Page 19 of Redbird

Last night, we ran some young cattle into a separate pasture up the valley. I have some concerns about leaving them that far out, but we don’t have another pasture to house them in for another month when we rotate. It’s the first time we’ve used this pasture because it needed to be built back up after years of neglect.

Cash and I are silent as we ride. He’s got his hat pulled low, the way I do. He’s hard to read, being at an age where all he wants to do is imitate me. Before we had him, I thought it would be easier to see his personality form. But he’s so young he’s like a mirror. I have to look at the edges to see who he’ll be when he becomes a man.

I can tell he’s strong-willed, but smart about it. He pushes me, but never too far. And I appreciate that he respects me.

He’s soft and loving with his mother. I’m grateful for that too. She’s sensitive and it would break her heart to be at odds with anyone in her family.

I glance back at him and see my reflection in his face. Dark hair. Blue eyes. As pale as the early morning sky. I’m no longer the only son of the Sovereign line.

I’m still in disbelief.

My mind drifts back to when I asked Keira to marry me. Well, asked is a strong word. Demanded, is more accurate. And she, in her boundless grace, forgave me for my selfishness. I acknowledged then that every good thing I had flowed from my woman.

That still holds true.

She loved me back to life.

My son and I pause at the crest of the hill. The herd is on the far end, a black smear in the distance. The far western side of the pasture is wooded. I know some of them are hiding there in anticipation of the afternoon sun.

“What are we here for?” Cash asks.

Before I can answer, I hear hoofbeats. Jensen Childress moves over the hill on his dappled gray gelding. He stays a few hours' ride from the border of Sovereign Mountain and comes to help on days when my employees can’t handle the workload. Mostly in the spring and fall, when the calves come, and when we need to tag and brand.

We wait in silence until he draws near.

Cash waves his hat in greeting. “Hi,” he shouts.

Jensen looks down at the stubby pony. “You’re working hard this morning, little Sovereign.”

“Checking the pasture,” says Cash, shrugging.

Jensen glances up at me. “I already rode the western border of that pasture. Everything looks good.”

“No casualties?”

He shakes his head. “You need to do spot repairs on the fence though.”

I glance down at Cash. “You want to do that this morning, son?”

He nods. “I can do it.”

I shift and Shadow turns back towards the house. “Keira will be up and Maddie will have breakfast ready soon. We’ll go eat and head out in the truck.”

We move back down the hill. Jensen and I keep a slow, posting trot so Cash can bring up the rear at a canter. The horses love to run and the ground is smooth and even here. They eat it up quickly.

Keira is on the porch when we pull into the yard. Cash jumps down and fastens Silver to the hitching post. He runs up the path to the house, pausing to say something to his mother before bursting inside. Jensen dismounts and I follow suit, letting our horses loose to graze in the yard while we eat.

“Breakfast is ready,” Keira says, shading her eyes.

Jensen tips his hat at her and follows Cash into the house. I take my own hat off so I can bend in and kiss my wife.

She’s in a plain cotton sundress. Not dissimilar to the one she wore the first day she came to Sovereign Mountain. I rake my eyes over her soft curves and slide my hand into the dip of her waist. Her head falls back for a second. I bury my face in her neck.

“You smell so fucking good,” I murmur.

She shivers. I run my hand lower and grip her ass hard enough I know it stings. I bare my teeth, grazing them down her throat.

A little moan escapes her lips.

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