Page 97 of Seven

Mable started baahing and Percy started barking, and they put on quite a show. You would’ve thought they hadn’t been fed in days, and they kept at it until I made my way into the barn. I started over to the feed, and Mable almost knocked me off my feet.

“Hold on a damn minute, Mable!” I fussed. “I’ll get to you in a minute.”

I poured Percy some food, then grabbed her bag of pellets and started pouring them into her trough. I was about to get them both some fresh water when I spotted Ford standing in the doorway. He was just standing there, staring at me with this strange expression on his face. When he didn’t say anything, I started towards him and asked, “You alright, kid?”

“Is it true?” he asked in barely a whisper. “Are you really my dad?”

Damn.

She finally told him.

She must’ve talked to him while I was gone. I couldn’t tell if he was angered or relieved by the news. Either way, there was no denying it. “Yeah, I’m your dad.”

“Oh.”

“I wanted to tell ya as soon as I found out, but…”

“I know. Mom told me.” His eyes dropped to the ground as he added, “She said we would talk more together, but…”

“What? You can say it.”

“I just don’t get why didn’t you come and find us?”

“Well, for starters, I didn’t know there was an us. I didn’t know anything about you until I saw you in that hotel.” I knelt in front of him. “Had I known, I would’ve been there on day one. I promise you that.”

“You kind of look like me.”

“I think it’s the other way around, but yeah. We certainly favor one another.”

“You think I’ll be a biker like you one day?”

“It’s possible, but that’ll be up to you.”

“I think I want to.”

“Well, you have plenty of time to decide.”

“Mom said we’re gonna live with you.”

“Yeah, as long as that’s okay with you.”

“Do I get to keep my room?”

“Absolutely.” I smiled. “And you can do whatever you want to it.”

“Okay. That’d be cool.”

“And if you’re up for it, I’m gonna need some help with Mable and Percy. Mable’s gonna be getting a couple of friends soon, and it’d be great if you could give me a hand.”

“I can help feed ‘em and stuff?”

“Absolutely.”

“That’d be awesome.”

“Glad you think so, because your momma wants more goats and a baby cow.”

“A baby cow would be soo cool.”

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