Come Home

Chapter 39

"Has she been down yet?" Dr. Roberts asked as he strolled into the kitchen yawning. "Thank you," he mumbled as Marc handed him a cup of coffee.

"Not yet," Marc shook his head.

"Do you think she will?" Luke asked as he walked in. "What if she tries to lock herself away again?"

Jasper and Jackson got up from the table and left the room. The rest of the group looked at one another then followed them up the stairs. Jackson knocked on the door and held his breath. "Alice?" he called out after knocking again.

The group heard the back door open and turned to see Justin walk in. "Bosses?" He called out looking around as he entered the kitchen.

"Yes?" Owen asked as they saw him head towards the staircase.

"You need to see this," Justin said motioning towards the back yard with his head. "All of you."

"What is it?" Owen asked.

"Just follow me," Justin said as he headed toward the back. "And keep quiet." He paused for moment then said, "Please." The group looked at one another then descended the stairs. They followed him out to the barn. Before entering the barn, Justin turned to his bosses. "Remember, quiet please."

Owen raised his eyebrow then lifted his chin, indicating for Justin to open the door. Justin sighed and pulled the door open and stepped inside. The group looked at one another in confusion then entered the barn, following Justin.

"Is the mustang okay?" Axel whispered as it dawned on him where they were going.

"Fucking hell," Gabe muttered as his stomach dropped.

"Here," Justin whispered as he pulled open the stall door.

The men let out a sigh of relief seeing Alice fast asleep curled up against the white pony, who was also fast asleep. Her hand was resting on him in a calming manner, and they could see the fading tear streaks on her cheek.

Justin shut the door and they walked back to the house. "What happened?" Dr. Roberts asked once they were in the kitchen.

"She came in about four in the morning," Justin admitted as he took the coffee mug from Marc. "She overheard us talking about being worried about it not feeding and it being her boy's son. She walked over to it and just started talking about that free horse of hers. I gave her the bottle and she worked her magic, Bosses," he shrugged like he wasn't surprised one bit. "After he took two bottles, she got him up on his legs and they walked around the stall a bit before going outside and he just followed her while she did that whistling tune she used with his pops. She got him back in the stall and continued talking to him as she brushed him. Once he laid down, she joined him and ended up falling asleep on him. I knew you would be looking for her, so I came to tell you. She looked like shit, Boss, what the hell happened to her? Where's her boy? The way she was talking..." He saw their grim faces and sighed, "Shit."

"Yeah," Luke whispered. "It's why she came home. He's on the mantle."

"Place of honor," Justin whispered as he sat the mug down. After a moment of silence he cleared his throat and stood, "Well, I best be getting his feed and more bottles made for her. I have a feeling he's going to be just like his pops."

"Did she name him?" Gabe asked anxiously.

Justin nodded, "Zero."

Corey chuckled and shook his head, "Makes sense."

"Just leave her be right now, Boys," Dr. Roberts said as he pushed off the counter he was leaning against. "That pony may be the only thing keeping her stable at the moment. Don't push her to eat, I know that she's underweight but that is to be expected with her losing her boy. She is completely broken right now, and I mean completely. Those sobs will heart shattering. She feels utterly alone, if you try to step in right now—"

"We won't," North shook his head. "It's going to be hard as hell, but we won't."

"I'll get her old office building fucking changed into a studio for her," Gabe nodded. "That stall attachment can be fucking set up for her pony."

"They can stay out there until she feels ready to come back in here," Jackson nodded.

"Do you want me to tell her when she wakes?" Justin asked.

"Yes," Dr. Roberts nodded. "Thank you."

"Just glad Boss Lady is back," he nodded, "sucks how she came back but glad she is."

"Agreed," the group muttered.

Alice woke a couple of hours later to something in her face. Opening her eyes, a sad smile crossed her lips as she realized that Zero was nuzzling her. "Hi Sweet Boy," she mumbled as she sat up and yawned.

"Morning Boss." She turned to see Justin standing in the doorway holding a bottle. "Breakfast."

"Thanks," she mumbled as she stood. She took the bottle from him, "And I'm not your boss."

He smirked, "you'll always be the boss." He watched as the pony stood and walked over to her then nudged her in the leg making her smile sadly before running her fingers through his mane as she fed him. "By the way Boss, Dr. Roberts wanted me to let you know that the boss guys will be fixing up your office building and stall for you and your boy. They are going to make it like a home for the two of you so you don't have to go back to the ranch house if you don't want to. He didn't think you would listen to the bosses if they tried telling you. I don't mind being the middleman, Boss."

"Why are Jackson and Jasper still here?" she asked nervously.

He shrugged, "this is the home for misfit toys, Boss. They never left."

Zero finished nursing and nudged her. She smiled and kissed him. "Come on, let' go play." She walked out of the stall, and he followed right behind her. After watching him run around for a few minutes she took a deep breath and looked over at the ranch house.