"I was there for four months before I met a guy, Teddy Kendall. He was eighteen and scared, just like me, and we were both lonely, I 'spect. We kinda started datin' on the sly when we had a pass or even leave. 'Bout two months after we started seein' each other, Teddy and me went for a walk one evenin' and ended up in the woods outside the barracks. We didn't know it was where some of the more senior guys went to gamble and get high, and they caught us with our pants down, literally.
"They tied Teddy to a tree and took turns whippin' him with a belt. I tried to fight back for Teddy, but two of 'em stomped on my leg and broke it in three places before they went off and left us there. Teddy was able to untie himself and then he took off and left me out there by myself. One of the guys in my unit saw I hadn't come back to barracks that night, so the next mornin' after PT, he reported me AWOL to our Sergeant. I ended up crawlin' back toward camp and one of the cooks in the chow hall found me when he was out havin' a cigarette.
"I woke up in the hospital with a pin in my leg which bought me a ticket home, right back to the small-minded ways of Holloway, Virginia, and the cattle farm my dad was barely keepin' away from the bank. I had to go through rehab to get back full use of my leg, and it took me a long time to get to the point where I don't think about it every day, but I finally did. Got a job with Matt, runnin' his place after my dad died from a heart attack. Had to sell the farm and cows to pay the bills, and now I take care of my mom and Kayley. I guess, for the most part, I'm over it, but I have nightmares still," Dan explained.
It gave Jase cold chills to think of the barbaric acts Dan had described. He felt lucky he got out of Texas before something similar happened to him. In that moment, he supposed other people had it a lot worse than him.
"Whatever happened to Teddy? Did you two keep in touch?" Jase asked, checking to see Kayley was still engrossed in Taylor Swift.
Dan chuckled, but Jase could tell it was without humor. "He stayed in, but he ended up eatin' his gun a few years later. I guess we all have our demons."
"Did you report the guys who did it to you?" Jase asked.
Again, Dan chuckled. "Kid, don't ask/don't tell didn't just apply to bein' queer. I didn't know the guys who did it, and if I'da admitted how I broke my leg, I'da been dishonorably discharged. At least most people think I was some kinda hero. Nobody knows the truth but you and me."
Jase knew it was an important secret the man had shared with him, and he felt the need to reassure him. "I'd never tell, Dan."
"Thanks," Dan stated as he slowed the truck and turned on a left-turn signal. Mickey looked out the front windshield to see they were at a driveway with an entrance arch made of iron mounted atop two rock and mortar pillars on either side of the driveway. The fence surrounding the property was made of rock as well, and Jase was sure, based on the view from the drive, the house must be pretty amazing.
"Seems the lovebirds are doin' some renovations. Good Lord, that musta cost a fortune," Dan seemed to comment absentmindedly.
They turned into the driveway and slowly drove up a long, paved lane with lots of trees on both sides. It was all well-manicured, and suddenly, Jase wished he was back at the Katydid. The house he was seeing in the distance was definitely out of his league.
"Oh! We're here!" Kayley gasped from the back seat. Jase heard her unbuckle her booster and step into the space between the front seats, leaning on the console between him and Dan.
"Think Meggie and Jonny are home yet?" she asked.
"Don't know, Sweet Pea. I think Mick told Miss Katie that Terry has one more week of school because they had a lot of snow days this past school year, so Meg was going to stay in her school in Richmond until he's out. They're both goin' to some summer camps I think. Terry for football and some science camp, and Meg for…well, I'm not sure. You can ask Mick," Dan told her.
Dan honked the horn as he drove up the road and took the right fork which led to a large brick barn with a green tin roof. The house they passed looked sort of like an English manor Jase had seen in a movie he had to watch for literature class his junior year. He wasn't a Jane Austin fan, but the movie, Persuasion, was pretty good. The lead actor was a hot blonde who made the movie that much more enjoyable…or at least kept him from falling asleep during it.
When they pulled up outside the barn, they saw a really, good-looking cowboy with a straw hat tipped back on his head standing next to a woman with brown hair and some sort of coveralls. She was wearing rubber boots, much like the ones Jase had with him, and the two seemed to be in adamant conversation.
She walked to a truck with lots of compartments on the side of the tall panels situated on the bed and opened what appeared to be a cabinet, pulling out lots of things Jase couldn't identify before she opened another door and pulled out more things, including what looked to be silver duct tape. Jase was actually intrigued.
Danny opened his door so Jase followed suit, closing it before he went to the back and helped out Kayley. As she started to take off, Dan grabbed the back of her little t-shirt. "How do we behave around horses?"
She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Calm and quiet," she whispered loudly, bringing a grin to Jase's face. She was an amazing little girl, and he looked forward to getting to spend time with her, finally admitting to himself he was probably in love with her uncle. If the warm feeling in his chest and stomach every time he was near Danny Johnson wasn't some sort of newly developed heart condition, then he was guessing it was love.
Dan took the girl's hand and motioned his head for Jase to follow him. When they walked up to the truck, the tall auburn-haired man smiled brightly before he pulled Dan into a hug. "You crusty ba…horse's behind. How the heck are ya?"
The man then looked down at Kayley and picked her up, giving her a smacking kiss on her cheek which elicited a giggle from the girl. "How are ya, pretty girl? We couldn't tell Meggie you were coming because she'd have thrown a fit to stay home today, and they were going on a field trip she's been looking forward to for a month," the man told her as he returned her to the ground before he turned to smile at Jase.
He was damn good looking, and Jase decided the man was older than him but younger than Dan. He had a crooked grin and eyes the color of fresh, green grass. He seemed to smile with his whole body. "You must be Jason. Miss Katie talked my ear off about ya. It's a pleasure to meet you, and welcome to Wonderland Farm. I look forward to getting to know ya," he welcomed.
Dan laughed. "This fine-spoken gentleman is Mickey Warren. He's in college now, which seems to be makin' a proper gentleman outta him," Dan explained.
"I'll call ya a few names a proper gentleman won't use in the presence of a lady, ya old fart. Come on inside so I can introduce ya to Doc McCarren. Josie has an abscess on her hoof. I say it's the way the new farrier is shoeing her, but we're dealing with it. I'm sure Josie will be happy to see you, Kayley," Mickey teased the girl as he took her hand and led them forward into the barn.
Jase looked around, admiring how clean the barn seemed to be. It reminded him of the barns at the Circle C and the Katydid, though he was fairly certain all barns weren't so clean. They walked up to a small horse tied to a ring in the hallway. Its enormous ears were shoulder-height to Jase, and it struck him as funny.
"Hello, Josie," Kayley greeted with a bright smile as she patted the animal on the nose. Jase watched the horse sniff at her and then lower its head so the girl could rub on its forehead and ears.
"What's wrong with her? I brought the trailer in case I need to take her back to Holloway," Dan explained.
Jase saw the lady vet doing something to the horse's foot, so he walked around the animal, touching her flank as he walked behind her, as he'd been taught to do. The woman was pouring something into a bucket with a few inches of water. She glanced up at him and smiled.
"I'm Mary McCarren. I'm just gonna soak her foot in some Epsom salt. I just excised the infection, which is a nasty job, and then after she soaks for a little while, I'll apply a poultice and wrap h
er hoof. She'll be good as new in a few days," she assured.
"I'm Jase. I'll be working here," he introduced himself.
Doctor McCarren smiled at him warmly and walked out of the barn toward her truck. "She your usual vet?" he heard Dan ask Mickey.
"She's actually Ray McCarren's daughter-in-law. He's been the vet here for several years, and he brought her on board about the same time Jon and I moved here. She's an equine specialist, which is great for us. I was afraid we were gonna have to send Josie home to y'all. Under that damn shoe, I couldn't see an abscess. I said the damn thing was too big, but the farrier, Pete Cross, thinks he knows a lot more about it than me.
"Anyway, seems Doc's got this under control. Let's go get Jase settled. I cleaned out the apartment over the garage because we thought you might be more comfortable in your own space. The furniture up there is old, but it's still functional. That okay, or you wanna stay in the house?" Mickey asked as he looked at the younger man.
Jase watched as Dan grabbed Mickey around the neck and pulled him close, kissing his cheek. "I knew that little country boy was still in there. We can get Jase settled in the apartment. You got somewhere for me and Kayley to bed down for the night? I'd like to see how Josie is tomorrow before I call Josh. I know Meg likes to ride her, and until Blossom gets to be of a size where she's ready to go, he'd hate to leave Meg without a mount."
Mickey laughed and hugged Danny in return. "Nonsense. You can stay the weekend. We'll have a little party tomorrow since it's been so long between visits. We need to celebrate, don't we, Kayley?" The little blonde nodded, giving the cowboy a glowing grin.
"Okay, okay. I just need to call Matt and let him know. I didn't really tell him what I was doin' today. I just told him I'd be back. He's probably wonderin' where I am." Dan then turned to Jase and smiled. "Get your pack outta the back and let Mick show ya where you're gonna live. I'll be along directly."
Jase nodded and turned to go to the pick-up, reaching over the side to get his green duffel and his backpack, along with his muck boots. He turned to see Mickey was talking to the vet again, so he waited. Kayley stood next to Danny, playing with his fingers which looked like it might hurt the way she was bending them back, but Dan was busy on his phone and didn't seem to notice until one of them popped loudly and he jerked his hand away. "Damn, girl, that hurt," Jase heard before the little girl started laughing loudly.
When Mickey came out of the barn, he swept the girl up in his arms and brought her along with him to where Jase was waiting. "Okay, let's get goin'," he announced, proceeding on a path of stones that led from the barn to a detached garage behind the large house.
"This is what they call a carriage house, but I call it a garage. The upstairs is where the apartment is located. It's a one-bedroom with a full bath, living room, small kitchen, and a back balcony. There's a gate over there so you can get to the pool without having to come through the house, but I'll warn you, Jonny and me like to s-k-i-n-n-y d-i-p some nights, so if the pool lights are off, don't come knockin'," Mickey told him with a laugh.
Jase needed clarity. "Who, um, who's Jonny?" He'd heard the man referred to, but he didn't know what the relationship was, and he didn't want a repeat of the Circle C.
Mickey's robust laugh made Jase grin. "He's my partner. My mister, I guess you could say. We didn't get married like Tim and Matt, but we're no less committed. We have two kids, a foster daughter, Megan, who’s almost six. She goes to school in Richmond.
"Our foster son, Terry, is almost fifteen. He goes to school here in town and should be home about four o'clock. He's on the track team and they have practice today. The last track meet is on Monday. You're welcome to go with us if you'd like. Jonny's only working a half day so he and Meggie can go. More the merrier," Mickey advised, making Jase feel pretty much at ease. He was beginning to think Miss Katie was right. Wonderland Farm seemed to be the perfect fit.
Chapter Seven
"I'm at Wonderland, and the vet's here with Josie. She got an abscess on her right front hoof. Mick says it's from the shoes the farrier put on her. Says they don't fit right," Danny reported to Matt as Mickey led Kayley and Jase up toward the house.
"Shit. Is she gonna be okay?" Matt asked. Based on the fact Matt didn't seem too surprised Dan was in Dillwyn, he guessed Katie or Josh had called him and filled him in on what was happening.
"Yeah, she's gonna be fine. Vet drained it and has her soakin' it 'fore she wraps it up. Seems the vet's an equine specialist, and Mick trusts her. Anyway, Kayley and me are stayin' the weekend so y'all hold down the fort. If any semen comes in, make sure ya put it in the tank, Matt. If it thaws, it's ruined," Dan reminded.
They were about to begin the breeding season, and he knew Tim had ordered some specialty semen out of an Amerifax bull from some place in Nebraska because he and Matt had read an article on the breed in a cattle magazine and were excited.
The calves were supposed to be easily birthed but grew to be large animals. Cows from the breed were touted to be breedable for a long time with no fertility issues. Dan read up on it, and it sounded like something they should test, especially with the other breeds they had on the ranch which would be prime to crossbreed. It sounded promising.
"Yeah, well, I think I could hold it against Tim's ass and it would stay frozen," Matt commented which made Dan laugh.
"You brought that shit on yourself…all by yourself. Jason Langston is a nice kid who woulda been a damn good hand, but you let your insecurities show and everybody, includin' me, treated that boy like shit. We all oughta be ashamed of ourselves. Anyway, you better work on thawin' out Tim before you become a miserable bastard and we all go on strike. I'll see y'all sometime on Monday mornin'," Dan reminded before they said good-bye and hung up.
Danny hopped in the truck to move it and the trailer off to the side, away from the vet's truck so she wouldn't be blocked in. He grabbed his and Kayley's bags and headed toward the house. He saw Jase, Mickey, and Kayley standing out by the swimming pool in the back yard. Kayley reached down to put her fingers into the water, and it seemed as if on instinct, Jase reached for her and held onto her waist so she wouldn't fall in. It touched Dan…and made him totally uncomfortable because he thought it was adorable the young man would worry so much about the child's safety.
He walked up to the gate and opened the latch, placing their bags atop one of the many tables surrounding the pool deck. The whole area was beautiful, and Dan was happy for Mickey. He'd seemed to settle into a nice life for himself, and as Dan thought about it, it was a privilege to witness.
Of course, it reminded Dan how he had nothing to offer a guy if he'd ever let himself have feelings for anyone. He'd tried with Sean O'Dowd, but they were just too different to really make a go of it. Sean was a car salesman who seemed to long for the finer things in life…things Dan couldn't give him on a ranch foreman's salary, much less a ranch foreman with a daughter and mother under his care.
When Sean moved to Roanoke to work for a bigger dealership, Dan thought they'd do the long-distance thing for a while and maybe decide to get serious in a year or so. He didn't love the man, but he liked him enough to think they could make a life together, eventually.
Dan found out the move to Roanoke was because Sean didn't want to be a surrogate parent to Kayley. He didn't like kids, and the little blond girl with the beaming smile definitely put a crimp in their relationship. They finally talked it out after Dan's third, weekend visit over the six weeks since Sean had moved. He told Dan he'd met and fallen in love with another guy, so Dan wouldn't need to make the trip to Roanoke any longer. That was when Dan gave up on ever finding anyone for a long-term relationship.
"Let's get you and Kayley settled," Dan heard Mickey demand, bringing him from the awful memory of the…well, it wasn't a break-up because one had to have something with someone to break before there was a break-up. He and Sean didn't really have anything except mutual fucking. There wasn't really much to lose, as he looked back on it.
They all went into the house which was filled with delicious smells, catching Danny's attention. "Mmm. That smells like brownies. Oh! Miss Katie sent cookies," Kayley stated as she looked up at Mickey.
"Ursula's here today." He turned to Jase and smiled. "You'll take your meals here with the family. Ursula is our cook and housekeeper. She comes in twice a week to set us upon the path of cleanliness," Mickey stated as they all heard laughter from the kitchen.
An older woman appeared with a bright smile. Dan didn't remember meeting her, but he'd tasted her food. "Ursula, this is Jase, a new hand here at Wonderland, and you remember Kayley and Danny?"
The woman smiled. "I remember Kayley from when we all made crispy rice treats the last time they were at the farm, but I don't believe I've ever met Danny in person. Ursula Pentergast. If this is your beautiful little girl, it's nice to meet you," she told him as she combed her fingers through Kayley's hair. The smile on his niece’s face was glowing.
"She's my niece, but thank ya. I hope we won't be too much trouble," Danny offered, feeling the flush of his cheeks. They hadn't exactly been invited to stay, but he'd foisted this visit onto Mick and Jon, and he really needed to think about the 'why' of it.
It wasn't really because Kayley missed her friend, Megan, though she did. There were reasons relating to Jason Langston which Dan wasn't ready to confront yet, but he'd need to before he wasted a chance at something that had the potential to be great.
"Nonsense. Let's go get this one settled in Meg's room because I'm pretty sure the two of them sleeping in separate rooms is a pipe dream. The room across the hall is all ready for you, Dan. Jason, if I may call you that, I'll be back on Monday to acclimate you to the laundry room and the linen closet.
Loving the Broken Man (The Cowboys of Katydid Farm Book 3) Page 6
