Pine Country Cowboy. Glynna Kaye

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      Chapter Two

      Gut-punched at the implications of the one-sided conversation, Brett watched as Abby slipped the phone back into her purse with trembling fingers.

      “The baby’s on its way?”

      “Maybe.” Abby’s dark eyes, wide with alarm, met his. “Meg’s not due for two more weeks, but she’s being air-vacced to Show Low. Joe will call again after he gets there and has more details.”

      “But he thinks she and the baby are going to be okay?” He’d heard her ask that question.

      She bit gently down on her lower lip. “He doesn’t know. He says to keep them in our prayers.”

      Brett gave a confirming nod, a prayer already pumping through his being along with the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. Babies. Moms. He knew what was at stake. “You can count on me.”

      Something in Abby’s eyes flickered. Surprise? Doubt?

      “Thank you.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The baby... It’s a girl. Jorelle. Jo. After her daddy, except without the e.”

      “I imagine everybody will be calling her Jori before she’s even out of diapers.”

      “Jori. I like that.” An ever-so-faint smile touched the woman’s lips, then she turned to watch as Davy and Trey headed in their direction, her nephew proudly leading Trey’s horse, Taco. “I’d better round up Davy and get him back home.”

      “You’ll be lucky if you can drag him out of here with a tractor. Looks like he and ol’ Taco are buds now.”

      “It does, doesn’t it?” She took a strengthening breath and he intuitively knew where her thoughts had headed—to what she’d tell Davy about his stepmother’s situation.

      He lightly touched her arm and, as she turned uncertainly toward him, he clearly read concern for her family in her eyes.

      “Don’t worry, ma’am. You’ll be given the words to explain his mom’s absence. To reassure him. He’ll be fine.”

      She blinked rapidly, hugging her arms to herself in an almost protective gesture.

      “But he hardly knows me. What if—” She compressed her lips together, her dark eyes challenging him for answers to questions she dared not utter. What if something was wrong with the baby? What if his mommy... What if she was all alone with Davy should she get such a call?

      Stepping closer, he reached for her hand, holding it securely when she tried to draw it back. Warm, soft, fine-boned. “God will tell you what to say, what to do. But don’t dwell on the negative. I don’t know if there’s any truth to it, but I’ve heard babies sometimes come early at higher elevations. Everything’s going to be fine. You wait and see.”

      She stared into his eyes, absorbing his words, and his heart rate ramped up a notch. Calm her, Lord. Let her feel Your presence. And while You’re at it, You may need to give me the strength to let go of her hand.

      After a long moment, she gave a slight nod, the worst of the worry in her eyes subsiding. He gave her hand an encouraging squeeze.

      “Aunt Abby! Look at me.”

      Abby immediately pulled her hand from his and the two again turned as Trey and the boy neared, a toothy grin spread across the youngster’s face.

      When they’d come to a halt in front of her, Abby gave a firm pat to the chestnut’s neck, not timid about it as he would have expected.

      She smiled. “You looked good out there, Davy.”

      “He did,” Brett confirmed as the boy reluctantly handed over the reins to Trey, then removed his riding helmet and reached up to set it atop the saddle horn.

      Brett whipped off his own hat and stepped up to place it on the dark-haired head. “Now you look like a real cowboy.”

      Davy beamed up at him.

      “Get your daddy to buy you a hat.”

      “And some real boots, too?” With a roll of his eyes, Davy looked down at the indignity of his makeshift attire. The class required footwear with a heel so little feet couldn’t slip through stirrups, but today Joe’s son was making do with a pair of laced, heeled work boots. Yep, the boy needed himself a hat and a pair of genuine cowboy boots.

      Brett clapped him on the shoulder. “Mention that to your daddy, too.”

      “Good job, Davy.” Trey lifted a hand in farewell. “See you at church tomorrow.”

      Bubbling over with barely contained happiness, the boy returned Brett’s hat, then turned to half walk, half skip his way across the arena floor. Abby watched him in thoughtful silence, then turned again to Brett.

      “Thank you,” she murmured almost shyly, and he again detected an underlying sadness in her eyes. She nodded to Trey and had barely turned away when a laughing Davy dashed back to grab her hand. Together they jogged toward the arena’s exit.

      Brett twirled his hat on his finger, unable to suppress a grin.