Page 35 of For the Love of the Broken Man

After the child was out of earshot, Dan helped Matt up from the floor. “He’s not comin’ because they’ve got somethin’ at Wonderland this weekend, but I haven’t told her yet. Look, I thought it was as clear as a windowpane, but Jase and I are seein’ each other, so to speak. The distance is somethin’ we’re tryin’ to figure out, but he ain’t interested in Tim.”

Dan remembered the time he and Jase had been intimate and how incredible it had felt. It had been amazing, and Dan knew he wantedeverythingwith the younger man. He knew he had to take his time, but he was confident they’d get there.

“Shit, Dan, I had no idea. Tim tells me I spend a good percentage of time with my head up my ass, but I didn’t believe him. I hate to say it, baby, but you’re obviously right,” Matt stated as he turned to Tim, picking him from the floor to put him on his feet.

“Matty, I told you the boy—the young man—would never be a problem. You and those assholes at the barn made him miserable, and either you fix it with the hands, or you’ll lose Danny. I don’t know how much longer he can go without Jase.” Tim touched Dan’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

Matt turned to Dan with a look of concern. “Give me some time, okay? We can figure this shit out. Also, if I was you, I’d get that girl into some sort of martial arts training. She packs a hell of a punch. I think Timmy might have to come upstairs and kiss my owie.” Matt turned to gaze at his husband.

Danny laughed. “Go. I’ll go to the barn, and Kayley’s good for a little while with cartoons. I’ll be back in an hour. That enough time for an owie kiss?”

Matt laughed. “Maybe two owie kisses. Turn the volume up a little on the television. Timmy can get loud.”

Danny just shook his head as he walked into the family room and turned up the volume before heading out of the house and pulling on his boots to go to the barn. He prayed the whole jealousy mess was behind them. Maybe, just maybe, he could get Jase to come back to the Circle C.

With Kayley’s adoption in the mix, if Riley Someone had indeed filed the papers, Jase couldn’t live with him, so it would be back to the Katydid for the young man, but he didn’t have to sleep there every night. That had a lot of possibilities.

Chapter Fourteen

“It’s nice to meet you, Jason,” Allison Grainger Wells told Jase as he stood in the hallway of the barn, cleaning the bedding and manure out of the stalls on the third of July. She was a beautiful woman with striking features, and she had a warm smile.

When Mick told Jase that the Wells’ were coming out, Jase didn’t have the heart to mention anything about the celebration at the Circle C for Rocky’s and Ryan’s birthdays. He’d heard Jon tell Mickey they’d have to stay at Wonderland for the holiday because Ally and Ham were planning a party and clients would be in attendance, so Jon needed to be there to assist in the entertaining.

In support of the news, there had been a lot of activity around the farm with deliveries of picnic tables and tents, so Jase knew he couldn’t ask to leave. Besides the fact he didn’t have a ride to get to Dillwyn, he didn’t have any cash. He had a check for his wages, but he hadn’t been able to get to a bank to deposit anything, so he was as broke as broke could be.

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Wells.” Jase wiped his hand on his jeans as he extended it to shake her outstretched one. He remembered what his mother told him. “If a lady extends her hand, it’s expected you gently shake it,” so he did.

“This place looks amazing. Mickey told me you were doing a wonderful job, Jason. He told me you updated the books, and I wanted to thank you. My son-in-law, whom I love more than anything, is horrible at recordkeeping. He’s great with these ladies, but he’s awful with numbers. I’m glad you’re on board with the operation.” Mrs. Wells released his hand with a bright smile before glancing over the mares in the barn.

“Hello.” A tall, Black man with a friendly smile walked into the hallway.

“Oh, Ham, this is Jason Langston. You remember me telling you how he came to live here?” The man extended his hand, so once again, Jase brushed his sweaty palm over his jeans and extended it.

“Sir, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Jon and Mickey.” Jase gave the man as much of a smile as he could offer in the heat of the day.

“Son, drop thesir‘cause I’m not thatold. It’s nice to meet you, but why are you still here?”

Jase was stymied. “I’m sorry, where should I be? Mickey told me you were having a party, and we were to clean up the place for company.”

Ally Wells walked over to Jase. “Yes, and Mickey told me you’ve been a sponge, learning everything you can about how we operate this place. I’m so happy to see new blood come into the operation.

“Of course, we know—don’t get mad at Mickey. We know you and Danny Johnson are good friends, and if you want to go to Holloway for the holiday, that’s fine.”

Jase wanted to take her up on the offer, but without any way to get there and not hearing from Danny since he’d sent the email, he wasn’t sure he was welcome anymore.

“I, uh, thank you very much, but they’ll have to miss me this time. I’ve committed to being here, and I am a man who keeps his word. Besides, I don’t have a car and haven’t had the chance to get to a bank yet, so I’m a bit short on cash. Anyway, I’ve told Dan I can’t make it and things are fine. Thank you for your concern.”

Jase started to return to Rosie’s stall when Mr. Wells stepped forward and touched his shoulder. Jase was taller than the man, but he didn’t have as commanding a presence at all. “Son, here’s a hundred, and you can use Ally’s farm truck. It’s not fancy, but it runs well. The keys are in the kitchen. There’s no reason for you not to go spend time with Danny and little Kayley. We feel awful we were away when Dan’s mother passed, so you tell him we send our condolences,” Ham Wells instructed.

Jase believed he was living in a dream. “Are you sure? You’ll take this outta my next paycheck, right? I mean, I’ll get a bank account, but I don’t… I haven’t been able to get to town to open a checking account, but I’ll do it… Oh! Keep your cash, Mr. Wells. I’ll stop at the bank on my way outta town. Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do!” Jase was talking so fast he wasn’t sure the man caught all the words he’d said.

When Ham and Ally Wells laughed, Jase calmed a little. “I’m sorry, but I’m a little excited. I need to stop at a store to get gifts for Rocky and Ryan, and maybe something for Little Bit. Oh, thank you,” Jase gushed.

He went back to work and hurried to finish the job of cleaning out the barn. Within a few hours, he’d be with Dan and Kayley. His whole body was happy.

After finishing in the barn, Jase ran up to the carriage house, climbing the stairs two at a time once he’d left his muck boots under the steps in case it rained while he was gone. When he got inside, he stopped dead in his tracks, surprised to see Mickey sitting at his little kitchen table.

“Um, everything okay?” Jase was surprised to see Mickey drinking a cola, so Jase got himself one from the fridge and sat down across from his boss.

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