Down on the Ranch

Chapter 11

Gage's P.O.V.

The next morning when I enter the main house for breakfast, I am surprised to find that Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are not in the kitchen, just Jace, and a woman who I assume is his mama. Jace is at the stove cooking breakfast while his mama is sitting at the table.

"Morning," I say in a gravelly voice from sleep. "Need any help, Jace?"

"Morning, Gage," Jace answers, looking over his left shoulder at me with a tired smile, and purple marks under his eyes. "Yes, please. Could you please set the table for me?"

"Sure," I grin as I walk over to the cupboard to grab down enough plates and glasses, and the silverware from the drawer for everyone.

"Gage, this is my mum Rayna," Jace introduces as I start setting the table. "Mum, this is Gage McCoy, he is taking over for Tory when he leaves."

Jace has conflicting emotions flicker through his eyes - happiness and sadness as he speaks.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," I greet his mama with a warm smile toward her.

She gives me a tired smile as she returns the greeting; "Nice to meet you, too, Gage. Jacey, why and when is Tory leaving?"

"Um, he is leaving in about a week," he replies as he continues to cook. "Um, he is going home to take care of his mama."

"Oh, is she ill?" she asks as I finish setting the table, and walk over to the counter next to Jace to grab the plated bacon, and place it at the center of the table.

"Yeah she is," Jace answers sadly. "I hate that his mummy is sick, and that he has to leave, but I am glad Gage is here, though."

His mum frowns at Jace, who doesn't notice for a few seconds until he turns around to place the oatmeal into the bowls at the table; and he hurriedly asks in a worried voice; "Are you in pain? Do you need any pain reliever?"

She waves him off as she shakes her head as she whispers to him when he stands in front of her, pan still in his right hand; "I am not in any pain. Gage is cute, and I can see why you like him, and think he is cute."

Jace's entire exposed skin flushes a deep crimson color as he gasps at her as he whispers back; "Mum! How? I mean, what?"

Rayna giggles as I lean over to whisper; "I think you are cute, too, and I also like you. I wouldn't mind taking you on a date very soon."

Jace inhales sharply as he turns his face toward me with wide eyes, and an open mouth as him mama loudly giggles, and he squeaks; "Really?"

I nod, giving him a wide grin; "Yes, really. How about tomorrow night, so I can have time to plan the date?"

He shyly nods with an equally shy smile after a few seconds; "Yes, I would really like that!"

My wide becomes broader as I lightly kiss his left cheek, and promise him; "You won't regret this. Anything you want to do on our date?"

He shyly shrugs with a shake of his head; "I am okay with most anything you pick. This will be my first date actually."

He murmurs the last part, and I think he was talking to himself, and I was not meant to hear him. I am absolutely shocked by this information. Now, I want to make this even more special for him than I already did. His mama seems sad by this comment from her son.

"I am gonna wake nana and pop-op before breakfast becomes cold," he says with a still shy smile at me then at his mama.

Rayna turns her attention to me after Jace is out of the room; "I am sorry if I put you on the spot about my boy liking you, but I wanted him to know that it's okay for him to date. My boy is painfully shy with people his own age, or close to his age."

Giving her an understanding smile; "I should be thanking you for what you did. I was not sure how to ask him on a date. I promise I will do my best to never intentionally hurt Jace."

"I hope so," she murmurs as everyone enters the kitchen to have breakfast.

"Thank you for breakfast, Jacey," Mrs. Edwards says as we eat, and you bet your happy ass I am sitting next to the sweet person I am taking on his first ever date.

"You are welcome, nana," he softly answers with a smile. "It gave mum and I time to talk while I cooked."

Throughout the meal, I can't help but notice the odd looks Tory and Rayna giving each other, and that they do not speak at all to each other. It is as if there is unspoken tension between them which seems strange to me, but what do I know? Everyone else seems to be either ignoring the tension between them, or they do not notice it.

"Alright everyone," Jason says loudly before we finish breakfast to gain our attention. "Gage, Tory, Jace, and Claire, I need you four to milk the cows. Warren and Ford, I need you two to muck all the stalls, and replace it with new hay while I start feeding the animals."

All of us agree, knowing that as we finish our tasks, we will help Jason finish feeding the animals because that is a lot for one person to do. Mrs. Edwards shoos everyone from the house to start our chores stating that there is not much for her to clean since Jace cleaned while he cooked. Plus, I think she wants alone time with her daughter which is understandable since as I understand it, she has not been home much over the years because of her job.

Walking with Jace a few feet behind Jason and Claire, Jace surprises me when he quietly asks; "Did you notice the thick tension between Tory and my mum, or was it just me?"

"It wasn't just you, I noticed it, too, but I thought I was just imagining it," I whisper back as I gently reach over to clasp our pinkies together, earning another pretty blush from the brown haired boy.