Page 49 of Revelry
I’d gotten to Redemption early and was peering out the kitchen window, towards the road, waiting for his truck to come rumbling over the cattle grid.
“Hey Gertie,” Jack called as he came into the kitchen. “I need some help in the south pasture today, you game?”
I turned to him, momentarily blinded by his gorgeousness. “Where’s your Kitty Kat?”
He tucked his shirt into his jeans. “She’s kicking us out, she’s cooking this year and apparently that involves everyone leaving.”
I laughed. “Sounds about right. She cusses when she cooks.”
He snorted, brushing his brown hair back off his forehead. “She cusses when she does anything. Tell me you brought the dessert she asked for?”
“Of course, one mint choc chip and one chocolate fudge brownie.” I patted the tubs I’d been about to store in the freezer.
He groaned, eyeing them up. “Can’t wait. Now we’ve gotta go work up an appetite.”
I stored the ice cream and followed him outside, towards the stables. August had already saddled the horses for us, and I placed my boot into Sunshine’s stirrup, swinging my leg over.
“What are we doing today?” I asked, looking back towards the house for a sign of Tate, like an addict needing a fix.
“Perimeter check. Looking for any fence issues. Found some rotten posts in the north pasture yesterday so just want to make sure the south is good before the weather gets worse.” He mounted Chester, clicked his tongue and they set off at a canter, with me and Sunshine following behind them.
It was a chilly day, fall was settling in thick and fast, and I longed for spring. New leaves, new flowers, new start. Would I even be here by then? Would Mom and Cathy stay in San Francisco, or would they be back and need the house?
When we made it to the mouth of the pasture, Jack jumped down from Chester and opened up the gate, letting me take the lead. We rode in opposite directions around the pasture, paying close attention to the fence. I whistled and waved my arm to get his attention when I spotted a weakness.
He rode up next to me and we both dismounted, bending down to inspect the fence post.
“Yep, that’s rottin’ alright,” I sighed.
He tsked. “You stay here, I’ll head back and grab a new post. We ordered some extras for the corral I’m building for August’s riding lessons, so luckily I have some. I’ll bring a couple back just in case but I didn’t spot anything else.” He clamped a hand over his black Stetson and swept himself back up into Chester’s saddle and charged off.
I looked around at the cattle, all staring at me like I was a new exhibit in the pasture. I cooed at some of them. I loved cows, they weren’t the brightest of animals but definitely the cutest andbig, I always forgot how big they were.
After a while I heard the rumble of an engine and ran over to open up the gate and let the truck in. Maddy was behind the wheel and I could see Jack and Chester bringing up the rear.
“Hey girl,” I called when Maddy cut the engine. She jumped out of the truck, her light brown hair pulled back and her hazel eyes shining bright, big ass smile stretching across her mouth.
“Cowboy Jack said you need some help?” Maddy asked, assessing the fence, her hands thrust on her denim covered hips, her white shirt bright in the gloomy day. But not as bright as her peach cowgirl boots and matching Stetson.
“Sure do. We gotta pull this part of the fence down and replace it. One post is rotting but it’s connected so it will be just as much of a bitch to replace the whole section.”
“I see.” Maddy scrutinized the post, bending down and poking at the wood. “Sounds good, let’s do it.” She clapped her hands and we went to the bed of the truck and started pulling out the posts we needed.
“Uh, ladies?” Jack called from behind us.
“Yeah?”
“Do you need help or shall I just stand here and look pretty?” he teased.
I glanced at Maddy who was hiding a smirk. “Sure,” I replied, as Maddy said,
“No Jack, of course we need your help. You, uh, can start pulling the fence apart.”
He shook his head, smiling and muttering something aboutGod loving anindependent woman.
We worked together to pull the fence apart and swap the posts over. I stripped my sweater off, it may be fall but it was tough work out here and I heated up fast.
“Ugh, sorry guys, I gotta shoot. Someone called in sick for their shift at the station and I’ve gotta cover. You’ll be okay from here?” Maddy asked, putting her phone away.
