Page 46 of Sweet Like Whiskey

“Jack. You’re not just a dairy farmer,” I point out. “And yes, you run a ranch, so rancher is appropriate. But how is calling you a cowboy in any way incorrect?”

He simply grunts.

“Well?” I prod.

“I suppose,technically, you could call me a cowboy,” he concedes, although it seems to pain him to do so.

I grin, and he huffs a breath.

“And yes,” he says, sounding salty, “I always knew I wanted to do this. It’s not just ’cause of my family. Lawson went his own way.”

“Teaching,” I say.

Jackson nods. “But for me… This life is part of who I am. I’m not sure I could ever leave it.”

“I get that,” I say softly.

He looks over at me again, gaze almost sharp. “Do you?”

“Yeah, Jack. You say this life is a part of you, but I think it’s the other way around. I think you’re a part of this place. Asking you to change that would be like…like trying to uproot these mountains. Although, frankly, I think you might be the more stubborn of the two.”

Jackson doesn’t laugh at my joke. He continues to stare at me in a way that’s focused and almost unnerving. Just when I’m about to break the silence, he asks, “You hungry?”

“You’re…not planning on catching me a fresh cow, right?”

His lips twitch. “No. I brought food.”

My smile is a slow,slowthing. “Jackson Darling, did you pack us a picnic?”

He immediately scowls, making me laugh. “’Course not.”

“No?” I say, following after him as he heads down the hill. “I hate to break it to you, but unless you also packed a table in those tiny bags on Starlight’s back, we’re eating on the ground. That, cowboy, is a picnic.”

He shakes his head, his movements jerky as he opens one of the bags. “My mom packed it for us,” he grumbles so quietly I nearly miss it.

I stop. And stare. After a moment of silence, Jackson glances my way.

“Not a goddamn word,” he says tightly. “I didn’t wanna hurt her feelings by refusing. And I thought, well… Everybody’s gotta eat, right?”

I bite my lip. “You didn’t want to pack me food yourself, Jack?”

He goes still. “That’s not… I didn’t mean…”

“I mean,damn. I wasn’t expecting flowers or diamonds. But I cook you food all the time. Everyday.”

His eyes widen, andoh, he’s too fucking easy.

“The least you could do,” I continue, pitching my voice dramatically, “is make sure I don’t starve out here in the wilderness. I guess I should be gratefulsomeonecares. I’ll have to find a way to thank your mom, huh?”

“You’re fucking with me,” he says, deadpan.

I shrug, keeping a straight face. “Maybe Ishouldtry cougar hunting, after all.”

“Ash.”

“No, no. I see how it is. I’ll just take Shorty and be on my way. Don’t you worry about little old me.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Jackson rumbles, stalking after me as I head in Shorty’s direction.

---