Caleb's Blessing(28)

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In the morning I had to go to the south pasture to check on a sick heifer. I hated like hell to leave her, but she seemed okay since she had a lot to do or so she claimed.

“I don’t expect you to babysit me Caleb.” I had my arms wrapped around her with her head resting on my chest as we stood in the kitchen.

We’d just finished breakfast, which was the only meal we didn’t share with the others every day, but I was expecting that shit to change soon too. The first time one of them gives her a sad look, she’d cave. The fucks.

“It’s not babysitting, I hate being away from you. The boys will be around in any case so you know what to do if you need something. I should be back in a few, I think I hear the vet’s old clinker pulling up outside. Give me your mouth.”

I kissed the breath out of her before letting her go to get my hat. With one last look at her over my shoulder, I headed out.

“Morning doc.”

“Morning Caleb, heard tell you had some excitement in town yesterday.” Gossiping fuck.

“You did did you?”

“Yep, I saw your ma last night, me and the wife were over to the house for dinner.” Shit.

“Doc don’t you think you’re a little old to be gossiping with my mama?”

“Boy it’s not gossip, we were just shooting the breeze. For what it’s worth I think it’s about time somebody put that Crane girl in her place if you ask me, with her highfalutin ways.” He actually sniffed.

“Doc we going after my sick cow or standing around here yapping like two old biddies?” The way his eyes were trained on the house, I knew what he was after; but I wasn’t quite ready for that yet.

Taking her into town yesterday was a necessity, but I see now what I had to do, before I go introducing her around. Yes that was it, and why not?

My heart felt lighter and I wore a stupid grin on my face as I clapped doc on his shoulder. “Let’s go old man. The sooner we get there the sooner we get back.”

“You feeling okay boy?” he was giving me the squinty eyes.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know but you’re grinning like a simpleton for no cotton picking reason at all.”

“Oh there’s a reason alright.”

I couldn’t wait to get back to her, and as soon as doc had finished taking care of the heifer that had just come up lame, we headed back.

With my mind now made up I saw no need to put things off. I wasn’t worried about the timing or the fact that we hadn’t known each other that long. I knew all I needed to know, and if she weren’t on the same page, I’d just have to see to it that she is.

I almost lost my new happiness when we pulled up to the house and I saw the condition of my yard. At first I thought maybe a stallion had gotten out of the stall, or maybe Brutus.

My heart all but stopped at the thought and I was about to call out for her, but then I heard the boys and knew that if anything had happened to her they would’ve found me.

They were alerted by the sound of the engine and came to meet me to ask after the heifer. After exchanging a few words with doc I said goodbye to him and turned my glare on the lot of them.

“Who the fuck dug up my yard?” I asked before they could speak. My front yard looked like the aftermath of a twister.

“We did boss, we’re making a garden for Ms. Amanda.” Diego was carrying a bag of what looked like special soil.

“Come again?”

“Yeah, roses.” Mikey had another sack of some shit thrown over his shoulder.

“Since when? How come when I said I wanted to plant a garden you fucks hemmed and hawed and acted all put upon? Now you’ve gone and dug up half my yard.”

“Boss seriously, that’s some female shit, it wouldn’t have looked right, but now with Ms. Amanda here, it’s okay.”

“That shit don’t make no damn sense boy; what kinda roses did you get?” I didn’t want anyone else getting her flowers dammit.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what kind of rose did you buy?” I was being an ass for sure, but who can blame me? They’re always showing me up in front of my girl.

“Pink ones.” He nodded his head at me like I should know the answer, like I didn’t know that pink was my woman’s favorite color.

“I didn’t ask you what color you ass, I said what kind?”

“You mean there’s more than one?”

“What the fuck? Did any of you clowns even bother asking her what kind she likes?”

“Boss we got a few of ‘em so no worries.” Diego dropped his sack on the ground at my feet.

“Are they all the same species?” They looked at me like I was nuts.”