I wanted to spend some time sitting with Zeus.
As soon as I sat down in front of his stall, something weird happened. He pushed his head out of the stall and neighed at me.
For the first time since I started coming to the barn, I felt like we’d finally made progress. I wanted so badly to reach out and touch him, but I knew what it felt like to not want to be touched. So, I waited. I held my hand out just close enough for him to smell if he wanted. I looked down not making direct eye contact with him either, for fear that would intimidate him. After what felt like a few long seconds I felt the warm breath of his nostrils run up my fingers. When he pushed my hand with his nose, I knew he was giving me permission to touch him. Permission that I didn’t realize I’d been dying to have. This big, strong horse was giving me a chance for him to trust me. To know that I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. Maybe being around Beau Montgomery was good for everyone.
A balm to a withered soul.
Or maybe it was something about being back in this small town that was bringing me back to life. I chose to believe it was Beau. Maybe, just maybe he could bring me fully back to life too. For so long I’d been sitting in the darkness waiting for a beacon to shine its way through and maybe fate just looked down on me and finally said here you go. It’s time to shine. I wasn’t sure, but whatever the reason, I was grateful.
Maybe I’d been wrong being so forward with Cassidy Mae, but I was done waiting to tell her exactly how I felt. Sign me up for poker because I was all in with this girl. She had me wrapped around her cute little finger and I wasn’t going anywhere.
It was the first time she hadn’t flinched when I touched her. Lately, I’ve been all about progress and to me, I was finally going in the right direction with my Cass. She’d have time to come around to the idea of her and me. I knew that. My mind was set. I was going to win the girl and if anyone showed up for her, I’d set them straight. Cassidy Mae was my girl now and they could run back to whatever hole they crawled out of.
No one was awake yet and a nice big breakfast sounded good to me. I grabbed some stuff from the fridge and started getting pans together on the stove. Bacon, pancakes, and eggs for breakfast. I’d shot a text to the crew to let them know we’d be having breakfast at the house before the day started.
Everyone here was family. We worked, ate, and spent most of our day together. Reagan and I had lost our parents several years ago so these people were the only family we had left. Rhett, Jameson, Remington and I had all been friends for as long as I can remember. When I took over this farm, they were more than happy to come over and help me with the daily chores and eventually they just started coming every day and I started paying them. Simple as that. In a way, we were all rescues running from something or the other. Some of us the past, others just looking for a home.
The scents of breakfast filled the kitchen and I knew that soon everyone would be dragging their sleepy asses in.
“Dear brother, why on earth are you up so doggone early making breakfast? Have you lost your damn mind?”
“You hungry or not, Rea? I was hungry, felt like being generous, and made everyone else breakfast too.”
“Everyone, huh? Or Cassidy Mae?” She winked at me and started getting plates out of the cabinet. As she was doing that, I heard movement upstairs and not five seconds later did I see Cassidy Mae in a sleepy state start coming down the stairs.
Sleepers crusted the corner of her eyes and her hair wasn’t fully combed out yet, but she was the most beautiful I’d ever seen her. A small smile lifted the corners of her lips when she spotted me as she headed towards the kitchen table. Not too long after Cassidy Mae and Reagan found their seats at the table did everyone else come stomping through the front door.
“Howdy y’all,” came from Rhett and a mumbled morning crossed the lips of Remington and Jameson. As soon as Faith came in the tension in the room was alive and well. Remy and Faith weren’t making eye contact. Not even to harass and demean each other, which was far from their norm. I often wondered when they’d finally get their shit together and admit to their feelings for each other. Then again, I was my own pot calling the kettle black.
“Who’s hungry,” I said as I brought hot pads and food to the table. The conversations around me were familiar. Rhett and Jameson razzing each other. Faith and Remy ignoring each other. Cassidy Mae eating quietly and then Reagan Harper looking at me with a goofy grin. My sister was too damn good at reading me. I was taking care of my girl and if bringing everyone in made her feel not so on the spot, then so be it.
As we dug into our meal, the noise around the table disappeared and was replaced by happy chewing.
“Thanks for making us breakfast, Beau.” Cassidy Mae leaned over and whispered to me. A whiff of peonies and sugar hits my nose and I want to bottle that smell forever. It was one I’d never ever get enough of.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” I whispered back with a wink. She shook her head and I was graced with the prettiest little smile I’d ever seen. I was getting to her. Slowly crashing down all
