Page 36 of Aisle Be The Groom (Bristlecone Springs #1)

OZZIE

“ G ray?” I reached out for his warm body next to mine but came up empty.

Stretching, I rolled over onto my stomach and slowly opened my eyes. We’d gone to bed with the curtains open, and silver streaks of moonlight silhouetted the bedroom furniture in an ethereal glow. For a moment, I lay there, my mind half-awake as I absorbed the lunar beauty dotted with faint shadows in the room.

Slowly the coolness of Gray’s side of the bed penetrated through my mental haze. He’d left our bed a while ago. Where was he? I grappled for my phone on the bedside table.

After one in the morning.

Concerned, I peeled back the sheets. After the confrontation between Carter and Emma two days ago, things had settled back down at the ranch. Thankfully, my days were busy taking care of Hudson’s daughter, but each time I ran into a ranch hand, they avoided looking at me. I hadn’t been into town, but Hudson had kept me informed that Gray and I were the hot topic everywhere.

I padded across the floor on my bare feet and got dressed. Sex last night had been frantic and desperate. I’d loved every second of it, especially after Carter left me briefly with a momentary lapse of insecurity about myself. No one wanted to hear themselves described the way Carter had me—his sloppy seconds.

“You’re nobody’s seconds. You’re the man I love.”

Smiling, I went to find Gray. If not for the man he was, I would never have taken such an enormous risk sleeping with someone who wasn’t my fiancé and coming out with it. But I believed in Gray. He wouldn’t allow me to face the criticisms all alone. He’d deliberately gone into town earlier today so he could confront the first wave of gossip without me. It was a coward’s move on my part, but with Gray, I didn’t have to be brave. He would always have my back. That was new for me, and I loved him for it.

At the top of the stairs, I listened for any sounds that would indicate where Gray might be. A door creaked down the hall, and Matty poked his head out.

“He’s at the birthing paddock,” he said, then closed the door.

I sighed. While he still treated me better than when I’d just arrived, he was back to being mostly silent and avoiding me. Thank god for Gertie, Hudson, and Opie, who didn’t make me feel like the biggest slut on the planet. If not for them, I would bawl my eyes out every day and greet Gray with a phony smile each evening.

They formed a protective village around me, shielding me from the backlash.

I pushed open the back door and stepped into the moonlit night, my breath misting in the cool air. The faint smell of hay and horses wafted over from the stables. I crossed the yard and slipped between bales of hay stacked against the stable walls. Gray stood inside the wooden fence, watching a dappled mare lying on her side, heaving and groaning.

“Hey,” I called softly, not wanting to startle him or the mare.

Gray turned his head. My heart fluttered. He was rugged and handsome but the gentlest, most patient man I’d ever met. Under the weight of the town’s gossip and judgment, he remained unflinchingly himself and unwavering in how he felt about me.

“Baby, what are you doing out of bed?” Though we were on different sides of the fence, he kissed me.

“I couldn’t sleep without you. I was worried.”

He sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Actually, worried is not the right word. Just missed you.”

His lips curved into a soft smile. Then he turned his attention back to the mare. “This girl here’s about to give birth any minute now. Matty was with her earlier, so now I’m relieving him. You can stay and watch if you want or go back to bed, but I might be another hour or so.”

“I’ll stay with you.” I entered the paddock, moving quietly. When I was close enough, Gray pulled me down to sit on a bed of straw he’d made with a blanket. Next to his little arrangement was what looked like a medical kit and a thermos.

“What’s that for?” I asked.

“In case there’s an emergency.”

“Wouldn’t you need a vet?”

“Not always. I’ve done this long enough to be able to handle most things.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “You’re so smart.”

“Not really, but experience teaches wisdom.”

We didn’t speak again. There was no need for words as we watched the horse strain and shudder. Her sides heaved as she pushed, then rested. Gray got up to check that she was okay, then returned to my side.

“It won’t be long now.”

“Should you help deliver the foal?”

“For the most part, we don’t need to interfere. It’s best to observe and give her space for her body to do what is natural. I’ll give a helping hand if it’s needed.”

“I’ve never seen anything give birth in my life,” I said. “Sounds terrifying.”

Gray chuckled, his eyes sparkling in the dim light. “Well, you’re in for quite the experience, then. There’s nothing quite like it. It’s brutal and messy, but also… it’s pure magic. I’ve seen hundreds of births, and it never gets old.”

Gray’s fingers never left mine, their warmth a soothing balm against the tension filling me as I waited for the struggling horse to bring new life into the world. It was hard to watch her pain. It felt cruel for her to have to do it alone, but I trusted Gray that staying away was best.

The mare’s efforts intensified, her body straining with the primal force of birth. Gray’s calm presence kept me grounded as I watched in awe as the foal made its appearance.

Gray moved quietly for such a big man. He whispered to the horse while he gently ruptured the amniotic sac, and there it was—a tiny, wet foal blinking in the moonlight.

“It’s a boy,” Gray whispered, his voice filled with awe.

The foal lay still for a heartbeat, then gave a small, shuddering breath. The mare turned her head to nuzzle him, her soft nickers of encouragement filling the night air.

I watched in silent wonder, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. The scene before me was nothing short of miraculous, a testament to the raw beauty of life. I understood why Gray never got tired of it.

“Wow,” I whispered when he sat next to me. “That was… incredible. Thank you for letting me be a part of this.”

“Do you mind waiting a while longer?”

“No, I’m so comfortable I could fall asleep right here.” I raised my head to the sky, gazing at the velvet blackness sprinkled with stars for as far as the eye could see. “I can’t get over how beautiful it is here.”

“Not as beautiful as you.”

Gray was staring directly at me, and my heart leaped. “You’re a sweet talker, Gray Magnuson. No wonder I fell for you.”

Should I feel so happy, even though I’d betrayed my fiancé in the worst way possible? Perhaps I should have felt a smidge of guilt, but I had none. Not when this man looked at me with such love in his eyes.

The umbilical cord didn’t fall off like he’d said, and he called me over to watch him break it by hand. Being even closer to the mare and her newborn was a privilege I didn’t take for granted. I made sure not to distract the mare or interfere with their bonding.

With a firm hand, Gray held the cord on either side about an inch away from the foal’s abdomen, then twisted and pulled, causing it to separate. He applied pressure to the stump with his fingers to stem the bleeding, which wasn’t as much as I thought it would be.

When the job was done, Gray grimaced. “Like I said, it can be messy.”

“But necessary.” I couldn’t take my eyes off the sweet foal with its delicate snout and big brown eyes. It wasn’t long before the newborn attempted to take its first steps, legs wobbly, its body unfamiliar with the concept of movement. The foal stumbled, fell, got back up, and tried again.

Each time it fell, the mare was there, watching over the newborn. After a few tries, the foal stood long enough to take a step or two, but then he clumsily collapsed back onto its belly.

I grabbed Gray’s shirt, barely containing my hushed squeals. “He did it! Did you see that, Gray? He took his first steps, and I got to see it.”

When Gray didn’t respond, I glanced up. He was staring at me again. “What?”

“Just thinking I’m glad you’re here. People may think I made a huge mistake, but they don’t know what we have, Ozzie. I wouldn’t give you up for the world. I’d hug you right now if I didn’t need a shower.”

“I feel the same way about you.” I glanced back at the foal nursing from the mother. “What are you going to name him?”

“You tell me.”

“Huh?”

“He’s yours.”

My jaw dropped open. “Mine?”

“Yes. If Emma takes me for all I have, we’ll have to start over with just your one foal. Would that bother you?”

“Gray, she won’t actually do that, will she?” She had been livid when Gray threw her and Carter out.

“I’m exaggerating. I’ll always have enough to take care of you, even if she takes half of everything I own.”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “Who’s talking about taking care of me? The ranch has your blood, sweat, and tears. I don’t want you to lose even an acre of the land.”

“You’re one of a kind, you know that?” Gray kissed my forehead.

“How about Indigo for the foal?”

“Because of his coat? Sounds good.”

“Great, then that’s what I’ll name him. Indy for short. Gray, I can’t believe you’re giving me my own horse.”

“You’ll have to take care of him. Are you sure you’re up to it?”

“Of course! I’ll be the best horse dad, but you’ll teach me what I need to know, won’t you?”

“Sure.”

“Yes!”

Gray nodded. “It’s settled, then. Let’s watch them for a few more minutes. Then I can wash up properly and take you back to bed.”

“And if I offer to wash your back?” I batted my lashes at him.

“Baby, I’m counting on you to wash my whole body.”