For Him, I Would

Chapter Twenty - I can't help you if you don't talk to me.

Thursday Morning

Oakley didn't see Kayce again last night. She also didn't see him in the morning when she got ready for the day. She didn't see him as she made her way down to the barn to check in on the wranglers because, to be honest, she didn't have much else to do. She was waiting for Sarah's response on her two reports but that sometimes took a day or two.

Oakley was also choosing to ignore John Dutton and whatever had happened.

It was colder today, and as she walked down Oakley saw the mountains had a bit more snow at their tips from the past few days. She zipped up her jacket all the way to her neck and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her black vest. There wasn't much activity around the barn as she got closer. In fact, besides Jake and Fred, Oakley couldn't see anyone else.

Had she missed something?

"You okay, Oakley?" Jake asked as she stopped short of standing next to where he was saddling a horse. "Need something?"

"I was just seeing where everyone was?" Oakley shrugged.

"Not sure," Jake continued with his task. "Rip took a crew up to the north fence because someone broke a few posts. Not sure where boss man is though."

Oakley wasn't sure if by 'boss man' Jake meant Kayce or John. "Hey Jake, did you know about Kayce going to help with some horses on the reservation late yesterday?"

"Uh," Jake glanced at the ground. "Yeah, he did."

"Do you know what happened there?" You asked.

"There was some mix-up with the government seizing a heard that belonged there or something," Jake explained. "I think he got them back though."

"Whose horses were they?" Oakley held her breath.

"Some family," Jake shrugged. "I didn't know 'em."

A weight suddenly fell from her shoulders as Oakley let out a sigh. She nodded her head to Jake and then turned around, making her way back up toward the main house. She stopped though when she saw Kayce's truck at the foreman's house. It hadn't been there when she was walking down so he must have come back when she was talking to Jake. But Kayce would have seen her down here surly...why didn't he come to say hi? Why wasn't he waiting for her at the main house?

Oakley walked up the steps to the foreman's house and knocked on the door. She waited a few moments, but no one came to the door. Trying the handle she saw it was opened and pushed the door.

"Kayce?" Oakley called out but didn't get a response. She listened and heard the shower going from the bathroom. Closing the front door, she walked inside and made her way to the back of the place. Once inside the bedroom, the steam from the shower warmed her face.

"Kace?" Oakley called again, this time softer due to him being closer.

"Hey," Kayce said with a rough voice. He didn't turn his body around though, just glanced over her shoulder.