Page 54 of Knot Her Cowboys
“Of course.”
Riley slipped one hand into Cash’s and the other into mine, looking at me expectantly. My heart sped up. Her face was still pink and blotchy from dumping out her emotions, but she was gorgeous and sweet, holding back her trauma with both hands.
I grabbed a handful of nuggets and we slipped out of the gate, leaving Tater Tot looking imploringly after us. I guided Riley around to the front paddock, where the mule we were seeking stood beneath a tree, drinking from the water trough.
“Grizzy girl!”
Her head popped up, ears swiveling to listen. Once she realized it was us, she came trotting over, lipping at my shirt in case I had a hidden treat. Her gorgeous bay coat shone in thesun, the white star on her forehead partially hidden by a black forelock.
“Here you go, Grizzy.” I plucked a nugget treat out of my pocket and offered it to her, my hand flat. She inhaled it, immediately looking for more and I passed a couple to Riley. “She’s easily bought by a pretty girl with treats.”
“Well, let me get buying, then.” Riley grinned, offering Grizzy three treats in quick succession. “She’s gorgeous.”
Riley got in some strokes down her neck and flank before Grizzy laid her head over Riley’s back, flattening her against the fence with a yelp from our omega.
“You’ve been chosen.” Cash laughed. “Now you have to pet her until she’s tired of you.”
“Oh noooo.” Riley giggled, fingers gliding over Grizzy’s smooth hair. “I will never survive.”
Her energy was so light when she was with our animals, and I hoped a little bit because she was with us too. I couldn’t do anything about the ghosts of her past living a couple of hours away, but we could do our best to make this place safe.
Once Grizzy released Riley, Cash dipped down to kiss our omega, her scent erupting in a thick cloud.
“We should get you showered if you’re all done with the animals,” he said. “Any dinner requests for your birthday?”
My stomach dropped. “When’s your birthday?”
“Today,” replied Riley lightly.
“Cash, what the fuck? Why wouldn’t you tell us it was her birthday?”
Grizzy nipped his hat off his head, as if she knew exactly where to point her displeasure on my behalf.
“Hey!”
While Cash fought with our recalcitrant mule, I turned to Riley. “Happy birthday. I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
She shrugged. “It’s cool. Not like I’m running around with a birthday hat and sash.”
“That’s my fault.”
We all spun around to see Cooper marching toward us, his hair looking freshly cut, several giant bakery boxes balanced on one hand and a flower crown in the other that he set atop Riley’s head.
Apparently the crashout was over.
Riley stared at me for a long moment before her fingers went up to touch the woven blossoms. “You remembered?”
“Never forgot. Saw the lupines and paintbrushes growing on the side of the road and couldn’t help myself. The ones I made earlier got overheated in the car, and I can’t have you wearing shriveled flowers for your birthday.”
The sorrowful whimsy in her eyes turned sharp a second later. “Cooper, where the fuck did you go?”
“Out,” I evaded.
She shared a quick look and a tilt of her head with Dakota and Cash, both of them quietly slipping away to leave us alone.
Riley moved toward me, but I brought down the cupcake box to block her. I wasn’t ready to touch her yet. My brain would run wild if I got my hands on her, and I needed to keep the distance for now.
She frowned, stopping short. “I thought you were going to disappear forever.”
