Page 122 of Stables

Mason shakes his head, absentmindedly stroking Jack’s back. “Same ones that cut down those Ponderosa. Same reason, I’m guessing.”

“Yea, the effects are identical. So they’ve gone from stealing cows, to making sure we can’t have calves.” This is getting frustrating.

“Seems so. The ‘yotes got the evidence before we found them. Doctor Ray said that cow was probably around ten to twelve weeks gestation by the blood levels.” His jaw clenches and his voice drops. “I thought I took care of the problem last fall.”

“Ditto.” Running cattle is hard enough without someone purposefully sabotaging us. “We oughta think about running everyone through and preg checking again.” Who knows how many more lost pregnancies that we don’t know about.

“Fuck.” Mason runs his hand over his face and scratches his whiskers. “If we don’t have enough drop, we’ll be shy on load outs.”

“Well—” I point to the circle of mountains to the north on the map. “—we still have that contract land. Ford did fine up there last winter, and he’s still game for this winter again? At least up there he can watch the water supply. We’ll send every bred cow we have up there to cook off. That should make a big difference. Good pasture there, too.” The hills make a natural barrier against the heavy snow loads letting the animals find solid feed. “We can stockpile some hay up there ahead of time just in case.”

Mason lets out a long breath. “Yea, he’s ready to go. Sawyer volunteered to go instead if we needed him to, but then he found out there wasn’t internet and he couldn’t play video games all winter.” He chuckles, then pats Jack’s diaper when the baby shuffles.

“I think Ford likes the chance to hide.” Not that I blame him.

“Wish he wouldn’t. I miss that crabby bastard when he’s gone. Val said the bar nearly went broke without him drinking there every week.” He pushes the papers together, then folds them into the map. “I guess we’ve hashed enough.”

“We might want to hire a few more guys to keep watch. Between this crap and knowing Char’s ex is still out there running around, more eyeballs won’t hurt.” Pushing up from the table, I grab my tea glass and his empty coffee mug and carry them to the kitchen.

“Dix?” Mason pauses on his way to his room.

“Yea?” I drop the dishwasher door and glance at him.

“I’m glad you’re back.” He gives me a lopsided grin before disappearing.

For the first time, I feel like I’m home.

Chapter 35

Char

I’ve been wondering thislast week or so about Lori. I’m glad she isn’t just sick, that would be miserable with a small baby.

At least Mason seems very supportive. It’s hard to raise an infant without any help.

That makes me squeeze Dixon’s hand a little tighter as we walk back to our house.

It’s nice to call it that. I’m finally starting to see it as “ours”.

And the way that Dixon has stepped in without a pause to take care of Paisley has me falling more in love with him every day.

That man deserves anything I can give him. All the babies in the world.

“Pretty exciting about Lori and Mason. You’re going to be an uncle again.” Hugging his arm, I lean against him despite the late afternoon heat.

Another month and it will be threatening frost by morning.

“Tomorrow I think I’ll go through the last of the boxes that came over so I can find Paisley’s winter clothes to see what still fits her. Maybe Lori can use some of the smaller ones for Jack or the new baby.” Most of what I have for Paisley are hand me downs, but I think there’s still some use left in them.

“If you’d like.” His voice rumbles. “Or you can keep them for ours.”

The thought makes my heart beat a little faster. “Well, that hasn’t happened yet.”

Dixon closes the door and sets Paisley down near the book corner he built for her.

But when he turns to me, fire smolders in his dark eyes. “Char, how long have we been here?” He picks me up and seats me on the kitchen island, pushing between my knees to frame my body with his muscular arms.

“A few weeks?” I’m not sure what he’s going for.

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