Page 7

CHAPTER 7

Reba

Bruised, sore and defeated, I was sitting in the passenger seat of Johnny’s pickup with Jax in the back and my ornery horses in the trailer. Yes, I was now claiming them as my own because when you get your ass kicked by a wild horse, you get to. At least in my mind, I did. Heading back to Mac’s ranch hadn’t been in my plans, but neither was Johnny’s insistence that he wasn’t leaving without me. Honestly, it was Jax who’d convinced me it was time to leave Rawhide Ranch. He was visibly upset when we came back from the infirmary over me getting hurt and he had that same stubborn streak as his father. Serenity Stables had been my home base for years and it was clear with a cracked rib I was going to need to take it easy for a while. After a few days of rest at Rawhide, Doc Nelson had finally given me approval to travel. That and a miraculous group of ranchers led by Derek, Jagger, and Rooster to help load my most difficult horse and a bunch of painkillers provided by Nurse MacIntosh at the infirmary, we were on the road.

I stared out the window as we pulled up to the massive sign announcing we were at Mac’s ranch. The truck bumping over the dirt road hurt like hell, but the sight of dust kicking up around us and the rolling green pastures gave me a sense of comfort that I’d missed.

“We’re home!” Jax exclaimed from the back seat.

“Yeah, buddy, we are.”

Johnny’s smile almost did me in. The look on his face every time Jax got excited about something was one of those things I hated to admit I lived for.

“Ms. Reba, you are staying with us, right?”

“No, buddy. I’ll stay in the guest house.”

“But who will take care of you?”

I gave him a comforting look and tried to stifle my laugh. “Me. I can take care of myself, bud. I’m not hurt that bad.”

“But Papa said you were.”

I shot a look over at Johnny, and he shrugged.

“The guest house is full. I had Heidi come by and clean up one of our extra rooms. The boy is right. You’re staying with us.”

As Johnny’s truck rumbled up the long gravel driveway, I folded my arms and sank deeper into my seat, pretending like I wasn’t irritated. The wide-open land stretched before us, leading up to the ranch house I knew too damn well. The porch light cast a familiar glow, the silhouette of one of the barns visible just beyond it. I’d always loved this place. Even when I didn’t want to. But what I didn’t love was Johnny’s insistence that I stay here.

“I could stay in the bunkhouse if the guest house is full,” I muttered, side-eyeing him as he downshifted and eased the truck to a stop.

Johnny cut the engine and turned to me, giving me that stubborn look of his. “You’re still recovering, Reba. You need space to rest, and the bunkhouse is full of rowdy hands who don’t know how to be quiet.”

“I’m fine, and I can handle a little noise.”

“Uh-huh.” He arched a brow. “That right? Because last I checked, fine people don’t walk around slouched over holding their side.”

I scowled, but before I could throw a retort back, Jax unbuckled his seatbelt and wedged himself between us, practically vibrating with excitement. “We’re home!” he said, grinning up at me. “And now I get to help take care of you, Ms. Reba!”

Damn it, how was I supposed to argue with that?

“You don’t have to take care of me, buddy. Like I said, I can take care of myself,” I tried, but Jax wasn’t hearing it.

Johnny, of course, looked smug as hell. “Told ya.”

I rolled my eyes as Jax flung open his door and hopped out, taking off toward the house like he’d never been so happy to see a front porch in his life. He had been gone for a while, so I got it. A kid likes to have their own toys, familiar surroundings and he would never admit it but his regular school routine as well. I went to unbuckle myself, but before I could move, Johnny was already around to my side of the truck, opening my door with that infuriatingly patient expression.

“You gonna let me help you out, or are you gonna be stubborn about it?”

“I can get out of a damn truck by myself.”

“Didn’t say you couldn’t. Just said I figured you shouldn't.” He held out a hand, waiting, daring me to refuse.

I wanted to. Oh, I wanted to. But my ribs still ached like hell, and my ankle was sore from where I’d hit the ground. The last thing I needed was to screw myself up worse just to prove a point. With a huff, I placed my hand in his, ignoring the warmth that shot up my arm at the contact. His grip was firm but careful, like he knew I’d rather eat dirt than admit I needed the help. The second my boots hit the dirt, I let go, but not before I caught the satisfied twitch of his lips. Smug bastard.

Jax was already up on the porch, calling back, “I’m gonna get Ms. Reba some extra pillows and a blanket! She needs to be comfortable!”

I shook my head, even as a small smile tugged at my lips. “You got a whole nurse on staff here, huh?”

Johnny chuckled. “Kid takes his job seriously.”

His voice was softer when he said it, something unreadable in his tone. I ignored the way it made my stomach flip and instead turned toward the trailer.

“We should get the horses unloaded before your little nurse starts bossing me around.”

Johnny nodded, and we walked to the back of the trailer, the sounds of shifting hooves meeting us as he unlatched the doors. The horses were restless from the last leg of our drive, ears flicking back and forth, muscles tense. They had been this way every time we unloaded them and loaded them back up. The only good thing we had going for us was they were pretty used to the routine by now. Traveling as much as Johnny and I had over the years we made plenty of friends all across the country who were willing to let us stay a night or two along the way. It made traveling with horses much easier, not as easy as traveling without any, but having a destination to work toward each day and a place to turn out our animals really brought us both peace of mind.

I stepped to the side and ran my palm down the brown mare’s neck, murmuring softly. “Easy, girl. You’re home now.”

“Step back, Reba. I don’t want you getting hurt again. I’ll release them here and we can walk them to the far pasture in the morning.”

Johnny moved with that steady, practiced ease of his, taking the lead rope of the first horse and guiding her down the ramp. He worked in a quiet rhythm, moving the horses one by one into the pasture closest to the house. I observed as they shook off the last of their nerves and settled in. Leaning against the fence, I exhaled slowly, watching the animals stretch their legs. It was always my favorite part, that moment they realized they were safe.

“You did good with them.”

I glanced at him. “I always do.”

His lips quirked, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he reached up and tipped his hat back, his gaze lingering on me longer than I was comfortable with.

“C’mon,” he finally said. “Let’s get you inside before Jax builds a whole damn recovery station in my living room.”

I wanted to protest, but I was too damn tired. And maybe, just maybe, a small part of me didn’t mind the idea of staying here for a little while.

Jax was already waiting for us at the front door, practically bouncing on his heels as he swung it open. “C’mon, Ms. Reba! I gotta show you everything!”

I barely had time to brace myself before he grabbed my hand and tugged me inside. I cast a glance over my shoulder at Johnny, who was grinning like he’d won some kind of battle.

“Your son is persistent,” I muttered as I let Jax drag me down the hallway.

“He gets it from the best.”

Jax led me through the house with the enthusiasm of a kid showing off a new toy. First was the cozy living room, where a massive couch faced the fireplace, the mantle lined with pictures, mostly of Jax, a few of Johnny and Mac when they were younger and in the service together. There was an old rodeo picture. Johnny, mid-ride, determination in his eyes, dirt kicking up beneath the hooves of a bull. I’d seen him like that a thousand times before, back when we were just kids chasing adrenaline and competition and right next to it was a picture of me and him, laughing at the camera without a care in the world. Then one that caught my eye more than the others. There I was with Jax on my hip, smiling as he squeezed my neck with his little arms. I remembered that moment like it was yesterday. Johnny was competing and his mom and I were looking after Jax. Johnny got thrown from a bull that night, which was terrible. But I’d almost forgotten about all that. My memories of that day were just the joys of spending time with Jax. He was an amazing kid still to this day.

“Daddy used to do rodeo,” Jax announced proudly.

I smirked. “Yeah, I know. I was usually there. You were probably too young to remember, though.”

Jax blinked up at me. “You were a rodeo person?”

Johnny’s voice came from behind us, low and amused. “She was one of the best rodeo stars there was, bud, and an outstanding babysitter to boot.”

I turned, watching as he set my bags down by the door, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made my stomach flip.

Jax’s eyes widened. “Whoa. You rodeo’d too?”

“I did.” I nudged his shoulder. “Maybe I’ll tell you some stories one day.”

“I remember you babysitting me, Ms. Reba, but I didn’t know you rodeo’d too.”

The kid beamed like I’d just rocked his world.

“Yup, girls rodeo too.”

“What did you do? Were you a barrel racer?”

His excitement was palpable, but it was late and I knew he’d get too worked up if hearing stories like that tonight. Apparently, so did Johnny.

“Alright, tour guide,” Johnny said, ruffling Jax’s hair as he passed. “Why don’t you show her the rest while I get dinner going?”

Jax didn’t need to be told twice. He dragged me to his room, showing me every toy, every drawing, every little thing he thought was important. It was endearing, really. The kid had a good heart. I’d spent time with him here, but never in the house. It had felt too intimate to come inside, so when I’d watched him, we spent the time running around the ranch and causing trouble, taking care of animals and even helping in the kitchens. Being back here now with him a few years older, and much wiser, made me miss it all even more.

By the time we made it back to the kitchen, Johnny had a cutting board out, working a knife through some vegetables with ease. The smell of something rich and hearty filled the air, and my stomach grumbled before I could stop it.

Johnny smirked. “Hope you’re hungry.”

I leaned against the counter, watching him. “You cook now?”

“I’ve always known how to cook.”

I snorted. “Bull. You lived off gas-station food and whatever Mac grilled back in the day.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Things change. I’ve got a growing boy to take care of.”

That right there, those first two words, followed up by the love of his son, hit a little harder than they should have. Things change. Maybe they did. But some things, some people, were hard to forget. Jax chattered beside me while Johnny worked, and before long, he set a plate in front of me: steak, roasted potatoes, green beans. My kind of meal. Dinner was easy, filled with Jax’s stories, Johnny’s deep chuckles, and my reluctant amusement. It felt nice. Maybe a little too nice. A bit like this was how things were always meant to be.

After we finished, we tackled Jax’s bedtime routine together, which felt dangerously domestic in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I monitored him brushing his teeth while Johnny tidied up his room, and when Jax climbed into bed, he grabbed my hand before I could move away.

“You’re staying, right?”

My throat tightened.

“Just for a little while,” I whispered.

Jax yawned and settled deeper into his blankets, seemingly satisfied with that answer. Johnny flicked off the lamp, and we both stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind us. Then it was just us. The house was quiet now, the only sound was the faint hum of the wind outside. Johnny didn’t say a word as he led me toward the room where I’d be staying. He opened the door, stepping aside so I could enter first. I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to go in, but because Johnny was so damn close, and I could feel the heat of his body, smell the scent of leather and cedar and something uniquely him.

“Need help getting up onto the bed?” His voice was lower now, rougher.

“I can handle it. I’m going to take a quick shower and get some sleep. We all had a long day.”

“Mm.” He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he just watched as I opened the bags he moved into the room for me. The mattress was firm, the blankets soft, and my body instantly protested the idea of a shower, hoping to just crawl into bed instead. Johnny lingered in the doorway, one hand braced against the frame. His gaze swept over me, slow and considering.

“You good?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He didn’t move right away. He just stood there, watching me like he was thinking something he wouldn’t say.

Then, finally, he exhaled and pushed off the doorframe.

“Get some rest, Reba.” His voice was softer now, almost careful.

I didn’t say anything as he stepped out and pulled the door partially shut behind him. But as I stood, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just crossed some invisible line. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back.