Healing Over Time

Chapter Thirty-Four

Thirty-three weeks after Lee's death.

Alex dunked her tea bag into the hot water she had poured into a mug. The windows were frosted over this morning, a dusting of white across the land. She could see the lights at the barn and bunkhouse were on, smoke rising up as everyone started to wake up for the day.

"Good morning."

Alex looked over to see John walking into the kitchen. He made his way over to the coffee and started the pot, glancing at Alex.

"No coffee?" He asked.

"I uh...just felt like tea this morning," Alex said.

"Doesn't wake you up like coffee does," John said.

"It's got caffeine in it," Alex smiled.

The coffee started up and John looked over at her.

"What's your day look like?" He asked.

"Whatever comes," Alex shrugged. "I want your two new hands to get a flu shot, so I have that down but that's about it right now."

"Wranglers don't get sick," John said.

Alex gave him an incredulous look.

"They get sick," Alex laughed. "They're humans just like the rest of us."

John chuckled and poured his coffee. It did smell good to Alex and her lips frowned, missing the taste. But she had also gone four days without being sick and didn't want to do anything to rock that boat.

"Are you and Kayce talking again?" Alex asked, cautiously eyeing John out of the corner of her eye.

"My son is a stubborn man, Alex," John sighed. "Still acts like a boy at times."

"Have you two tried talking?" Alex looked at him. "Or maybe try listening?"

"I know you heard him a few nights ago," John smirked. "You try talking to that."

John and Kayce had a blowout a few nights ago in the living room. Alex heard them all the way upstairs and, in the bathroom, when they were yelling at each other. It took Kayce an hour to come back up and when he did, he stayed on his side of the bed.

"I just wish you two could come to some agreement that would bring some peace to this place," Alex frowned.

"I told you to center him," John started to walk away.

"That's not my job, John," Alex said.

He stopped and looked back at her.

"What I mean is...I center Kayce, but that doesn't mean I agree with you every time," Alex said, placing her mug in the sink.

"Here I thought you and I were on the same side," John said.

"There aren't sides here," Alex shook her head. "Aren't we all on the same side?"

Kayce walked into the kitchen and stopped. He looked between John and Alex. John nodded to Alex before walking away. Kayce looked over at her as he walked up to the coffee pot.

"What's going on in here?" Kayce asked. "Did he say something to you?"

"No, we were just talking," Alex sighed.

"About what?" Kayce stepped over to stand next to Alex.

Alex leaned in and smelled Kayce's mug, her eyes closing and a small smile on her lips. When she opened them, she saw Kayce had a smile on his lips too, his face more relaxed.

"It tastes awful," Kayce teased. "Really."

"Thanks," Alex giggled.

She pulled back and sighed while Kayce took a sip of his coffee. Kayce glanced at Alex's pouting lip. He then wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her into his chest, kissing her lips. She could taste the hint of coffee on his lips as Kayce pulled away. Alex rested her hands on his chest.