Down on the Ranch

Chapter 4

Jace's P.O.V.

"May I be excused to ride Gypsy?" I mumble against pop-op's chest as he hugs me and nana tightly against him.

"Yes, you may," pop-op softly answers with a gentle squeeze around my waist, and a soft kiss on the top of my head.

Pulling back with a sniffle, and a soft 'thanks', I turn to leave the house when pop-op stops me a few feet away from him and nana.

"Your mama is gonna be fine, son," pop-op firmly states, and I truly believe that he believes what he is say.

It isn't that I don't believe that mum will be fine since I am sure her injuries are none life threatening, but anything can still happen.

Curtly nodding at him, murmuring; "I know she will be. I am still worried about her through. I don't think I will stop worrying until she is safely home."

"We know, Jace, we are worried, too," nana softly says, and nods toward the front door, and I walk off toward the horse barn.

Grabbing down Gypsy's saddle and halter, I place these on her before leading her from the barn. Climbing onto the saddle, I head off to the trail that leads to the valley where mum and I like to visit when she is home on leaves.

Once at the valley, I climb off Gypsy to let her graze on the grass as I lie on my back to watch the clouds float by. This is my thing to do with mum alone ever since I can remember. Mum has been in the Marine Corps since I was a year old, and I have been living with my grandparents ever since. When mum is home on leave, she stays here, too, and my grandparents have guardianship of me, but I am sure once mum is home and well, she will have full custody of me once again.

After about an hour, and feel like I have sorted out my feelings some, I ride Gypsy back, take off her gear, brush her down before leading her out to the corral, shut the gate, and place away the saddle and halter. Wandering inside the house, I find nana in the office working on the finances, and she seems irritated.

"Can I help you with that, nana?" I whisper from the door, wanting her to give her a break.

Nana looks up at me with worried, red rimmed eyes, and silently nods with a soft sigh. Entering the room, I sit in the empty chair across from her, and she slides the book, calculator, and pencil over to me with an appreciative smile before leaving the room. An hour later, I have finished the task, I stretch my arms over my head to crack my back from being hunched over for so long.

"Hey, are you finished?" nana questions, stepping into the office from checking on dinner that she has cooking in the crock pot.

"Yeah, I am finished," I answer with a tiny smile. "I can do the finances every week if you would like?"

"Sure, Jacey, that sounds like a plan," she agrees. "Pop-op is wondering if you would like to join him and Ford in the cow pasture? The two pregnant cows are starting to birth their calfs, and they would like you there for it."

Eagerly nodding, I rush from the room, down the stairs, and out the front door to the cow pasture. Slipping in between the top and middle fence boards, I calmly walk over to pop-op and Ford as they watch the two cows. They have gotten the two cows into the sectioned off area away from the other cows and the bull in case we need to help either cow.

"Are you excited, Jace?" Ford asks in his deep voice with a grin at me.

Vigorously nodding my head as I rock on my feet; "Yes! I love watching the animals giving birth."

As I answered Ford, everyone else arrives in the field to watch with us since this will probably be Tory's last animal birth to witness, and probably Gage's first.

"Are you finishing your associate degree in the summer or fall semester?" Tory asks as he drapes his left arm over my shoulders with a grin down at me.

Smiling fondly up at Tory; "The summer semester, and I am freaking excited."

"When are you taking the Veterinary Technician National Exam? Do you have the money for the application fee to take the exam?" he worriedly asks, and I know the cost of three hundred and forty dollars worries him.

"The plan is to take the exam in the middle of September, and yeah, I have the money for the application, please don't worry," I tell him, trying to ease his worry some.

Tory is what I imagine my dad would be like if I had a dad that was in my life. Yes, pop-op is a father figure for me, but I think Tory is more of what my dad would be like if I got to pick his personality.

"Is the application money all of your savings?" he questions as if he some how knows this is what I am doing with the money I have in my savings account.

Tory hums softly with a slight frown but doesn't comment as we focus on the cows again, but he does ask another question; "Do you have a potential job lined up for when you are done with all that, or no?"

Grinning up at him again briefly before focusing on the cows again; "Yeah, I do. Doc Watkins in town says that when I finish my last semester, and pass the exam, I can work for him part time, so I can also help here, too."

"You amaze me everyday, Jacey," he grins as both cows birth their babies within a few minutes of each other.

"Wow," Gage breathes out as this happens, and I can't help but giggle at his awed expression. "That is so awesome!"

Once the calfs have been cleaned off by their mama's, and the babies are walking on their feet, Ford and I open the gate, so the four of them can wander the pasture, and nurse without being confined.

"Welcome to ranch life, Gage," pop-op grins at Gage as the others exit the enclosed pasture ahead of Ford and me.

Gage chuckles, the skin around his eyes crinkling, and it is so fucking adorable. Man, why am I starting to think this way about a guy close to my own age?