Page 440 of Conveniently Wed
Katie’s eyes filled with hope. Josiah’s hands clenched tight. How dare Colby contradict him and make an already difficult situation impossible?
“The worst that can happen is what is happening…the foal won’t make it,” Colby said.
Josiah’s anger ruptured to full strength and he shoved off Colby’s hand. “No. The worst that can happen is that my wife will fall in love with a horse whose end will be a bullet to its head.”
Colby stepped back and threw up his hands. “You’re right. Sorry I interfered.”
“Go ahead, Katherine.” Josiah did his best to rein in his anger, but the situation had festered too long within him. “Take that horse in. Try to save it. But when it dies in the next few weeks, or, God forbid, lives without the ability to walk properly, don’t blame me.”
He turned and marched away, angrier than he’d been in a long time. How dare Colby interfere? He made Josiah look like the bad guy. It was getting harder and harder to remain neutral about the unwanted influence Colby wove into their marriage. He would have a stern word with the man in the morning.
Maybe she should have followed Josiah’s wishes, but Katie couldn’t stand by and let the foal die without at least trying to help it. She had the tiny thing brought into the kitchen, and laid down old blankets for a bed and stoked up the wood stove. No matter what the outcome, she had to give this little one a fighting chance.
After hours of trying to get a dribble down his throat, of keeping him warm, the foal still didn’t try to stand. Josiah was right. It was a lost cause.
In the deep of the night, a warm hand fell on her shoulder as she lay beside the foal. “Go get a few hours’ sleep,” Josiah offered. “I’ll keep watch.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “I had to try.”
“I know. It’s not over yet. I’ll come get you if anything changes.”
With a murmur of thanks, she dragged her weary self upstairs to bed. But she hadn’t slept long when Josiah nudged her awake, his eyes bright. “Come, he’s standing. Colby and I got him out to the stable with his mother, and he’s actually nursing.”
She popped from the bed and threw on her wrapper and an old pair of boots.
He waited near the door, watching her.
Standing there with the light framing his broad shoulders, he looked strong enough to defend her from anything. She should say something to smooth things over if she could. While she wove her hair into a quick braid, she said, “I know you were trying to protect me from more loss.”
After she added her old straw hat, he slipped his arm around her, and they headed out the door. “That may still happen, but that’s your decision to make, not mine. There’s a lot to learn about this husband role, and the one thing I know for certain is how often I get it wrong.”
She smiled up at him and leaned in. “Wish I could say I was the easiest person in the world to live with, but that would be a lie. We’ll figure this out together.”
“Together.” He gave her arm a squeeze.
Colby and Kat’s shared laughter spilled out the wide-open doors of the barn. A surge of jealousy flooded through Josiah and he stopped short.
“Look how good little Victory is doing. Even his knobby knees are straightening out.” Her voice bubbled.
“You were the one who saved him, and now he only has eyes for you. Look how he’s nuzzling in for a Katie hug.”
“Come here, my precious,” Katie said. “I’ll snuggle you any time of the day.”
“Who you talking to, me or the horse?” Colby chuckled at his own humor the way he always did.
Josiah fisted his hands. Was Colby flirting with his wife? How dare he?
“With all the attention you get from those girls in town, you don’t need anyone else swelling up your head.”
His easy chuckle wrapped around Josiah’s throat and nearly choked him.
He wanted to hurt Colby. Jealousy burned in his soul, but he had to pull his emotions together. Katie washiswife, not Colby’s. There was no need to be jealous. She shared his bed and his life.
And he didn’t want a repeat of what happened at Christmas. He inhaled a steadying breath.
But then Colby’s voice drifted from the barn again. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask how you and Josiah met.”
“Why do you ask?”
