Page 26 of Flint

I glance at Kane who looks like he’s biting his lip to keep from laughing at me. He clears his throat. “You boys ready for some fun?”

For the next hour, Kane and I guide the boys on the ponies. We never let go of the reins as we give them instructions and let them trot around the pasture. The entire time, their delight is obvious. They can’t stop smiling, their little chests puffed out with pride. They’re going to have an amazing childhood spent on this ranch.

After riding the ponies, I let them help me with farm chores including cooling down the ponies and feeding the chickens. Then it’s time to feed the cats.

“You have more cats?” Brock asks as they walk with me along the path to the cat shed. They’ve followed me all over the ranch today, sticking like glue. I think I have two little shadows that are going to be following me around for the next few years.

“Yeah, like ten of them,” I answer, reaching for a number that’s in their grasp.

“And your mom let you?” Branson says.

“My mom loved cats,” I answer, swallowing hard.

“Does your dad?” Brock says.

“Yeah.”

“Does your dad ride horses too?” Branson asks.

I hesitate then try to go for the simplest explanation. “My dad doesn’t live here.”

Brock stops to poke a toad with a stick, so I slow down. “Our dad is at the beach. He had to go on a boat.”

“The boat won’t bring him back,” Branson sighs as the toad hops away. “Not even if you’re good and eat your veg-tables.”

My heart squeezes in my chest, and I don’t know what to say. This isn’t something I can fix for them, and I’d give my kidney to be able to. “I’m sorry about that.”

Brock starts walking again, dragging the stick behind him so it leaves little lines in the dirt. “Is your dad on a beach?”

“My dad is in heaven.”

“Oh. Can he ride horses there?”

I smile at the idea there might be a cowboy heaven, and maybe my dad is there, waiting for me. “I’d like to think so.”

“Cool,” Brock says.

We arrive at the shed, and I point to it. “See, it’s a cat house. I built it myself, just like I built the bed you slept in last night.”

“You can build anything!” Branson says.

I open the door to show them the cats, explaining that the tiny flaps are cat doors for the cats to come and go. I show them how to gather the old straw and set out new straw to keep the cats warm. Then I guide them behind the shelter.

“This is the feeding station,” I explain and set the tiny bag of dry food down. I teach them how to scoop it from the bag and put it in the cat dishes.

“No more,” Brock says when the bag is empty.

“Hold on, I have a delivery coming right now,” I tell them just as I see Kane jogging up the path with a twenty-pound bag slung over his shoulder.

“Hey, boys,” he calls out when he sees them. “Got a fresh delivery for cat dad here.”

Brock giggles. “Cat dad.”

I chuckle too. “Yeah, I’m the cat dad. I adopted the cats, so I’m their dad now.”

Kane turns to go. “Oh, yeah, meant to tell you that Bronco said he could round up some guys and get that cabin done in half the time.”

I look at the boys, but they’re busy scooping out cat food and barely paying attention to us. “Stall him.”