Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Monty had hoped for a trouble-free birth and thankfully it had been exactly that. Speckles had passed the placenta with no issues and her foal was nursing like a champ.
The celebratory picnic in the barn featured dried-out meatloaf and cold baked potatoes, but nobody cared. They toasted the addition to “the herd” with beer for Graham and Zinnia, while he and Tex drank ginger ale. Everybody drank from the bottle like real cowboys according to Tex.
Zinnia and Graham cleared away the dishes while he and Tex held down the fort. When they came back, phone numbers were exchanged and they shared pictures and videos. No drama. Just how he liked it.
Then all hell broke loose when Zinnia announced it was Tex’s bedtime. He wanted to sleep in the barn and Zinnia wasn’t about to let him.
As the little boy dissolved into tears, Graham stayed out of it. Monty took his cue from Graham and ambled away. Except he had a solution, damn it.
Should he interfere? Yeah. He raised his voice so he could be heard over Tex’s wails. “Zinnia, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Can it wait until I put Tex to bed?” She hoisted him off the stool as he sobbed and begged her to let him stay.
“About that. I have a thought if you’d like to hear it.”
She gave him a sharp look. Clearly she didn’t appreciate his attempt to meddle in her parenting style.
Fair enough. He had no experience with childrearing. But he was a whiz at conflict resolution. He lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head toward the barn’s open doors.
Heaving a sigh, she set Tex back on his stool and met him just outside the barn door. “What?”
“He could sleep on my cot.”
“How would that help? I can’t leave him out here alone. I’m not willing to sleep in the barn and neither is Graham.”
“I’m planning to stay all night.”
“Why? Everything’s going fine.” Her breathing quickened. “Is there a problem? Is there something you haven’t—”
“No, no. Easy.” He instinctively laid his hands on her shoulders to calm her down. But he immediately let go. That contact felt too damn good. “They’re both doing great.”
The panic in her eyes gave way to wariness. “Then what reason is there for you to stay?”
“The first 24 hours are the most critical for a newborn. And Speckles has never been through this. I don’t expect anything to happen, but I want to keep watch to make sure nothing does.”
“But if I let him sleep here tonight, he’ll want to do it tomorrow night, and the night after that. It sets a bad precedent.”
“Does he keep his promises?”
“Mostly. He definitely would if he promised you.”
The last part made him uneasy, but he might as well press his advantage and end the crisis. “Then you could tell him I need his help watching his foal tonight and I’ll get him to promise me he won’t ask to sleep in the barn after tonight. I’ll emphasize it’s a one-time thing.”
She hesitated. “I hate to make you babysit my son.”
“It won’t be tough duty. He’s already sleepy. Or he was until this kerfuffle.”
“But if he’s on the cot, where will you sleep? I assume you were going to take a few cat naps.”
“I have a bedroll in the truck. That’s good enough.”
“Then give him the bedroll and you take the cot.”
“You know I’m not doing that.”
“I suppose I do. All right, we’ll handle it your way. Just so you know, he usually doesn’t defy me like this. He’s a good boy.”
“I can tell he is. And he’s gonna cherish this foal. It’s actually a good sign that he wants to stay here tonight. It’s more evidence that he and… Monty… will bond quickly.”
She snorted. “I thought you weren’t going to say his name.”
“Decided to try it out.”
“And?”
“Still weird. C’mon. Let’s go spread the good news.”
She turned and started back. “I’ll bring out extra blankets.”
“That would be nice. Thanks.”
“And a couple of pillows.”
“Don’t go spoiling us. We’re two tough cowboys.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Tex sat upright like a little soldier braced for battle, resignation on his tear-streaked face. He’d fallen in love with that foal and he hadn’t even been allowed to touch him yet.
Watching that boy and his horse get to know each other would be…. No. He’d best derail that train of thought pronto. He’d help Zinnia through this foaling thing and then make himself scarce.
Tex would get so wrapped up in his Appy that his obsession with him, the first cowboy he’d come to know, would fade. The birthday party would help, too. He might shift his allegiance to Zay, or better yet, Rio, who’d been given the most cowboy name of them all.
Zinnia rested her hands on Tex’s narrow shoulders. “I just found out that Montgomery will be staying in the barn tonight and needs an assistant to help him keep an eye on Speckles and her baby. Would you like that job?”
His eyes widened and he nodded vigorously.
She stepped back. “But first you have to agree to the rules.”
“What rules?”
Monty took her place and gazed into those solemn green eyes. “Staying with me tonight is a special privilege, sport, a one-time deal. Promise me you won’t ask your mother to let you do it again.”
“I promise.”
“Then let’s shake on it.” He held out his hand.
Meeting his gaze, Tex put his hand, still damp from wiping away tears, in Monty’s much bigger one.
The absolute trust in those green eyes was breathtaking. Was he worthy of it? Big question.
His hand swallowed up Tex’s, but together they made the handshake work even better than their first one. “Thanks, Tex. I appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome, Mister Monty.”
“Let’s set up the cot.”
“I gots to brush my teeth.”
“Oh. Of course you do.” He glanced at Zinnia.
“And change into your PJs, sweetie.”
“And go potty, Mommy.”
“Then we’d better head inside and take care of all that.”
“But I’m coming back out, right?”
“You are. I promise.” She started to lift him off the stool.
“Wait! I gots to tell Speckles and Monty I’m leaving.” Getting to his knees, he peered into the stall. “Don’t worry. I’ll be rrright back!” He slid quickly off the stool and made for the barn door. “Let’s go, Mommy!”
Graham gazed after them as they disappeared into the night. “Nice work.”
“I couldn’t stand to see him so unhappy.”
“Yeah, I figured that was torture for you. You have the softest heart of anyone I know.”
“And the softest head. I should be discouraging this hero-worship he’s got going on. Instead I’m leaning into it.”
“You don’t enjoy having a little kid dote on you?”
“Sure! Who wouldn’t? But I worry that he’ll get too attached.”
“Would that be a bad thing?”
“Not on the face of it, but…”
“You’re attracted to Zinnia.”
“Yessir.” He took a breath. “I’m gonna be honest with you, Graham. I’m not ready to jump into fatherhood, especially with a five-year-old.”
“I’d say that’s a natural reaction.”
“I have no experience with kids. I’m sure it’s different when you start out with a baby. You learn as you go. But a five-year-old? I wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Really? Just now you seemed to know exactly what to do.”
“Because I’m a middle kid in a large family. We’re the peacekeepers. Just because I could figure out this one situation doesn’t mean I could do it all the time.”
“Just to put your mind at ease, Zin is as leery of this deal as you are. She doesn’t want to get involved, either.”
“I know. But the chemistry’s there, so our best bet is to avoid spending time together. Which means I won’t be seeing Tex much, either. That’s why I don’t want him getting too attached.”
“Sounds like you have a plan.”
“Um, yeah.” Making it up as he went along.
“How come she’s calling you Montgomery? Have you already discussed—”
“No. She was searching for a way to handle the foal and me having the same name. She doesn’t like calling me Mister Monty like Tex does. I suggested Montgomery.”
“You did, huh?”
He shrugged. “Seemed like the obvious answer.”
“The name thing won’t be much of a problem if you two are intent on avoiding each other.”
“Guess you’re right.” What a depressing thought.