Well… she wasn’t keeping watch. Not now. I looked down and loved her all over again for the way her golden hair tangled over her face, and her dark lashes twitched in her dreams. The prom queen, every guy’s high school fantasy, was my real, flesh-and-blood woman. Flawed and humbled, exhausted and disheveled—I had never seen her look more beautiful than now, with her cheek wrinkled from resting on my flannel shirt and her lips moving softly.
She talked in her sleep. Nothing that made much sense, but she said my name. A lot. I trailed a finger over her chin, and she sighed, stirred, and then settled on my chest once more. Mine.
Somewhere around two in the morning, we’d managed to get that unhappy mama cow to let her calf nurse. It took some doing, but Jess and I got the job done together. We stayed to make sure everything went smoothly, but Mama and calf were going to be just fine now. We really didn’t need to be here any longer, but it was that or head back to the house. Or back to work.
I figured if anyone really needed me, they could come get me. I wasn’t going to wake Jess for anything less than an earthquake or a hay barn on fire. Quick footsteps sounded behind me, but I froze. Maybe they’d think I was asleep and go away.
No such luck. “Dude, did you turn your phone off aga… Oh.”
I craned my neck around to see Luke backing away with his hands up. “Sorry. I didn’t know you had a… uh… What exactly do you have there?”
I turned back to smile down at my love. “The rest of my life, brother. That’s what I have here.”
Luke gave a low whistle. “They say it’s always the quiet ones. Turn you loose, and you work even faster than Marshall.”
I chuckled and snaked my fingers into Jess’s hair, then kissed her forehead. “And now I know why. He was only ever fixated on one woman, and once he got her in his arms, he didn’t let go. I’m no different.”
“‘Cept you and Jess won’t fight like cats and dogs. I bet you’ll both be so easy-going that your kids will walk all over you.”
Kids.I grinned at that thought. My imagination hadn’t even gotten there yet. “I guess that remains to be seen. Did you need something? Because, if not…”
“Hmm? Oh! Right.” He held up his phone. “Got a call from an old friend of yours.”
“So? Is it a crisis? Is someone bleeding? Broken bones?”
Luke’s face blossomed in a wicked grin. “You’re not gonna believe this, but yes. All that and probably more.”
I straightened. “You sound awfully tickled about it. Is someone actually hurt, or are you pulling my leg?”
“Oh, he’s hurt alright. But unfortunately, he’ll probably pull through.”
I narrowed my eyes.
Luke jiggled his phone with a smirk. “You really need to check your messages.”
Jess
I was having the best dream. I couldn’t remember any details later—just that I had felt so warm and safe. And Dusty was there, protecting me and loving me just as I was—muddy boots, dirty face and all. I didn’t ever want to leave that lovely place, but he was kissing my temple so temptingly. Then my cheeks, my forehead, and finally, he brushed soft kisses over my closed eyes. I was smiling by the time he stopped.
“Are you awake?” he asked gently.
“No. Can you keep doing that?”
“Gladly.” He bent down again, and this time, he kissed my mouth. I caught him by the shirt collar, so he couldn’t stop.
“We need to get up,” he said with a low chuckle. “Something’s happened.”
I shot upright, my bleary eyes searching the little warming pen. The cow and calf were both gone. “Where are they? Oh, please tell me he’s okay!”
“He’s fine. Luke and I let them out in the big pen a few minutes ago. But we need to go to the hospital now. Here.” He gave me his hand to stand up, then started picking the straw out of my hair.
I was still rubbing my eyes and more than a little confused. “Hospital? Why?” Then, cold horror seized my stomach. “It’s not my dad, is it?”
“No. Austen Conrad got trampled by his bull last night. I guess he’s pretty beat up, and he’s been trying to reach me.”
I froze, staring at Dusty as he held up my coat. “He’s what? Is he okay?”
Dusty walked behind me to slip my coat over my shoulders since I wasn’t getting it done myself. “He will be, from what Luke heard, but apparently, he’s been trying to reach me since yesterday. Something about his cows, but I didn’t make out most of the message.” Dusty caught my hand and invited me to step over the straw bale toward him, but my feet were stuck.