Cowboy Kind of Love

Babysitting

Getting in the house I saw Tate come out of dad's office. "Tate"

"Aunt Lexi." He ran and hugged me tightly. I felt tears come to my eyes.

"I missed you buddy."

"I missed you too."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm going camping with dad and grandpa John tomorrow."

"That sounds fun, I like camping."

"You wanna go?"

"No, I'll let you gentlemen have a boy's weekend. I still need to handle the ranch. Go to bed and make sure to dress warm ok."

"Yes ma'am, goodnight."

"Night, I love you."

"I love you too." He ran off and I turned seeing dad watch me with a smile on his face.

"Gonna be a great mother one day honey."

"Maybe." I said hugging him.

"Need you to help out running things around here when we are gone"

"I will, you know I always do."

"I know." By the time everyone got in the barn I had already ate breakfast. Making my dad, brother and nephew food before they left. I handled the stables and arena and stopped when I got a call from Beth.

"What, I'm busy."

"Can't get ahold of anyone and I need to go over stuff."

"Dad and Kayce are camping and hunting with Tate."

"When will they be back?"

"Sometime tomorrow."

"Can you come here tomorrow?"

"Sure." I hung up seeing Rip watching me.

"Everything ok"

"Yeah, just Beth needing help."

"Since when did you get involved with any of that shit"

"Since I became a big girl." I said laughing. "Everyone wants me to know everything about everything to handle all this." That night I ate with the bunk crew as Gator had made some stew, it felt nice with the cold. After I went back to the main house and went to bed. I was fucking exhausted. After breakfast the next morning Kayce came into the house.

"Can you watch Tate for a bit, dad needs some help."

"Sure just be back by 4 I gotta go into town and help Beth."

"Ok, thanks Lex." I watched Tate in the arena with Rip. He was roping at horses as Tate stood next to him.

"My dad used to do that and break colts. Why do you do it?"

"So he can get all the shit our of his system so I can get on him"

"You owe me a dollar!"

"I ain't giving you a fucking dollar."

"So you don't go ass over teakettle." I chuckled listening to him.

"Yeah" Rip chuckled. "That's right." The horse stopped. "See that Tate? That's him submitting."

"What's that mean?"

"That's he's ready for work." I said touching his shoulder, watching as Rip hooked the rope to him.

"She's right, go easy and you can pet his face now." Tate reached forward touching the horse. "What do you say, should we get another one?"

"Yeah."