Page 139 of Catch
“Okay, now that’s settled, let’s get to work. We got horses to feed and stalls to clean, and you have a trail ride to prepare for.”
Gifford, like Jett, is kind and patient, explaining all the ins and out when it comes to the ranch chores until my boyfriend reappears, followed by Cate and Harry.
“I’ve got fencing to fix, so I’ll see y’all later,” Gifford offers with a wave and heads out.
One by one, Jett moves each horse out of their respective stall, and I do my best not to freak out during the process. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is totally in his element. I didn’t think I could fall any harder, but watching Jett like this—how gentle he is with the animals, how patient he is with me, my ten million questions, and my siblings—it makes me love him even more.
I am not, however, in love with the volume of horse shit that requires removal from this stable. But surprisingly, I get into the rhythm of the work, and even if it’s stinky, I’m anything but bored.
With the horses back in their clean stalls, it’s on to feeding time. It takes us another hour and then we’re done. It’s not easy work, but it’s satisfying.
“You guys ready to hit the trail?” Jett asks.
“Actually, Harry and I are going to wash up and go help Jules prepare for our Thanksgiving feast.”
“But—” Harry starts and glances at Cate. “Uh, right, absolutely. We can go riding with you guys tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” Jett asks.
“Of course.” Cate smiles at him. “I want to do some baking, and Jules offered to share some of her prized pie recipes.”
“Please tell me Harry isn’t going to help you with that,” I snark.
My brother offers me a rude gesture, and I swear I hear Whiskey snort behind me.
“I cook better than you, Ean.”
Jett chuckles.
“Anyone can.”
“Hey!”
“Have fun, we’ll see you guys later,” Cate adds and ushers Harry out the door.
“So—” I amble up to Jett and slide my hand around his waist, pulling him in close. “It’s just you and me, cowboy.”
“This would be a lot sexier if we didn’t smell like horse shit.”
I laugh and kiss him anyway.
Jett
After we clean up, I get Ethan’s horse, Whisper, ready for our ride.
My boyfriend has taken to ranch life a lot faster than I expected, and it’s all too tempting for me to envision a future where this is our place,ourhome, not just mine.
“How far are we going?” Ethan asks as he puts on his helmet.
“Down along the western ridge. It’ll take us about an hour, there and back.”
Ethan looks confident, even when it’s time to mount his horse. With a bit of guidance from yours truly, he settles into the saddle.
“She’s not going to take off on me, is she?”
“Of course not. Whisper is a calm, sweet baby. She’d never.”
I show him how to hold the reins and offer instructions, and once I feel that he’s comfortable and ready to go, I mount Whiskey and lead us out. The day’s unusually warm for lateNovember, and it’s the sun feels so good. Man, I’ve missed this. All of it.
