Page 36 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
“Careful, there,” Nic said.“Riley said you were a good hand, so we’re liable to put you to work while you’re here.”
“Fine with me,” he said.“It felt good, doing some serious, physical work for a change.”
“And the scenery wasn’t too bad, either,” Jackson drawled.
“It’s a beautiful place,” he answered, knowing perfectly well the ranch wasn’t what Jackson had been referring to.
Both Jackson and Nic laughed simultaneously.They were so in tune with each other, it was amazing.
“I’m really happy for you two,” he said suddenly, without thought, because he didn’t need to think about it, it came straight from his heart.
Both of them turned to look at him, Jackson only a glance since he was driving.But there was no doubting the sincerity in that deep, familiar-to-millions voice when he said, “Thank you, my friend.”
Nic simply reached out and touched his hand.“Yes, thank you.”
She looked as if she might say more, but then stopped.He was glad she had, because he had the definite feeling if she’d spoken, it would have been something along the lines of“Now we just need to get you fixed up.”
And if his first thought was Riley Garrett, well, that was only because he’d just been with her.
Maybe.
Chapter Nineteen
“You’re sure you’llbe all right?”
Riley looked at her father, who was ensconced on the living room couch, with his leg elevated on a pillow on the coffee table.He was right beneath the painting done by the man whose family she would be seeing soon.
“I’m fine.”
He sounded a bit cranky, probably because she’d been fussing.But he had everything he should need for the next couple of hours, water, snacks, the remote for the TV, a throw to pull over himself if he got cold, and his phone on the table beside him, with orders to call her if necessary.
“Just go, will you?And tell Maggie I’m sorry I’m not mobile enough to be there.I’d like to see this note you told me about.”
“I’m sure you will, eventually.And I’ll let you know what it said when I get home.Maybe take a photo of it for you.”
“And I’ll just laze around in here like there’s nothing to be done out there,” he grumbled.
“I know vacation and relaxing are foreign words to you, but try and look at it that way.Oh, and the birthing stall monitor is up and running, so check on Goldie now and then.Her udder started producing day before yesterday.”
He nodded.“I know.And call you if she starts getting restless.You better thank young Cody for that while you’re there.”
The youngest Rafferty had rigged up the camera in the stall so they could check on the pregnant mare any time, day or night, from anywhere that had an internet connection.Her father griped about some of the new-tech stuff other ranchers took to, but he liked that one.
“I will.And,” she added, “thanks to the Baylor crew yesterday, we’re pretty much caught up.”
“I hear even that city boy did good,” her dad said, eyeing her rather carefully.It startled her, that look.Did he suspect…something?How could he?He’d barely met Miles, and they’d spent maybe ten minutes in the same space together.She wasn’t even sure they’d spoken directly.
She tried for a joke, saying lightly, “You mean Jackson?Yes, he did do well.Got a lot done.”
He gave her the James Garrett snort she deserved for that one.“Jackson’s no city boy anymore—he’s one of us.You know who I meant, that pretty boy in the boots he probably bought yesterday.”
She had, of course, noticed the black cowboy boots with a bit too much shine still on them.It was a styleYippee Ki Yayin town carried, and she suspected that’s where these had come from.She hadn’t noticed them when he’d been here in Last Stand for Jeremy’s birthday, and she would have.
Because you seem to notice everything about him?
No, she answered her recalcitrant inner voice firmly, because I notice fake cowboys.Not that he was trying to be one.Although judging byStonewallhe’d clearly done his homework.
“He worked hard,” she said.“And he never once complained or asked for a break.”
