Cowboy Kind of Love

Realization

After they did I walked in the barn petting Knight before I went in the house. Dad was on the porch and looked at me.

"Surprised you didn't go." I shrugged sitting down.

"I don't know just didn't want to."

"Since when, you always want to go."

"I know, just thinking."

"Anything you need to talk about?"

"No daddy, I'm fine." I kissed his head going in and making some coffee. I was in my head, I was admitting to myself that I was in love and I didn't know how to process that. I was guarded, never really let anyone in. I sure as hell was not sure how to admit it to Rip, shit I was in love with Rip. Dad walked in and looked at me before kissing my head.

"Tell him how you feel"

"What?" I asked looking up

"Honey I'm old, not stupid. You love him, tell him."

"Don't really know what to say and I'm wrapping my head around it."

"Wrapping your head around how you have felt for how long."

"Dad." I giggled. Later he found me sitting on the porch looking out over everything

"What's wrong sweetheart?"

"Nothing, just looking. Dad you ever wonder what this place used to look like, like before we were here or back when it first started."

"All the time honey." That night I was by the fire, drinking a hot chocolate and sitting with dad wrapped in a blanket as he went over some things. I heard Kayce walk in and he and dad talked for a bit and Kayce told him about something that happened when he was overseas before he walked away in tears.

"So you have him being agent? I know he's foreman whose in charge when he's doing something else?"

"Rip or you." I nodded at him "Travis is coming by tomorrow with some horses."

"Want me to help check them out?"

"Yes." I was at the arena bright and early, had stopped by the barn fed the horses and looked up hearing the door open.

"What are you doing?" I glanced over at Rip.

"Work." I knew I was doing his job but I wanted to and I felt like shit that he was back to doing this bullshit and being in the bunkhouse.

"How long you been out here?"

"Hour."

"I could do this."

"I know but I am. Travis is coming with horses later."

"I know."  The last horse I fed was Cole and I petted him gently "He likes you."

"I know, does his rider?"

"You should know the answer to that by now. The question is do you still like the rider?"

"Haven't I always."

"Aren't we past playing hard to get?"

"We're always playing hard to get baby." I walked off grabbing my saddle and getting Knight ready and took him for a morning run. I got back let him do what he wanted then ate breakfast. I did some more work around helping the guys out. Later that day I watched from atop of Knight as Travis tested horse and practiced around with Rip. I watched Rip do his thing.

"Even with a beer in my hand"

"That's not gonna get it done." Travis went and honestly was a bit better. I walked up with my horse.