Page 13 of Merry & Wild

“How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” she assures me. “I might not have grown up on a ranch, but Ididgrow up in Montana. This is just winter, John. Tell me what you need from me.”

She makes a good point.

“I have a pregnant mare in that stall there. I want to check on her to make sure she’s not in labor. In the stall across from her is another mare with a filly. We need to check on them, as well.”

I run through a few more chores with her, and without a word of complaint or hesitation, Joy dives in, not at all intimidated to get her hands dirty and work right alongside me.

It’s both surprising and sexy. I’ve never considered the fact that I might find a woman who would want to take on the responsibilities of the ranchwithme.

My mom was never one to get out with the horses and cows. She kept the house, cooked, and took care of us kids.

She didn’t want to have anything to do with the animals.

But Joy just walks right into that pregnant mare’s stall as if she does it every single day, speaks to the horse soothingly and lovingly, and pats her side as she walks around her.

“No labor over here,” she announces calmly. “And you’re absolutely beautiful, aren’t you? Yes, you are.”

Joy walks out of the stall and frowns at me. “These are late babies, aren’t they? Don’t they usually give birth by September—October at the latest?”

“They were both surprise pregnancies,” I reply. “You’re right, it’s unusual. I’m almost done here.”

“No rush. It’s warm in here.” She sits on a bucket that’s turned upside down so she can watch me finish up.

“Have you ever been in a barn before?”

“No.”

I stop and stare at her, shocked. She looked so natural with the horses. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. First time. I did ride a horse once, as a kid, but that was at a birthday party, so it’s not like we were allowed into the barn to look around.”

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”

CHAPTER 8

JOY

“Holy shit, it’s cold outside,” I declare as John shuts the door of his cabin behind us. “What did the thermometer say out there?”

“Ten below zero,” he replies as he hangs our gloves on a rack by the fire, and sets our boots near it, as well. “It’s not as cold as it could be, but it’s pretty chilly. I’ll stoke the fire some more.”

I don’t feel shy at all about grabbing the quilt off the back of his couch and wrapping it around me as I huddle in the corner of the sofa.

“I was fine on the way out there,” I say, willing my teeth to stop chattering. “But on the way back, it was a different story.”

“It got considerably colder in the hour or so we were out in the barn,” he agrees, and once the fire is roaring once more, he walks over and joins me on the couch. “You’re curled up in a tight ball over there. Come over here with me. I’ll warm you up.”

Without hesitation, I scramble over and slide onto John’s lap, letting him cover us both with the quilt, and we stare into the fire for a long time, not saying anything at all. It’s nice to just listen to the crackle of the flames, the sound of John’s breathing, and the wind as it batters the cabin as I snuggle in against him. He must have grown after high school because he’s much tallerthan I remember him being, and I have to admit, that feels nice when he’s holding me.

“This is nice,” John says, echoing my own thoughts as his hand runs up and down my arm. “You know, I don’t remember if you have any siblings.”

“Nope, just me. And you have Melissa.”

“That’s right.”

“She’s quite a bit younger than you.”

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