For the Love of the Broken Man (Love & Cowboys #3)

3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

“I wanna go with ya, Uncle Danny! Please?” Kayley was giving him lip as they got ready to begin the day. Danny knew she didn’t like to be away from him for long, and he loved the little girl for her tender heart, which was like her mother’s.

Daniel Johnson had fought his mother and his Aunt Rae over Kayley’s custody. Even without Zach’s help—his brother had decided to stay in DC because he had a job offer and a new girlfriend—Danny wasn’t going to back down from the commitment to take care of Kayley for the rest of his life. His sister had meant the world to him, and he’d made a promise to her after she died. He was determined to uphold it.

His mother had taken good care of Kayley until she’d been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. She’d only stopped smoking when baby Kayley came to live with her, but apparently, the damage was already done. It broke his heart to think of losing his mother, but Kayley was now his responsibility... one he took very seriously.

“Sweet Pea, you have to go to Mrs. Philips’ today because I have to work after I pick up the new hand. I’ll try to get out early, and I’ll take you for pizza tonight,” Danny promised, seeing her cocked eyebrow which always reminded him of her mother as a girl. It lit up his day, every day.

“Oh, can we go to the place with the games?” Danny had taken Kayley to the pizza place in town with the Moran family—Matt, Ryan, and Rocky—while Tim Collins, Matt’s husband, was in Northern Virginia meeting with an intellectual property attorney regarding his farm management software.

Dan didn’t exactly know how it worked, but Matt had told him it had the potential to bring in a lot of money, not that the two Collins men had any problems in that area. Jon Wells, Matt’s attorney, had contacted Tim regarding a license of some sort for the management system to use at Wonderland Farm, Jon and his partner’s place, and Danny overheard Matt talking to his dad, Marty, regarding the price for such a license and how it would bring in more money for the breeding program they’d started at the Circle C.

Dan was happy for his bosses because they’d been good to him, giving him a nice salary bump and year-end bonus; helping him find an assisted-living facility for his mother, Dorothy; and Tim’s research assistance regarding her type of cancer so he could explain things to Danny so he could make “informed decisions regarding her care,” as Tim had explained it. He appreciated their help and concern. They made him feel like a member of the family.

“Yeah, we can, but we need to get movin’. Do ya need to go potty? Wash your hands and face?” Dan picked up her breakfast plate. He’d heated some of the extra waffles he’d made over the weekend, and the syrup on her little cheek made him smile.

“Yeah. I’ll wash my face.” Danny placed her on the floor, and she ran down the hallway and closed the bathroom door as Dan finished cleaning up the dishes. After the dishwasher was filled, he turned it on and wiped the counters before throwing in a load of towels to cycle while they were gone for the day.

When Kayley rushed down the hallway with her blonde hair pulled back in a crooked ponytail, he didn’t laugh, despite how ridiculous it looked. He saw her happy smile, and he’d never do anything to break her confidence. “I did it myself.” The big grin showed him how proud she was. She was striving toward independence, even at the tender age of five.

“It looks great. You got everything?” She went to the bench to pick up her Dory backpack. He didn’t know what was inside because she’d told him it was private, but he weighed it in his hand to ensure it didn’t have anything substantial—like maybe a gun because the child could be a bit aggressive. His gun was locked up in the safe in his closet, but he’d never put it past her to find one of her own.

“Yeah. When will Megan come to visit?” Kayley took the backpack and hung it over her shoulder as the older kids did when they stepped off the school bus.

Megan was Jon’s foster daughter, who he and Mickey were trying to adopt. It had been a few months since the family had gone to visit Dillwyn where Mickey and Jon lived. The last time had been for a weekend party, which was part of the landscape of being a member of the large pseudo-family that was tied to Katydid Farm. Danny thanked his lucky stars for his extended family every day.

Everyone who spent time at the farm was kind enough to offer to look after Kayley anytime she wanted to stay at Katydid, or if she wanted to go to the Circle C. They’d even bought a pony Kayley could ride after Tim and Matt gave Josie to Mickey and Jon for Megan. It was a Shetland gelding, but he was trained for a rider.

Kayley had finally consented to allow Adam Horvath, one of the newer hands at the ranch, to lead her around the pasture on the animal’s back when he was home from college, and Danny was grateful for how everyone accepted him and Kayley into the fold.

There was a new hand coming to the Circle C, and the guy was set to arrive later that day. Matt had said he was supposed to be another horse hand, for which Danny was grateful because Nando, who had been great with horses, had been long gone from the Circle C, and Danny Johnson still didn’t like horses.

“I’m not sure, but I’ll call Wonderland and find out. I think Mick’s busy with classes and the farm, but I’ll check to be sure. They’ll come back for Ryan and Rocky’s birthdays, so we’ll definitely see them in July,” Dan reminded his niece.

“I wish they’da come back for my birthday.” Kayley’s birthday had been in April, and Miss Jeri had a party for her, inviting all the kids around town.

Unfortunately, Mick and Jon couldn’t make it back to Holloway for the party, but they’d sent Kayley a doll with blonde hair and big blue eyes that looked like her. He knew it was hard for Kayley to understand the absence of her best friend for her fifth birthday party, so he took another breath to formulate a response for her, as he was learning to do when it came to his niece.

“Well, we’re all busy, Sweet Pea. You’ll see ‘em soon enough, I promise. Let’s get goin’.” The two of them hurried out of the house to the truck. Danny put her into her booster seat before he climbed into the seat next to her.

“You have a week off next week before you start summer camp. You sure you’re okay with bein’ at the ranch with me?” It wasn’t ideal for Danny, but Mrs. Philips was taking the summer off, and he needed more reliable daycare for Kayley.

“Oh, I can’t wait. Miss Jeri told me she’ll come over, and we can bake cookies. Rocky and Ryan will be home, too. Miss Jeri even said I can go swimmin’ at her house. I need a swimsuit.”

Kayley made the announcement with a curt nod as she tightened her crooked ponytail. Her actions brought a grin to Dan’s face as he checked the rearview before he pulled into the drive of Mrs. Philips’ home. He was lucky to get her as a sitter for Kayley, and he made sure to always pay her in cash because she’d been a godsend to him.

“Okay, Kayley. Don’t sass Mrs. Philips. She says you get a little moody in the afternoon when she tries to get you to take a nap, but Sweet Pea, you get up awful early, and I sure wouldn’t mind a nap in the afternoon if Matt would let me . Just take a nice sleep, and then we can do fun things when I get off work, okay? Please be a good girl.”

Kayley would start kindergarten in the fall, but he’d still need somewhere for her to go from the end of the school day until he got off in the afternoon. He prayed Mrs. Philips would consent to continue caring for her after school started.

The woman was kind and patient with kids because she’d been a substitute teacher before she started an in-home daycare, limiting the total number of children to four at a time. Dan knew his niece could be a pain in the butt because she was so damn smart, but he didn’t want the older woman to refuse to care for her in the afternoons because she talked back. He wouldn’t allow Kayley to be spoiled and take advantage of Mrs. Phillips.

If he could get his niece on board with behaving for her babysitter, he believed they stood a good chance of securing a spot when school started. Never in Danny’s life did he think he’d have to worry and fuss over a child, but many things had occurred in his life he hadn’t expected.

After Kayley was settled at Mrs. Philips’ house, Dan made his way to US-460 to take the Blacksburg route to the bus station. He’d been asked to pick up the new hand, though he didn’t see how in the hell that fell under his job description at the Circle C. He hated going to the city, though Blacksburg could hardly be called a city in the general sense. It was, however, bigger than Holloway.

It was a favor for Tim and Matt which Dan couldn’t refuse because Matt had been damn good to him over the years. He’d hired Dan when nobody would even look at him because of the steel rod in his leg and the lack of explanation for how it got there.

Matt had never asked him what happened, just accepted him as the person he trusted to look after his cattle. For that alone, Danny Johnson would be forever grateful.

He reached into the passenger seat to find the paper Tim had given him with the name Langston printed in large letters. Tim and Matt told him the guy was young and that they had spoken with the kid regarding his future at the Circle C, but nobody knew what he looked like.

Danny had thought about it and prepared himself for the worst-case scenario, based on shit he’d see on television and even when he went to a mall or a restaurant—tattoos, piercings, and crazy hair colors.

God knew kids expressed themselves in ways Danny couldn’t begin to imagine doing himself. His brother, Zach, had a tattoo of a skull on his back that Dan hadn’t expected to ever see, so if his straightlaced brother had one, maybe it wouldn’t be a stretch to think an eighteen-year-old kid might have a tattoo and more. He hadn’t chosen to do anything of the sort to his body, but if others did, then it wasn’t Dan’s place to object.

People walked through the doors into the bus station lobby, but nobody resembled an eighteen-year-old man. Finally, he saw a tall, slender guy with dark hair and a bright smile carrying an Army rucksack and a paisley print suitcase. He had an older black woman holding his arm as she walked with a cane, and they seemed to be happy in each other’s company.

Dan watched as another woman standing near him walked over to the pair and engaged the young man in a discussion. He stepped forward to listen because he was hoping the normal-looking kid was his pickup.

“Miss Esther, it was nice to meet you. I’ll be working at the Circle C in Holloway, so if you need anything, please call me at the number I gave you, and I’ll do what I can,” the young man told the older woman.

She beamed. “You’re one of a kind, Jase. You call me if you need anything as well. I’ll be with Belinda, but she doesn’t live that far outta town. Take care, baby.” The older woman kissed his cheek. The other woman took the bag from him, and they walked away, leaving the young man alone.

Danny studied the kid, determining he must be the new ranch hand. He was a bit taken aback at the sight of the guy because he was extremely handsome in an oddly familiar way.

When their eyes met, Danny felt his knees nearly buckle under him. The kid was stunning, and it finally clicked in his mind—the young man was a skinnier, less muscular, version of Matthew Collins, his boss at the Circle C.

Danny’s cock began to fill as he caught his breath. He wanted to turn and run—not walk—away, but he was doing a favor for his bosses, so he had to get himself under control and take the guy back with him. There was no running away from it.

He took a deep breath to clear his mind and reached for the young man’s green duffel. “I’m Dan. You must be Jason. How was the trip up? Pretty shitty, I’d reckon? I mean, ridin’ a bus and all.” Dan’s voice came out monotone, a sound that made an appearance when he was nervous.

Danny was confused by the Army duffel in the kid’s grip, but not knowing the full story, he held his judgment. It had the boy’s last name stenciled on the side, which wasn’t what he was expecting.

The memories he didn’t want to confront that morning rushed to the surface, but he pushed them down. The kid didn’t deserve his ire for something that happened to Danny years ago.

“Nice to meet you, Dan. You can call me Jase.”

Danny didn’t see anything to lead him to believe the young man was one of those goth kids he remembered from high school, so he sighed in relief. Maybe the kid was okay?

Danny nodded and headed toward the bus station exit, hoping Jase would follow. He kept his mouth shut as they walked toward Danny’s farm truck, and he didn’t hesitate to open the tailgate for the boy to toss in his gear. After they settled inside the cab, Dan turned on the radio to break the uncomfortable silence he was sure would follow.

There was something about the boy that gave off a sadness Dan could recognize, for sure. He had the gloomiest expression Dan had ever seen, but there seemed to be a resolve of some sort that would peek through every so often. If Matt had hired him, Dan was sure the kid must be okay.

“So, you’re not a soldier, right?” Dan was pretty sure the boy was too young to be in the military.

Jase chuckled quietly. “Not even close. My dad’s career. I wasn’t ever going to live up to his definition of a real man, so I dipped.”

Danny was surprised, but it wasn’t all bad. Military life hadn’t been kind to him. He could understand the kid’s desire to get away, so he ignored the comment and powered forward. “So, you worked as a ranch hand somewhere before?”

When the boy all-out laughed, Dan turned. “What’s so goddamn funny?” There was more snap in his voice than he wanted, considering he’d met the guy about six minutes earlier. Finally, the kid quit laughing and turned to Dan, scrubbing his hands over his face before he removed the wool cap from his head. It was May and the wool cap seemed out of place.

“I’ve barely seen a horse up close. Mr. Collins hired me because I’m friends with Savannah Stanford. His husband, Tim, told me I could help him catch up on the computer work at the Circle C and the Katydid. They told me I might be needed at the barn sometimes, and I said I’d be more than happy to help with anything.”

Danny was ready to break windows because Matt and Tim had sent him to pick up his own personal slice of temptation. On top of it, Matt had lied to him and said the kid would be a horse hand. The boy was gorgeous and green as goat shit. He wouldn’t be anymore help on the ranch than tits on a bull.

Oh, Danny would definitely find a way to repay Matthew Collins for the deception. No doubt about it.

“This is the Circle C Ranch where you’ll work some of the time. I actually think you’re gonna live at the Katydid, thank God ,” Danny explained, whispering the end of the sentence.

“Is this where Matthew Collins lives? I met him when he was in El Paso, and I was really impressed with him.” The boy’s comment brought a snort from Danny. He was sure the boy had a crush on his boss, and he couldn’t wait to see how the bull rider would handle it—the hot, young kid focused on him as the tech wizard watched. Dan knew Tim wouldn’t take it lightly, and he couldn’t wait to see the fireworks.

“Yep. I’m pretty sure he’s in the house, so let’s go up so you can meet him. Oh, I guess meet up with him again, in your case.” Dan was teasing, though it didn’t seem as though the boy caught on.

When the younger man followed him without question, Dan knew it was his opportunity to get back at his boss. He stopped the boy on the deck to take off his sneakers as Dan slipped off his boots. “We’ll have to get you some boots. What size?”

“I, uh, I wear a size twelve shoe, sir. I’ve never had boots.” Jase’s steady gaze mad Dan a little uncomfortable. He didn’t know why, but those damn blue eyes were penetrating.

“I’m Dan, not sir , okay? I’ll make sure somebody takes you to the Southern States to get some muck boots. Let’s go on in.”

They went into the house and found the kitchen empty, which was a surprise. “Oh, I guess everybody’s down at the barn. Let’s go.” They walked back out to put on their shoes. When Corky pounced on Dan, he laughed and patted the dog.

“This is Corky. He’s the ranch dog, and he’s a pain in the ass.” Dan affectionately ruffled the dog’s fur.

The laugh that came from Jason Langston made Dan stop in his tracks, his cock had started to plump up again as he watched the young man petting the dog. He’s a kid. He’s younger than Zach. Get your mind out of the fuckin’ gutter, you goddamn pervert.

Danny wanted to slap himself, but he had to keep what little bit of control he had. “Come on.” His voice was harsh, though the young man didn’t deserve his attitude, it was the only way Dan could keep himself in check.

After shoes were secured, they headed to the barn. When they walked inside, Dan stopped and felt the boy run into this back. Matt and Tim were embracing in a deep, passionate kiss, and Danny was worried about how the young man might react. Surprisingly, he gasped and turned his back. Dan wasn’t sure what it meant, but he was worried. “Might as well get used to it. It happens all the time.” Dan clapped his hands to let them know they had company.

He turned to the perpetual horndogs for whom he worked. “Don’t make me get the hose after you two. We’ve got a young, impressionable child here, so put it back in your pants.”

Tim’s giggle always brought a smile to Dan’s face. “Sorry. He can’t control himself,” Matt announced as the two pulled away from each other.

Dan heard a low chuckle from behind him, and when he turned to look at the kid, he saw a beautiful smile on his face. The boy hurried forward and extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Jason Langston, but please call me Jase. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Moran.” The kid shook Tim’s hand vigorously, and Dan noticed Matt wasn’t laughing, or even smiling. It was going to be more entertaining than Dan had guessed. Jase would put Matt, who turned thirty at the end of the summer, through the paces. Dan couldn’t wait to watch.