Page 29 of His Wilde Little (Saddle Up #2)

On the morning of Thanksgiving, I got a phone call from my mom, it was quick, lasted less than a minute.

She’d called to wish me a happy Thanksgiving , and with my father in the background yelling ditto .

It was standard for them, I never expected even a call, or a second though from them, but to know they still had my number and reached out made me realize I was thankful for that.

But today, most importantly, I was thankful for this family that had welcomed me in, obviously, they’d done so for a job, but when Jace announced our relationship to them, they embraced me as a member of their family.

Thanksgiving morning was full of festivity, all the family were working and helping with the animals, or sitting by and gesturing at things that needed to be done. It was the first time I’d seen Max away from his phone and actually smiling as he chased chickens around.

“He’s only like this around the holidays,” Jace said as we were the ones busy picking the eggs from the coop. “I think it’s more to do with no school, and maybe some good advertising.”

“Yeah,” I said, a big smile on my face nobody could wipe away. “And it’s nice to see someone else milking the goats.”

In the corner of the barn, Olivia and Martha were both in competition with each other about who could get the most milk, while Diane was approaching from the house carrying a large tray of cups. Steam swirling up around them into the cold air.

“Oh, what’s that?” Tom asked, pulling himself away from the small bench against the side of the barn.

“Hot chocolates,” Diane announced. “Marshmallows are in this cup.” She gestured with a nod. “I’m so excited I get to be here with you all. That’s what I’m thankful.”

“And we’re all thankful you’re here as well,” my mom said, turning to Olivia. “Let’s put a pause on this, maybe the heat from the cups will make my hands all nice and warm for the goats.”

“They should all be very hot,” Diane added as we placed our baskets down. “And there is sugar in the pot too, I didn’t know how sweet you all wanted it.”

Max ran up, out of breath from chasing the chickens. “I want a lot of sugar,” he said. “One is for me right?”

I did a quick count. There were eight of them. That was one extra, unless there was someone else joining that I hadn’t been told about—nor would I, I was still a guest in their actual home.

“Oh, well, there is an additional one, I miscounted,” she said, having done the math herself. “I was just gathering mugs and eight was a nice, even number.” She forced Tom aside to place the tray on the bench.

As we all took a very early morning break, Jace decided to tap a spoon against the side of his mug and stand in front of everyone. I didn’t know what he was about to do, or say, and I wasn’t sure if I needed to be scared.

“Go on then,” his mom said.

“I just wanted to take this moment to say how grateful, and thankful I am for everyone being around today,” he said.

“I also want to say that I will not be reciprocating it by coming to the factory. I’m sorry, Diane, I don’t want to deal with the smell.

But I am making a dessert for Thanksgiving dinner, so there’s a bonus. ”

Diane chuckled. “Don’t worry about that, I’m happy to be around helping, and nobody has to come to the factory, even the kids when they come on those school trips hate it. I think it’s an acquired smell.”

Jace’s nose wrinkled as he winced, and I didn’t blame him, the milk and cheese production factory was not easy on the nose at all, but it was nice on the mouth.

His mom led the applause. “And we’re thankful for you, putting in all the hard work, and you too, Lolo, we’re not forgetting you.”

“I’m also thankful for you, Lolo,” Olivia said, raising her cup of hot cocoa. “In fact, I wasn’t going to share this until later, but we’ve had interest from an investor to help us set up the riding school and build out what we’ve already got going on.”

Tom applauded. “They’re going to be inspecting the grounds after the new year, so there’s no rush, but things seem pretty positive.”

It was good news for me and for the horses.

And of course, the relationship blooming with Jace.

That’s the best news of all. It was going to be a little bit of a change because most of the work I did wasn’t teaching people to ride horses, it was more about training horses, and wrangling cattle.

I hadn’t even been able to show off any of my lassoing skills while I’d been here, and that was a crying shame.

“And I take it that means Lorenzo is still in with a job once the contract is done, and we’re still staying in the guesthouse, our house now,” Jace said.

“We’ll have to speak about that,” Tom said, nodding at me.

I wondered if they were going to try and get me to go without a paycheck because I was with Jace, and they saw me as part of the family.

I was definitely an expense I knew they’d be hoping to cut, but as long as I got a place to stay, food in my belly, and to work with horses, I didn’t have room to complain. “Of course.”

“Probably more money coming your way,” he added, shattering my thoughts. “Since it’s partly your reputation as to why we’ve got some of these investors interested.”

Olivia scowled at her father, sipping on her cocoa. Either she didn’t want me to know that, or she’d burned her tongue on the scorching hot liquid in her mug.

After the drinks warmed our bellies, we went back to work, collecting milk, eggs, and making sure all the animals had food around and fresh bedding with all the different organic materials they used to sleep on.

Most of the family headed back to the house to work on dinner.

Jace went back to our place where he was working on a dessert, and I went to the horses at their field with a fresh bag of apples.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” I told them. “You’ve all been good, and I’m thankful for that.

” I mused aloud, going inside the field through the gate.

“I wonder what you’re all thankful for. I hope I’m on that list. I can’t take credit for the medicines they vets gave us, but I can take credit for all the love.

” I gave Bramble a rub down her nose as she was sniffing to investigate the bag in my hand.

“Ok, ok, you want a treat. I know, I know.”

Horses were more like my family than the people I’d grown up around.

The holidays always brought about this strange guilt that started in my chest and settled in my stomach, it was like heartburn.

Every Thanksgiving, I’d been thankful for the work I was given that year, I was thankful for the horses I worked with, and I was thankful for a full belly or whatever I’d whipped up on the stovetop.

It was usually some type of chili with cornbread.

Giving out the last apple, I walked by one of the trees and sat by the base of the trunk.

Ashwind came and laid right beside me. The other three followed him, sitting down around me and the tree.

This was the best indicator of trust in me, they knew I cared for them, and in a way, they cared about me.

I stayed with them for an hour, letting thoughts fill my mind, some of the negatives trying to beat out the positive ones.

It didn’t last long though, I’d grown up with self-doubt and negative talk, I could combat them just as much.

My life wasn’t perfect, and I had to remind myself that I wasn’t trying to be perfect, I was just trying to be me.

Back at the house, Jace was rushing around the kitchen, stirring pots on the hob and then squatting to look inside the oven in quick succession.

I stood in the doorway, inhaling the sweet caramel scent in the air and getting a rumble from my belly.

It took him a moment to notice I was there, and he almost jumped right out of his skin when he saw me.

“Jeez, I told you this was supposed to be a surprise,” he said.

Placing a hand over my eyes, I hadn’t seen anything that gave it away. “I didn’t spoil anything, but it smells amazing,” I told him, turning around.

Jace gave my ass a spank. “We’re supposed to be over at there in an hour, so you’re back just in time for a shower.”

“Hey,” I grumbled. “I’m supposed to be the one reminding you about showers. And I only want to take one if you’re there with me. Who else is going to wash my back for me?”

He gave my ass another spank and giggled. “Me,” he said. “Let me pull these out of the oven, finish this off, and I’ll be there.”

“Ok, I’ll go pick out a nice shirt then,” I told him. It was kinda lucky I hadn’t brought much with me when I moved, mostly because I didn’t own too many clothes, but now even more so since Jace’s clothes overtook the wardrobe and dresser, granted, he needed the space for all his onesies.

I loved going through Jace’s clothes, just seeing all the sides to him I was yet to explore.

He had cropped t-shirts I couldn’t imagine him in, mostly because I only either saw him in those tight shirts, a onesie, or completely naked.

The shirts had slogans on them like ‘Baby Boy’ and ‘ Sugar Baby ’, or which only one of them was true, because I was no Sugar Daddy.

“I can’t wear those,” he said, coming up beside me.

“I think they’re fun,” I told him.

“One year, I got into DIY clothes. Have you got to the tie-dye stuff yet?”

“I did see something colorful. So, you made these then?”

He nodded, taking my arm and cuddling up against me. “Yep, although I never wear them anymore. I can’t exactly wear them in the house, and I definitely don’t get enough time off to go out and wear them.”

“I promise to make sure you’ll have more time to wear stuff like this,” I whispered to him and gave him a kiss on his forehead. “But right now, we need to go shower and make sure we smell nice for dinner.”

He grumbled, pressing his face into my shoulder and groaning. “I want it to be the two of us,” he whispered back. “I’m thankful for my family, but I kinda just want to be thankful from a distance.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, baby, but we’re going to get that time alone next week,” I said, giving his forehead another kiss. “But until then, we’re going to put on a big smile, enjoy the dinner with your family, and surprise them with dessert.”

“I can already hear the arguments,” he whispered and sighed. “But you’re right, at least we get to come back here after.”

“And speaking of desserts, are you going to tell me?”

He laughed. “No way, not until dessert time. You won’t be disappointed.”

“Come on, tell me.”

“Nope.” He giggled and ran off into the bathroom. “Come on, or we’re gonna be late.”

Following him into the bathroom, I needed to know what those desserts were. He was keeping them close to his chest, all secretive, and as much as I loved a secret, I wanted to know his. But I’d find out soon enough, and it was only dessert, but it was still a secret.

This was our first meal with the family as a couple. The outing of the relationship doesn’t count because they didn’t know, and we kinda dominated the conversation for a short while as everyone had questions about what was going to happen. I hoped the conversation wouldn’t still be about that.

We got dressed in nice, clean clothes. I wore a deep red cranberry shirt paired with my gold bolo tie and Jace wore a complimenting navy shirt.

He said he’d wanted to wear cream but knew he’d spill gravy on himself and was planning ahead.

It was smart, and reminded me I would need to fix a napkin to him collar acting like a bib which I knew he’d enjoy.

I still wasn’t able to get a look in at the desserts as he carried them both over large round cake boxes that were florally decorated to obscure people peeking inside. I’d smelled caramel, but the more I asked him, and the more I recalled the smell, the less sure I was about what it could’ve been.

“You’re gonna love it,” he said as we headed up the porch to his family’s home.

“How do I look?” I asked him, straightening the strings of the tie out.

“Good enough to eat.”

“Likewise, baby.”

Kissing on the stoop, the door opened and Diane’s grinning face stared at us. “Come on,” she said. “You’re letting all the cold air inside.”

My first Thanksgiving in such a long time, I almost didn’t know how to act.