"I know it's a lot to consider, baby, but if we lived here, you could do what you love and it's only an hour commute for me. I can take Meggie with me to Richmond and she can attend that special school we talked about. She’d also be close to her doctors, and Mom’s in town to help as well.
"Meanwhile, we could put Terry in the public school here, which is a lot smaller than the school he'd go to in Richmond. Hell, we'd have to put him in a private school there to ensure he stayed out of trouble, but if we lived here, he could go to school and you'd be nearby if he needed anything. When he gets home from school, you could put him to work with you at the barn. It would give him something to focus on, and then he could still have his hobbies. We can hire Ursula to work here to cook and clean, and we'd all be together.
"I'm not asking for a decision yet, okay? Just think it over. Mom wants to talk to you about it tomorrow while you all go for a ride. Pop and I are going to have a conference call with that couple and opposing counsel he was talking about earlier. He says you gave him an idea he wants to float by them and I said I'd sit in with him. Just please, don't say no yet. Think about it," Jon finished before he leaned forward and kissed Mickey, biting his top lip before he pulled back with a smirk.
Yes, Mickey was overwhelmed with the offer. And, yes, he was worried about leaving the familiar territory of Holloway because he'd come to think of the place as his home. He’d be leaving people he loved as the family he never had, and that was a lot to consider. But…having Jon and the kids…his new family…with him every day, along with managing a top-notch operation like Ally Wells was offering? It was a once in a lifetime offer he'd never really expected. Mickey Warren had a lot of thinking to do.
Little feet running to the bathroom across the hall woke Mickey from his peaceful sleep with Jon in his arms, so he hopped up from the bed and pulled on boxers and a pair of shorts along with a t-shirt. He quietly slipped into the bathroom in Jon's room and did his morning business before he let himself out of the bedroom and waited patiently outside the bathroom door for Megan to finish.
Once he heard the flush, he knocked on the door. "Little Bit? It's Mick. You okay?" he asked.
She opened the door and pushed her hair back off her face. "I can't reach the water to wash my hands," she whispered.
Mickey picked her up and helped her wash her hands before he set her on the counter. "How'd ya sleep?" he asked her, seeing her continuing to fuss with her wild curls.
He quickly pushed it behind her ears as he wrung out the washcloth he'd warmed to wash the sleepiness from her little face. She looked like a princess to him in her purple pajama set.
"So good. Nana said we can paint my room here if I want. She's gonna buy me new bed stuff. We're gonna look on the 'puter after breakfast. How'd you and Jon sleep?" she asked kindly.
Mickey knew he couldn't tell her that after he and Jon made love he hadn't slept at all. Too many things were rolling around his head and he couldn't calm his mind enough to drift off for more than a few minutes at a time. It was going to be a long day.
"Uh, we slept okay. You like your room here?" he asked. Mickey knew which room she was sleeping in, but he hadn't really looked at it when they went to bed because there was only the dim light from a nightlight Ally had left on for the little girl.
"Oh, come see it. It's like a princess’ room…bigger than my room at home with Jon. The bed's fluffy and there are lots of pillows," she bragged as she reached for Mickey.
He picked her up and carried her across the hallway to her room, looking around. It was a nice room. It was painted a pale rose color, and the furnishings were covered with various floral and striped prints. There was a pillow-lined, window seat with a beautiful view over the back fields. It was a beautiful vista, in Mickey’s opinion.
The four-poster bed was a double, just like the one in her bedroom at Jon’s condo, but it was on a higher frame. There was even a small set of steps at the side to aid the girl in getting into the bed. It did look like a princess’ room. He hopped up on the bed and bounced a little, bringing giggles from Megan. "Feels pretty cozy. So, you'd want to paint it purple?" he asked with a smile.
She looked around the room and then at the comforter folded neatly on the bench at the end of the bed. "Maybe it's too pretty to paint purple. It's pretty like it is, right? You like it?" she asked as she snuggled up to him.
They both heard Jon laugh. "I guarantee you, Nana Ally would paint this room gold if you wanted it, Angel. Should we go downstairs to see what smells so good?"
Megan stood on the bed and took Mickey's hand, allowing him to help her down the stairs. She turned to both of them with a beaming smile, and Mickey was finding it hard not to just throw up his hands into the air in surrender. There was a lot to consider, but he could see Megan would be perfectly happy ensconced at the Wells' horse farm. That was one less thing about which to worry.
When Mickey pulled up to the barn at the Circle C and turned off the motor on the crew cab, he was actually surprised he'd made it home because he hadn't really paid too much attention to getting there. He'd been on autopilot since Jon had spoken to him on Friday night about moving to Dillwyn and running Allison's operation. The trail ride they'd taken around the property that morning was like a guided tour from a real estate agent…hard sell included.
"This is another hay field we rotate. This year, we got three good cuttings off it, two horse cuttings, one for cattle. The last cutting, we square bale for a pumpkin farm for their Fall Festival Maze so it doesn't just sit around and go to waste.
"As I'm sure you've noticed we use bedding pellets instead of sawdust or straw in the barn stalls. It's more biodegradable and friendlier to the pastures. I only cut hay on half the land. I rent the other two hundred acres to a cattle farmer who lives on the other side. Andy Edwards and his wife Michele are a little older than Jon, and they have two kids. Penny is seven, and AJ is eleven, I think.
"They're very nice people, and I think AJ and Terry would get along very well. They’d ride the same bus, and it would be nice for Terry to have a boy near his own age to befriend. Hell, AJ might even be older than eleven and could very well be would be in Terry's grade.
"Anyway, AJ rides the fences for me on their side of the pasture, but if all of you lived here, you could make that a chore for Terry to join him. Of course, I'd pay him like I pay AJ," Ally explained as they rode behind Meg and Terry who seemed to be having their own conversation.
Mickey sighed. "What about the breedin' program here?" he asked.
He actually saw Allison Wells gush. "Oh, I have a feeling you and I will get along well regarding the horses. See, I want…" she began to explain her philosophy regarding her horses. She wanted to breed quality animals, train them to lead and be social, and then sell them to top-notch farms in horse country for them to take over the specialized training themselves. She was looking forward to the Ebony Prince Charles foals because they would be her first test of her choices of mares. Building the stock was her primary concern, and as she explained it to Mickey, he couldn't help but long to be a part of it.
She continued with a tender smile, "I already have some of my former competitors interested in looking at the foals when they're born. I believe we could really make a name for the farm, Mickey. I believe we have similar feelings regarding the care and feeding of livestock and having you care for things here at the farm will make Ham so much happier than the current set up. Ham wants Clyde gone as soon as possible," Allison told him.
"Yeah, Jonny told me a little about Clyde. Where is he, by the way?"
"I gave him a week's vacation. I think he's in New York. Anyway, I think maybe we should turn back after we get to the next fork. I'll show you this really great little meadow where I can see Meggie running through all these wildflowers. There's even a little creek there where I stop to let the horses drink or wade myself if it's a hot day. Ham and I've snuck down there for picnics when I can get him on a horse," she offered with a tender smile.
> The knock on the window brought Mickey out of his daydreaming. He smiled at Danny standing there with a puzzled look. "Hey. How was the weekend? Any word from Matt or Tim?" Mickey asked as he opened the door before he turned off the truck and hopped out.
"They called on Saturday to say they're all havin' a great time and they've decided to stay until Tuesday. They went to that Universal Park thing where Harry Potterland is, and Rocky wants to go back. How was everything in Dillwyn? Megan get along okay with Josie?" Dan asked as he followed Mickey to the back of the trailer to release the donkey.
Josie turned and followed Mickey out without a protest or him holding the lead, and he knew he wanted her for Megan. "She was perfect. How much you think Ryan would sell her for? Megan is so in love with her, it ain't funny," Mickey explained.
Danny chuckled as he retrieved the small saddle and tack from the ledge in the two-horse trailer. "I think if you'd let Ryan breed her to Chief, that stallion of Josh's, they'd let you take the donkey for nothin’ if you'd give him the foal."
Mickey laughed. "Yeah, I know they've wanted to breed her to Chief. You think Matt would allow me to take her off the ranch and watch over her till she foals?" Mickey asked as he led the little donkey through the barn to turn her out into the upper pasture for a while so she could exercise after the three-hour ride from Dillwyn.
Mickey stared out into the fields, taking in the view he knew he’d miss if he ever left the Circle C. He was imagining how it would be not to care for the horses or the residents at the ranch when he felt a smack on the back of his head, pulling him from his trance to hear Danny laughing. "What's up your ass, man?"
Mickey stood, rubbing his head, next to the oak gate at the back of the barn and watched Josie trot along the property, snorting at the cattle in her company. Most of them were cows and calves that liked to run along the fence when a horse was in the upper pasture. He wondered if Josie would miss her bovine friends if she went to live at the farm in Dillwyn.
He took a deep, confident breath and looked at Danny. "I got a job offer this weekend. Well, it's a lot more than that, and I'm not sure what to do about it. If I turn it down, I could be happy here at the ranch, but I'd be givin' up a lot. If I take it, I'd be happy there, but I'd be givin' up a lot. I'm not sure what the hell to do," he explained quietly as Dan leaned next to him at the gate.
"Which decision will cause you the most regrets? That's the one thing you gotta think seriously about, Mick. Livin' a life of regret will eat you alive," Dan told him as he limped off. It was the first time Mickey had noticed the man limping, but it had been rainy, and he knew Matt complained about the damp weather bringing out aches and pains he'd rather forget.
Mickey locked the gate to the pasture and went into the barn to check the other horses, seeing Charlie was out in the back lot Matt had built off his roomy stall. The horse was muddy as hell, and Mickey was immediately pissed off because obviously, the stallion hadn't just been left out for the afternoon. Someone had left him out all night, probably, and it had come a hard rain the night before as evidenced by the mud around the ranch.
Mick went to the office to check the schedule, seeing Wayne and Adam were working that weekend. He grabbed the walkie-talkies they had in the office and hit the button. "Adam? Wayne? It's Mick," he announced.
There was a squelch, and then a laugh. "Yeah, Mick. Adam here. When'd you get back?"
"Why is Charlie in the outdoor pen covered in mud?" Mickey asked, not bothering to answer the guy’s question about when he’d returned.
"Nando turned him out yesterday and didn't say we should bring him back in," Wayne responded. Mickey rolled his eyes because how fucking stupid could a person be to watch an expensive stallion stand in mud up to his fetlocks and not let him back into a dry barn?
"Well, where's Nando?"
"Don't know. He didn't show for work today," one of the idiots answered.
'Fuck!' Mickey thought. He had his answer about leaving the Circle C. The horses would be mistreated, and he couldn't do that to them. Matt and Tim trusted him with the care of their prized animals and he was managing the breeding schedule for Charlie's liaisons. He knew the stallion had a future as a big name in breeding circles, but it would take some of his foals to become prime stock in order to beef up his reputation.
Only Mickey and Tim seemed to be interested in pursuing it, and Mickey had thoughts about how to better market the stallion, knowing there was a lot of money waiting to be made. Bottom line: Mickey couldn't leave them behind because he was needed at the Circle C. The answer was simple. The Collins-Morans' depended on him and he’d never let them down. They’d welcomed him into their lives and as much as he loved Jon, he owed Tim and Matt, as well as Marty, Jeri, Josh, and Katie his loyalty.
Chapter Twenty-five
Hey Cowboy. Can you come to Richmond this weekend?
Terry has that thing at the jail, and we need you. Love you, Jonny.
Jon sent the text, hoping he'd get a response this time. Mickey had been busy at the Circle C all week, or so he told Jon, who'd actually asked if Matt had fired everyone else because it sounded like it was a one-man show when Mickey gave his excuses regarding why he didn't have time to respond to the texts or return the calls from Jon.
Megan had been through rigorous medical tests, including eyes, heart, hearing, blood work, along with cognitive tests at the new occupational therapy center they'd been directed to by the new pediatrician. The results would be sent to the new specialized school so they could place her properly in the correct class. She'd done well, but Jon could tell she was missing Mickey just like him. Terrence, however, was totally different story.
On Friday evening, Jon had to take Terrence to the County Jail for the juvenile crime deterrent program. He could see the poor boy was ready to shit himself when they pulled into the parking lot where several other boys and girls were lined up next to a large bus outside the fence and wires surrounding the large facility. When the huge deputy came over to the car where they were waiting to check Terrence in, Jon realized he'd have been scared shitless as well. He felt his soul collapse when he looked at the fear in the boy’s eyes.
"I swear I ain't gonna give you no more trouble, Jon. Please, don't leave me here. I've behaved since you took me in, ain’t I? Why I gotta do this?"
Before Jon could say a word, Terry continued. "I swear I won't get in trouble anymore. I know I'm a ghetto kid and I don't fit into your life, but I’ll try harder, I promise. Please don't make me do this. It's cause a me Mick ain't comin' back ain't it?" the boy pleaded.
Jon cried all the way home, having made arrangements for his mother to pick up Meggie from school and entertain the girl until he could join them for dinner after dropping off Terry. Instead of heading directly to Henrico to their home, he went home to the condo to try to pull himself together but ended up sitting on the side of his bed, losing his mind with worry for Terry and wondering where Mickey was and why he hadn’t called him.
Jon’s heart was broken at having to leave Terry in that awful place, but he hadn't been successful in his appeal to Judge Morrison for reconsideration to alter the sentence when he’d met her in chambers that Friday afternoon. He felt like the failure was his and he needed Mickey’s warm arms and gentle assurances to help him keep from falling further apart. He didn't know why Mickey hadn't responded to his texts, but he needed him more than he'd ever needed anyone in his life.
I had to take Terry to the lock-up program, and I really need to talk to you, Mick.
Can you please call me? Jon
Jon went to pick up Meggie at his parents’ place and after dinner, they came home and he read her a story to settle her bed. After he was sure she was asleep, Jon went to his room and laid in his own bed, praying for Mickey to call him. He was sure just hearing the cowboy’s voice would ease his soul a little.
He ended up falling asleep against his will and was startled awake by feeling his shoes being pulled off and his jeans were unbuttoned. He opene
d his eyes to see Mickey standing next to the bed in a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.
"You must not have slept last night, baby. Get up and get ready for bed. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you, but my phone got stomped on by Charlie when I was tryin' to clean him up. They left him out in the rain, and he was filthy.
"As I was cleanin' him up, Matt came into the barn and pitched a fit like I never seen. He got all the hands together and gave 'em a lecture to beat the band, I'll tell ya. I was about ready to just take the stallion, but he assured me that horse would be well cared for…before he fired me," Mickey explained as he stood next to the bed holding Jon’s hand.
"He fired you? You're here for real?" Jon asked as he hopped up and stood next to the tall cowboy with the shamrock green eyes.
"Yep. I told Tim about the offer for you, me, and the kids to move into the farm in Dillwyn and how I didn't think I could leave because who would take care of the horses at the Circle C if I left, pointing out the shit shape I'd found Charlie in when I got home last weekend. Seems he and Matt had a discussion and at the end of it, they told me they loved me and we were all family, but I was fired. Tim told me it was for my own good, as a matter of fact.
"I think I had cold feet a little and they knew it, so they pushed me to take the step they knew was best for me. I'm here, with you, for the duration, Jonny, and on Sunday, we'll go get Terry and we'll smother him with love to let him know he has family who will be there for him and make sure he never has to endure anything of the sort ever again. We're doin' this together, right?" Mickey asked quietly as he looked deeply into Jon’s eyes.
Loving the Lawyer (The Cowboys of Katydid Farm Book 2) Page 27
