Page 82 of Knot Her Cowboys
Riley inched inside, careful to stay where Buttons could see her and moving slowly as she reached out to stroke the baby. Buttons nudged her head in there for some love too. “Oh my goodness, Mama. You did such a good job! Your baby is as beautiful as you.”
Buttons enjoyed thorough under-chin scratches while I made sure the baby was doing okay.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Riley cooed at the baby. “You gonna have a snack from Mama so Levi can stop worrying about you?”
I laughed under my breath. “I wasn’t worriedquiteyet.”
“But the sooner we have snacking, the better, right?”
I nodded, falling silent as I measured the baby’s heart rate. “Everything seems good for both of them.”
“Of course. Buttons and Baby are obligated to be both healthy and immortal now that I love them.”
“They’re on the right track so far.” I patted Baby’s flank. “Want to slap the fairy slippers?”
Riley’s cheeks puffed up. “Why’d you have to remind me how fucked-up baby horse feet are when they’re born? What does slapping them do?”
“Encourages blood flow, mostly. Doesn’t hurt them at all, but it can be off-putting.”
“God. Understatement of the year.” Riley stared up at the barn ceiling. “I don’t even want to look at them. I’m trying to live in blissful denial about the fact that this little cutie has temporary demon fingers on their hooves.”
“You know what? Entirely fair. I’m so used to them at this point I don’t even bat an eye.” I checked each foot, giving a tap as I went, the baby sniffing me curiously while I investigated. “Did you want to name the foal?”
Riley’s bright eyes landed on me as she whipped her head in my direction. “Really?”
“Only if you want to.”
“Hell yeah, I want to. Are they a colt or a filly?”
“Filly on the ultrasound. You want to check if that was correct now that Baby is earth-side?”
“Roger dodger.” She lifted the foal’s little tail. “Pretty sure that’s a filly, though I haven’t laid eyeballs on newborn horse bits for quite some time.”
I tipped my head to double-check. “Definitely a filly.”
“How about we name her Bluebell for those gorgeous eyes?”
“I think Bluebell suits just fine.” She was a gorgeous filly, and would look even more so when Buttons finished cleaning her up.
“And we get alliteration with Mama.” Riley grinned and cupped Bluebell’s cheeks with soft strokes of her thumb along them. “Who’s my cutest little lady? The grossest, most precious angel with demon toes all covered in god knows what.”
I laughed. “I know what, but I’ll spare you the details.”
“A wise choice.”
Bluebell started nursing with some gentle encouragement and Riley looked absolutely beside herself with glee.
“So fucking cute. I’m gonna die of adorable overload.”
“No dying,” I said with a smile. “Bluebell is probably going to be obsessed with you now since you’re the first person besides me to touch her.”
“Yes!” Riley giggled, scratching all the way down Bluebell’s back. “I love being the favorite.”
I didn’t say out loud that I hoped Riley would stay, for our sake as well as Bluebell’s.
She stuck around with me and loved all over Bluebell and Buttons, while I dealt with Buttons delivering the placenta and making sure all was well there. Once I was satisfied both horses were in good condition, I decided it would be a good time to let them rest together.
“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, but I desperately need a shower.”
