Page 15 of Falling For Her Cowboy (Silver Creek Ranch #9)

He reached for his bag and removed his stethoscope. Her quiet gaze caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise. He listened to the calf’s chest and stomach, and everything appeared to be normal. He dropped the stethoscope on the ground and tried to urge the calf up on its feet.

“Is he okay?” Melah asked.

“He should be.”

The calf stood on his weak and wobbly legs. It glanced around, and its gaze landed on Melah. It took a few steps toward her. She stood and met it. Its gaze was on the bottle.

“Go ahead. See if he will take the bottle. I want to see how well he sucks on the nipple.”

Melah gave a nod and offered the bottle. The calf took to the bottle and began drinking. A small amount of milk came out. It wasn’t going to be as bad as he’d thought. The little guy would be different than the others but should be fine.

Melah sniffed again and let out a curse. She wiped her face with her shoulder.

“He’s going to be okay.” Ridge rested a hand on her shoulder.

She looked at him with her two big brown eyes filled with tears.

He nodded to the calf who had almost finished the bottle. “It happens quite often. Heifers reject their babies, and we take over and become their parents. He’ll grow to be strong and a regular bull or steer. We’ll just have to keep an eye on him to ensure he’s eating well.”

“That’s good to hear.” She tugged the empty bottle away from the calf and rubbed his head.

He stumbled away from her and gazed around at the open grassy area. She sniffed again, and Ridge felt her emotions were about more than the calf being rejected from his mother.

“What’s really going on, Melah?” He moved next to her and took her free hand in his.

Her gaze flicked to his for a brief moment before she turned away. A shaky chuckle escaped her.

“It’s just that, I know how the calf feels,” she whispered. She used the back of her arm to wipe her face again.

He drew her to him.

“What do you mean?” he asked quietly.

“My mom didn’t want me either. She gave up her rights to me the moment I was born.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.

He used a finger to tip her chin up so she’d look at him.

She sniffed again. “My dad knew he wanted me from the moment he’d found out she was pregnant. She signed away her rights and left the hospital the day after I was born. My father said he hasn’t seen her since that day.”

Ridge studied the strong woman in front of him. She had done extremely well for herself. She had survived being a woman enlisted in the Army. She was a hard worker on the ranch. She had much to be proud of. He may not know her full story, but from what he did know, he was impressed by her.

He couldn’t even begin to know how it would feel to know that his mother didn’t want him. His had been loving, kind, and nurturing. It was a damn shame she was taken too soon from them, but at least he had gotten to know her and felt her love for him

“Oh, Melah,” he exhaled. He brought her flush to him and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

She leaned into him, pressing her face to his chest. Her shoulders shook while no sounds escaped her.

“I’m so sorry,” he said.

“It’s nothing you need to be sorry for. I’m sorry I got so emotional. Who would have thought seeing a baby calf get rejected by his mother would have me acting like this.” She barked a shaky laugh. She reached up and wiped at the trail of tears.

His hand found its way to her face. He used his thumb to wipe away the wetness she’d missed.

“There’s nothing wrong with showing emotions. Animals are always a weak spot for me,” he admitted.

“I doubt someone like you cries over an abandoned cow.” She snorted.

“Maybe not an abandoned cow since I’ve been around them practically my whole life, but when I have to share with a family that their dog has terminal cancer and won’t make it, or the beloved horse has to be put down because of an incurable disease, it’s never easy. ” He stared down into her wide eyes.

She shook her head and lifted her hand to his chest. “I’m glad I don’t have your job. That must be rough.”

“It can be, but then I think of all of the families I’ve been able to help, or the smiles on kids’ faces when I tell them their animals booboos are going to be okay, or how their pet chicken is just constipated,” he said.

That brought a smile to her face. She played with the buttons on his shirt and blew out a shaky breath.

“Thanks.” She glanced over at the baby cow who was swaying on his weak legs. Later today he should be walking around more confident. “So what do we do about him?”

“Well, he’s going to have to be bottle fed until he’s weaned and then he can join the herd. We can try to see if another momma will be willing to adopt him,” he said.

“Can I choose a name for him?” Melah’s eyes widened as if she’d need to bribe him. She could name any of the cows if she wanted to. Most of them were just identified by their tag numbers.

“Sure. What do you have in mind?” He rested his arm on her shoulders and pulled her into him as the calf wobbled around.

“Reggie. I think he looks like a Reggie,” she said with a nod.

Ridge couldn’t hold back the laugh that erupted from him. “Reggie?”

“Yeah, Reggie. I don’t want to call him Reject, but Reggie is close enough. He’s going to grow up to be big and strong, and all of the lady cows will be after him.” The sadness was gone from her eyes. She gave him a genuine smile and turned to him.

Ridge lifted a hand and cupped her face.

“You are exquisite, Melah.” He didn’t know what it was about this woman, but her big heart and the way she was able to overcome a painful start in life drew him to her. Melah’s lips called to him. He lowered his head and captured them with his. The bottle in her hand fell to the ground, forgotten.

She turned to him and closed the small gap between them.

His lips moved over hers in the most sensual dance. She opened herself to him. His tongue slipped inside her mouth and caressed hers. He didn’t want to rush anything between them. When they made love for the first time—and they would—he was going to ensure they took their time exploring each other.

Ridge grunted at the feeling of Melah pressing closer to him. Her full breasts resting against him had his cock hard as a rock. He slid his hand down her body and cupped her ample ass to hold her in place.

The kiss deepened. He tilted his head, needing to consume her. Something bumped into his leg. He broke the kiss and looked down to find Reggie standing next to them. Melah giggled and reached down to scratch the calf on the head between his eyes.

“Is this bad man keeping my attention from you?” Her giggle floated through the air.

Ridge didn’t want to release her from his hold. She turned her attention back to him, and his eyes were drawn to her swollen lips.

“He’s had more of your time than me. I just got here,” Ridge grumbled.

He cupped her face with both hands and pressed another kiss to her lips.

He lifted his head slowly and stared into her eyes.

“Why don’t you come to my place for dinner.

We can grill out, there’s a pond in the back you can swim in… ”

He left his offer open for her. She bit her lip, tempting him to want to kiss her again. The wheels in her brain were turning. He wasn’t sure if she was going to take him up on his offer. They didn’t have to do anything. It could just be them spending time getting to know one another.

“Would I need to bring anything?” she asked.

“Just you and maybe a bathing suit,” he replied.

She blinked a few times before she nodded. “Okay. That sounds like fun.”