Hudson nodded, squeezing his knee again. “Of course, you’re teaching me. I’m ready.”
“We should get over and show Hudson the property you’re looking at too.”
“Yeah. I want his opinion. See what he says.” Hudson was a smart son of a bitch and… Jack tilted his head. Did Hudson have a lot of family? He’d never heard much about them, if at all.
“I’m interested. Jack showed me a few pictures, but it’s hard to really see it that way.” Hudson was eating well; Mackey would be pleased.
“Yeah, land is like that. You got to stand in it and feel it.” Mackey, the cowboy poet.
“Okay… so, who’s your favorite bull out there right now?” Oh, Hudson was starting shop-talk. That should get the beer flowing.
It took exactly two minutes before the debate was on, and the laughter filled the night air.
Fuck, this was the best goddamn day—friends, horses, stars in the sky, and Hudson right here.
Jack was so incredibly hooked.
18
Hudson took the last sip of his coffee and glanced into the empty cup, surprised he’d gone through it so fast. He was standing on one of the upstairs porches and admiring the amazing view. From up here, he could see the pond out back with a little dock and what looked like a canoe. There was a pasture beyond it with something, deer maybe, grazing in the sun. And there was a big blue sky and a nice breeze.
He was enjoying all of it.
He’d enjoyed Sid’s breakfast too—his omelet and crispy bacon had hit the spot.
Waking up here, in the enormous bed in Jack’s room, had also been nice. Lazy and warm, and Jack had been in a stellar mood.
His lover had woken him up with an orgasm, callused hand stroking him off and Jack kissing him before heading to the barns. Jack seemed so happy, so easy in his skin, and he’d never noticed how that looked until now.
Speaking of lovers, he pulled out his phone and texted Jack.
Hudson
You ready for me? Or should I hang out here?
He’d been waiting, because he wanted to give Jack some time alone to check on the horses and breathe a little, figuring Jack wasn’t used to having someone glued to his side all day every day.
Jack
Sure. Want to meet the new girls?
That was gratifying, how fast Jack answered.
Hudson
I do! Be there soon.
He trotted back down the stairs, rinsed his mug in the kitchen, and put it in the dishwasher. He caught Sid working on a laptop at the kitchen table. “Hey, I’m headed to the barn.”
“Have fun. I’ve got some work today, and Mackey’s working on the deck out back. You guys enjoy your day.”
“Thanks.” He gave Sid a wave and made his way out to the barn.
He heard something on the way out, and he was stunned to discover that it was Jack, singing. The sound filled the air, low and happy and surprising in its musicality. He peeked in the barn, catching sight of Jack brushing one of the horses, cheery as a cricket.
He didn’t know the song, but he tried to hum along as he wandered Jack’s direction. He slipped a hand into Jack’s back pocket. “When you retire you have a career in music ahead of you.”
“Ha. This is Miss Mercy. She’s a good girl.” She was stunning, this white horse with a black splash on her nose. She was sleek and seemed to watch him like a hawk.