Page 56 of The Inevitable Us

“Yes, come look.” He pulls me into his lap. “His name is José Jalapeno.”

We sit together sharing the office chair and watch clip after clip until my eyes grow heavy.

Thefollowingday,Iwake up in bed with Sawyer asleep next to me. He must have carried me upstairs. Dressing quickly, I get ready for my first shift as an employee of Small Paws Ranch.

“I know Taylee told you to put hay down here,” Kylie, the animal caretaker tells me, “but that’s really just some extra oat hay that we give them. There’s a large hay manger over here for Timothy hay.”

Kylie has blonde hair that’s almost white that she wears in braids, and kind brown eyes. She’s a student at the university as well. She attends part-time evenings when I take my shifts with the animals.

Kylie’s braid flops into her face when she leans down to open the metal fence to the newly constructed rabbit “hutch.” It’s a large metal enclosure with a panel door. Inside is a series of small dog house looking buildings painted in soft pinks and purples and one large hutch that resembles a child’s playhouse. Doors were replaced with wooden ramps leading down to the ground.

Kylie brings me to a large metal frame that’s mounted against the back wall of the hutch. “This has to be full because it’s ninety-five percent of their diet. Taylee prefers the smell of the other hay to the timothy hay.”

“Rich will fill the water for you since it’s heavy. And he’ll leave a pail of pellets down for you to feed the rabbits. Other than the dogs, I think that’s it?”

“Yep, I think that’s the last animal,” I confirm, looking down at the list. There are so many animals and so many different steps that I’ve jotted down careful notes to make sure no one and nothing is forgotten. An elderly goat that has to be fed separately, don’t approach Steve-O from the left…the list was endless. Taylee thinks it takes an hour. Ha!

We fill up the hay manger together, then walk back to the enclosure door. “You have my number. Text over any questions. I still don’t understand why Taylee wants this many people for just the dogs she’s bringing! We tried to explain to her the stolen dog wasn’t well…” she gestures towards Eddie, a one-eared dog of questionable parentage that had once been a bait dog. I got the point. No one’s going to steal Eddie.

“They’re her family,” I sigh at her. “The animals are all she has if you think about it.”

Kylie rolls her eyes heavenly, “She has good intentions. Maybe she’ll keep you on when we’re back? I need another set of hands with the addition of the rabbits. Would you be interested?”

I stop for a moment and think about it. It actually sounds like fun. “Sure,” I confirm. “That would be nice because I’ll be here at the ranch more often.”

I turn to see Sawyer walking up to us at a clipped pace. “Baby Girl, where ya been? Looked all over the ranch for you.”

Kylie laughs. “Looks like your man was worried!”

“I don’t know why. My car is right there, and I’m with you.” I shake my head at her as she waves goodbye to me. Kylie walks back to the barn to finish up the last of her tasks for the day before I turn back to Sawyer.

“You probably couldn’t see me behind the rabbit hutch,” I say. “I was there for quite a bit.”

He scowls as he walks up, wraps his hands around my waist, and leans in for a kiss. He presses his lips softly to mine. “Last night together. I need all of you I can get,” he growls.

My face warms, “You have been insatiable lately!”

“Can’t ever get enough of you,” he mutters into my hair, holding me close.

I laugh, “So I’m free now. What are we up to our last night?”

“Oh, I have coupla ideas,” he hints with a laugh in his throat. “Wanna go see a movie together? And a nice dinner out? I’ve never taken you on a real date. Well, unless the shooting range counts.”

We’ve spent a lot of time one-on-one getting to know one another without the barriers our “before” life had put up. After years of Sawyer keeping so much of himself away from me, it’s nice to finally get to know him in a different way. A night out with Sawyer does sound nice. “Can I pick the movie?” I ask with a big grin.

He looks at me with a playful but pained expression. “I was hoping you’d want to see the new comedy with Will Ferrell,” he confesses with a wince. “But if you want to see….”

A large smile finds my face. “I was going to suggest the same one.”

AftersupperatanIndian buffet, we park at the movie theater. Sawyer slings his arm around my shoulder, draping his hand low. “Back middle row?” he asks. He doesn’t have to ask. He’s gone to the movies with us ten thousand times, and each time we’ve gone to the back middle row.

“Yep. Grab popcorn while I run to the restroom?” I ask, looking up at him.

He moves his hand and starts to walk to the concession stand. “Sure, extra butter?”

“And a large coke!” I tell him.

“And a large coke to split,” he confirms.

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