Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
After applying more lipstick and shoving the tube in her jeans pocket, Zinnia gathered up a couple of quilts and two pillows. Time to check on Tex.
He was proud of being able to dress and undress himself and she’d left him alone to accomplish that. He should be in his cowboy-themed pjs by now.
He stood in the middle of his room wearing his pjs, boots, jacket and hat. He glanced at her, then returned his attention to his bed.
“Changed your mind, sweetie?”
“Nope. But Smokey wants to go.”
“Then he should.” Mari had gifted him the iconic plush bear for his second birthday and he’d slept with that cuddly mascot ever since.
“Cowboys don’t sleep with bears.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He nodded.
“What if you take him and ask Mister Monty about it? If he says they don’t, then I’ll bring him back inside for you.”
“Okay.” He grabbed his bear and hugged him tight. “Let’s go, Smokey.”
Once they were outside, he ran ahead and she swallowed an automatic be careful. She’d been raised to take care of herself and she wanted the same for him.
But what she wouldn’t give for the chance to ask her parents for advice. Sometimes she consulted Uncle Graham, but he’d never had kids and admitted he wasn’t as knowledgeable as her folks would’ve been.
She gazed up at the stars twinkling overhead. “Miss you guys.” She liked to think they could hear her, and that sometimes, when she followed her instincts regarding Tex, they were guiding her.
He got to the barn door first, which was closed to hold in the heat from the sunny day. The night had turned chilly enough to make her shiver. She should have copied her son and put on a jacket. Hadn’t thought of it. Too busy deciding how long she should stay at the barn. Not long.
Tex didn’t have the strength to slide the door open, so he pounded on it and called out to the men inside. Made her smile. He could have waited for her to open it, but that wasn’t his style. He liked having agency over a situation. She encouraged that as much as possible.
She’d never left him with anyone but Mari or Graham. But tonight she was entrusting him to a man she’d met just this morning. She had no hesitation about doing it, though. Monty would watch over her kid with the same dedication he’d afforded Speckles and her foal.
Montgomery. She was having trouble making the name switch. Did it even matter? How often would she need to call him by name? Once this episode was over, she wouldn’t be seeing much of him other than at the birthday party.
The muffled conversation and laughter behind the door stopped and Uncle Graham pushed the door open. “Hey, Monty, there’s a cowboy out here who’s hankering to join us. You okay with that?”
“Always got room for another cowboy,” Monty called back.
She quickened her step. “How about a cowgirl?”
“Long as she doesn’t mind hanging out with three cowpokes.”
“I think I can handle it.” She followed Tex inside the cozy interior lit by a couple of electric lanterns. Monty’s cot was set up on the far side of the stall door, away from the light.
Monty’s gaze fell on Tex’s bear. “Looks like this cowpoke brought a friend along.”
“It’s Smokey. I gots to ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
“Do cowboys sleep with bears?”
“They sure would if they had one like Smokey. He’s a very famous bear.”
Standing behind Tex, Zinnia gave Monty a thumbs up.
He responded with a wink, the sexy devil.
“Auntie Mari gived him to me.”
“Lucky you.”
“Want to hold him?”
“If it’s okay with you.”
Tex lifted him with both hands offering his most cherished treasure. “Here.”
“Thank you.” At only nine inches tall, Smokey looked much smaller in Monty’s grasp. “Hey, there, Smokey. Thank you for warning us to be careful with campfires and matches.”
Tex thrust out his arm, his finger pointed at an unseen audience. “Only you can prevent forest fires!”
“Nice!” Monty nodded in approval. “You and Smokey make a great team.”
“He’s not a cowboy.”
“Not technically, but a forest ranger is a lot like a cowboy. They ride horses into the backcountry.”
“And he gots a hat.”
“Sure does. Hey, sport, I was just in the stall with Speckles and her foal. They’re both pretty chill. I thought you and your mom might like to go in for a few minutes.”
“Can we touch Monty?”
“Maybe. Uncle Graham rounded up a couple of buckets you can sit on. We’ll see if he comes to you. Foals are usually curious so there’s a chance he will, but it’s better if we let him decide.”
“I like that idea.” Zinnia glanced at him. “Did he come to you?”
“He might have, but I didn’t stay long enough to find out.”
“How about you, Uncle Graham? Have you been in?”
“Not yet. Thought you and Tex should be first.”
“That’s very sweet. I’d love to go in. How about you, son?”
“Yes, ma’am!” He hopped in excitement.
“You’ll have to be very calm and quiet.”
Instantly he went still. “I know.” He glanced up at Monty. “Can you keep Smokey for me? Horses gots teeth and I—”
“We don’t want him chewed. I’ll keep him out here.”
“Thank you.”
“Glad to. Ready?”
Zinnia put her hand on Tex’s shoulder, just in case. “Ready.”
“Keep your movements slow and steady.” He rolled back the stall door.
“Got it.” She knew his instructions were for Tex, who could easily forget himself once he was inside the stall with the foal.
Her mare’s ears pricked forward as they walked in. “Hey, girl. Can we come see your baby?”
She nickered softly.
“She said yes, Mommy.”
“She did.” Behind them, Monty slowly closed the door. She perched on the right-hand bucket. “Sit down as slowly as you can. We don’t want to startle either of them.”
He eased onto his bucket. “Can we call to Monty?”
“Let’s not. Let’s just sit here quietly.”
“Okay.”
“Hold onto your knees. That way you won’t be tempted to reach out and touch him if he comes over.”
“I hope he comes over.”
“I hope so, too, but we have to be patient.”
“Here comes Speckles, Mommy.”
“Figured she would.”
“Can I touch her?”
“Of course, but if she walks away, put your hands back on your knees.”
He nodded.
Speckles wandered closer, and after glancing back to where her baby stood, she lowered her head and accepted their nose rubs and chin scratches.
Tex’s voice rippled with excitement. “He’s watching us.”
“He is.” That wobbling little creature fascinated her. She’d seen foals before but never one that was only hours old. “What do you suppose he’s thinking?”
“He’s thinking why are we sitting on buckets.”
“Could be.”
The foal sneezed, Tex automatically said bless you and Speckles left them to check on her baby.
“Does he gots a cold?”
“I doubt it. It’s probably that gunk he had over his nose and he has to get it out. He’s—”
“Mommy.” He grabbed her arm as the foal took a few wobbly steps in their direction.
“Hands on your knees.”
Breathing fast, he grabbed his knees so hard his knuckles turned white.
“Deep breaths. If you’re too excited, he might not come over.”
Inhaling and exhaling through his mouth, he managed to settle himself down, at least a little.
“Good.” She gave him a nod of approval.
Then his lips began to move. His soft plea was nearly inaudible. “Come on, Monty. Come on over. Come on over.”
He was ignoring her recommendation, but very, very quietly. She decided to let it go.
Maybe that murmur had something to do with the foal’s behavior and maybe not. But there was no doubt about it. He was tottering over. Not in a general direction, either.
As if attached to her son by an invisible string, he gradually shortened the distance until he stood squarely in front of Tex.
She held her breath as that beautiful little creature craned his neck, reaching under the cowboy hat to nuzzle her son’s ear. Why, oh why hadn’t she asked Uncle Graham or Monty to take pictures?
He giggled. The foal stumbled backward, nearly losing his balance. But he righted himself, turned and went to find his mother.
Tex was beside himself. “Mommy. He kissed my ear.”
“He sure did, son. He sure did.”
“I didn’t mean to laugh, but it tickled. He gots scared. He almost falled down.”
“But he didn’t. Look, he’s fine. He’s nursing. He’s not upset.”
“He wants to be my friend.”
“Yes, he does.” Victory tasted sweet on her tongue. Her plan was succeeding more spectacularly than she’d dreamed it would. The guilt of choosing the wrong father for her child had already begun to ease.
When she’d decided to breed Speckles, she’d acted on faith that it would work out. She hadn’t known she’d end up at Uncle Graham’s ranch when the foal was born. But the Universe had been kind to her.
Thanks to her uncle’s generosity, she had a home for herself, Tex, her sister, Speckles and this adorable foal. Time, planning and luck had created a solid foundation for raising her beloved son. As long as she stayed the course and didn’t go off on a tangent, she had it made.
That meant deep-sixing any fantasies involving Montgomery Bridger.