The little guy was perched on the fence, ball cap on, smiling. “Hi, Unca Belly. How’s Unca Jason doing?”
Uncle Belly. Oh, Jesus Christ. “He’s riding like a dream, did you see?”
“I did see. Uncle Candy looks sad.”
“Well, I bet he misses riding himself. We’re gonna have to get him on some bulls, too.”
“Unca Jason says he’s really slow.” Benji grinned, plumb angelic for a moment. “Momma says lunch will be ready in haff an hour, and not to let Unca Candy cook for you. He’ll poison you for sure.”
“Good to know.” God bless Missy, honestly. “You want a piggyback ride back to the house?”
Benji clapped his hands and squealed. “Yes!”
“Well, come on.” He’d see how far they got before Beau put a stop to it. The man had issues with him hurting his neck. He lifted Benj up and over, got the kid settled. “Point the way.”
“That way.” Benji kind of used his ears as a steering wheel.
“Got it.” He headed toward Beau and them, hands on Benji’s legs.
Beau glanced up and grinned. “It’s your boy Benji, Jase. Looks like he came to collect us for food.”
“Momma sent me.” Benj grinned at Jason. “You rided, Unca Jason.”
“I did, kiddo.” Jase reached out and patted Benji’s leg. It was clumsy, but he hit the right parts.
“I like the bulls that spin. Dalton’s gonna ride, but I’m gonna be a bullfighter like Uncle Poppy.”
“Now, that’s a hard job, man.” Sammy wouldn’t be a bullfighter for love or money.
“It’s the best job. Guardian angel.” Such a sweet boy.
By the time they’d walked to Missy’s, his neck was screaming and he wasn’t sure he could reach up to get Benji down.
It was Andy who reached up and pulled the kid off, swinging him around. “Go find your momma, huh?”
“Yessir.” Benji ran off, and Andy stared at him.
“You all right, Bell? I know your neck ain’t great.”
“‘M okay.” He waited out the little gray sparkles in front of his eyes.
“Hey, Poot. Sit down, huh? Missy says there’s coffee. I’ll get us some.” Beau led him to a chair and eased him down. He nodded, took a deep breath, and got his shit back together. When he could see clear again, Beau was there, handing him a steaming cup of coffee. “Grub looks good.”
“Cool. Thanks, Boug.” He drank deep, humming around the lip of the cup a little bit.
“No problem. You got to watch that, babe.” Beau said it under his breath, hand lingering on Sam’s wrist.
“I know. I just…” He shrugged, met those fucking amazing eyes.
Beau knew.
He got that crookedly little smile, Beau squeezing his wrist a moment.
“You boys better come and get it before Andy eats it all!” That was Missy, voice sharp as a blade.
“Lord knows that boy can eat, hmm?” Sammy grinned up at Beau, levered his ass up off the chair.
“Yeah. I’d say it’s starting to show, but he’s almost as skinny as Jay-Jay.”
