Uncle by E. M. Leya Read Free Book Online Page B

tell me which way to go."
    Travis turned his horse so he was beside Evan and pointed. "See that mountain just over there? We are headed close to it."
    "Okay." Jason started moving forward, leaving Evan and Jason no choice but to follow.
    "Keep it slow, Jas. No running ahead of us."
    "I won't, Uncle Travis. I know Evan is new at this. I remember how hard it was my first couple times."
    Evan laughed and shook his head as he gave his horse a soft kick and they started forward.
    Travis stayed right beside him, noticing how Evan gripped the saddle horn for extra security. "You okay?"
    "I will be. It's just been awhile." He glanced to the side and smiled at Travis. "Thanks for this. Was a rough day and this is just what I need to relax."
    "Anything you want to talk about?" Travis rested his hand on his own thigh as the horse followed Jason without any urging.
    "Not now." Evan nodded to Jason. "Not something he needs to hear."
    Travis nodded. He frowned thinking how bad it must be if he couldn't talk about it in front of Jason. It gave him new admiration for Evan and the things he must come across in his job. As stressful and serious as his own custody battle with the Steeles was, it was probably nothing compared to some of the others that Evan dealt with on a daily basis. He had the strange urge to comfort Evan and try and ease the weight he carried.
    "You have the weekend off, right?" Travis asked, keeping an eye on the direction Jason was leading them and making sure he didn't get too far ahead of them.
    "Yeah. And this weekend I really need it. Was a rough week." He glanced over at Travis. "Did you contact that lawyer?"
    Travis stiffened. "I did yesterday, but I am guessing you asking that means I'm going to need him?"
    Evan frowned as if he didn't know how much to say, he glanced up at Jason and then back at Travis. "Yeah. I think you are."
    A sudden rush of fear washed through Travis. Could he really lose Jason? The thought made him sick. He opened his mouth to ask why, but shut it as he looked at Jason who was within earshot. Any questions would have to wait. Not that he had any right to be asking them anyway. The last thing he wanted was to put Evan's job at risk.
    Evan must have known what he was thinking. "I can't talk details, but I will help you where I can."
    "I know and I appreciate that. I wouldn't have you do anything to risk your job." Travis rolled his shoulders, feeling tense all the sudden. "I knew it wouldn't be as easy as I hoped."
    "I have some forms in my car to leave with you. They want more information. Financial stuff and things like that." Evan slowly relaxed his grip on the saddle the farther they went.
    "Uncle Travis, did you see that bunny?" Jason looked back excited.
    "Nope. I missed it. Must have been fast." Travis grinned at the boy.
    "Really fast. I've never seen one hop like that. Can I have a bunny, Uncle Travis?" Jason looked back hopeful.
    "Don't you think we have enough animals on the ranch already? Besides, would a rabbit be happy caged up when he could have all this space to run around in?"
    "I guess." Jason turned around and sighed.
    Evan and Travis exchanged a smile.
    "You're pretty lucky, Jason. When I was your age all I got was one cat," Evan called out.
    "I know. Just a bunny would be so fun. I asked Grandpa if I could get one and they told me I couldn't have pets at their house. Said they didn't want the smell. Do bunnies smell?" Jason pulled back and eased his horse beside Evan's.
    "Any pet can smell if you don't clean up after it." Evan told him.
    "Is that why Jake makes me help clean the stalls?"
    Travis nodded. "Yep. Can you imagine how stinky it would get if we didn't clean them?"
    Jason bit his lip thinking about it and nodded. "I guess so."
    They rode in silence for several minutes before Travis took the lead and led them to the right. He saw the cropping of trees he planned to stop at just ahead of them. Looking over his shoulder, he found Evan watching him. "So how you holding