J.J.
“She’s fine.” Kemp takes a long pull from a beer. Fucker looks funny with a beer in his hands. We are whiskey men. Always have been and always will. It’s what kings drink, and we are the kings of Texas.
I growl his direction, take a sip of my Jack and Coke, and shake my head. “I know she’s fine. Thing is she’s gonna pop any damn day.”
“Can’t believe it.” Kemp studies Navy and Belle at some game.
I know what he’s thinking without asking. I do it every single day, wondering how I became such a lucky bastard with so many blessings in my life.
“Mr. York.”
I look to Howard Richards, a business partner dressed in casual clothes with his family. His two little girls are each holding puffs of pink cotton candy.
“Hey.” I stand and shake his hand. “How are you doing?”
“Can’t complain. Local rodeos and county fairs are always relaxing.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see Navy. “I’m going to the bathroom. You have Belle.”
I nod and kiss her forehead.
“Won’t keep you long, thought I’d say hi since you’re in my neck of the woods.”
“Thanks. Enjoy your evening.” I settle back down, only to have Belle scramble up in my lap.
We drove a good hour to a small town to enjoy the annual rodeo and county fair. You’d think Belle was in Disneyland with how she’s soaked everything up with love in her eyes and a huge grin on her face.
“Cowboy?”
“Yeah.” I take a drink of my whiskey.
“Do you think I can bring Sugar here next year and do that barrel racing thing?”
“Hell yes. There’s a junior division.”
“Thank you.” She turns in my lap, squeezing my neck.
Hell, the girl has no idea I’ll buy her the best barrel horse in Texas when the time comes if she wants that.
“Can I go feed those animals?” She points to a petting zoo.
“Yeah, let’s go.” I grab my drink and then her hand, leaving Kemp and our security driver at the table.
Kemp has his game face on. I have no doubt he’s eyeing ass to take home. I give Belle a five-dollar bill to buy as many damn cups of feed as she wants. Her first stop is the damn goats. She’s been begging for a pygmy goat. The girl fell in love after reading a picture book about a little goat that got into too much trouble. She steals my heart more and more every day with her love of reading, animals, and life.
I chuckle to myself picturing the baby pygmy goat waiting for her back in the barn. I can just picture Navy shaking her head and Belle losing her shit. The damn girl already has her cat, pony, and dog trailing her around the ranch. What will a little goat hurt? And hell, she already has her dream goat named Bubbles. There was no way in hell I was going to deny her that.
“Hey.” Arms wrap around my middle as I watch Belle giggle when the goats lick the oats out of her palm.
I reach down and squeeze Navy’s arm. “Doing okay?”
“Yeah, just exhausted.”
I turn, bringing her to my front so we can both watch Belle out of the corner of our eyes.
“Contractions?”
“No.” She rolls her eyes. I know she’s damn tired of me asking her.
“Ready to head home?”
“I am.” She points to Belle. “She’s not. I think she could live here.”
“That she could.” I kiss Navy on the lips.
She darts her tongue out, soaking up the taste.
“I can’t wait until I can have a whiskey with you.”
“Really?” I tilt my head, interested.
“Yeah, both kids in bed. I’m done nursing. Just the two of us cuddled up on the couch sharing a whiskey. That’s what I can’t wait for.”
“Jesus.” I reach down, adjusting my dick punching at my zipper.
Navy blushes a bright red. “You are impossible, J.J.”
She steps away from me, going to Belle. I hear her making a deal with Belle. We are so screwed the day Belle sees through our bargaining tactics.
“One more ride, a cheesy fry, and then we have to get heading home.”
“But Mommy, can I go through the horse barn one more time instead of a ride?” Belle counters.
“Yes, let’s grab a cheesy fry and head that way.” Navy guides Belle over to the hand-washing station, helping her clean up.
I pull a disinfectant wipe out of Navy’s purse slung over her shoulder and clean Belle’s freshly washed hands.
“Helicopter dad,” Navy whispers, giving me hell.
I lean into her ear, pushing my crotch into her ass. “Petting zoos are disgusting. The animals are usually flea ridden.”
Navy steps forward, grabs another wipe, and scrubs Belle’s fingers. I chuckle and tell the girls I’ll grab them their cheesy fries and meet them in the horse barn. Kemp joins me, claiming he ain’t seen shit here worth tapping. The man has upped his standards, it seems. Hell, on a typical Kemp outing he would’ve banged a chick or two in a bathroom stall by now, and I tell him so.
He shrugs. “Getting old, man. Need to be settling down.”
I don’t rub it in, but I know it’s from seeing what I find with Navy. It will come his way when the time is right. I dig a twenty out of my wallet and grab the cheesy fries. I ordered three, damn well knowing Kemp and I would finish off a boat of them before making it to the horse barn.
The crowds of people make me nervous. Think I’ll always be on high alert when out with my girls. Navy thinks I have one security guy here with us, but she’s wrong. There are five. You won’t ever find me letting my guard down again even when I’m ninety years old.
The fairgoers thin by the time we near the horse barn. Most of the attractions are at the carnival, games, and live band. I stuff a cheesy fry in my mouth. These damn things are addictive as hell.
A cloud of dust comes from the entrance of the horse barn. I see it first then Belle sprinting out and landing face first in the dirt. I drop the food and race to her.
“Belle.” I pick her up in my arms. “Baby, are you okay?”
Her tears are hot and thick. “I lost Mommy. I lost.”
I soothe my palm over her back. “It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m sure she’s in the barn.”
“No!” Belle screams. “I looked in every row. She’s gone!”
“Sir, is this your daughter?”
I stand and look at a woman about the same age as Navy and nod.
“She was frantic in there running and kicking up dirt. I tried to help her but couldn’t.”
Kemp’s cellphone goes off the same time mine does. He answers his and is moving before I can say a word. This isn’t good. Not good at all.
“Kemp,” I bellow.
He continues running, throwing words over his shoulder. “They took her. Our men are in pursuit.”
Belle’s cries are so loud I barely hear him. My knees go weak, and I’m once again left helpless. I walk to a bench and sit down, keeping Belle tight to my chest. I can’t leave her. She needs me.
I squeeze my eyes shut and pray like I never have before.