Page 4 of Healing Her Cowboys
“You need a hand with that, Atlas?”
Atlas turned to see one of the newest ranch hands running over to him. “Thanks, Tony. You can help me unload the rest of it.”
“Happy to help, Atlas,” Tony said. He took up another bale of hay before following Atlas inside the barn. Tony had only been with them a couple of months, but he was one of the most motivated workers they had.
A new load of hay had been delivered. It was just in time too since one of their horses was due to have her foal any day. He wanted the horses to be comfortable in the stall they’d prepped for the birth. Brik thought Atlas was overdoing the preparations, but this was going to be their first birth since opening the ranch.
It was a hot day, even for October, but the duties for the ranch were never done. Atlas used his bandana to dab at the sweat dripping down his face. Although the nights were a little nippy, you couldn’t tell it was autumn with the lingering summer heat pouring down on them during the day. He pulled his Stetson hat down more to block out the rays of the sun.
“Did you ever work on a ranch before coming here?” Atlas asked Tony as they moved the rest of the bales.
“No,” Tony said, “but my older brother and I used to hear stories about grandfather’s younger days working on a farm and bull riding. It sounded exciting enough to want to give it a try. I don’t think I have the bull riding gene in me.”
“Well, the only bull riding we have here is of the mechanical variety down at Rocky’s, but if you keep working as hard as you do, all of this will pay off in the end. You’ll see.”
Atlas appreciated the new help that stumbled their way. It was only two years prior that he and Brik founded Colonial Hearts Ranch. They had decided to open it together after meeting at Silver Creek Ranch, a place where veterans were invited to heal after military service.
He still appreciated the hand-up he received from Andy Harvey. He’d been a mental wreck after being discharged from military service. They said he was unfit for duty. It wasn’t the discharge that messed with him. It was the fact that he had been in charge when his squad walked into an ambush.
He still recalled every one of their faces and names because they had been his brothers, and it was his fault that they were dead, and he was still living. Although working the land had eased some of his guilt, that one bad decision lingered with him every day and haunted him every night. The harder he worked, the less time he spent on that bad decision.
That was why he was so motivated to start Colonial Hearts Ranch. A portion of everything they made went to the families of his men. The money wouldn’t bring them back, but it could at least help their families move on to something better without them.
Everyone, including therapists, tried to convince him that he wasn’t at fault, but what they said didn’t matter when the scene replayed in his head every night. He had gotten a little more used to the restless sleep. At least he wasn’t screaming himself awake at night like he did when he first got back home. That was something.
“Is Lori close to giving birth?” Tony asked him, pulling him out of his memories.
“Very soon, I imagine,” Atlas said. “It’ll be the first horse to birth on our ranch, so it should get everyone on their toes.”
“Can I see her?”
“Sure, but be careful. She’s been a little skittish these last few days. It only makes me think she’s closer to having the little one.”
They walked to the back of the stables where Lori had been separated from the other horses to keep her from being startled by them and other loud noises of ranch life.
She peeked out at them, taking in their appearances.
“Hey, girl,” Atlas said. “Are you comfy back here?” He scratched behind her ears, which she always seemed to enjoy.
When Tony reached for her muzzle, she pulled back.
“Whoa, girl,” Atlas said in a calm voice. “Easy now.” He glanced over at Tony. “You got to be careful since she gets spooked easily these days. You can’t just go in to pet her. You have to talk to her before you approach. That way she knows you have no bad intentions.”
“Hi, Lori,” Tony said, trying to mimic Atlas’s soft tone. “I won’t hurt you.” Before he could touch her, she reared back into the corner. “What did I do wrong now?”
Atlas watched Lori closely and caught the sight of her water breaking. “It’s not you, kid. She’s going into labor.”
Chapter Three
“You’re really going to nurse a cowboy?”
Reese rolled her eyes but realized her best friend Nina couldn’t see her. “You know that sounds all kind of wrong, right? I’m not nursing a cowboy. I’m doing a favor for May and Jason to help their friend. That’s all.” She talked on her car’s phone connection while navigating to her destination.
“I bet riding him would make him stronger,” Nina said with a chuckle.
Reese laughed but shook her head.“How are you still legally a nurse?”
“Because my patients are of the nursing home variety. If I smile too much at one, he may go into Afib and die. That makes me behave.”
