Page 17 of His Wilde Little (Saddle Up #2)

My face rushed red, I knew it. I didn’t receive compliments well. “It’s all for you,” I reminded him. “Nobody else. Don’t forget that.”

“Ok, Daddy,” he said, giggling to himself. “I best go tend to the alpacas then before the—” he puffed out his cheeks.

“The what?”

“The horses.”

“Well, you’re not going to get onto the backs of any of them just yet, maybe this afternoon after we’ve been into town,” I reminded him. Although, I didn’t need reminding about it. I had the perfect little plan, and I was desperate to make it happen.

He nodded, and before he could scoot off, he turned back with a furrowed brow. “But you’re not allowed to buy any bread when we’re in town,” he said, nodding to himself. “The only bread you’ll be eating is mine.”

I gave him a two-finger salute. “The only buns I ever want my face between are yours.” And I meant it, not only was his ass so round and firm, but the way he’d been squatting on his small step stool for most of his life had created one of the nicest asses I’d ever touched, let alone had the pleasure of parting to reveal the glory between.

The goat bleated, reminding me it was in need of milking.

I would’ve happily handed this off to Jace because I knew how good his hands were as well, but that meant I would’ve been tending to the alpacas, and I did not want to be spit at.

There were a time and a place for spitting, and none of that was out in the cold field with two giraffe sheep.

I couldn’t get him out of my mind, or off my tongue.

He’d intoxicated me with all his charm, and it started from that sass on the first day we’d met.

Forcing me to see his pride enamel pins and probably wondering why I wasn’t screaming bloody murder at them like a vampire being shown a crucifix.

Chuckling back and going a little too heavy with the hands on the goat, I got another earful of bleats, followed by one of the large Maine coon barn cats coming up beside me like a small lion, brushing up against me without making a sound.

“I don’t know why Jace thinks horses are bad when there’s two of you roaming around with your sharp claws and whatnots,” I said as the cat passed by and walked to the open barn door, sitting and watching the gray clouds roll in overhead.

“I know you’re not all that bad,” I continued as if the cats were listening to me talk.

“There were cats at some of the ranches I worked at before, usually these tiny sick looking things abandoned by the side of the road. You’ll be glad to know I always took them up to the main house, and someone there would take them to a shelter. So, I’m not against cats.”

A slight laugh startled me. “Talking to yourself?” Martha asked as she walked into the barn. “I got a text from Jace earlier, saying you’d be taking the van into town.”

“I find talking to animals helps them feel easy around me,” I said, letting one of the goats off the milking stand and another appeared at my side, ready to gnaw at my trousers for attention. “But we’ll probably just take my car.”

She nodded. “Has he been acting strange lately?”

“Not that I know of,” I countered immediately.

“I only say that because the coffee pot hasn’t been used, and there’s been no oven activity, and they’re both usually warm when I get up from his morning antics,” she said, cocking a hand on her hip and another tapping away on her chin.

“I can’t say any of his behavior has ever been predictable, you know, he goes through stages.

I just wonder what stage he’s in right now. ”

As I milked another goat, I was intrigued by the idea of stages, especially since I didn’t know how open he was about his little space with his family. “Any particular stages that stand out?”

She chuckled. “One winter, he would refuse to leave the barn. He wanted to be around the animals with the rough weather to keep them calm,” she said.

“I think it worked. This was before the alpacas. Now, they’re another story altogether.

I can’t recall when he started asking for them, but it had been years, and then when we did get two, he said they were social animals and needed more for the herd.

” She scoffed. “A herd. His dad was already having all his back problems then as well, so the idea of a herd was out of the question.”

Jace deserved a herd of alpacas, although I didn’t dare think of all the shenanigans he’d get up to with them. Siege the ranch and take it over, at least that’s what I was led to believe from how he spoke about his plans for this place.

“He’s got a lot of ideas,” I said.

Martha nodded in agreement and a big smile. “I’m also just glad he’d getting along with you. He doesn’t take well to knew people, especially people coming in and doing his job alongside him.”

“I think we got over whatever was troubling him about that,” I said, reflecting that big smile energy back to her. “And I’m going to get him to ride one of the horses today. Don’t tell him I told you; I don’t want to make it a big deal.”

“That’s a huge deal,” she said. “Anyway, the other reason I came by was to tell you to stop by the house before you head into town. I have some things I’d like picked up, if you don’t mind. And I’ll add to it that we should get Jace something for overcoming his fear of horses.”

I couldn’t tell her I was already on step ahead, but I was. “I will do.”

“Ok, good luck with it, and good luck with those goats. Remember not to squeeze too tight,” she said. “They won’t try and bite you afterwards.” Martha left with a light chuckle travelling on the wind.

The cat looked back at me when she left, walked over, and slumped down at my side.