He doesn’t answer me. Typical Jace.
He’s buried in the farrowing season. Same grind, no break. My time with Carli only reinforced my concern for her brother—my best friend since childhood. I’ve seen it when I’ve been over there. He’s heading for burnout and doesn’t even recognize the danger.
“I’m going to check in on Jace,” I tell Luke.
He nods. “Let’s call your new girl Jace, shall we?”
I just laugh, shaking my head. “I’m seriously going to take Jace to lunch.”
“Lunch date?” Garrett asks. “Better clean up. No woman wants to kiss a man that smells like bull.”
“I don’t think Jace and I will be swappin’ spit,” I tell my brothers.
They eye me, their features twisting into twin expressions of disbelief.
Ironic. I actually am taking Jace to lunch.
I pull onto the Buckners’ farm about ten minutes later. My hands are washed, but I’m still wearing the henley and flannel I had on when I was running bulls.
Chet’s walking from the main barn to the house when I hop down out of my truck.
“Hey, Chet!” I shout out to him.
“Aw, heya Cody. What’s goin’ on?”
“I’m here to try to get your boss to take a break. Can you cover for him for a few hours?”
“Jace? Sure thing. He needs some time off the farm.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“He’s in the farrowing barn. Want me to get him?”
“Nah. You go on. I’ll get him.”
I walk in the farrowing barn and look around. Jace is crouched low with a sow, saying something to her in his soft, in-charge voice.
“Am I interrupting you?” I ask.
“I was just proposing,” he says, standing. “It’s only right since I’m responsible for her pregnancy.”
We both laugh. It’s the first time I’ve seen him laugh a full laugh in months.
“Well, I hate to pull you away from your fiancée, but I came to take you to lunch.”
“Can’t.”
He brushes his hands and starts to walk toward the next stall.
I step in front of him. “Don’t make me hog-tie you, Jace.”
“Cody,” he sighs a heavy sigh. “I know you mean well.”
“Nope,” I say. “I don’t mean well. I mean to take you offthis farm. Now go quietly, or go kicking, but you’re coming to Judy’s with me. Chet already said he’d keep an eye on things.”
Jace sighs again.
“I think I remember a time when you gave me a lecture about balance and life existing beyond the fence line.”
