39. Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Thirty-nine
Blue
Six dead calves. All too premature to survive.
The only plus is that none of the cows died. It would have been devastating to lose Millie.
But it makes me so mad that someone dared to do this to Libby.
I spread my fingers on the screen to zoom in. “Look what Wade found.”
Her eyes widen, then she grabs my phone to inspect the picture. “Is that a vial?”
“Yea. He’s sending it off for testing, but is pretty sure that’s the source of the Lute poisoning.”
Her brows bunch as she frowns. “Why in the hell would anyone do that to us? I’m not hurting anyone.”
She balls her fist, bouncing it off her thigh. “Do you think my dad would?” she asks quietly.
My gut response is to shake my head. “Mason had it happen to him. Remember I told you all those photos were tied to his farm?”
Her bottom lips pinches between her teeth as she nods.
“I think this is tied to him. When I filed the brand change, someone must have seen it. Unfortunately it’s public knowledge.” That means someone is keeping a close eye on Black Gulch.
“Oh fuck.” She sits heavily at the table, burying her face in her hands. “I brought this on us by signing on with him.”
“This is not your fault. It’s whatever monster threw that vial in the water trough.” I slide next to her, wrapping her in my arms. “I’m going to get some cameras set up. That way we can catch the bastard if he comes back.”
I take a shaky breath.
What if it doesn’t stop with trying to hurt the livestock, but shifts to attacking us?
Did we make a pact with the devil and now will pay the price?
“I’m scared they’ll come back. Not just for me, but for us.
” Her palm moves to my thigh with a light squeeze.
“The doc said it takes twelve to twenty-four hours for those meds to take effect. What happens if I have contact with a cow before I know they’ve been dosed?
” She sniffs, wiping her tears, then shuffles her butt against me, so I hop up out of the small camper bench seat and move to the end of the bed.
I can hear her pulling toilet paper off the roll and blowing her nose.
My fucking heart hurts for her.
When she comes back, she holds out her fist.
White plastic extends past her grip on either side.
“ Us. ” she reiterates, dropping the stick onto my lap.
I’m frozen, staring at what rests in my palm.
“Is that…?” I can’t form the words. My head is spinning so fast it feels like the floor is tipping.
“Yep,” she squeaks.
The mattress dips as she sits next to me.
Letting the test tumble from my fingers, I wrap her with my arms, dragging her onto my lap to lie back with her on the blanket.
A lump forms in my throat. All I can do is bury my lips against her neck and squeeze her to me.
Everything has changed.
My biggest fear has transformed into my biggest dream.
Mason explained it to me once, that children are a way that the earth can see our love.
That a piece of us lives on in them. It never felt real to me until now.
I want Libby to live forever.
The ache in my chest swells into a wave of heat. “You and me, made a baby?”
Clay is gonna kill me. I think he keeps hoping Libby and I will get tired of each other.
I don’t see that happening in this lifetime.
Moving a strand of her golden hair away from her face, I let the thoughts tumble through me .
“We’re gonna have to decide pretty soon what we’re doing about housing. We can sell the other place, build here if you want?”
She smiles, rolling her lips to kiss the inside of my wrist. “Exactly how many kids are you expecting? We’ll be fine in here for a year or two if we have to.”
“More. The world deserves to have as many pieces of you in it as possible.” I pull her close.
Her laugh shakes against me. “Let’s start with one, cowboy.” She pauses, looking up at me. “I guess this is why I’ve been so dang teary lately.”
“No morning sickness though? I thought everyone got that.” My thumb works circles down her spine.
This is so surreal.
“Char never did. But she’s a rockstar. Poor Lori pukes like everyday.” Her eyes widen. “Shit, I hope that doesn’t happen. She’s so miserable.”
A fierce sense of protectiveness courses through me. “I think I’m gonna take some vacation time. Stick around.”
“Why? I’ll just wear gloves. There’s too many people around here all hours for anything too wild to happen.” She snuggles closer. “I mean, all I’ve been thinking about every time you’re gone is how soon you get home. But we can’t live in fear. I have a gun,” she giggles.
Fuck, I’m the one that’s going to be sick .
“Okay. But lots of cameras. And promise me you’ll always keep someone close to you?” I don’t want anything to happen to her…or our baby.
Shit, am I going to cry?
Her finger crosses over my heart. “I promise.”