Counting On The Cowboy. Shannon Taylor Vannatter

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СКАЧАТЬ She blinked the moisture away. “She’s almost lost this baby twice and is still having complications. She can’t handle any more stress. Chase needs to spend more time keeping her calm. Just stay until Chase can find someone else. My niece or nephew’s life could depend on it.”

      His eyes softened. “No pressure.”

      “Sorry.” Devree kicked at the gravel drive. “They’re scared to death. And so am I.” She managed to get a hold on her emotions, looked back up at him. “Here’s your chance to help an old friend. With a baby’s life hanging in the balance.”

      “You drive a hard bargain.” He looked skyward. “I’ll stay on one condition.”

      “Which is?”

      “I don’t want to talk about my mother. And I don’t want any of you pushing me toward her.”

      “We owe you.” She offered her hand. His rough, calloused palm dwarfed hers.

      “And only until Chase can hire someone else.”

      “Come on. Let’s go tell them.” She jogged to the ranch house.

      With his long stride, he stayed right with her even though he was only walking. He beat her to the porch, climbed the steps and opened the door for her.

      “Do you think your mom is okay?”

      His gaze went steely. “Don’t know.”

      And obviously didn’t care.

      “And that counts as talking about her.”

      “I can’t help it if I’m worried about her.” In the last year since the dude ranch started hosting weddings, Devree had planned a handful here. Becca helped decorate and clean after each one—a real sweetheart. How could he not care about her?

      “You’re still talking about her.”

      “Sorry.” She stepped inside, hurried across the foyer to the great room.

      Landry was right where she’d left her—laying on the couch, feet in her husband’s lap.

      “Good news. Brock agreed to take the job.”

      “Wonderful.” Landry’s relief whooshed out in a heavy sigh.

      “Glad to hear it.” Chase’s smile went a mile wide.

      “Where should I bunk?”

      “Go out to the barn, ask for Troy. He’ll get you settled in a room at the bunkhouse where a lot of the hands stay.”

      “Sounds like a plan. I’d like to tackle the goat problem. Exactly how many are missing?”

      “Eleven. Six does—one is gestating with a kid due in the next few weeks—and five bucks. All pygmies. We’re planning a petting zoo by the time school’s out.”

      Does and bucks? Weren’t those deer? Gestating with a kid due? Did that translate into pregnant goat? Devree was desperately behind on her ranch and farm animal lingo.

      “They need something to occupy them so they’ll stay in the pens.”

      Apparently, Brock knew a thing or two about goats. Or does and bucks and kids. Or whatever they were.

      “Use whatever you need out of the lumber pile in the barn.” Chase adjusted the comforter around Landry’s feet. “I’d also appreciate it if you’d arrange for demolition of that old storm shelter on the east side of the chapel. It’s an eyesore and goat magnet. Besides, we have a basement so we don’t need it.”

      “Sure. First thing in the morning.”

      “And, Devree, since we have a handyman now, I need to add to your load.”

      “Okay?” Hopefully, nothing dirty or stinky.

      “Our event schedule is kind of dead between spring break and June. Which will leave you at loose ends. With Landry down for the count, our last handyman’s wife was supposed to handle decorating the chapel and the honeymoon cottages. I was wondering if you could help with that.”

      “Um, I’m a wed—event planner. Not an interior decorator.” Especially not a rustic one. Country-themed weddings were always a challenge for her.

      “Please don’t let Chase do it.” Landry groaned. “Everything will end up looking just like the hunting cabins. With dead wild boar heads on the walls.”

      And cause her sister stress. “I guess I could try.”

      “You’ll do great.” Landry sounded so certain. “With all your experience at decorating venues for weddings. For the chapel, just a few decor items. Keep it simple and rustic with a few crosses and burlap. And for the cabins, pick some paint colors, tile and flooring. We get all our decor items, furnishings, drapery and bedding from Resa’s store. She’ll give you good advice.”

      “I’m on it.”

      “Great.” Chase relaxed, ran his fingers along the bottom of Landry’s toes, eliciting a giggle out of her. “I’ll need you and Brock to focus on the chapel and Gramp’s fishing cabin to begin with.”

      “Why the fishing cabin?” Devree tried not to cringe. She’d much rather work in one of the new structures instead of an old abandoned one.

      “With a wedding in two weeks and the new cabins unfinished—” Landry adjusted her pillow “—it’ll be quicker to transform the fishing cabin into a honeymoon hideaway than finishing one of the others.”

      “But no one’s lived in the cabin since I moved out after our wedding. Becca cleaned it—” Chase winced as he obviously realized he’d brought up a sore subject “—but it needs caulk around the plumbing and trim work.”

      Right on cue, the muscle in Brock’s jaw had flexed at the mention of his mother. “I’ll check it out and tackle it in the morning.” His words came out clipped, his mind still obviously on whatever his issues were with Becca.

      “It should be vacant by now.” Landry cringed. “Chase set mouse traps.”

      That bit of info almost stopped Devree’s heart. She squelched a shudder. Surely, there wouldn’t be any critters. Not live ones, anyway.

      “I’ll try to find where they’re getting in,” Brock promised.

      “We’ll be fine,” she assured her sister and Chase. But would she? With mice? If there were rodents, there might be snakes or worse...spiders. “Don’t worry about a thing. Y’all just concentrate on baby Sprint.”

      “Sprint?” Landry squinted one eye, her thinking mode.

      “I figure his or her dad is Chase, so she or he is Sprint.”

      Landry’s giggle mixed with Chase’s chuckle. A nice relaxed sound. Just what she wanted to hear from her sister.

      She turned to see that she’d even elicited a grin out of Brock.

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