Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jude
Spring
“This isn’t the date night I wanted.” I had my apology all ready as Carson slid into the passenger seat of my truck, holding a small insulated bag.
“Yep.” Carson leaned in to give me a kiss. “But it’s the one you get.”
I’d had plans for tonight, plans months in the making, but we were in the middle of foaling and calving season. Work simply refused to cooperate, so here I was rushing to pick up Carson before heading to a client for what looked to be a long night.
“I’m—”
“Don’t dare say sorry.” Carson placed a finger on my lips before holding up the bag. “Made you chili.”
“You made it?” I raised an eyebrow.
As fall had turned to winter and then into spring, Carson had been learning more cooking skills. Which was good because the more time we spent together, the more we needed options beyond grilled steak, burgers, tacos, and basic pasta dishes.
“Casey helped.” Carson offered a crooked smile. “Trying to expand our menu.”
He said our so easily now that it was easy to do the same. We’d been dancing around the issue for months.
He spent more nights than not at my place, and he’d been making noises about buying a truck of his own.
Although Maverick had been good about letting him borrow one of the ranch trucks when needed.
However, neither Carson nor I seemed in a rush to make things more permanent, which meant the nightly dance of is-this-a-sleepover continued.
“Well, thank you.” I dragged him close for one more kiss before putting the truck in Drive and heading toward the client, another small hobby rancher, who lived near the Youngs. “If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to eat before the foals arrive.”
“Two mares in one night.” Carson whistled. “Gotta plan better, Doc.”
“Mother nature has her own timetable.” I chuckled along with him, but I’d been the one groaning when the call had come in.
One mare was slightly early, the other slightly late.
Nothing to do but hope the night went smoothly.
The double birth was part of why I was bringing Carson along, although I’d been doing it more and more over the past few months.
He was a huge help, and it was a decent way to spend time together through the busiest season of the year for me.
I did feel guilty for not having more fun outings, but Carson kept insisting he didn’t mind.
I was learning to trust him more and more.
Carson flipped on the stereo as we zipped toward the main road.
His music choices had certainly grown on me.
Letting him play DJ was fun and an easy way to indulge him.
Lately, he’d found a couple of out country singers he really liked.
We were humming along with the latest Shane Travis song as we pulled into Clyde Loren’s ranch.
We’d made good time, thanks to slow Friday evening traffic and my pushing the speed limit.
“Let me tell Clyde we’re here, then I’ll come back to eat with you,” I said to Carson. My last conversation with Clyde had revealed that both mares were in early labor, but I wanted to be on-site when things picked up, especially since one was a first-time mother.
“Sure thing.” Carson stretched and flipped off the stereo.
“No Lucky?” Clyde asked as I checked on the mares. He was one of the clients who didn’t mind if I had Lucky along on a call. The dog was getting quite a reputation, and certain clients always asked after him like they were more interested in seeing him than me.
“I figured he might get in the way of the double birthday party.” I stepped back from the second stall. “He’s at home, but I’ll tell him you said hi.”
“You do that.” Clyde laughed. “I got a new chew for him. I’ll give it to you after you eat.”
“Thanks.” I made my way back to the truck, where Carson had lowered the tailgate and arranged a blanket and the food. The mild spring air made the picnic that much more appealing. I took a seat next to him. “This is a sweet picture. Almost makes missing date night worth it.”
“I can be romantic.” Carson poured hot chili from a thermos into a small bowl.
“You can.” I accepted the bowl and added cheese and green onions from the other containers he’d laid out. “More so than me.”
Carson seemed to enjoy finding ways to surprise me and chances to be affectionate. I was working to do the same, but I could admit it didn’t come as naturally to me.
“You’re plenty romantic.” Carson waggled his eyebrows at me. “Especially last night.”
“God bless the break in foaling.” We’d been done early enough last night to allow for dinner at my place and some long-overdue mattress dancing. The busy season meant more sporadic sex, but we certainly made the most of it when we found ourselves in bed at a decent hour.
“And your tongue.” Carson winked.
“Could say the same about your dick,” I said in a low voice. “Now I’m hoping these horses foal in a hurry. Think you can sleep over?”
“Planning on it.” Carson passed me a slice of cornbread.
“Good.” I had a surprise for him. I swung my leg against the truck, trying to speed up time.
“Doc! Come quick!” Clyde came rushing out of the barn. “Water just broke.”
“On my way.” I thrust my half-eaten bowl at Carson. “Grab my—”
“Bag,” Carson finished for me, reaching behind him to grab my main medical kit, which he had ready and waiting because, of course, he did. “Got it.”
Once in the barn, we were all business with the first-time mama mare. After a mare’s water broke, the countdown was on to delivery, ideally in fifteen minutes or less, and Carson was almost as good at keeping time as I was.
“Gloves.” He held out the heavy black gloves I used in case assistance was needed. “Got the suction kit ready.”
“Thanks.” I offered him a quick yet grateful nod before turning my attention back to the horse. The foal’s legs started to crown, and I moved closer. “Here we go.”
I was able to direct all my focus on the laboring horse because Carson was right there with everything I needed as I dealt with a sticky pair of shoulders and a foal who didn’t perk right up.
Carson had the resuscitation mask ready before I could ask, and it wasn’t long before we let out a relieved breath in unison.
“Well, look at that.” Carson gave his first smile in twenty minutes as the foal took his first, tentative steps toward his mama. “Never gets old.”
“Nope,” I agreed, sharing his wonder. Every successful birth was its own rush of adrenaline and satisfaction, and my chest never failed to warm as the new mother greeted her foal for the first time.
“Damn, you two make a fine team.” Clyde clapped me on the back when I was finally able to exit the stall.
“We do.” Pride laced my voice as I glanced back to where Carson was cleaning up the equipment, preparing for the second birth of the night.
“When did Luna finally convince you to hire an assistant?” Clyde asked. This was his first time meeting Carson. I’d assumed gossip about us dating was common knowledge around Lovelorn, but maybe Clyde was out of the busybody loop.
Before I could explain our relationship, Carson offered up a cheeky grin. “Still working on making it official.”
“See that you do.” Clyde nudged me again. “You’ve got a good one here.”
“I do.” I would have said more, but the second horse’s labor kicked up in a hurry.
We all rushed to deal with that situation. Carson’s statement lingered in the back of my head, though, as we made it through the second birth and aftermath. Finally, both mamas and babies were settled in for the night, and we were headed for my place.
“What did you mean by official?” My brain slowed down enough to ask the question partway to the house.
“Figure I’m handy this time of year.” Carson shrugged.
“And how. You’re why we got done so quickly.” I had to admit that all the calls Carson was along for went more smoothly, and his level head made handling foaling emergencies that much easier.
“I like the work,” Carson said simply, but his meaning was clear.
“You’re good at it,” I allowed. I’d had enough time to get used to bringing him along and to accept how much he enjoyed helping.
I liked the idea of bringing him on as my assistant, official as he’d said.
Working together every day sounded damn fine.
But there was reality to contend with as well.
“You’re also good with the horses at the ranch. Kat isn’t going to give you up easily.”
“Her idea.” Carson’s tone was a little too casual. This wasn’t some idle idea he’d been considering. “Reckon I’d like to do more horse rehab work.”
“You’d be excellent at that.” Word had gotten around about Carson’s work with Linus, along with other horses, and Kat was right that he’d make an excellent trainer or rehabilitation therapist.
“Gonna take time…” Carson paused to lick his lips as I pulled in next to my house. “To build a client list.”
“True.” I could see where he was going with this idea. My stomach fluttered. I liked the idea more than I was letting on. He’d have his own career, but he could also be a more formal part of mine. “So, you’d be interested in a part-time assistant gig while you add rehab clients?”
“Part-time assistant. Full-time vet wrangler.” Carson shifted, flipping on the overhead light for the truck cab. He held out his hand.
“What’s that?” I studied the small metal circle. My brain simply refused to compute.
“It’s a ring, Jude.” He dropped it into my hand. I didn’t recognize the thick metal—darker than gold but not platinum either. Knowing Carson and his attention to detail, it would be something I could wear while doing most jobs. “Don’t bite.”
“Damn it.” I groaned, head falling forward onto the steering wheel.
“You don’t have to say yes.” Voice going from playful to more concerned, Carson rubbed my shoulder. “Had it for a few weeks. Idea can wait.”
“Not turning you down.” I raised my head so he could see I wasn’t upset. “I had a surprise of my own all ready. Come see.”
Pocketing the ring so I wouldn’t drop it, I scrambled out of the truck, all but dragging him to the old barn behind the house. Carson had never had reason to go in it, yet he followed me easily enough, waiting for me to flip the ancient lighting on.
“Looks real good in here.” He gestured at the cleanly swept aisle as we walked past the small tack room to the closest stall. Carson pulled up short, eyes going wide. “Oh.”
I’d ordered a fancy wooden sign for Linus with his name and a pair of horseshoes making a heart on it. It wasn’t a ring, but it was close enough. I’d been working for weeks, in what little spare time I had, on cleaning out the barn, making it habitable again.
“I want you and Linus to move in.” I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. “I know you two are a package deal. Live here. Help me make this place a home again.”
“Done.” Carson turned so he could kiss me soundly. While I was all kiss-addled, he fished in my pocket until he pulled out the ring. He dangled it in front of my face. “Meant it about official.”
“Yes.” I didn’t have to think any further on the matter. If he wanted to work together, live together, make a life together, then I was all-in.
“Sure about that?” He peered more intently at me as I plucked the ring from his fingers.
“I’m sure.” How I felt about Carson wasn’t even a question, and I’d done enough hours of counseling over the winter to believe the time had come to stop punishing myself. I was worthy of the future Carson wanted. “We deserve our happy ending.”
“We do.” Grinning, he gave me a fast kiss that felt like the signature on a contract. Done deal. He chuckled as he released me. “I come with a hell of a lot of relatives.”
“That you do.” I’d enjoyed the winter holidays, navigating all our friends and his family. Being part of a big circle again was healing. Another thing I deserved, and loneliness had been replaced by a garden full of hope.
“Between Adler and the aunts…” Carson paused to whistle. “Gonna be a hell of a wedding.”
“As long as there is dancing.” I winked at him.
“You drive a hard bargain.” Humming the same tune that had played earlier, he led me into a simple waltz. “Better practice.”
“I love you, Carson Jennings.” I kept on dancing as I pulled him tighter against me. “You make me feel so damn lucky.”
“Like your dog?” Carson deadpanned.
“I’m keeping you both.” Giving up the pretense of waltzing, I tickled his ribs.
“Good.” Carson looped his arms around my neck. “Love you too.” He held my gaze, eyes sure and steady. “I’m the lucky one.”
My eyes burned as my chest expanded with a silent roar of victory.
I believed him. Believed that I was enough to keep him here.
Believed we could make it. Believed we both deserved it.
What a payoff for us both. Neither of us had arrived at this place unscarred, but the baggage felt lighter every day.
All of us were lucky: him, me, Linus, and the dog.
I had a family again, and I wasn’t going to let them go.