Chapter Text
He’d been asking for months and to a nine year old it may as well have been years. “Come on, mum! Alice is riding and she’s smaller than me! It’s not fair. You never let me do anything fun!”
‘Oh, Edward! That’s not really a nice thing to say is it? We went to three birthday parties just last weekend! And your father is taking you to the circus next week!”
She didn’t much like the idea of Robert and his latest “lady friend” taking Edward away for a whole weekend but she had bit her tongue when she saw Edward’s smile at the news.
Audrey sighed as she wiped the last dish dry, placing it carefully back in its space in the cupboard. Her son had gotten it into his head that he should be a cowboy after watching an American film about the “old west” and it didn’t seem this was one he was going to be giving up on anytime soon; she’d even heard him say “ya’ll” to his toy soldiers the night before.
“I’m sorry, mum. I didn’t mean it. I just really want to be a cowboy. It’s my calling.” He looked up at her with his big soft eyes and her heart melted. How did he always do that?
“Your calling??” She raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Edward, it’s not that I don’t want you to have fun. It’s only…I don’t even know where to start. We’re city folk aren’t we?” She playfully nudged her son's shoulder and he laughed.
“Not me, mum. I’m a country boy now. And I know the name of the place Alice rides if you need help.”
It was no use, not when he smiled up at her like that. He was a good boy, a great student, affectionate and sweet—just like his father was years ago. She really had no argument against it so she finally agreed.
“Alright, my little cowpoke. What’s the name of the ranch?”
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The sedan rolled up the gravel drive, swirling dust around the ‘Farnon Stables’ sign hanging lopsided near the entrance. The drive had been long, but Edward’s excitement filled the time easily as he spoke of all the things he was going to do and learn at his first lesson at the ranch. Audrey pulled the car into one of only three spaces in front of the barn and cut the engine.
“This is it then,” she mumbled to herself and she looked around at their surroundings. A large, sturdy red barn sat imposingly to the left of a small farmhouse with a porch that wrapped all the way around its worn frame. There was a wide, wooden swing hanging from the beams above the porch and a tire dangled from a tree in front. A beautiful golden dog sat calmly at the top of the steps of the house. It lifted its head only for a moment to assess their vehicle before laying back down and closing its eyes again. It felt as if they’d stepped out of their world and into a completely different one, in a different place and time.
Edward hopped out and she rushed to follow him, wondering first why there were no humans to be seen. The golden dog suddenly got up and trotted casually over, sniffing Edward first and then approaching her next. The dog sat in front of her and panted, waiting for pets she presumed. Just as she leaned forward, she heard a sharp whistle and the dog ran off toward the house where it pushed in through the front door that flapped in the wind.
“Come on, mum! We’ll be late!” Edward gripped her hand and yanked her forward at a surprising pace, apparently unaware that they were fifteen minutes early as it was.
Edward pulled her into the barn behind him where they found a young man leaning against the barn wall, eyes glued to his phone. He had beautiful, curled ginger blonde hair and wore a sly grin as his thumbs moved over the screen. He let out a groan as he smirked down at his screen. “Dammit, Florence…” he mumbled.
Audrey cleared her throat.
“Oh! I’m sorry, I hadn’t heard you come in!” He shoved his phone into his pocket. “You must be Edward. I’m so glad you made it. Come in, come in. Who’s this lovely lady you’ve brought with you, Eddie?” he asked as he dropped his hand on the boy's shoulder.
“This is my mum.” He suddenly seemed shy.
“Well, hello Eddie’s mum. My name is Tristan and I’m going to be your instructor today. We just have one other kiddo and then we can get started. Would you like to meet the horses? They’re all very kind, I assure you.” He urged Edward forward with him toward the nearest animal. The boy looked over his shoulder at his mother and she nodded and smiled.
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An hour and a half later, Edward and his friend Alice were sauntering back toward their moms wearing excited and exhausted grins. “That was SO fun, mum. I can’t wait until next week! Thank you for letting me come!”
“I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Edward. I’m very proud of you.”
Audrey leaned down and placed a kiss on his cheek which he promptly wiped off with his sleeve. “Mum!” he blushed.
She couldn’t help but laugh. Her little boy was growing up too fast. He’d been nervous at the start of the lesson but by the end all fear had been replaced by excitement and inquisitiveness. He’d been attentive to the instruction, other than the two times he interrupted to ask about wrangling cattle from horseback and if they sold cowboy hats here at the ranch.
She was pleasantly surprised by how much she’d enjoyed herself as well. The atmosphere of the ranch was calming with no city noise to fill the silence. She heard the birds chirping and the wind blowing. She felt suddenly refreshed.
Alice’s mother Dianna was extremely entertaining as well. She’d been wary of her at first, her fancy attire and high heels seeming out of place standing next to a manure scented barn, but she was lovely and kind and Audrey felt a little disappointed in herself for her blind judgment of the woman at her side.
“See you all next week!’ she heard Tristan shout from his place near the barn and she waved goodbye. He was wonderful with the children and seemed to really love the animals as well. This was going to be a great experience for them all.
“Off with your shoes, Edward. No need to bring the barn with us, I’d say. We’ll toss them in the boot for now.”
The boy sat his bottom on the car seat and kicked his shoes off into the dirt, slamming the door shut and snapping his buckle excitedly as she stared down at his shoes, shaking her head. “He’s a dear boy,” she reminded herself with an affectionate smile.
Audrey popped open the boot and tossed his muddy shoes on top of a pile of newspapers. She slammed the lid shut and was distracted by movement out of the corner of her eye.
An older man with a thick beard and a head of wet, curly, ginger hair stood on the rickety house porch–the golden dog sat happily at his feet. He wore a plaid jacket over a faded t-shirt with worn jeans and bare feet. He leaned against the railing and a pipe hung from his mouth. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen someone smoke a pipe. Their eyes met. She didn’t move. He let a puff of smoke escape from his lips and she tore her eyes away. How odd.
Audrey awkwardly climbed into the car and started the engine, throwing the car into reverse.
“Mum, your belt!”
“Oh, sorry, Edward, I were distracted for a moment. Let’s get home. I don’t know about you, but I’m famished.”
“Pizza?” he grinned.