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She slides the ordering pad into her apron.“I’ll get this order in and be back with your drinks.”
Daisy folds her hands on the table.“This is so great.I can’t believe I didn’t introduce y’all sooner.”
“It’s been nice getting to know Tyler on Wednesdays.”Jasmine flattens her straw wrapper, then ties it into a series of knots.
“Yeah.Joji gets a garden, and I get to see you.”
The rest of dinner goes well, and Daisy doesn’t put me on the spot about asking Jasmine out.I need to give it more thought before I do that.
As we’re heading out to our vehicles, Daisy and Grayson walk on ahead.
“Jasmine, I enjoyed tonight.”
“Thank you for buying my breakfast.You didn’t have to do that.”She crosses and uncrosses her arms.
“It was my pleasure.And I’ll be waiting for your call.”
She nods.“I’ll talk to them tomorrow.”
By the time I ask her out, I’ll be a pro at prepping gardens.
The next nightas I’m sitting down to dinner, Kent trudges in with his kid in tow.Mason is peppering his dad with questions, a common occurrence since he arrived on the ranch.“Do birds ever sleep?What about deer?Will cows eat brown grass?What if there’s a bug on the grass?”
I tousle Mason’s hair.“I snuck up on a bird once.It was in a bush.Pretty sure it didn’t hear me coming because it was asleep.And the deer sleep.They just find places far away from people when they do.”
Parker joins us in the food line.“Cows like green grass best, but a few brown pieces and some bugs get eaten from time to time.Aren’t you glad you aren’t a cow?”
Mason nods.For a kid who has lost his mom and moved to a brand-new place, he’s doing really well.I’m guessing he saves the rough times for when he’s alone with his dad.
Kent smiles.There’s pride in his gaze.“He’s already smarter than I am.”
“You aren’t supposed to let him know that yet.He’ll figure that out when he’s sixteen.”I wink at Mason.“Right?”
The kid shakes his head.“I’m not smarter than my dad.He’s super smart.Knows all about cows and trucks.He’s teaching me to be a real cowboy.Just like him.”
“You’ll be a great cowboy.”I motion for him to move up to the counter.
“Well, hello there.You look hungry.”Ava serves Mason a large piece of the casserole.“This enough?”
Mason nods.
Kent nudges Mason.“What do you say to Miss Ava?”
“The food looks good.I’m starved.Thanks for cooking.And for the cool shirt you bought me.I’m gonna wear it tomorrow.It looks good with my boots.”He kicks up his foot.
“Mason, you are the coolest kid I know.”Parker squats and pats his back.“Any chance you can help me with the horses tomorrow?”
Mason tips his head up.“Dad, can I?”
“Fine by me.”
“Dad said I can help you.”Mason lowers his voice to a whisper, but it’s not very quiet.“Will I get to ride a horse?”
“Not tomorrow, but maybe one day.”
Mason grins.Having him here has made this a better place, and it was good to begin with.
We carry our food to the table, and everyone asks Mason about his day.This is a nightly ritual now.We find out what he’s learned and answer his long list of questions.
