Page 18 of Never Left You

From the corner of my eye, I could see Lachlan turn to look at me. “He’s a good kid.”

“Uncle Lachlan!” Stetson cried from the truck. “Mommy told me I could ride!”

“If you muck out Marsh’s stall—” Lachlan began, but Stetson’s attention was elsewhere. Right on me.

“Hey.” Stetson stopped right in front of us. “Who are you?” His eyes met mine as his hands hit his hips, standing as tall as he could.

“Stetson!” Abi called from the truck.

I mimicked the boy’s stance and looked down at him. He was tall for a seven year old, his brown hair sticking out from beneath this cowboy hat, his dark eyes narrowing, studying me. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head.

“I know you.” He finally said. “I think.”

I smiled. “You do.”

“Where have you been?” he asked, his voice steady as he took one more step.

“At rodeos.” I answered, not sure how to give him the real answer.

I was afraid to come back, I couldn’t come back.

He nodded and took my answer, and then his face changed. His tight lips opened to a wide smile and the rocket that was burning inside of him lit up. He jumped and if I wasn’t ready, he would have fallen. Instead, he landed in my arms, his sweet laugh leaving his lungs. He held onto me tightly, his hat falling to the ground as he latched on for me to lift him off the ground.

“I missed you, Uncle Cash.”

Uncle Cash…

Damnit.

The kid remembered me.

“I missed you too, buddy.” I lowered him back to the ground. “I hear you have a stall to muck.”

He scrunched his nose. “Wanna ride with me?”

I patted his shoulder, glancing up at Abi. She stood by the truck with her arms crossed, a vacant expression under the rim of her hat.

I smiled down at Stetson. “Sure bud, if it’s ok with your mom?”

“Mama please?” Stetson rushed back to Abi, pulling her arms from her body as he pleaded.

Abi's vacant expression faltered when she looked from her son to me, a hesitation there. But, to my surprise she straightened her shoulders and kneeled down to look Stetson in the eyes.

“Just be back for dinner, okay. You have homework, too.”

“Yes!” Stetson jumped in the air, spinning around as if he were on ice. “Let’s go, Uncle Cash!” He dashed into the barn at full speed, leaving Lachlan and I behind.

“Thanks Abs.” I nodded to her. With tight lips, she gave me one single nod of approval.

“Looks like I’m not leaving just yet,” I said over my shoulder at Lachlan with a smile.

Seven

Abi

Ihadmanagedtoavoid Cash for three days. It wasn’t easy. He and his client were here constantly. I took up sanctuary in my office, away from everyone, looking at the dreaded numbers. With the income from Cash, it eased the worry a little bit, but we still needed more. I had put out an ad for boarding horses and even a few other animals. Ads were floating around on social media, which seemed to be working since my inbox had a few potential inquiries.

But with my mind fixated on a million other things, I couldn’t find the focus to schedule them.

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