Page 5 of Finding Limits

When she’s finally ready, Everleigh has got a whole bunch of decent people who wanna make her feel welcome, and that makes me real happy for her.

“Yeah, she explained and I appreciate ya sparin’ her.”

“Ain’t a problem, I just wish she’d start makin’ some steps forward, it can’t be easy splittin’ yourself between her and here.”

“I don’t mind at all.” I nod, before making my way into the stable to saddle up JD.

“Mitch Hudson.” I spin around when I hear my full name. “ The woman at the guesthouse said you were the one to speak to about getting some employment around here.” The young lad that stands in front of me is tall and has a good set of shoulders on him. He looks handy, even with his shiny boots and eyes that look far too kind to have seen any trouble.

“Name’s Hunter and I’m looking for some work, sir.” He holds out his hand and grips me firmly when I shake it.

“You know how to ride a horse, son?” I reach up and lift the brand-new Stetson off his head so I can examine it.

“No, sir, but I can learn.”

“You know how to throw a rope?” I place it back on his head and flick the front of it up.

“No, but I pick up fast.” He seems confident as well as determined, which is never a bad thing.

“You come lookin’ for work on a ranch, and you can’t ride a horse or rope a cow?” I laugh at him. “What am I supposed to hire ya for?”

The kid backs up a little, looking at the space around him, then taking the brand new gloves from outta his back pocket he slides ‘em over his fingers.

“There’s this.” He heads over to the anvil on the far side of the stable and starts to lift it, without making no sound or breaking any sweat.

“It took both Finn and Tate to carry that in here after the blacksmith was done last week,” I say my thoughts out loud as I stare at the boy in shock and realize he’s still holding it.

“Well, I guess everyone’s good for something,” he tells me before placing it back down.

“You mean what ya say about being a fast learner?” I check, we got a lotta work coming up over the next few weeks and we could use the extra hands.

“Yes, sir, I was raised right, I wouldn’t lie to ya.” Something about those big, brown eyes steer me into believing him. There don't seem to be no malice in the boy, and he’s proved that he’s strong.

“Come on, I’ll show ya to the bunkhouse.” I tie JD back up and lead the boy back out to the yard.

“This here's Garrett,” I introduce him to the boss. “Garrett, Hunter, he’s as green as pea soup but he’s strong,” I assure him.

“Pleased to meet ya.” Garrett holds out his hand.

“That guy there, who’s failin’ to get a hold on his filly, is Wade.” I gesture my head into the corral. “And that love-struck thing over there is Cole,” I point over to where he stands kissing Savannah. “They all own this place. It’s them who pay your wages and me who ensures you earn ‘em. You got that?”

“I got it.” The boy nods his head as he takes it all in.

“Follow me.” I lead him over to the bunkhouse.

Once inside I can see that it ain’t being kept the way it should be, there are dishes piled up in the sink and empty bottles scattered all over from the night before.

“Excuse the mess.” I lead the kid through the carnage, stopping when I get to Dalton’s bunk. His bed is still made up, he’s still got the poster of last June’s Buckle Bunny of the Month pinned to his wall, and it hurts like hell to think he’ll never sleep in here again.

“This one’s free.” I quickly move on, and stand beside the bunk in the corner. “You can get started straight away. First job ya got is to clean up this shit hole. We ain’t got much time for teachin’ so you’ll have to learn quick, and I wanna hear stories about you practicin’ your rope skills in your own free time. It’s hard graft, it’s shit pay, but there ain’t a life better than it.” I slap him on his big, burly shoulder before heading for the door.

“Mitch,” he calls out before I can leave, and when I turn around the boy’s wearing a huge grin on his face. “Thanks for taking a chance on me.”

“Everyone gets one, not many get a second,” I warn him before I leave to do some work.

The days are lonely and seem to go on forever when he’s not here. I always try to busy myself around the cabin, hoping it will make the time go faster, but the place is so small and easy to keep clean, it takes no time at all.

Josie is kind and very thoughtful, but she stopped trying to make conversation with me a while ago when she realized it was never going anywhere. All her attempts just made us both feel uncomfortable, because as much as she, Mitch, and Samantha try to hide it, in reality I’m just a shell. I have no personality of my own anymore. I have no experience of this world that I’ve found myself in. And the only thing my sad existence has to look forward to, is him coming home to me.

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