She crosses her arms and purses her lips.“Right, I’ll take that as a no. Let’s go, princess.”
I hand her water bottle over and grab my coffee and water before we head out the door.
Naomi skips down the hill towards the barns. She likes coming with me now. I was taught a good work ethic from a young age. I think it’s good for her, and she’s old enough to learn now, too.
When we get to the barn, Fletcher already has Goldfish saddled.
Naomi named her, and I couldn’t tell her no, so Goldfish it was.
The ranch hands all say hello to Naomi, and she waves at them.
Fletcher picks her up and holds her for a minute while they talk quietly. She nods at what he says, and then he puts her down.
Naomi walks over to me, and Goldfish dips her head to Naomi, and she giggles, pressing her little forehead to the quarter horse’s large nose. Every time they do that, it makes my heart explode in my chest. “Morning, Goldy, I missed you,” she says.
I get my chaps buckled and our things in the saddlebag, then climb on. Naomi stands to the side of Goldfish and holds her arms up. I reach down, lifting her by the scruff of her jacket, and set her behind the horn.
Naomi leans against my chest as I bracket her small body between my arms, and we take off for the first pasture of the day. Twenty minutes later she’s slumped against me, asleep. In a few years she’ll be able to be on her own. I know she’s safe here, but I can’t shake the overprotectiveness.
An hour later Naomi is wide awake and hollering to help me push cattle.
One of the ranch hands gets a gate closed and I turn Goldfish heading back towards the barn.
“Uncle Coop,” Naomi says.
“Yes, princess,” I say, focused on the ground in front of us.
“Is it breakfast yet?” she asks.
“Yes, we’re headed to the main house now,” I tell her.
She groans and dramatically throws herself back into me. “Finally, I’mfamished.”
I chuckle and glance at her. “Where did you learn that word?”
“Aunt Dixie was reading to me, and she said it.”
“And you understand what it means?” I ask her.
“Well, duh, it means I’m hungry. You should know that, though,” she says with a sassy tone.
I huff a laugh and pick Goldfish up into a faster speed. “You’re right, I should.”
By the time we get to the barn to put the horses in the paddock for breakfast, I can hear both of our stomachs growling. She takes off up the hill towards the house, and the rest of us follow behind.
Aunt Dixie has always gotten up with the family to get breakfast ready while we get started on work. For a while, Uncle Mason was the one running Hayes Ranch. But he’s semi-retired and Fletcher has since taken over most of the duties. But every morning, he’s there to eat with us, and check in on how things are looking. Once a cowboy, always a cowboy.
“Good morning, Grandma Dixie!” Naomi says, grabbing her skirt.
“There’s my girl!” Aunt Dixie says, and tugs her to the corner of the kitchen.
“I made something special for you,” she says, and lifts the corner of a towel with what looks like cinnamon rolls.
I chuckle to myself as Naomi gasps and glances at me with wide eyes. I pretend not to see and go sit down next to Fletcher.
“How you doin’?” he asks.
“Oh, fine, Naomi did not want to get up this morning,” I tell him.
