Page 27 of In Plain Sight

I gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for taking care of that. I really do appreciate it. Who's looking after the dairy?"

"Clay volunteered when he heard. He's floating this week anyway and said it was that or ride with Wyatt all day and listen to him ramble on about how awesome it is to be mated."

I laughed. "Bran's riding with him, so that could have been doubly as bad."

"I guess I dodged a bullet and made the right choice then," Clay said from behind me as he walked into the barn. "Go on, check on your new mama. I can handle things here."

"You're the best! Thanks, Clay," I said, meaning it. Clay was always the one I could count on. He was the first to step up and pitch in when times got tough, or something unexpected happened, like Mellie going into labor, or my mate showing up out of the blue. I knew he always had my back around the barn.

I left the two men talking and headed back to the nursery. I stopped to say hello to the young calves as I made my way back to Mellie.

"Good morning, Mellie," I said, and noticed the cow turn and try to waddle to me. I jumped the gate and met her halfway. I rubbed my hand over her fur and leaned down to kiss her nose.

We hadn't had the cattle for that long. It wasn't until a bad winter nearly wiped out our harvest and almost bankrupted the Pack that my father began expanding the ranch to include the animals. Before that we only really had horses. Now there were chickens, cows, pigs, goats, and even rabbits. Our newest additions were a small herd of bison. The cows were still my favorite.

It had taken a while for the animals to adjust. Our wolves spooked them easily at first, but over time we had all adjusted and while in human form, the animals seemed unaffected by our wolves. Many of them weren't even bothered in our fur anymore. We had all evolved and coexisted peacefully.

Mellie shook and I continued to soothe her, talking in a calm, low voice that I knew she liked. I spent most of the day there just like that. I saw the signs of her labor increase, but knew it would take some time before the new babies arrived.

Clay came in around lunchtime to check on me.

"Mr. Draper is coming by to sit with Mellie so you can get yourself some lunch. Come on. He gave me explicit orders to escort you over and make sure you eat."

I smiled. That certainly sounded like something the old man would say.

"We should stay until he gets here," I said.

"Would you just listen for once," Mr. Draper said as he walked in. "Stop being stubborn and go with the boy."

"Fine," I said, begrudgingly. "But if anything changes . . ."

"I'll come find you myself," he said.

"Fine," I said again as I told Mellie goodbye, promising to be right back.

I followed Clay to the chow hall, and the moment I walked in I felt Bran's presence. I smiled, got a plate, and took my usual seat at the table where my mate was waiting.

"Everything okay?" he asked casually.

"Great. Mellie's in labor. I may not make it home tonight if she doesn't deliver soon."

"That's the mama cow, right?"

I smiled and nodded, pleased that he had listened and knew who I was talking about.

"I'll come by and check on you when I get home this afternoon. I can keep you company on baby watch if you'd like," he offered.

He had been so sweet, finishing up dinner last night, not being pushy or demanding when I was sore from his training, and making breakfast this morning. I could even overlook the blob of toothpaste he'd left in the sink and the toilet lid that was up and almost caused me to fall in when I got up to pee in the middle of the night. Bran was simply perfect, and my heart swelled with happiness.

"I'd like that," I finally managed to say, trying not to show how choked up his offer was making me.

Austin and Emmett shared a look, but since they refrained from commenting, I held back my need to kick them both under the table. Instead, they turned their attention to Bran and started asking him how things were going and how he liked working with Wyatt.

I stayed unusually quiet throughout lunch, as Bran took the spotlight. I was totally fine with that though and enjoyed a peaceful meal where I didn't feel like I had to be the center of attention the entire time.

When lunch was over, Wyatt told Bran it was time to go.

He squeezed my knee under the table, and I surprised us both by giving him a quick kiss on the lips before saying goodbye.

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