"Luis."  I nodded and gestured for him to sit, which he did with a thwomp. 

Throwing one leg over the other he leaned back and started looking at all the paperwork I had dished out over night.  Eyes trained and tentative.

I took just a moment and ran my hand over my rib cage.  It had healed up nicely, but this man was the reason it had happened. Why my life had been put to danger.  It could have been so much worse; I was so lucky.

Bad thing about these small communities.  You can never really get away from the people you don't want to be around. You were stuck with them, and you had to make the best of it.  I knew that he was trying to throw a reminder my way - trying to intimidate me, but he didn't know the world of law like it did.

Here. In this area, I was the King. 

And he would soon be seeing as such.

Going over what had to be dealt, Jimmy had paced the room, agreeing or trying to disagree on several different things.  Holding him back I had finally put some shackles on the snake.  Even in the line of words, he knew how I was playing this game.  Knew that he over stepped Id be on his ass.  After all, I was his attorney not to long ago.  He knew how I worked.  And I had lots of tricks up my sleeve.

Taking it a pone myself to defend the Johnson's, Harper's family was now under me.  And I planned to keep it that way.

Packing up what was left, I turned over the files and headed my way out, but not before Jimmy could stop me.

"This is bullshit Mondragon."  He was still fuming, but now that we were out of ear shot he tried cornering me.  "What put it in your head to go against me huh?"  Stepping within my personal space I stayed put. He didn't scare.

"I've never liked you Jimmy.  Not sense our very first meeting."  Takin aback he was the one to take a step back as I took one forward.  I was lucky that the area was clear, or the officers on duty would have intervened already.  For once, for a split second I saw fear in his eyes.  The man that was always so sure he could get away with anything, had fear.  Checking himself he arched his shoulders defensively. 

"So just because you don't like me?"  He chuckled.  "Childish move to go to such extremes just for that."  Still chuckling I started to join him, which through him off.  Stopping to see the smile on my face.

"No.  I don't like you.  But you've crossed one to many lines.  You killed Olivia, Peyton's mother, I will prove it.  You Harassed and invade the space of the Johnson's, causing emotional distress.  A sexist pig such as yourself needs to be behind bars before you can do anymore damage to the world we live in."

"Your wrong." Stoic he stood straight, his voice hushed, "but there would be no changing your mind after what I've seen.  Checked out of the hotel you were stayin in...bunked up with my ex I take it?"

"Your a sick man."

"No.  I just know what I want.  And I always get it."

"Be prepared for disappointment this time bucko." About to come back at me, his fist clenched, I was surprised when Jason came in-between us.  Shoving Jimmy to the side and me forward.

"Enough.  None of this in my station.  Caleb, take a walk."  Having hold of my elbow he ushered me forward.

"Oh and Jimmy."  I said over my shoulder.  Pausing in our step Jason aloud me to look over.  "Next time you try taking my boy Lucas away, be prepared to die a brutal and painful death. No one touches him.  Or I will come after you."

~

"Can I try?  Can I try? Can I try?"  Over and over again Lucas asked me if he could try the rain training on Cowboy.  Seeing as I had brought him out just for that reason we brushed him down, trimmed his hair, and then finally brought him out into the Galldings.

Having Lucas sitting on his satle I brought him around the circled gate, commanding on when to trout and when to take it slow.  Rewards were little balls of oats every time he obeyed a command.

"Good job baby.  Now kneel in your heel to put pressure...yes, just like that.  Good job baby!"  He was alone with him now, and the bond I saw was incredible. Cowboy wasn't meant to be with anyone else but Lucas.  It was beautiful how they moved.

Tying him up to the post I helped him down, handing him the last few oats.

I watched from a distance as he gave them to him one by one.  smoothing the hair on his neck and hugging him.  Cowboy may be twice his size, but the horse still hugged him back, his head resting on my boys shoulder.

"Looks like he's getting those miles in."  Startled I swirled and dumped the water I had in my bucket on the person behind me. Caleb.  Oh god, I just drenched Caleb.  And he was in one of his fancy suit!

"Oh dear God!  I so sorry!"  Dropping the bucket I went to him, his arms held out to his sides.  I thought he would be angry, but a warm smile welcomed me as I ran my hand down his socked exterior. The laugh he started admitting vibrating under my hand.

"I didn't mean to frighten you.  Didn't know you were that lost in your head."

"I really am sorry...I-you know-uh...I should just dig myself a hole and crawl into it."  Laughing some more he took hold of my chin, forcing me to look at him.  His hair dripping onto his face.

"It's okay babe.  I can just change.  Then you can get me as wet as you want."  As if I were a school girl all over again I felt my skin heat up.  His hand running over the skin on my cheek.  Cupping it, he brought his lips to mine.  Stealing a fast kiss that was full of passion and promise.  Ah, I was never going to get used to this...it was so open with us now, and having just kissed me in front of my son...

"Mom!"  Oh great...turning toward Lucas, expecting him to be grossed out, I was surprised yet again to see a smile plastered onto his face.

"Yes baby?"

"Are we going to let Cowboy out for the day?"

"Yeah, yea, yes..."  Stumbling over myself I went and brought him out to join the Mare's, Ivory and Rosa.  Lucas in tow, we watched as he went and placed himself with Ivory.

"It's okay Mommy."

"What is baby?"  Leaning over the gate Lucas was dangling his feet.

"About Dragon.  He's a good Dragon...I'm happy that you like him."

"You are?"  He nods extra hard as to get his point across.  The sun starting to peak out for the clouds his blood hair reflex its raise. 

"Do you think he would want to be my Daddy?"  This question completely out of no were I look over my shoulder, looking to see it he was there, and was happy to find that Caleb had gone in to change.  My heart was pounding in my chest.  I had never expected anything like this from my boy.  He had never asked such a thing once.  I took that was a good sigh? I wasn't sure.  With how many men that we knew, and he was now asking this...he knew.  My son was just clever enough to know that I was in love with Caleb.

"I don't know baby.  That, that would have to be something you talk to him about.  B-but I wouldn't do that right now!"  I had to add in before he ran to go ask him.  "Just take it a little slow, see what happens...and maybe, you never know, he might just ask you to be his boy.  That would be the biggest step in his life baby."

"He loves us."  So perceptive.

"I do believe so."  I run my hand through his hair and kiss his forehead, drawing him close to me on the gate.

"Then he is my Dragon....but mama?"  Looking down as he looks up to me.

"What baby?"

"Can he be my Daddy?"