“We already have a petting zoo, so an actual zoo might not be too far,” he said. “And then, I could get models of all the animals made, and they would look so good in my collection. I wonder if Mason could do that for us.”
“It’s still all a dream at this point,” I reminded him. “But let’s say it happens and you get your alpacas and everything, what would that look like for us?”
Jace paused for a moment, humming. “Well, we’d need a barn for them, and maybe they could be given more field space. But for us, well, I would like to say we’d have a bigger house and an actual dining room. I don’t want to get too carried away.”
“No, get carried away, baby.” I liked hearing what he had to say, even if they were just dreams to him. To me, they were ideas on what I could do to make this place better for him. It was almost my job to make his dreams come true, because he’d made mine come true already. I was living a romance stripped right out of the pages of a book.
All we needed now was some hot chocolate, a warm open fire, and a blanket. It was everything I’d seen on shows and movies and didn’t ever get to have. But Jace made me want it all, his warmth was enough though, and his cuddles were enough to see me through the winter.
The holiday season came and went. It was over in a blink. It seemed like we were doing the same day over and over, but with small differences each day, like what dessert Jace had cooked up and which onesie he would wear. The best kind of changes each day.
As the seasons changed to spring, the icy grounds thawed, and the sun came out in full force revealing the new green leaves from all the surrounding trees. It was awe inspiring to see so much change happen in such little time. I was so used to the tiny changes that had everything feel the exact same, all year round.
Back in the habit of riding, I traveled through the field with Jace as he rode Bramble. I’d finally managed to dress and mount Coal, although he was a bit more temperamental, after the first time, he settled slightly, knowing he would be rewarded a little more than the other horses.
We rode in quiet, taking in the fresh air and surveying the fields.
“Maybe we could have a house out here,” he said. “You know, away from the family, but not too far away that we’re in a different zip code.”
Since the investment into the ranch had been successful, there was a rush of money coming in from wealthy people requesting training for their kids and horses. It also meant we could talk about making the house bigger, but his family had still shelved the idea of them footing the bill for more alpacas.
“Personally, I’d love to stay close to the horses,” I told him. “And I don’t see your father agreeing to relocate the stables after paying to have a new one constructed.” It was a large stables, more modern looking. I preferred the look of the old one, it had stood the test of time, and none of the horses minded it.
“True, I just want some space for us,” he said. “Like, my space.”
“You remember MySpace?” I asked.
He chuckled. “No, well, I know of it, I never had it. Did you?”
“No, my parents restricted internet time and then I never had the time.” I didn’t do anything on social media. I think I had an old profile set up to stay connected to people I met over the years, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d logged into it.
“I suppose we’ll eventually get more space,” he said, going back to the conversation about moving the house. “I mean, eventually, the ranch will be handed over to me and Olivia. I’ll let her keep the house as long as we can build our dream place somewhere out here.”
“Whatever you want, baby.” I knew those were some far future plans and ideas. I supported all of them, even the wild ones, but he was Wilde by name, so wild by nature. “And by then, we’ll be able to have the stables closer. We’ll just have to work towards it.”
“Good idea,” he said. “I still want a field of alpacas too.”
“Done,” I proclaimed. “Consider it done. Everything you want, I’ll make happen.”
He giggled as he got closer on his horse. He leaned in and kissed me. He’d become much braver on horseback now. “Now I have to think of some things to do for you, you know, to make sure it’s not all take. I want to give too.”
“Just give me your love,” I said. “It’s all I need. And it’s all I want.”
We rode around for a little while longer. It was the last time we’d be on the horses for a week. The Saddle Up event was a flight away, and my contacts there setting up had mentioned a ranch with alpacas for sale. I wanted to be there first to put my bid in, and hope to sell Jace’s love for alpacas for some form of favor that they’d sell direct.
“Race you home,” he said to my surprise. This is what he’d done for me, he’d trusted me to teach him how to ride, and here he was, almost putting me to shame. Except Coal was a speed demon, and we were back at the stable with time to spare. Time to check my phone and make sure my plans were all in place.
They were.
31. JACE
Livestock shows were my favorite part of living on the ranch as a kid. I got to travel around the country with my dad and grandpa, and we’d go see all the animals. This was when we were in the business of buying and selling, way before I realized as an adult they were just shuffling assets around and were in the same hole of debt they were now.
But they still had the same magic for me because of all the animals there, on show with the potential to come home with us. And in the last couple of years, an opportunity for me to showcase some of my other skills, but I hadn’t been able to bake in the past since we’d stayed in hotels with no kitchenettes.
I was prepared this time.
For the event, it was my dad, Olivia, me, and Lorenzo. My mom and Diane were making sure the ranch was being taken care of, and while Diane never came with us, she was taking a more active role in the ranch, specifically overseeing the construction workers building the new stable. And my mom naturally had to oversee her.
