Page 6 of Cowhand Crush

Chapter 3

Bowen

Avery was hiding something and it made me uneasy. God knows she’d hidden boyfriends from her father before, but that was an expected level of rebellion under the rule of an overprotective and intimidating man like Grady.

This was different. It rattled her—spooked her, despite her best attempts to keep calm.

After forty-two years of working with horses, the most important lesson I’ve learned is patience, and I’ve found it applies to humans just as well. No matter how trustworthy a horse might be, instincts took over when it felt threatened. Muscles tensed, ready to bolt. Fear clouded the brain with the all-consuming urge to run.

Avery hadn’t admitted to anything, but I could see it in her eyes. She was scared.

Since I had no proof, I couldn’t go to Grady with my suspicions. Without solid evidence to back me up, I wouldn’t cry wolf. Besides, he had all the tact of a bull in a china shop. There was a reason Avery hadn’t told him anything. So, I wouldn’t rat her out. All I could do was be here when she needed me.

On the morning of the auction, Beau showed up for work with a bundle wrapped in his arms. Under normal circumstances, all cowboys remained in the bunkhouse. The only exceptions to that rule were those that were married—like Beau, who had his own small house on the ranch as a wedding gift from the boss—and me, the foreman. I had a modest one-bedroom cabin a modest distance away from the bunkhouse.

“Boys,” Beau said. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Tugging a corner of the blanket aside, he revealed a rosy-cheeked baby. Only a month old, with tiny fists, and a thatch of wild, wispy curls.

“Say hello to Beau Jr.”

A flurry of activity filled the bunkhouse as everyone pushed their chairs back and scrambled around Beau to get a look at the newborn.

“What a handsome little devil,” Cody said.

“Spitting image of his mama,” I said.

“I hope to God he has Rory’s brains and not mine,” Beau said.

I’d known Beau for a long time—we’d worked this ranch together for years. Although I’d never seen him as proud as he was now, cradling his sleeping son’s head in his palm.

Just last year, this man had sworn he wouldn’t settle down. And now here he was, married to a sweet woman, with a home of his own, and a healthy baby boy.

I squeezed his shoulder.

“Congratulations, Beau,” I said. “We’re happy for you.”

“I hope you’re ready to chase this little guy around and teach him everything you know,” Beau replied.

“Are you sure he’d bother with a washed-up old cowboy like me?”

Before Beau could respond, the bunkhouse door opened and Avery stepped in.

“Beau Collins, how dare you hide that baby from me.”

Within seconds, she had Beau Jr. dozing in her arms. She cooed softly as she swayed in place with him.

“He’s the most precious little thing,” she whispered. “How’s Rory? Is she okay?”

“She’s doing really well,” Beau said. “There were no complications with the birth. The doctor recommended that she rest for a few more weeks before going back to work, but Rory won’t hear of it. She’s in the kitchen every morning, baking, no matter how many times I insist that I will take care of everything.”

“Birdie and I would love to drop by for a quick visit and say hello, but we didn’t want to crowd her. Would that be all right?”

“Please do. Rory would love it.” He nodded at his son. “It seems you’re a natural.”

Avery smiled and pressed her lips to Beau Jr.’s forehead, stroking his cheek with her thumb.

“Well, it’s easy when you have such a mild-mannered angel like this guy.”

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