yeehaw

Jack shrugged his shoulders, not displaying any type of fear for his sister finding out about this mishap. While he knew what her reaction would most likely be… it was still Lou. The major talking point would have been how many people had posted pictures of the donkeys downtown and Jack making a spectacle rather than the fact they left the property. Though, leaving the property would’ve also been a talking point. Just not the highlight. “I’m thinkin’ that I’ll just herd them back, honestly. If I rope one of ‘em the other ones usually do a good job of playing follow the leader.” He tapped the rope that hung from the saddle, “If anything they all got halters on so I could just tie all three of their asses together.” 

travis could tell the man didn’t care too much but he knew that even if he didn’t tell lou, she was bound to find out. it was a small town after all and on top of that, social media was a thing. “yeah right. well, i can at least help ya corner ‘em or somethin’ and maybe follow ya back to the farm to make sure you get them where they need to be.”

Nicholas nodded his head at Travis’ words about love at first sight. He really hadn’t thought about it. But, it’s not like the man was wrong. “Knowin’ Lou so long, I really hadn’t, but I don’t know, it’s like seein’ her in a new light so yeah, okay, I can see it not being so made up.” He nodded his head again, “I’ll get somethin’ set up with us. I can cook or somethin’.” Nicholas rarely turned down an opportunity to cook.

travis nodded his head, a smile resting on his lips. “i really am happy for you man. after everything that’s happened, if anyone deserves to be happy, it’s you.” he breathed out. “but for sure. i’d love to just come over and hang out with my date. sabrina’s, i don’t know, but i know i like her. a lot. i feel like a love sick teenager, man.”

“I’ve got a big German Sheppard. She was a gift from my dads when I got the job here. She’s all black and I hope once I settle down a bit more here to get an all white one. Have one of each.” She smiled as she gave the dog a few more scratches before standing all the way back up. “Nice to meet you Travis. You and Clyde come here often?” 

“a german shepard, huh? what’s her name?” travis asked. he was pretty interested in animals and maybe if he didn’t choose the family business as his career choice, he definitely would’ve gone the vet route. “me and clyde do come here pretty often. we have to feed the cattle back at the farm and he likes going for rides so i can’t leave him home too much.” he chuckled.

“Shit,” Jack sighed, placing a hand on his hip and resting his forearm against the horn of the saddle. Travis said that the donkeys had just rounded the back of the grocery store and it wasn’t exactly a surprise. They were probably rummaging around acting as if they had never eaten a day in their lives, making quite a scene, and disturbing the peace. “Nah, I was workin’ on the fence. Turned off the power to the electric fence and didn’t turn it back on.” Jack couldn’t help but laugh at the situation a bit, “Lou’s gonna have to trust someone else with workin’ on their pasture if I do this shit again.” He could already see his sister with her arms crossed and that smug look on her face knowing that her brother had, again, forgotten to turn the fence back on and now the donkeys were out. “Would you mind? Brought the ol’ boy down because I feel like chasing ‘em on foot or with the truck just wouldn’t work out that great when it’s just me.” 

travis knew how it was to have to chase some cattle down. a couple of his cows had got out before and he had to try to get them back in the fence and he didn’t mind help jack with this anyways. “that makes more sense.” he chuckled along with him. he could definitely see the look on lou’s face or even the words that would spill out of her mouth if he’d called her over this but he was glad he didn’t. “well, we’ll keep this between us unless someone else around town tells her the donkeys escaped.” he shook his head in response, “no i wouldn’t mind at all. what’s the plan? what do ya think the easiest way to get ‘em back to the farm is?”

“That’s what you need,” that’s what everyone needed, someone that was good for them. “It’s what we have had comin’ for good reason,” Nicholas admitted to him. The troubles both men had to deal with in their past were ones they had long overcome. “We ought to get together, double date, celebrate or something.”

“i think you’re right. it’s just weird, man. you ever think about love at first sight? i thought that stuff was made up but now, i’m not so sure...” he admitted and bit down on his bottom lip in thought. “but yeah, we should plan a double date. i think it’d be fun.”

Sierra smiled, “Oh I don’t know if I have spoken to her before but I am sure she is nice or I have spoken to her and I don’t remember. But as long as you’re enjoy it.” She smiled looking over at the guy for a moment. Shrugging, she smiled for a moment, “I might be, well mainly yes.” She sighed looking over at him, “Do you think I am a bad mom for not trying to tell him earlier on in life?” She sighed. 

“she’s nice to me and the girl is pretty interesting. she keeps my attention anyways and it’s just weird, you know? i never felt such a connection during the first conversation but me and her, we just clicked.” travis admitted. he pursed his lips and thought for a moment, “i don’t know. i don’t think it makes you a bad mom but you definitely should’ve told him beforehand.”

Nicholas’ lips curled into a large grin at the sound of Travis having an actual girlfriend. Like Nicholas, neither of them had been entirely keen on dating over the last few years, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone out there for them. He had been licking his own wounds from Amber leaving him at the alter and well, it was apparent that time did heal. “Hell yeah,” Nicholas was grinning still at Travis, “I’m so happy for you, you deserve a good woman.”

both of them had been struggling with the dating scene and both for very good reasons. nick was left at the alter and travis was divorced. both were painful things to go through but they got through it and they both found people they really cared about. “hey, you do too. she’s good though. she’s really good for me and i really like her.”

“Well,” Greer said with a proud smirk. “I guess that’s a done deal, seein’ as you can’t possibly work that hard, now can ya?” She tilted her head to one side and gave Travis an innocent grin before laughing. Teasing him was too easy. “Oh my gosh, you’re totally smitten!” She knew that look all too well, and while she hadn’t seen it on Travis in a while, she could recognize it instantly. “Travis, I’m so happy for you. I’ll have to get to know her, then. She sounds like a real special gal, especially if she’s got you all head over heels.” 

“oh, i don’t?” travis asked, laughing a little and shaking his head. he decided not to go on about everything he did on a daily basis, seeing as greer was more than likely just messing with him. he pursed his lips, trying to hold back the wide grin threatening to spread across his face. “i might be...” he trailed off. he definitely was. anyone who saw him with her could see that. “she really is special. i can’t wait for you to meet her.”

❀

Gabrielle couldn’t help but chuckle. “Mine is like that, too. Except she’s about twice his size.” She crouched down to give the dog another few scratches. “I bet he gets a lot of attention being this cute.” She realized she had only really been speaking to the dog and stood up. “Sorry. I see a dog and I’m in love almost immediately. I’m Gabrielle.” She stuck her hand out, giving him another smile. 

“what kind of dog do you have?” the cowboy questioned. “honestly, i want to get a second one but i’m afraid clyde with feel left out if i do.” he added and then nodded his head. “it’s alright. i get it.” he chuckled. “it’s nice to meet you. i’m travis.”

“That sounds just like her,” he laughed at the thought of Lou being easily distracted by baby cows. It hadn’t surprised the man in the slightest. Nicholas let out a lowly chuckle as he shook his head, “It’s goin’ to be a hard one, but I’ll do my best,” he teased in response, his laughter growing but still softened by the smile that overtook his lips. “A date, yeah? Well atta boy,” Nicholas was happy that he had a good time, “Havin’ a good time is all you can hope for, ya know? Any plans to go on seein’ her again?”

“yeah, i’m pretty sure that’s the whole reason that she stopped by. i don’t really think she was there to catch up with me.” travis confessed, a laugh escaping his lips. “yeah, a date.” he knew it was surprising for him. dating wasn’t normal for travis but he was getting back into it and with someone who obviously had really caught his attention. “yeah, actually. she’s my girlfriend. made it official at the halloween party.”

“I know that but you know still. Who did you come with again?” She smiled looking over at him for a brief for a moment before shaking her head, “I meant I would tell you what happened another time. I am still telling him tonight.” She sighed shrugging for a moment.

“sabrina. sabrina elliot.” he answered. travis pursed his lips a little and nodded slowly, “i mean, that’s your decision. are you telling him because you have liquid courage in your system?”

In the short distance from the bar to Travis’s truck – after deciding to lay her feelings bare – Sabrina imagined a million and one possible reactions. The majority of her fantasized outcomes were in her favor. It wasn’t possible for her to be feeling such ardor, something so visceral and emotionally raw as this by her lonesome. At least she ardently prayed she wasn’t. Naturally, Sabrina had prepared a minor speech to articulate how she felt but every phrased she practiced over the last twenty four hours was wiped clean from her mind. I’m crazy about you. How was she supposed to focus on anything else when he said things like that to her, made her heart beat so erratically she was frightened it would spring right from her chest. Her cowboy had a knack for rendering her speechless so it shouldn’t have come as a great surprise that his confession was brief yet effectively expressed his point. And lord did the words she most wanted to hear float with sweet intention into her ears. Immediately, relief flooded her frame as her hands reached forward to grip the front of his shirt. As if to reassure herself it was real. It wasn’t a time for talking, for once. 

It seemed intrinsic presently for Sabrina to pull Travis towards her, her lips meeting with his once. Then twice, a little longer. Then a third time before she was forced to take a breath. She lingered there, her forehead resting against his own; soundless for a stretch, simply feeling each other’s presence. As seemingly accidental there meeting appeared and every occurence thereafter, there was something beautiful about this moment. Maybe it was the way he was looking at her, like she was all that existed. Like she was all he needed. Maybe it was the way the moon shone from behind his head like a halo made entirely of light. Eventually she regained her voice, tender expressions rising from her throat and past her lips with a calming ease. 

“In case that wasn’t confirmation enough, I accept”. With flushed cheeks, a brief bubble of laughter sounding before she hid her face in his chest, a grin still planted firmly on her lips. “Fair warning cowboy, you’ve got a lot to handle. So I’ve been told” she teased, tilted her head back to gaze amorously. “Take me home” 

travis decided being honest was what he needed to do. he figured that if they were going to keep this going, he should tell her how he felt. he couldn’t even believe how much he liked her in such a short period of time but sabrina, she was amazing. she was sweet to him and fun and beautiful and to him, she was out of his league. she deserved so much more than he could offer her but he was going to do everything he could to make her happy and hope that was enough. so far, he seemed to be doing just fine because they were definitely having a hard time keeping their hands to themselves and giving each other space. he kissed her back each time, his arms wrapping around her waist as he did so. he couldn’t hold back his smile and instead, he moved closer to her. he closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath as she leaned her forehead against his. 

“i was hoping it was. i don’t know you if you can tell but i really like you.” he breathed out, chuckling softly. travis leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “maybe i like a challenge.” he teased, his hand rubbing over her back. he looked down at her as she spoke again and leaned down, pecking her lips. “i can do that.” he replied as he slowly shifted to open the door for her.

Sierra laughed, “It’s not that I don’t believe you could get one, I just, it shocked me that you have one. It’s not often you come to events with a date. I was starting to think I would have to bring Kiera to be your dates.” She laughed a little looking over at the guy for a moment, “I will make sure to tell you what happens. It’ll probably have to be over coffee some other day.” She laughed a little. 

“it’s not like me to come to events. i don’t like frequenting places where there’s a lot of alcohol.” he had an occasional drink here and there but he was trying to give it up completely so that he didn’t relapse. “that’s probably best. i don’t think this is the time or the place.”

“I did,” she said, her voice clearly showing how annoyed she was by the whole thing. She wasn’t going to bring it up, necessarily, but if Travis asked… Well, she couldn’t help but tell him all about it. “I don’t know one single thing about workin’ on a farm, but I’m sure I could really get some work done out there for y’all. Probably get Employee of the Month and everything.” Greer was obviously joking. She had a very certain set of skills, and none of them felt like they were useful on the Kinkaid farm. Either way, she wasn’t going to guilt Travis into a job. “Travis! That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you, look at you, you’re all smitten.” She gave his hand a squeeze, excitement written across her face. 

travis was surprised but he figured she didn’t want to talk too much about the fact that she’d quit her job. he nodded slowly and then laughed, “yeah, i’m sure i could teach ya some things and then i’d have to give you employee of the month, especially if you picked ‘em up and worked as hard as i do.” he teased. he’d give her a job if she needed one but he was sure that no woman wanted to work on a farm. it was hard work and dirty. “yeah, she’s...well, she’s perfect. i don’t know how else to explain her. i just really like her.”

“No, Evie knows. She knows that I’ve been busy with work, I tell her every time I see her.” He was entirely too defensive for it to be true, but Spencer couldn’t fathom the idea of his daugther thinking anything less than the world about him. “You’re eright, you don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. I’m goin’ to let Ivy know and then we’ll see what happens. I’m not goin’ down without a fight on this, though. Evie’s my daughter, I’m not goin’ to stand by and let everyone keep me from seein’ her just ‘cause you’re all so caught up in the past.” 

travis furrowed his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes at his brother, “so, i don’t know what i’m talking about because i don’t have kids?” he asked, tilting his head to one side. “let’s set one thing straight, i’ve seen her more than you have and maybe that’s in the past but it’s not that long ago. don’t force your daughter to see you if she ain’t ready, spencer.”

she knew he wouldn’t help her with the truck, but it had been worth a shot. what shot? she wasn’t sure. “i’ll… i’ll probably just drop mom off.” she felt like an intruder in this home, but she didn’t want to ruin it for their mom’s, especially when they were actually friends, had been before her and Travis had even gotten together. “i know you would’ve, but you didn’t have to.” then he asked the question and her eyes fell to the ground, then to the dirt road, really any where that wasn’t travis.  he’d moved on, and she wasn’t going to ruin that. even if her own feelings were at stake, she wasn’t going to mess it up. but he’d also made it obvious he’d moved on, so she took a breath, then looked back at him. “i didn’t want a divorce. i asked for a separation because i thought that’s what you needed to get better, and i thought having that separation would get us both in a place where we could be good for each other. i never knew how to tell you that, but i never wanted to leave you.” it wasn’t fair, and she wasn’t trying to put the blame on him. “i know i didn’t express that, so i accept the consequences of where it lead. you wanted a divorce, so i gave that to you. i don’t know, i guess it could be like those stupid movies, where they spend time apart, the heart grows founder with…” she trailed off and leaned against the truck.  “i only ever wanted you to be happy. and it seems like you are. so whoever she is… she’s lucky.”

travis was trying his best to be civil, especially since she was still somewhat friends with his mom. the last thing he wanted was to make things worse. he really didn’t know what to do when it came to fixing things, especially when it came to a wounded relationship. honestly, being friends with an ex wasn’t something he’d ever done but if it helped things with their families then maybe he should give it a shot, that is, if that’s what gracie wanted. “i know that. i wanted to though.” he didn’t want hard feelings. he just wanted them both to move on and he wanted them both happy. it was obvious that he was the only happy one though. “yeah, well leaving me didn’t help. it made things worse before i got better and it would’ve been nice to have someone to lean on. it’s alright though. everything happens for a reason.” their divorce included. he didn’t hate her for leaving but he realized that his feelings for her weren’t as strong as he thought. “i hope you find someone who makes you happy and makes you forget all about me.”