A few days passed. Jason and I were working well together, and he was starting to remember how things were done. Not that long had passed, and already he was less than a mess.But, that had always been Jason. If he put his mind to something, it would only be a matter of time before he fully grasped it. He hadn't let that many people see that side of him, though, even his family.The ranch was slowly moving back to its normal operations. It was pretty sizeable land that took a lot of work, even when all you were doing was paperwork. I also noticed that a lot of the paperwork was stuff Nathan had left alone. I could feel a pang in my chest as I thought of him being too unwell to even do his work right. The ranch had meant a lot to him, and I knew he wouldn’t have neglected it otherwise.Everything was going fine, until I received a call, just when I’d finished getting dressed so I could go over to the farm.“Hey, Mary?” I said slowly. “What is it?”My babysitter sighed on the other end
Things were slightly hectic without Rachel there. The order we’d been building was slightly off. I knew it, but I was too stubborn to admit it and kept trying to make things work.There was some paperwork I just had to get done before I could make my rounds in the fields, and even then, I had to have my phone on for emergencies, instead of leaving her to focus on it.I didn’t want to think about it, though, how her absence was affecting the ranch and me. Because all I kept going back to, was how Rachel had a toddler, and I’d had no idea about it. I hadn't gotten a close look at the boy. He was young, and she couldn’t have found someone so quickly after I’d left. Which meant, the child could have been conceived, while she was still with me.Dammit, Rachel…how could you do this to me?The feeling of betrayal was heavy on my chest.Besides, I was getting the hang of it, and I was pretty sure the ranch could survive without her there for a bit. For a while.“Hey, boss!”I glanced up as on
There was no word from Jason for a few days. It was to be expected, after his little stop at my place, but why did it hurt me so much? Because he’d misunderstood something? And he’d walked away without letting me explain, while I let him walk away without speaking up a bit more firmly. I’d done it just fine on the ranch. But, I hadn't been vulnerable there. That had been him.It wasn’t quite that the tables had turned, but more than they were back to rights, and I hated it that way.You were going to tell him anyway, I thought to myself. At some point.That didn’t make me feel any better, though.I kept wondering if he needed help, but I didn’t have the courage to go and look for him to ask. Just like it had always been between us. Jason walked, and I was more often than not too afraid to reach for his back, and he left.I wondered if that would ever change about us.When another surprise knock came to my door, I was more prepared. Still, it was a surprise to open the door and see Jas
Rachel and I were back to working on the farm together; there were just a few differences. For one, she stayed over with her son. The ranch hands had been happy to see her back, as well as the other workers in the house. It hadn't been a lie when I said she was missed.I had missed her, too. I was just too much of a coward to tell her outright.With her there with me, everything was back in order and according to plan. It was strange, sometimes when I heard the toddler cry, or I saw him with her, and I’d think that he was my son.This must be what Grandpa meant about me taking responsibility, I thought. I’d had other things on my mind at the time. I felt another fresh wave of guilt, as I realized just how stupid I’d been.After finishing up some work in the fields, I made some lunch for just Rachel and I. The other hands and employees could find their food. I couldn’t hear the boy crying and guessed Rachel had already set him down in one of the bedrooms. She’d been insistent on the on
The next time Jason came to me with offerings of food, it was in the form of a picnic. He knocked on the door, and I looked up ready with a smile. Jason lifted the basket he was holding in his hand.“Want to take a walk around with me?” he offered.After I made sure there was someone to look in on my son, we left. I hadn't called back for the babysitter, I hadn't even gone back home for long, save for a couple of times to get more clothes and stuff. I’d practically moved in.Jason didn’t seem to mind.We walked around aimlessly for a bit, just enjoying the ranch. I knew the acreage was pretty large, though I didn’t know just how large. It was all beautiful, the empty fields full of grass and flowers with some trees spotted here and there, and even the crop fields with the years’ yields. I hadn't had the time to just wander around over the grounds because Jason had never brought me by.We found a beautiful, isolated spot on the ranch, where we sat under a few fruit trees to enjoy the s
Another week had passed, and in that time, Rachel had been going less and less to her place. She’d all but moved in with the child, and most of his stuff was put into the extra room. I was still coaxing her to bring more of her stuff. Eventually, I would talk her into moving in permanently.If only it would be that easy. We had to talk, I knew, not just have sex, which we were doing plenty of in between work. It was a wonder we hadn't been caught yet. Or at least, I thought we hadn't been caught. I was getting sick and tired of running around in secret, though.Tonight, I planned to have her join me in my room for the first time.Because she was coming with more stuff, I’d insisted on her leaving work early to bring him back. I hated the times when she had to call the sitter for him instead of just tagging him along. I hadn't spent much time around him, and the most I did was hear him cry. But, I’d grown used to the thought of him being my son.When I heard a car coming up the drive,
“Hey,” Jason called.I looked over my shoulder from where I was making breakfast for the two of us. We had a bit of a late start for the day, but it was Jack’s first full night sleeping away from home. Jason hadn't minded the noise at night, even helping me out with Jack, and I couldn’t help but feel warm all over just thinking about it.Jason was taking care of both me and Jack.Even though he doesn’t know the full truth yet.I winced as soon as I had the thought, but luckily, he had his arms wrapped around me from behind so he didn’t see.When should I tell him, though? I’d pretty much lost the perfect chance when he came over to my place and found me with little Jack. I should have told him then, talked to him if I needed to. But, I had been afraid, and now, I didn’t know how I was going to tell him after letting the deception go on days.And what the fuck was that? When he asked, giving me another good chance, and my answer was a one-night stand!There was no excuse for that, besi
I walked back to the ranch, feeling like I was walking on air. Things between Rachel and me were going great, wonderful even. The only real problem was that she still hadn't told me the news that I was a father yet. I knew, but I wanted to hear it from her!If she takes much longer though, I’m just going to tell her that I know tonight, I decided. Because I felt like I’d been waiting long enough. She was taking her sweet time coming out with it.I whistled as I came up to the house. There was a car in the driveway beside mine, and I frowned at it. When did that appear? And why did it seem so familiar…? But, I put that out of my mind as I jogged up the stairs. My girl and my toddler were waiting for me, hopefully with a hot meal. What could be more important than that?The moment I got inside the house, though, I regretted not giving it any thought. Because someone jumped me, a soft body molding its soft front to mine as arms went around me. I knew it wasn’t Rachel by hair color alone