Loving the Broken Man (The Cowboys of Katydid Farm Book 3) Read online

  "Sure, Jase. Be awful careful, honey," Savannah urged as she kissed him on one cheek while Andy kissed him on the other. He didn't tarry. He grabbed his duffel and hurried into the rundown building before he fucking broke down. He truly hated good-byes.

  Chapter Two

  ‘Hour One’ of ‘Jase's Journey to Freedom', as he was calling it in his head, was spent coming up with a title for the next phase of his life. He'd considered 'The Great Escape,' but quickly discarded it because it wasn't as if he was escaping prison or a POW camp as the name implied, and Steve McQueen from the movie of the same name, he was not.

  Another title he'd considered as he ate his food at the Burger King before it closed was 'The Places I'll Go Tour', which he quickly dismissed because he hoped he was only going to Virginia. He prayed he’d find happiness there, but it remained to be seen.

  He looked at the blank page and released a sigh, jotting down his tentative title in the first page of a notebook he'd purchased for the journey, and after he finished his two Whoppers and a giant glass of tea, he sought out a bench near the sliding doors where his bus was promised to arrive at eight the next morning.

  Jase settled with his large duffel bag on the floor under his legs and thought about the day…his graduation day. It was supposed to be the day when childhood was left behind, or so Jase believed, but to him? It became the day he would seek out his freedom and his chance to be his own man.

  The graduation ceremony was as boring as those events tended to be, and he'd actually dozed off for a short time. He was grateful Lizzy Langer had slapped him on the thigh when he started to snore. There was no love lost between the two, but if his father caught him sleeping, he'd have been pissed at the fact Jase was showing disrespect to the speakers. The wrath would have been more than Jase wanted to bear.

  He remembered watching Savannah and Andy cross the stage to claim their diplomas and how much he'd cheered for them. He'd given them gift cards after the ceremony before he was forced to go to a late lunch with his parents where he'd had to endure his father's endless inquiries regarding his plans for the future.

  Jase tried to explain to his father how he was prepared to move off-post and find a job and an apartment in El Paso he could afford on his own. James Langston totally dismissed it as stupidity suggesting, once again, Jase should take a week off before he marched over to the enlistment office on post and sign his life away to Uncle Sam.

  Thankfully, his mother had shut down all talk of the sort when the food arrived, and they changed the subject to the Langston grandparents in Syracuse and how they'd mentioned they might visit Texas over the summer. Jase was really sorry he was going to miss seeing them, but it was for the best.

  During ‘Hour Two’, Jase listened to a podcast on his iPod about a town in Alabama where a murder had been committed and the authorities had botched the investigation due to the politics at the time. It nearly made him sick to his stomach as he listened, but he had learned life wasn’t fair to anyone.

  Jase was a newly minted voter, so he’d pledged to himself he’d be a good citizen and do his research regarding the candidates in the next election where he could vote, and if he found a viable candidate, he’d be happy to volunteer for the cause. He wanted his rights to be respected on a State and National level, likely because there hadn’t been any respect for them in his parents’ home.

  Maybe it was his pay-it-forward to his country because he didn’t want to serve in the military, and he had to learn to get over his guilt at not signing up as had been expected of him. It might take some time, but he was determined to make the most of his future…away from his demanding father’s expectations.

  ‘Hour Three’ brought a nap as he stretched out over a bank of dark blue, plastic chairs, thankful they were longer than his earlier roost. He had his head on the duffel and the gift from his girls in his hands where he could guard it with his life. He was waiting to open it because it was really the only gift he'd received for his graduation (if he didn't count the envelope his mother had given him…which he was hiding in his white briefs, uncomfortably). His best friends had asked him to wait until he was on the bus to open the box, and he planned to honor their request.

  Jase slept through ‘Hours Four, Five, and Six’. He was pretty sure he could have slept until ‘Hour Eight’, but traffic seemed to have picked up in the bus terminal, and somebody actually kicked his legs. He opened his eyes to see a cop so he sat up, wiping his eyes with his fists. "Sir?" he asked.

  The cop saw the duffel and took in Jase's haircut. "Sorry, soldier. Just checkin' for vagrants. What bus you on?" he asked.

  Jase was actually prepared for that question, should it arise. "I'm headed to Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Sir," he responded.

  "Oh, uh, okay, son. You doin' okay? You got money for food and stuff," the man asked, making Jase feel really bad about lying.

  "Oh, yes, Sir. I think I'll go wash up before I get something to eat," Jase stated.

  "Sure, son. Thank you for your service," the cop told him as he walked away.

  Yes, Jase felt very guilty for lying about his military status, or non-status, but he gave himself a little bit of a pass because his father had been in for more than twenty, so he'd accept the thanks and send positive energy out into the universe for the soldiers who were working at home and abroad.

  He went to the bathroom with his duffel and dug out his Dopp kit to brush his teeth. He washed up and applied more deodorant, knowing he was going to be on a bus for about twenty-four hours. He knew there were stops along the way where he'd have a chance to half-ass clean up before he arrived at his destination, so he'd save his other clean clothes for the trip.

  After he felt somewhat human, he went to the Starbuck's wannabe and bought himself a coffee and a muffin. He sat at a table and watched the activity around him. There most definitely were a large contingent of homeless people who seemed to have invaded the station, so he had a lot of gratitude for the cop for waking him when he did. He could see various nefarious characters walking around, waiting for people to leave their bags unattended.

  Yes, he was grateful the cop had awakened him, and he was no longer feeling guilty about the lie. He needed to learn how to care for himself, and lesson one had been not to fall asleep in a bus station. Thankfully, it wasn’t a hard lesson learned.

  Standing in line for the bus at ‘Hour Eight’, he looked around to consider who he wanted to be stuck next to for twenty-four hours. He saw a few, very questionable characters, and he saw a few mothers with children, so he quickly ruled out both groups. There was a group of four kids about his age who looked like they'd be a pain in the ass, so he started taking in the other group…the grandmas. There were eight as he stood to the side of the passengers and counted them as he took them in.

  Four of the older women appeared happy and eager for the trip together, so he decided to steer clear of them because they'd be talkative and likely on a vacation trip. Two were non-English speakers but they were only speaking to each other, so they'd definitely sit together.

  The other two stood off to the side, one black and one white. Neither looked any too happy to be riding a bus for a full day, so he decided he'd sit next to either of them. They appeared to have things with them to occupy their time, so they'd likely leave him to his own devices.

  When it was his turn to board the bus, he sought out the two women, seeing both of them sitting in window seats, which gave him options. Before he could get to the seat next to the sour-looking, white grandma in a row toward the front, a young girl of about fifteen sat down.

  He then made his way to the back, seeing a scowling, African-American woman with short, gray curls, giving him the evil eye. "Pardon me, ma'am. Is anyone sitting here?" he asked, knowing there were three men behind him who looked surly as hell. He didn't hesitate to give his best innocent smile.

  He watched as the lady glanced behind him at the next passengers before she moved her purse. "It's open."

  He settle
d his duffel in the overhead bin and took a seat next to her with the box from the girls in his lap, still intact. Once everyone was seated, the driver stepped onto the bus and announced the few stops along the way. After everyone determined they were on the right bus, the trip got underway.

  Jase was a little excited because it was the first thing he'd ever done alone, and in his head, he thanked the universe for giving him the foresight to see it was smart to get out of El Paso. He turned to see the lady next to him with her eyes closed, so he quietly opened the box the girls had given him.

  There were several items in the box, but the condoms and lube made him laugh. He'd never had any kind of anything with a guy, so what they thought he'd need with condoms was a mystery. He was heading to Southern Virginia, and while Matt Collins and his partner were gay, Jase doubted Holloway was a hotbed of gay culture.

  There was a cheap cell phone with a charger. He turned it on to see both of their numbers, along with the numbers for the Circle C Ranch and Katydid Farm in his contact list. There was a crossword puzzle book, a few candy bars, breath mints, and an envelope inside. He pulled out the envelope before he put the lid on the box and placed it on the floor between his feet. He opened the envelope to find a card inside.

  On the cover was a guy in a cap and gown with a bright smile. When he opened it, he could see the guy tossing the mortar board in the air. The sentiment was, "You did the hard part. Enjoy the rest of it."

  As he grazed his fingers over it, he felt the raised ink, making him take a better look. It was hand-drawn, likely by Andy, and as he looked at the guy on the front, he saw his own dark hair and dark, blue eyes along with a big smile. He quickly took it in again, seeing it was a cartoon of himself, and he was touched Andy had given her rendering of his graduation because it would be the only image of his day he’d ever have with him.

  Jase-

  We're going to miss you more than you'll know, but we know we're sending you into good hands. Remember to call us and let us know what's going on with you. The phone has a hundred bucks' worth of time, so no excuses.

  Remember to always be safe when you embark upon your sexual adventures. Don't roll your eyes. You will have some. When you do, we want to hear about them.

  You’ll always have friends and family, Jase. Even if it feels a little lonely at first, you're still our best friend, so call us. We love you, and we'll be praying for you.

  Love,

  Savannah and Andy xoxo

  The tears fell without his consent, so he quickly turned to see the lady next to him was sound asleep. He used the sleeves of his hoodie to dry his eyes before he closed the card and inserted it into the envelope. He tucked it into his jacket and leaned his seat back a little.

  Jase closed his eyes and reminisced about the good times he'd had in high school with his small group of friends, blocking out the bad shit regarding his dad. His high school experience didn't totally suck, so it didn't hurt to think about it. For that, Jase would always be thankful.

  Chapter Three

  "I wanna go with ya, Uncle Danny…PLEASE?" Kayley argued as they were getting ready to begin the day. He knew she didn’t like to be away from him for very long, and he loved the little girl for her tender heart…just like her mother’s.

  Daniel Johnson had fought his mother and his Aunt Rae with regard to Kayley's custody, and 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 the rest of his life. He'd made a promise to his sister's memory after she died, and he swore to uphold it.

  His mother had taken very good care of Kayley until the older woman was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. She'd only stopped smoking when Kayley came to live with her as a baby, but apparently, the damage was already done. It broke his heart to think of losing his mother, but Kayley was now his responsibility and he took it 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 of work 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 and lit of up his day, every day.

  "Oooh, can we go to the place with the games?" she asked. Danny had taken Kayley to the pizza place in town with Matt, Ryan, and Rocky, while Tim 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 really had any problems in that area.

  Dan knew Jon and Mickey had contacted Tim regarding a license of some sort for the management system to use at Wonderland Farm and he'd heard 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 very 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 in order to explain things to Danny so he could make 'informed decisions regarding her care', as Tim described them. He appreciated their concern, and 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 asked as he 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," she told him as he placed her on the floor. 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.

  When Kayley rushed down the hallway with her blonde hair pulled back in a crooked ponytail, he didn't laugh regardless of how ridiculous it looked. He saw her happy smile at her accomplishment, and he'd never do anything to break her confidence. "I did it myself," she bragged. Danny decided not to criticize because he knew she was striving toward independence, even at the tender age of five.

  "It looks great. You got everything?" he asked as 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 of substance…like maybe a gun because the child could be a bit aggressive and while he owned a gun that was locked up in the safe in his closet, he'd never put it past her to find one of her own.

  "Yeah. When will Megan come to visit?" she asked as she took it from his hand and hung it over her shoulder as she'd seen older kids do when they came off the school bus.

  Megan was Mickey and Jon's foster daughter they 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 a part of the landscape of being in the large, pseudo-family that was well-rooted in the tie they all had 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 offer to look after Kayley anytime she wanted to stay at Katydid or even got to the Circle C, and 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 broken to ride.

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

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

  "I'm not su
re, but I'll call Wonderland and find out. I think Mick's busy with classes and the farm, but I'll ask. I'm sure they'll come back for Ryan and Rocky's birthdays, so we'll definitely see them in July," Dan reminded.

  "I wish they'd a come back for my birthday," Kayley grumbled. Her birthday was in April, and Miss Jeri had a party for her, inviting all of the kids in the area.

  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 which looked just 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’," he ordered as the two of them hurried out of the house. He put her into her booster seat in the truck 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?" Dan asked. It wasn't ideal, but Mrs. Philips was taking the summer off, and Dan knew 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 around. Miss Jeri even said I can go swimmin' at her house. I need a swimsuit," she announced as she tightened her crooked ponytail, bringing a grin to Dan's face as he looked into the rearview before he pulled into the drive of Mrs. Philips' home. He was lucky to get her as a sitter for Kayley when he did, and he made sure to always pay her 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," he implored because 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 to care for her.