Page 72 of One Lucky Cowboy

“It’s required for anyone who lives here to pitch in, yep. And once you get a sense of what we do, I’ll let you pick how you wanna help. But only after we help Jill get her presentation done for the CAF this weekend. Sound good?”

“Sounds perfect. Beats the heck outta working in the fast-food place my friends got hired at.”

Jax chuckled. He’d had the same thought back in the day. The ranch meant long hours and back-breaking work some days, but the worst jobs here always seemed better to him than struggling over a hot fryer.

A barn kitten came over to Ren, curious about the newcomer.

“Who’s this?” Ren asked, leaning down to pet the kitten who’d taken to rubbing up against his leg.

“Not sure. We don’t name ’em.”

Ren stood, the kitten in his arms. Jax’d never seen one so relaxed around a person before. Normally, they were skittish little things that had one job—keep the mice out of the barn.

“You don’t name them?” Indignation fell from his lips.

“Most don’t stick around long enough for that, and those that do, we never see. An unlucky few get tails stomped on by the horses and run away. Others hide out till evening and feed, then go back to hiding from the horses. Plus, we’re not raising cats. We’ve got enough other beasts to keep us busy.”

Ren cooed at the kitten and tickled under its chin, earning him a kiss from the small ball of fur.

“I’m naming them. Maybe if they feel like they matter, they’ll stick around.”

Jax beamed at his son. “Maybe. So, what’s this little guy’s name?”

“Clark.”

Jax pet the cat, realizing it was the first time he’d ever done that. “Like Gable?”

Ren’s eyebrows scrunched together made him laugh. “Not sure who that is, but no. Like Kent. From Superman.”

“Okay, then. Nice to meet you, Clark.”

Ren put down the kitten, who, true to Ren’s prediction, stuck around and laid at the boy’s feet.

Jax shook his head, marveling at all he’d learn as much as he’d teach over the next few weeks if today was any indication. He grabbed a bucket of oats, a few carrots, and a brush to get to work on grooming the horses in the south barn. Bennett had released him from most of his admin duties this month so Jax could share the ranch with Ren on his fall break, all except finalizing the Steel Born presentation of both their growth and internship opportunities.

Jax didn’t mind the latter in the least. It meant time with Jill, and he’d grown to anticipate that with a kind of excitement he hadn’t felt outside his drive to Austin to pick up Ren. In a perfect world, he’d get to have both things he loved—because on some level he did, indeed, love Jill. But his world wasn’t ever gonna work out that way, it seemed. He was going to Austin so Ren could stay in school with his friends and family close by, and Jill, even if she stayed for a little while in Deer Creek, would be heading back to San Antonio eventually.

Ren lifted his hand, then seemed to think better of it.

“You want to help groom Jove?” Jax asked, gesturing to the gelding in the front stall. The horse was chomping on hay, but all it would take was a slice of apple or carrot and his attention would be on Ren.

The boy’s eyes lit up like Jax had offered him a gaming system.

He handed over a thick-bristled brush and instructed Ren on how to start where the horse could see him, then move back, keeping a hand on the animal at all times so Jove didn’t spook.

“Can I ride him?”

“Not this guy. He’s Bennett’s horse. But we’ve got one for you. I’m thinking you can start off on Lightning.”

“Nice. That sounds cool.”

Ren brushed Jove just like Jax had instructed. He had a gentle hand and a smile on his face. He was enjoying this as much as Jove was.

“How about when you’re done, I give you a tour of the property. There’s a lot to see.”

“Yeah, I’d like that. Are there more animals here?” Ren asked.

Jax stifled a laugh. It wasn’t Ren’s fault he didn’t know what happened on a ranch. Hell, it wasn’t either of their faults, because they hadn’t known the other person existed until last week. But it was freaking cool, teaching Ren about the life that was inherent to him.

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