Page 31 of Second Chance with the Rancher

This was a shoes-off house, given how much manure, dirt and other stuff was on the ground outside, so they kept the floors clean by keeping their shoes on a mat by the door. He wouldn’t have worn them upstairs.

Before she could over-analyze the situation too much, she was throwing on the first coat she could find which she was pretty sure was Nate’s given that it smelled like him, sliding into her slip-on Skechers and heading out into the cool, dark night.

The stars above were brilliant, bright, and winking at her like they knew what was going to happen. Nothing was going to happen. She was just concerned about the horses, that was all. She’d watched both Chance and Skipper be born, of course, she was invested in their well-being.

The gravel crunched under her shoes, but it sounded like rocks in a blender given the quiet of the evening. Nothing but frogs. It was still a little early for crickets, but the frogs were taking the opportunity to sing their night song extra loud since nobody was interrupting them. A hoot of an owl startled her and she jumped as she gripped the handle of the side door for the barn and yanked it open.

The barn was warm and most of the lights were off. Slowly, quietly, she made her way past the stalls. A few horses huffed and snuffled when they saw her, but only Macklin made a fuss for attention. He really was a sweet, pathetic attention-whore. But she was here for it, and went to him, giving him a couple of kisses and pets before continuing on down the barn toward Callie’s stall.

“Everything okay, Minx? Are the honeymooners boning loudly again?” Nate’s voice startled her. She hadn’t come into view of him yet. How did he know it was her?

She asked that very question when she hung her head over the stall to find him sitting on the concrete with a blanket over his body, his head against the side, eyes closed.

“Triss is too tired to come out. Asher would cause more of a stir with the horses, particularly Tiberius. And Macklin is a big attention-whore. Plus, I can tell by the sound of your gait.”

“The sound of my gait?”

“Every person has a unique walk and a unique sound to their walk. I know yours.”

She often forgot that he was a former SEAL, trained in this kind of stuff. Of course, he knew it was her. He also probably knew she’d rubbed her clit until she came in the shower just by looking at her.

“What’s up?” he asked, blinking those dark, dangerous blue eyes at her.

“I … I was worried about Callie.” She opened the stall and stepped inside, the scent of fresh hay hitting her nostrils. It was a nice smell.

He opened up his blanket and she didn’t even hesitate to sink to the floor beside him and snuggle in close, allowing him to drape the blanket over both of them.

“How’s she doing?”

“I think she has a clogged duct. It’s not mastitis, but it’s worrisome. Chance just favors the other teat which means the clogged one can’t unclog.”

“How do you fix that?”

“By milking the clogged one, but when I try, she gets frustrated and steps away from me. It might hurt. I don’t want to upset her, but I am worried. Jacob will be here by eight tomorrow, then he can let us know what’s really going on.”

“You can’t get Ronny or Hank or one of the other guys to come sit out here with her?”

He shook his head and yawned. “These are our horses. Our responsibility. I’d never forgive myself if I wasn’t here and something happened to Callie, Chance or any of the horses. But you should go inside, Minx. There is no reason for you to be out here getting hemorrhoids on the cold concrete.”

She giggled. “That’s not how you get hemorrhoids. That’s just something our parents’ parents told them and they told us. It’s from sitting too long and not getting proper circulation. Truck drivers get them.”

He grunted, but didn’t say anything.

“Besides, I’m invested in their well-being, too. I was there for Chance’s birth, was a horse doula for Callie. I want to see them thrive, too.”

He still didn’t say anything.

Mieka’s eyes drifted closed and her head slowly made its way to his shoulder. She was half-way into dreamland when a big, warm arm wrapped around her and pulled her tighter into his heat and protection. She snuggled in.

“I had a really nice day today, Nate,” she said sleepily, not bothering to open her eyes. “And I’m sorry I didn’t call you first when I found out I was pregnant. That was wrong.”

“It’s okay, Minx. I get it.” His voice was dark and raspy and seemed further away than right next to her.

“Triss knows.”

“She does?”

“Mhmm. She forced it out of me. I was worried it would affect your relationship which is why I didn’t tell her. I didn’t want her to be mad at you. She loves you.”

---