Chapter 44 Clint
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Clint
The sun’s burning, the heat rolling in thick and heavy. I wipe the sweat from my brow, feeling it trickle down the back of my neck as I squint at the horizon.
The ranch is as it always is. The place that’s always been home to me. But today, it feels different.
Charlie’s over by the corral, hopping around fast as a jackrabbit, his little boots kicking up dust with every step. He’s talking to Rover, as if he understands everything he’s saying.
The boy’s a firecracker, all energy and curiosity, always asking questions and pointing out things that make him smile. It’s a wonder how someone so small can fill a place with so much life.
I push off from the fence, walking toward him. “You ready to help me with the horses, bud?”
Charlie looks at me, his face lighting up. “Yeah!”
He jumps up and down a few times, then takes off running toward the stables, his little legs pumping. His excitement is contagious.
We reach the stables, and I grab a couple of lead ropes. I toss one to him, showing him how to loop it over his wrist.
“Like this,” I tell him, my hand guiding his as we secure it on the post.
He mimics me with a serious look on his face, as if this is the most important thing he’s ever done. It’s a funny thing to watch, a five-year-old taking something so seriously.
“Now, let’s grab a brush,” I say, leading him toward the new tack room. He practically skips along, grinning up at me. “You think you can help me brush down Daisy today?”
“Uh-huh! I like Daisy!” He bounces in place, almost as excited as I am to get started.
I lead him out to the pasture where Daisy stands, her coat shining in the sun. Charlie runs up to her, his tiny hands patting her gently.
“Hey, girl,” he says in that sweet, innocent voice.
The horse lowers her head, sniffing him, trying to figure out this little human.
I stand back, giving them space, but my chest feels full watching the two of them. Charlie’s got this natural way with animals, a calmness to him that’s rare for someone his age.
It’s as if he knows how to speak their language, even if he doesn’t fully understand it yet.
“Want to show me how you brush her coat?” I ask, reaching for the brush in his little hands.
Charlie nods eagerly and starts to work, his tiny strokes brushing through Daisy’s coat with a confidence I can’t help but admire.
“She likes it when I do it slow,” he says, and I chuckle under my breath.
He’s right, though. Daisy’s eyes soften as he works, enjoying the gentle touch of his hand.
I squat down beside him, showing him how to work through the thicker spots. “There you go, just like that.”
We’re quiet for a while, the sound of the brushes against the horse’s coat filling the air, along with the occasional neigh or nicker from the other horses in the pasture.
It’s peaceful. And for once, everything is exactly where it should be.
When we finish, Charlie steps back and wipes his brow with the back of his hand. “She’s all clean now, huh?”
I stand up, looking at the horse’s shiny coat. “Yep. She’s ready for a good ride now.”
“Can I walk her? Like a cowboy?”
I grin at him, pride swelling in my chest. “You sure can, little cowboy.”
Charlie grins back, his face lighting up as he pulls the rope taut and starts walking beside Daisy, leading her toward the open field. His little legs barely keep up with the horse’s longer strides, but he’s determined.
I follow along, keeping a watchful eye on him. He’s got the spirit of a rancher, that’s for sure.
This boy, he’s a lot like me in some ways.
We make our way back to the stables, Charlie still walking Daisy happily. When we get there, I set up the feeding troughs and hand Charlie the bucket of oats. “You want to help me feed ’em?”
“Yeah! I wanna give ’em all the oats!” Charlie says eagerly, already balancing the heavy bucket with both hands.
I show him how to distribute the oats evenly. His small hands fumble a little at first, but soon enough, he’s feeding the horses excitedly.
“Careful now,” I warn, “don’t overfill the trough. They’ll waste it.”
Charlie nods, taking it seriously. He moves slowly, methodically, making sure each horse gets their share.
As we finish up, Reid walks past the stables, wiping his brow. He sees us and gives a whistle. “Well, look at you two. A real team now, huh?”
Charlie grins, his chest puffing out a little with pride. “We’re cowboys! We take care of the horses!”
Reid chuckles, ruffling Charlie’s hair. “I see that. Maybe Clint will make you a full-time ranch hand soon.”
Charlie nods. “I’m ready, Reid.”
We all laugh, and I ruffle Charlie’s hair again, a warmth spreading in my chest. The way he’s talking, so sure of himself, makes me realize something. This boy… he’s not just the son of a woman I once shared a night with.
He’s part of this. Part of me. Part of what I’ve always wanted.
Later, after the chores are done, I set up a little makeshift obstacle course for Charlie and me to race through. It’s nothing fancy, just a few barrels and some hay bales, but to him, it’s the greatest thing ever.
We race across the field, laughing like idiots. Charlie’s tiny legs carry him as fast as they can, but I’m not about to make it easy on him.
Every time he gets close, I speed up, just enough to keep him on his toes. He squeals with delight each time I manage to stay ahead of him, then grins wide when he finally catches up and tackles me to the ground.
I lie there on my back in the grass, looking up at the sky. Charlie’s lying next to me, both of us panting from laughter.
“You’re fast, Clint!” Charlie says between breaths.
“I’m old, Charlie. You’ll be faster than me one day.”
It’s true. He’s got the energy, the spirit. But right now, I’m glad to be the one showing him the ropes.
I watch him as he stares up at the sky, the sunlight warming his face. He looks so content, so at peace, and something deep in my chest stirs.
Maybe it’s the way he’s taken to this ranch life, maybe it’s the way he already looks at this place as if it’s home, but the thought hits me, sudden and sharp.
This is what I want. A family, with all the noise and the mess and the love. It’s what I’ve been missing all along.
What I never knew I needed but can’t imagine my life without now.
The sun’s already low when I walk back toward the house, the evening heat lingering. Charlie’s just driven off with Dakota, and I can’t help but smile to myself.
That kid, he’s got energy I never knew existed, and I’m damn proud to see it. Makes me think that maybe this place could be home for him.
I stop at the edge of the porch, my boots scraping the wood as I take it all in. The ranch, the house, Charlie out there living like this is his world.
Hell, it might be. This place has always been mine, but now… now I’m starting to see it through his eyes. And that changes everything.
I head for the barn. Reid and Sawyer are finishing up the last of the evening chores, patching what they can after the fire.
I’ve been thinking all damn day about what I need to say. About what I want to change.
Reid’s chewing on a piece of grass thoughtfully when I get there. He’s always the one to joke around, but today, he looks stoic.
Sawyer’s over by the haystack, pulling a rope tight around a bale, and I can see he’s lost in the numbers in his head, just as he always is.
He doesn’t miss a beat with the ranch finances, and damn, I’m glad he’s got that kind of focus. I can ride a horse with the best of ’em, but I can’t make sense of a ledger.
I stop in front of them, feeling that old tension in my chest. I’ve been holding onto this for too long, trying to figure it out myself, but now?
Now it’s time to talk.
Reid looks up first, catching my eye. “Everything alright, Clint?”
I take a breath, rubbing the back of my neck. “I need to talk to you both.”
Sawyer’s already standing straight, dropping the rope in his hands. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” I start. “About what’s been happening recently. About us and Dakota, and Charlie too… and I think I want to make this more serious. I want us to be a family.”
Reid raises an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching, holding back a laugh. “A family, huh?”
I don’t back down. “Yeah. I want all of it. Dakota. Charlie. You guys, too. I’ve been dancing around this for too long, pretending I wasn’t feelin’ what I feel for her. For him. But it’s real.”
Sawyer gives a small nod, studying me for a long second. “You sure about this? You’ve got to be ready for what comes next. It’s not just about what you want. It’s about what Dakota and Charlie want, too.”
Reid’s grin comes back. “Well, hell, Clint. You finally figured it out. About damn time.” He glances at Sawyer and then back at me. “You sure you’re ready for this? Because I’m all in. Whatever happens, I want it too.”
“Same,” Sawyer agrees. “I couldn’t think of anything better.”
And just like that, everything’s falling into place. This is what I want. This is what we’ll have.
A family.
I just hope it’s enough for Dakota to stay.