Page 96 of Ace of Spades
“Are you a real cowboy?” Drew asks, a wonder sparkling in his big blue eyes.
“I guess you could say that.”
“I was a cowboy for Halloween last year, did you know that? Daddy says cowboys do super cool stuff, like ride horses and shoot guns!”
I hold back a chuckle, the bushy-tailed boy’s eyes gleaming as he takes in Weston’s spurs and cowboy hat.
“Well, we sure do get to do some cool things. You ridden a horse yet, Drew?”
“No, my mom and dad wanted to go to town yesterday. I told them I wanted to ride a horse instead, but they said I’m not big enough.”
“Well, I think you’re plenty big,” Weston tells him, offering a glance to the older couple. “If grandma and grandpa say it’s okay, that is.”
“I think it’d be just fine,” Hannah tells us.
“Well, Hailey and I have to go check on some fences—but I’ll make sure that one of the other cowboys in here gets you guys all squared up. We just popped in to drop off the raccoon, but we’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“I wanna check fences, too!” Drew squeals excitedly, practically jumping up and down at the idea.
“Sweetie, they have work to do,” Hannah tells him.
“But I wanna be a cowboy,” he pouts.
“We don’t wanna get in their way, bubs,” Victor chimes in.
“But I wanna be a cowboy!”
Drew throws the pancake down, a look of determination on his little face as he turns back to his grandparents.
“You guys are welcome to come—if you want, that is. It’s quite a bit of time in the saddle, though. You sure you’re down for some hard work?” Weston asks the kid.
“Yes!”
“It’s up to grandma and grandpa.”
“I mean, it does sound quite fun, if I’m being honest,” Hannah admits, turning to her husband.
“We can come back anytime you want,” I tell them. “We’ll stick to the areas closest to the ranch.”
The couple exchange a look, a silent conversation passing between the two of them.
“Well,” Hannah finally says. “Let’s do it then!”
We have the horses tacked up in no time, my eyes constantly drawing back to Weston as he teaches Drew basic horsemanship, giving him a boost into the saddle and showing him the reins.
It isn’t long before we’re walking through the back pasture, the mountains stretching ahead of us as the tall grass grazes our boots, the three guests quickly picking up on Weston’s patient tips.
“Granny, I want a horse for Christmas.”
“Where would you keep it, sweetie?”
“In the backyard, obviously. It can eat the grass, and then mommy won’t get mad at daddy for buying new lawnmowers all of the time.”
“You know, bud,” Weston chimes in, Lark keeping a steady pace as the group continues to advance. “Horses are atonof work. Sure, it’s fun to ride, but you spend almost just as much time taking care of them.”
“But being a cowboy would be so fun, and everyone at school would think I was so cool,” Drew argues.
Weston only chuckles, pulling off his hat and placing it on the young boy’s head, Drew’s face lighting up as he sinks into the cowboy hat.
