Page 63 of Cabins Cows Critics
“Wow, I’m not even tired, are you?” he asks, and surprisingly, I’m not.
“It will probably hit me the moment I try to do anything exerting energy,” I reason, and he pumps his brows.
“Want to test that theory?”
“What did you have in mind?” I ask, swiping my tongue over my lower lip, my pulse quickening, but he climbs from the bed and holds out his hand for me to take.
“It’s time to feed the minis.”
Chapter twenty-five
Connor
NO MORE RUNNING
Ifeedtheminiswhile Hayden joins the other guests for the buffet breakfast Sally-May has cooked for them. It’s the start of the Christmas Eve activities the brothers have planned for them. After breakfast, they’ll bake cookies with Poppy’s grandmother, and then it’s photo time with these cuties.
I’ve got to get seven mini Highlands brushed and happy in their reindeer headdresses and Christmas scarves. Winnie pulls the scarf off her brother, Tigger, and I move her into a separate section while I work on the others.
“Can you give us a hand?” Denver asks as he carries in a large wooden panel.
“Wow, they turned out great,” I say when he sets it down.
“You should see the white one,” Denver says as Atlas follows him in carrying another panel. I help maneuver them into place against the wall in one of the separated sections for photos. It’s one of the best parts about this mini barn. I’ve set it up so thatthe sections inside can be made bigger or smaller or removed altogether, depending on what we need. Right now, I have the minis in a fenced-off area on the right while the rest of the barn is set up for the photos today. I did a really thorough spot clean yesterday and have added loads more straw today to help keep the cows and guests warm. The hanging mint lanterns are still working well, and Sally-May had the idea to add cinnamon sticks to them, so now it really smells like Christmas in here.
“Atlas has outdone himself, hasn’t he?” Denver says, and I have to agree. He’s painted all the scenes for the backdrops of the photo sessions today. This one is a large blue door, with a round white-framed window at the top, and through it, you see what looks like the elves’ workshop. The door is surrounded by red wood paneling, and a painted Christmas wreath hangs in the middle. He’s even painted a large gold door handle with shadows to make the whole thing look super realistic. “When you said you’d take care of the backdrops, I had no idea you could do this.”
“What? You think my only interest is horses?” he asks as he moves the next piece off the back of the truck. I steady it as it slides to the ground.
“That and being naked,” I say, and Denver and I laugh, but Atlas just rolls his eyes.
“I can have other interests.”
“I never said you couldn’t. I’m just surprised you do.” I chuckle, and Denver and I move this piece inside. I hook up some string lights, and Sally-May brings in wreaths and vines to decorate the railings, and by the end, we’ve transformed the mini barn into a collection of magical Christmas scenes.
“Wow,” Hayden says from the doorway.
“Oh, hey, what do you think?” I ask, quickly jogging to meet him and wrap him in my arms, not caring that Atlas, Denver and Sally-May are right there behind me. He passes me a thermosand a cookie in the shape of a Christmas tree covered in green icing and tiny sugar balls.
“It’s amazing. How do you guys have time to do all this stuff on top of running the ranch?” he asks.
Denver makes his way toward the door.
“Free labor.” He chuckles, and Atlas shakes his head.
“You got paid in education and goats, if I remember correctly,” Atlas replies.
“Fine, goats and free labor,” he says as he walks backwards, but then he turns and runs right into Nial, who comes barreling through the door. It’s like watching a train wreck; you see it happening, but there is no time to do anything about it. Denver’s head clashes with Nial’s, and as he stumbles, he grabs instinctively for anything to stop him from falling. Only that thing is Nial, and then he grabs Denver’s arms, as they spin together, Nial landing on top of him on the straw-covered ground.
“Shit, sorry,” Nial says, trying to climb off the top of Denver, but his leg has somehow gotten twisted in the string lights that were waiting to be hung around the doorway, and he falls back down on top of him.
“I should be videoing this shit.” Atlas laughs, but Hayden walks over and crouches beside him, untangling his foot, and Nial stands looking anywhere but at Denver, his cheeks glowing bright red.
“Sorry, man. I should go get the guests. You’re ready for them, right?” he asks, and then he’s out the door in a flash before I can even answer.
Denver takes Hayden’s hand to help pull him to his feet.
“Thanks, umm, I should get going, too. Let me know if you need any more help.”
