, but I’d never been out here to see that before. I couldn’t look away.”
“That’s okay,” Alex assured him.
“Well, she got all crazy with fear and bawled and fought, but the bull wouldn’t leave her alone. He looked like the devil, biting and bucking at her until I thought he’d kill her. Of course I stayed in the truck. I knew I couldn’t stop him. When he was done, he just walked off. I had a mind to shoot that bull.”
Alex smiled to himself. The boy probably didn’t have a rifle handy or he’d have done it. How long had he had this on his mind?
“Well, Jerrod, that’s one of the things that make most men different than animals. Its men like us that have to protect women from the other kind of men.”
Jerrod looked Alex in the eyes. “I’d kill a man who treated a woman that way. Especially if it was my mom or Jenna he was after.”
Is that why Jerrod had given him such a hard time about getting close to Lacey? Was he afraid he’d hurt her?
“I’m glad to hear that. You just say the word and I’ll have your back. I’d never let any harm come to them either.”
Jerrod took the last biscuit in the bag and nibbled on it. “So, what makes a woman want to be with a man?”
Just when he thought this conversation was over, damn.
“Like I said, it’s different with people. They start out as friends. If they’re lucky, they start falling in love. If the other person loves them back, they know they can trust each other. Sometimes they find out they aren’t meant to stay together, but when they do find that one special person that was made just for them, no one else will do.”
“Have you ever found that one special person?” Jerrod asked.
“I’m pretty sure I have,” Alex said with a smile.
“What makes it different?”
Will this inquisition never end?
“I guess it’s the love that makes the biggest difference. Respecting what she does and the way she feels about things, even if you don’t understand it sometimes. Making her happy is the only thing that makes you happy. Being willing to kill or die to keep her safe. And, the most important thing is letting her know she’s loved, always treating her tenderly. When you have all that, making love is beautiful for both of you. It’s a more emotional process for humans, or at least it should be.”
Jerrod nodded his head and stared into the fire in quiet contemplation.
Alex had given himself a lot to think about as well.
****
Lacey flew out of her truck and ran to her son so fast she wasn’t sure if her feet had touched the ground. He looked so small in Alex’s shirt. Her hands shook as she brushed the hair off his forehead. She wanted to look into his eyes. She could always tell everything about him that way. If he was sick, hurt, upset, or angry, it was always right there in those expressive, jade green eyes.
What she saw now was soft, patient, indulgence. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, gently patting her back. He’d known that’s what she needed. Dammit, why did he have to grow up so fast?
“I’m all right, Mom, just real tired. I need to get Drifter back home and taken care of.”
“Don’t worry about Drifter.” Lacey reluctantly drew back. “You’ll need to ride with the calf. I don’t want him sliding around in the back of the truck. Alex will help me take care of the horses. I’ve got two pieces of chocolate cake and tall glasses of milk with you guys’ names on them, at the house.”
“It’s not the weekend,” Jerrod said with wide eyes. “Where did you get a chocolate cake?”
“I was nervous and had nothing to do so I baked a cake. So sue me.”
“I’m sorry I made you nervous, Mom,” Jerrod said. “I just couldn’t let that calf drown.”
“I know,” Lacey said, hoping there wouldn’t be another scare like this again.
Jenna had stayed quiet as she’d put out the small campfire and led Drifter away from the trees. She flung his stirrup over the saddle to tighten his cinch.
Lacey knew what she was thinking. She’d watched Alex lift the calf into the bed of her truck. He was still beside her, so it was his arm she gripped, when she thought of her second child riding so late at night. Thankfully, Alex intervened.
“Leave him be, Jenna,” he said. “That horse isn’t taking a rider tonight. He hasn’t had food or water since about noon.”
“I’ll ride double with you then,” Jenna replied stubbornly.
“No you won’t.” Alex sounded as stern as…as a father. “I’ll be leading Drifter slowly. Your mom may need help before I get back.”
“But I want to stay with you,” Jenna whined.
“I said no. Now get your skinny behind in that truck before I decide to paddle it.”
When Jenna walked past her mom, she gave her a secret little wink and a grin.
Chapter Twenty-One
The timer buzzed on the oven to let Lacey know the cornbread was ready to come out. It was Friday evening and Alex would arrive soon.
So much had happened since she’d walked into Alex’s Orlando office. They’d made an agreement to be married in a month. The month had come and gone. Their marriage license had expired.
Alex had mentioned marriage a few times, but she’d resisted the idea. Then she ran into Donna Sullivan in his house. It seemed obvious he’d changed his mind. Surely he didn’t expect her to make a commitment to him when he was seeing another woman. Was he still so angry with her that he’d expect the marriage to be one-sided? He’d been so casual about the incident.
It was best she hadn’t told the kids about their plan. She was sure it wouldn’t happen now.
However, Alex still seemed to be blending into their lives as though he’d always been there. Jenna was crazy about him, for good reason. She couldn’t wait for him to step into the role of father. Now, Jerrod was coming around as well. Alex was becoming the hero to them that she’d thought he was when she was young.
He wasn’t a boy anymore. He’d become more of a man than she’d ever dreamed he’d be. But his armor had tarnished in her mind, when she’d left his house the last time.
At the table, Jenna had a meat fork in each hand, quietly pulling a pork roast. She’d become more content since she’d realized the truth, but she was anxious and impatient about Alex’s reaction to the news of his fatherhood. Somehow, she’d have to find the right time, place, and courage to tell him. And it had to be soon, maybe tonight.
The sound of a large truck motor came from the gravel drive. It was too late for a delivery. Lacey couldn’t imagine who it could be. She turned the oven off and walked to the front door with Jenna curiously crowding her from behind.
In front of the house, a full sized, brand new, crew-cab pickup truck sat idling. Attached to its tow hitch was a top-of-the-line horse trailer. It could easily carry four animals. Both were painted a light brown color that reminded her of sand after a wave of salt water had washed over it. What awed Lacey most was that both had the Double J brand emblazoned on their sides.
Alex stepped from the driver’s seat. He turned his old straw cowboy hat in his hands, as though he was nervous. That hat and his boots looked well-worn, but the sunglasses must’ve cost a couple hundred dollars.
“Do you like the color?” he asked. “It was the hardest part to decide on. I figured if I went too dark, it would absorb heat. A light color would show dirt before you could reach the road. And, I was afraid anything too bright might attract unwanted attention from the bulls. But if you don’t like it, I can have it repainted any color you like.”
Was he serious? Buck curiously sniffed the tires of the new trailer and she hoped he wouldn’t lift his leg.
“Alex, I don’t care what color they are.” A dull ache was settling at the front of her head. As badly as she’d like to, she couldn’t give in to
want
. “This farm can’t afford a new truck and trailer.”
“Hey, what’s the idea?” Jerrod’s voice came from the direction of the barn. “How come you’re using our brand?”
“When I left here Wednesday night, I couldn’t sleep,” Alex explained. “I got on the internet and, well, I bought a truck and trailer.”
“Just like that?” Jerrod exclaimed. “You just up and bought ’em?”
“Hold on Mr. Moneybags.” The pain in her head was escalating. In another minute her eyes would pop out of their sockets. “If these are assets of the farm, the farm has to pay for them. We can’t do that.”
“Yes you can,” Alex insisted. “I added enough capital in the farm to cover them easily.”
“What do you mean you added capital?” Jerrod was stunned. “You may own the dirt under our feet, but these are our crops and livestock. You can’t just come in and take over.”
“I’m not taking over.” Alex rolled his eyes and huffed. “It’s like a partnership. Neither one of us-meaning your mom or me, Mr. Buttinski-can run this farm without the other. I own the land and buildings. She owns everything else, including the know-how. I think we could make this place pay off better by putting a little more into it.”
“Yeah, sure,” Jerrod grumbled. “Just what I need, more to take care of.”
“Well that’s another thing,” Alex began.
“What’s Jenna doing with that guy?” Jerrod interrupted.
Turning to see what Jerrod was talking about, Lacey saw Jenna at the back of the now opened trailer with a handsome young cowboy. He was leading a chestnut gelding down the ramp.
“What’s this?” she asked, indicating the horse.
“This is Mercury. He’s mine as of this morning.” Alex smiled proudly as he approached the animal and smoothed his hand down the deep red neck. “After riding Stardust, I got an urge to have my own horse. I remembered that a friend of mine had Mercury up for sale. I used to ride him when I visited his ranch outside of Orlando. What do you think?”