Page 6 of The Cowboy Who Worked Late

“I’m really sorry about your mom,” he said. In the next moment, before Angel could tell him it was okay, that she’d finally accepted that her mother wasn’t going to get better, he slammed on the brakes.

“Holy horses,” he said. “I forgot I’m not coming back here.”

“Not coming back here?” Angel had just repeated the words, but they didn’t make sense.

“I’m staying at my parents’ until Monday.”

“I can’t do that.”

Henry looked at her and cocked his head. “Can’t you?”

“No,” she snapped at him. “I look after Trevor, and I…. Daddy likes his eggs a certain way in the morning, and Mama can’t light the stove anymore.”

Henry reached for his phone, which rested in the cupholder. “I’ll make sure your brother and parents are taken care of this weekend.”

“Henry, no.”

“Angel, by your own admission, you need a break, and my momma will feed you, let you sleep as late as you want, and my daddy has the sweetest therapy horses in the world. You can go play ball with them or go riding. Soak in the sunshine. Enjoy the big, wide sky over my family’s ranch.” He smiled at her, and Angel could admit that everything he said sounded absolutely wonderful.

Still, she hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“It’s less than forty-eight hours,” he said gently. “And I can see you need it.” He ducked his head, his eyes on his phone but his hands absolutely still over it. “Will you let me help you?”

Angel closed her eyes and let herself go. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Okay, then,” he said. “I’m going to send a couple of texts, and then I’m going to call my momma.” He stayed stopped right there on the dirt road as his fingers tracked over his phone. A minute later, he said, “Clay, Zane, and Derrick are going to make sure your family is taken care of. Only the senior farriers, your foreman, and the team leads know you’ll be off-site for a couple of days.”

Henry looked at her, and Angel’s insides shook with nervous energy—and so much attraction to this man. “What did you say?” she asked.

“I told them you needed a break and that I was helping you get off the ranch for a couple of days. Asked them for some help with your brother and parents, and within sixty seconds, it’s done.”

Angel nodded and looked away from him. “Thank you, Henry.”

“My word, I’m going to say something my uncle lectured me about endlessly.” He gave a mirthless chuckle. “If you need help, Angel, say something. There are plenty of people willing to help you.”

“I know.” She sniffled and reached up to wipe her eyes. “I’m sorry, Henry. I swear I’m going to pull myself together before we get to your cousin’s house.”

“If you can’t, that’s okay too,” he said gently. She’d seen him working with horses, and he was this polite and respectful and kind to them too. His quiet, almost dormant strength spoke to them, and just as easily to her too. “It’s just game night, and everyone will survive without me. You just let me know.”

She drew in a breath, trying to use the oxygen to fill herself with bravery and strength. “I want to do something fun, and game night with people our age sounds fun.”

“Our age?”

She heard the teasing note in his voice, but she hid her smile. “Yes,” she said. “I know how old you are from your application.”

“Sneaky,” he teased. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight,” she said. And Henry would be twenty-seven this year. June, if she remembered right.

“That’s pretty young to shoulder all you do.”

She could only nod, because yes, she carried a lot of responsibility. “Trevor is seven years older than me,” she said. “He was supposed to take over.”

“He’s a great guy,” Henry said.

“I’ve seen you with him.” Angel released the self-hug, glad when the tension in her muscles started to recede. “You’re so kind to him. So good with him. I really appreciate it.”

“Sure,” Henry said easily. “I’ve worked with quite a few therapy patients through my daddy’s equine unit. He’s just a person.”

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