Page 20 of Never Left You

His smile faded, but didn’t leave as his eyes locked on me. “He’s ok. He insisted, and he’s doing a great job.”

“Just make sure he doesn’t fall through the roof. You though—” I looked towards Cash, half tempted to point at him. He just tilted his head and gave me a grin, waiting for my cheeky reply. I rolled my eyes. “Feel free to fall through.” I slammed the ladder on the gutter and turned, making my way back into the barn to finish the chore I started before I was so rudely interrupted.

I did not complete my task.

I was only able to get through half of the stables before my body had to call it quits. Half of the stables looked amazing, the other half looked like horses lived there. The ranch hands had just finished putting the horses back inside, and they all headed back to the bunk houses, leaving Stetson and me alone with Marshmallow and Luna, waiting to be brushed and settled in.

“I just wish we didn’t have to clean out their poop all day,” Stetson grumbled from the stall next to me.

I chuckled. “Well bud, that’s what happens when you have a horse. Marsh is a poop machine.”

“I didn’t even ride today. Why do I need to brush him?”

“Would you want to be covered in filth all night?” His dark hair flew from side to side as he shook his head, the only part of him I could really see as he stood on the stool next to the big white horse he claimed. “Exactly, so brush him and then go bathe yourself.”

He groaned.

“Did you have fun today?”

“Yes!” His body spun, and his eyes became visible over the wooden stall barrier. “Uncle Cash taught me how to replace a shingle on the roof, and then we grilled hamburgers for dinner. Even Nana Lottie ate one and loved it. Miss Kyla said she’d help me with my homework tonight, but I just really wanna watch a movie.” Stetson talked at rapid speed. If I wasn’t his mother and fluent in ‘Stetson’ I wouldn’t be able to understand him.

But my mind froze on one fact.Uncle Cash.He didn’t even call Kyla ‘Aunt Kyla.’ She was Miss Kyla. Why did Cash get a title that was so close to family? So close to home? “Why do you call him Uncle Cash?” I blurted out.

“Because that’s what daddy called him.”

“You remember that?”

“Yeah. I remember Uncle Cash. I like having him here.” He turned back to the horse. “Don’t you, Momma?”

“Yea, Abi, don’t you?”

I heard the Southern drawl before I had any other sign that he was behind us. I turned slightly and watched him approach the stalls, leaning against the gate, letting his arms hang over the metal.

I didn’t answer. My back stiffened as I tried to remember what Lachlan had said, those big girl pants I was supposed to be wearing. I took a deep breath through my nose. This was fine.

“Brushes are in the closet, I’m assuming? I know Hook and Charming haven’t been brushed for a while,” he asked, pointing his thumb behind his shoulder to the closet.

I nodded, keeping my focus on the horse.

Keep your big girl pants on, Abi. It’s best if you don’t talk to him at all.

“Do you mind if I hang around? Take care of the horses?”

“That’s Rhett’s job.” I bit.

So much for not talking to him.

“Rhett and Kyla headed back to their place. Your mom saved you a plate of pie. You too, Stet.”

Stet.He needed to stop that.

“Mom! Can I go eat the pie?! I forgot about it!” My son jumped off the stool and handed Cash the brush he was holding. “Uncle Cash, can you finish Marsh for me?”

“Sure thing. You did great work on the roof today. Ready for part two later?”

“Hell yeah!” Stetson screamed.

“Stetson!” I shouted, trying to hide the laugh that was forming after hearing my son swear. He grew up on the ranch, so he had heard far worse, but he knew not to say them…well possibly knew not to say them.

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