Down on the Ranch

Chapter 7

Gage's P.O.V.

I slept well last night, better than I thought I would considering I was sleeping somewhere new without my parents being there, too. By 5:55 a.m., I am dressed, used the toilet, brushed my teeth and hair, and am now in the main house. I help Mrs. Edwards and Warren set the table, and bring the food there, too. Everyone has consumed breakfast, helped clean from breakfast, and are out performing chores by 6:45 a.m.

"Come on, kid, we are milking the cows along with Claire's help," Tory says, gently thumping me on the back as he walks by me.

"You are gonna teach me how to do this, right?" I ask, hoping he doesn't think I know how to perform this task already.

"Don't worry, kid, I am gonna teach you," he grins as we walk toward the barn where the cows are housed at night.

Okay, milking cows by hand is not too horrible, or hard, but it is weird.

By noon, we are having lunch that Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have brought lunch out to the two wooden picnic tables. We are having lunch meat sandwiches, chips, and cantaloupe with water. As we are sitting down with plates in front of us, Kent and Jace arrive, and Jace looks like he has been crying. My protectiveness for Jace is kicked into high gear, but I won't do or say anything yet because I do not want to scare him away from me.

"What is wrong?" Mr. Edwards demands gently, his voice laced with worry for his grandson.

"Um, mum called on our way here," Jace hiccups as he dries his face with the sleeve of his white long sleeve shirt. "She is battered, bruised, and slightly broken, but she seems in good spirit. She was told before she called that she is flying home, and will be arriving here early Saturday morning."

"That is great, Jacey!" Mrs. Edwards cheers, standing to pull a willing Jace into her arms fro what seems to be a tight hug, and he tucks his face into her neck.

"I am sorry that I wasn't home when she called, but she only had a couple of minutes to talk," Jace tells his grandparents as Mr. Edwards pulls him into a comforting, tight hug, too.

"As long as you got to speak with her, that is all that matters to us," he assures Jace with a kiss to the top of his head, and Mrs. Edwards agrees with her husband's comment.

"So, your mama will be home forever in six days! That is exciting!" Mrs. Edwards enthusiastically says.

"I am gonna go change, so I can get working," Jace suddenly says after giving Kent a hug goodbye, and telling him goodbye, too since Kent stated he need to be heading home, and Jace does not wait for an answer from anyone as he just takes off for the house.

"He ate breakfast and lunch, nana," Kent comments before leaving. "He did not eat much though at either meal. I think he was too upset and worried about mum to eat."

"Thank you, Kent," Mrs. Edwards tells him, giving him a kiss on the cheek, and a fond smile. "You are such an amazing friend to him."

Kent blushes at her praise, mumbling; "He is more than my friend, he is my brother."

He then heads home with a wave at us, and Jace comes back outside a couple of minutes later dressed in a dark blue t-shirt, faded blue jeans, and tan work boots. He waves at us as he heads off toward the cow pasture, probably to watch the calfs for a few minutes.

"Okay, just so everyone understands what is happening," Mr. Edwards says once Jace is out of hearing range. "Our daughter was injured a few days ago while she and several others were traveling to a new location. They hit an IED, and we were not informed until yesterday at lunch."

Welp, he has just answered a few questions that I had, but not all, and now I have a couple of new questions. I am sure all of these will be answered eventually at the right time and place.

No wonder they have been slightly off since lunch yesterday, especially Jace. The entire situation is horrible, and I hope that she makes it through her recovery with minimal pain, and no setbacks. I wonder if I can help Jace feel better momentarily by helping him smile.

Cleaning up my mess from lunch, I thank Mrs. Edwards for the food, and wander off to find Jace. I find him at the cow pasture, leaning his crossed arms over the white painted board in front of him with his chin sitting on his top arm. He is watching the cows, but mainly the babies, and he seems deep in thought.

Stopping next to him on his right, clearing my throat lightly, trying not to startle him; "You want to talk about whatever is on your mind?"

"No, not yet, but thanks for asking," he murmurs, tilting his head toward me, lying his cheek on his arm. "May I ask you a personal question, though?"

Nodding, I give him a reassuring smile; "Sure you can."

He chews on his lower lips for several seconds before softly asking; "Was it hard growing up with two days, like were you bullied by people for that?"

Shrugging my shoulders at him as I honestly answer him from my own experiences; "In my experience, I had a few people bully me for that. I believe in life, horrible people will find anything to bully people for, even over things that are not important like having two parents of the same gender."

"True," he murmurs with a sad smile as he moves his head to focus on the cows again.

"Why do you ask?" I question since now I am curious about his question.

He lets out a soft sigh while saying; "I am just wondering if my future children will be bullied because they have either a single dad, or two dads. You are right through, people will find anything to bully someone over, no matter if it isn't a big deal."

"Yup," I agree, popping the 'p' with a slight nod of my head as we continue to watch the cows.

"Hey, will you help me clean out the horse stalls, please?" I ask, wanting to spend more time with Jace alone.

"Sure, let's go," he answers with a tiny smile toward me.