Page 41 of Cowboys & Protective Ways

19

Ian

The smile on Ian’s face wouldn’t leave. Even in the moonlight, the complete awe that was written on Jessica’s face was worth every second he’d spent helping the cow to give birth. He loved the fact she was so enthralled with it all. It was just one more bit of evidence that she belonged here. Belonged with him.

He put everything in the crate and lifted it. “You ready to head back?”

Her gaze was dragged from the calf. He could almost see the “but” on the tip of her tongue. She wasn’t ready to leave yet. Ian laughed. “We can come check on them tomorrow and every day after that if you’d like.”

Jessica glanced at the calf again. “What are you going to name it?”

Ian laughed again. “Of course you’d want to name it.”

Her attention shifted to him. “You name your horses.”

“We only have about a dozen horses here. Cattle, well, we have a lot more than that.” He chuckled. “If we named all our cows, we’d run out of names real fast.”

Jessica frowned. “But your intervention made it so this one could live. Wouldn’t you want to give it a name? You share a connection.”

He shook his head, the smile not leaving his face. “How about you name her for me?”

Her features brightened. “Really?”

Ian blew out a breath that was half-laugh, half-sigh. “She’ll be the only one with a name, but go ahead.”

Jessica looked at the calf again. She dropped down to a crouch to get a better look at the animal despite the darkness and distance between them.

“Well, what’s it gonna be?” Ian adjusted the crate in his arms.

“Apple Pie.”

He tossed back his head. “Apple Pie? Now you’re making me hungry.”

She snickered. “I think it suits her.”

Ian gestured to the other side of the corral. “Let’s head inside. It’s getting late.” He started toward the barn, but she didn’t keep up right away. He glanced over his shoulder in time to see her rise to a standing position and croon at the newest member of their herd.

“Good night, Apple Pie. I’ll come visit tomorrow.”

He deposited the crate at the barn then they headed inside. The house was quiet. Either everyone had gone to bed or they’d parted to their own rooms. Jessica glanced up at him. “How long were we out there?”

Ian slipped his arm around her waist and led her toward the kitchen. “Only an hour or so.”

“You weren’t kidding when you said cowboys went to bed early.”

“Sometimes. It depends on the next day’s work and other things. They quietly made their way through the hallway. Light from the kitchen spilled onto the floor. The sound of clinking dishes reached his ears. Someone was still up.

They crossed the threshold to find his mother drying a dish and placing it on a stack of other dishes. She looked up at them and smiled. “I thought I was the only one still up.”

Jessica dropped into a chair at the table as Ian headed for the sink to wash his hands. “One of the cows had her calf tonight.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. It was a good thing we were close. The calf came feet first.” He turned on the water and placed his hands beneath the running water, turning them over before grabbing the soap. The cool water warmed quickly, easing his tired hands.

His mother glanced at Jessica. “How did it go?”

“Ian was amazing. He helped the cow out and made sure it was okay. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

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