Carrillo's Cowboy by Tee Smith (classic novels to read .txt) 📗

Cody let out a low whistle. “Woah, that’s tough, mate. Have you talked to your mum about all this?”

Austin’s head shook from side to side in a negative gesture. “She’s got too much else to worry about.”

“She really cares about you, you know?”

The colour drained from Austin’s face. “You won’t tell her, will you?”

Cody dragged his index finger over his bare chest, indicating a cross. “Secret’s safe with me, mate.” Austin raised his closed hand and extended it to Cody, who responded with a fist bump. He was a cool kid. It wasn’t his fault he was struggling so badly. He’d been dealt a rough hand. Boys needed their dads around. It was just the way it was.

Austin reached for a glass from the overhead cupboard and filled it with water from the faucet. “I’m going back to bed.”

In the time they had spoken, the house had begun to brighten. It would be time to get moving soon. He knew Callie had a full schedule ahead of her, including a meeting with Austin’s school teacher.

“Do you think you could give me a hand later? I’ve got to bring some feed up to the holding pens,” he asked the boy’s retreating form. He knew he could do it alone, it would barely take him an hour, but perhaps feeling wanted was what Austin needed.

It didn’t take long to get confirmation of this, as Austin raised his thumb in the air and nodded.

“See you in the morning,” he called before heading back to bed. There was little point pretending now.

“I am just waiting on the last delivery. The company promised they would get it to me by Monday afternoon. Here it is Wednesday.”

Cody listened as Callie droned on about her missing shipments. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, of course, he did. He would hate to be in her position. Organising an event such as she was doing had to come with a myriad of dramas. It was her son who had dragged his attention away from her. Just in his line of sight, he could make out the boy's features as he spoke on the phone, and he strained to listen to his words.

“No, I understand. Yes. Another time.”

“If they don’t come by tomorrow morning, I will be insisting they send them express, and I won’t be paying any extra,” Callie continued, seemingly oblivious as she took another sip of her wine. “I just can’t afford another day.”

Cody nodded in understanding, letting her know he was still tuned in to her, even if he was not giving her his full attention.

The slamming of the phone and Austin’s footsteps stomping heavily on the dark wooden floors, drew her attention and she looked up as he charged by them both.

“Where are you going, young man?” she called to the boy’s back. “It’s your turn to stack the dishwasher.”

“I don’t care about the stupid dishes. Wash them yourself. You made them.”

“Austin Adam Green,” she admonished in her best mum voice. “You get back here.”

Cody wanted to hush her, she hadn’t noticed what had just transpired, but he knew he had no place. This was between mother and son.

“I hate this stupid place. I wish we never came here. It’s stupid. You’re stupid!” the boy yelled before slamming his bedroom door with force far beyond his years.

Leaping to her feet with her shoulders trembling, Callie made her way to the boy’s room. Cody knew he had to intervene.

“Cal. Stop.” He reached for her arm, wrapping his fingers around her bicep.

Spinning back to him, her face glistened with tears, and her cheeks flushed. “You heard the way he just spoke to me. That’s not okay in my house.”

“Just let him calm down. C’mon, let’s go sit outside for a bit.”

“And who do you think you are?” she bit out. “You are not his father.”

“No, no, I’m not. Thank God. His father sounds like a total jerk.”

Callie’s shoulders scrunched up, and for a moment, Cody thought she might attempt to defend Adam, but she knew he was right. The man was a jerk. He didn’t need to meet him to know that.

“Just give the boy some time to calm down. I’m sure he will talk to you when he’s ready.” Letting her shoulders drop, he knew she had resigned herself to the inevitable. “C’mon,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and leading her away from Austin’s bedroom. “Let’s go finish our wine, and you can continue telling me about your deliveries.”

It took a beat, but eventually, she agreed, and they moved to the swinging seat out front. The night was warm, and mosquitos buzzed quietly around their ears as they drank in the night air. Already Carrillo Estate had changed since his arrival. Trucks had been moving in for the past week, bringing with them cattle, horses, and equipment. Caravans filled an empty paddock to the side of the homestead, and the hum of general chatter filled the air.

Callie had been busy organising people in many different directions. It was not unusual to see her dressed in her business suit, out in the yard, barking instructions at various workers. Saturday night was the big night. After that, the clean-up would begin.

“I just don’t know what to do with him when he gets like that,” Callie sighed, flopping her head back against the seat.

“Austin?”

“Aha. It’s like he’s a completely different child since we came here. I know he hates it.”

“You just need to give him some time and space.”

“Space?” She looked around. “How much space can a boy need?”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean, he’s growing. He’s trying to find his place in the world. He’s becoming a man, and he doesn’t quite know where he fits in just yet.”

“He’s only twelve.”

“Exactly. His hormones are running rampant. He’s caught between being a boy and a man. Geez, when I was twelve, I couldn’t think about anything other than girls. Not that they were thinking about me.” He laughed, recalling his