Page 30 of Knot Her Cowboys (Big Sky Omegas #2)

“ I think Ranger is brushed enough for the day,” I said to Cooper when I peeked into the stables for a quick evening check of the horses. “He’s going to develop a bald spot if you groom that area any longer.”

“Lost in my own head.” Cooper set the brush aside. “And maybe nervous about going to the campfire, knowing Riley is there.”

“I’m about to steal her away to spend time with Buttons, so you’re free and clear there.”

He frowned. “I will talk to her. Am I terrible if I put it off until tomorrow?”

“Not in my personal opinion,” I assured him. “Take the night to think and tackle the conversation when you’re rested.”

Cooper huffed a breath. “Okay. I’ll hide out here until you get her to the small barn so I don’t make things weird and interrupt your time with her. And don’t say I wouldn’t. We both know I’d be a distraction, and you need to focus on a horse in labor.”

“I’ll get her now so you don’t have to hide for long. Give me five minutes.”

Riley was at the campfire next to Cash and Dakota when I arrived. Buttons had been showing signs of labor for the past three hours and since her foal hadn’t made an appearance yet, she was definitely getting close.

Cash tapped Riley’s shoulder and pointed toward me, getting her attention on my behalf. Her face lit up when she saw me. “Baby time?”

“Soon. If you’re interested, I’m sure Buttons would love some attention.”

“On it.” Riley beamed and hopped out of her chair to follow me back to the barn after giving Cash and Dakota each a kiss on the cheek, adding one for me when she got within reach. I offered her my arm and she looped hers through it, forcing my pace to slow to accommodate for her shorter legs.

“She’s been pretty chill. Some horses get really restless, but Buttons was only like that for a bit.”

“Does she like to be touched right now?”

“Hasn’t tried to bite me yet,” I said with a laugh. “She’s affectionate anyway. You can settle around her head and I’ll handle the actual foaling portion of things.”

“I’m so fucking excited. I haven’t gotten to love on a baby horse in yeeears.”

Buttons was sprawled in the straw when we arrived, lifting her head to examine us before laying down again.

“Hello there, my sweet girl,” Riley cooed. “Having your baby today?”

Buttons acknowledged Riley with a soft whicker as our omega settled by the horse’s head and immediately got a lap full of mare.

Riley laughed. “Hello to you too.” She stroked a gentle hand down Buttons’s neck, our lovely horse soaking up the attention.

“Still no baby, hmm?” I got to my knees at her rump, laying a palm on her hip. We weren’t so far into labor that I was worried yet, but I’d keep an eye on her. “That’s okay. They come in their own time.”

“Do you have any idea what her baby daddy looks like?” Riley asked.

“Not a clue. We asked, but they didn’t know she was pregnant when they sold her. They have a lot of studs on their farm that are escape artists, so it’s anybody’s guess.”

“Buttons, were you romancing all the boys on your old ranch?” Riley scratched under the mare’s chin. “I bet you were living your absolute best life with all the handsome stallions. Do you think your baby will look like you or the secret daddy? A mini Buttons would be cute as hell.”

“The world will always benefit from more Buttons,” I replied with a smile. While we waited, I made sure all of my supplies were in order, most specifically the rubber apron that would hopefully spare me the worst of the mess.

Riley talked softly to Buttons, comforting her through the remainder of the labor, my heart squeezing over Riley being so tender. Her legs were probably going numb with a horse’s head on them, but she didn’t move an inch, devoting herself to her task.

“You’re so good with her.”

“’Cause she’s the best girl.” Riley kissed Buttons’s upturned muzzle, the mare sniffing at her face. “It’s easy to be good with animals when they’re so chill.”

“Still need the personality for it, though,” I pointed out. Buttons shifted and two little hooves poked out along with the muzzle, still wrapped in membrane. “We’ve got movement. Won’t be long now.”

“Oh my goodness, Buttons. You’re gonna be a mama any minute!”

I popped the membrane, internally wincing at the flood that followed, and cleared around the foal’s nose so it had no impediments to breathing.

Buttons got to her feet, Riley squawking at the sudden movement. Most horses didn’t require much assistance through this process, but it was good to be nearby in any case. Riley rose up and I tugged her out of the stall for safety.

Buttons didn’t need either of us, flopping back down a few minutes later before her foal slid to freedom with blue eyes and golden hair.

“Now what?” Riley asked, looking like she was itching to visit the baby, but she allowed Buttons and her new foal time to bond while we observed from a distance.

“We watch, make sure the baby is on schedule with standing and nursing, and that Buttons delivers the placenta.”

“How long does that take?”

“About three hours for all of it, usually. You don’t have to stay the whole time with me.”

“But I want to.” Riley peeked over the stall gate. “Baby looks nothing like Mom. Dad must have some strong genes.”

“Does help identify him, though. I’ll let them know and we can get the health records to keep on file.”

Riley was absolutely enraptured by the foal.

“I’m going to check over Buttons. Wait here for a minute.”

Riley nodded and I slipped into the stall, doing a quick vitals check on Mama and making sure she could stand comfortably.

Baby wiggled their way to their feet a little before I finished, leaning on Buttons for support as they figured out the brand-new world.

Mama nuzzled her new little one, working on cleaning them up a bit.

“So fucking cute,” Riley whispered. “I’m already in love.”

“Want to pet them?”

“Are we allowed?”

“Sure we are. I have extra gloves in my bag so you don’t have to touch them while they’re still juicy.”

Riley cackled. “That’s appreciated.” She dug out the gloves and pulled them on.

“You can love on them while I check vitals.”

Riley inched inside, careful to stay where Buttons could see her and moving slowly as she reached out to stroke the baby. Buttons nudged her head in there for some love too. “Oh my goodness, Mama. You did such a good job! Your baby is as beautiful as you.”

Buttons enjoyed thorough under-chin scratches while I made sure the baby was doing okay.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Riley cooed at the baby. “You gonna have a snack from Mama so Levi can stop worrying about you?”

I laughed under my breath. “I wasn’t worried quite yet.”

“But the sooner we have snacking, the better, right?”

I nodded, falling silent as I measured the baby’s heart rate. “Everything seems good for both of them.”

“Of course. Buttons and Baby are obligated to be both healthy and immortal now that I love them.”

“They’re on the right track so far.” I patted Baby’s flank. “Want to slap the fairy slippers?”

Riley’s cheeks puffed up. “Why’d you have to remind me how fucked-up baby horse feet are when they’re born? What does slapping them do?”

“Encourages blood flow, mostly. Doesn’t hurt them at all, but it can be off-putting.”

“God. Understatement of the year.” Riley stared up at the barn ceiling. “I don’t even want to look at them. I’m trying to live in blissful denial about the fact that this little cutie has temporary demon fingers on their hooves.”

“You know what? Entirely fair. I’m so used to them at this point I don’t even bat an eye.” I checked each foot, giving a tap as I went, the baby sniffing me curiously while I investigated. “Did you want to name the foal?”

Riley’s bright eyes landed on me as she whipped her head in my direction. “Really?”

“Only if you want to.”

“Hell yeah, I want to. Are they a colt or a filly?”

“Filly on the ultrasound. You want to check if that was correct now that Baby is earth-side?”

“Roger dodger.” She lifted the foal’s little tail. “Pretty sure that’s a filly, though I haven’t laid eyeballs on newborn horse bits for quite some time.”

I tipped my head to double-check. “Definitely a filly.”

“How about we name her Bluebell for those gorgeous eyes?”

“I think Bluebell suits just fine.” She was a gorgeous filly, and would look even more so when Buttons finished cleaning her up.

“And we get alliteration with Mama.” Riley grinned and cupped Bluebell’s cheeks with soft strokes of her thumb along them. “Who’s my cutest little lady? The grossest, most precious angel with demon toes all covered in god knows what.”

I laughed. “I know what, but I’ll spare you the details.”

“A wise choice.”

Bluebell started nursing with some gentle encouragement and Riley looked absolutely beside herself with glee.

“So fucking cute. I’m gonna die of adorable overload.”

“No dying,” I said with a smile. “Bluebell is probably going to be obsessed with you now since you’re the first person besides me to touch her.”

“Yes!” Riley giggled, scratching all the way down Bluebell’s back. “I love being the favorite.”

I didn’t say out loud that I hoped Riley would stay, for our sake as well as Bluebell’s.

She stuck around with me and loved all over Bluebell and Buttons, while I dealt with Buttons delivering the placenta and making sure all was well there. Once I was satisfied both horses were in good condition, I decided it would be a good time to let them rest together.

“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, but I desperately need a shower.”

“Do you want me to join you after you hose off all the horse yuck?”

“I’d love your company.” I shucked my rubber apron, rinsed it off with the hose, hung it to dry for now, and then turned the hose on my clothing. I’d run it through the washer as well, but I liked to make sure I didn’t have too much solid matter stuck to me.

Riley laughed and snuck her hands in for a rinse. “You’re not doing the full shower out here, are you? I only like cold water when I’m deliberately swimming in it and it’s hot as balls out.”

“Just rinsing. The staff are used to me sprinting around in my underwear after dealing with messy veterinary care.” I stripped down to my underlayers and gave my clothing a quick wring-out before draping them over my shoulder and gesturing for Riley to follow me to the big house.

The washer and dryer were right inside the door to the mudroom and I chucked everything in there until I was totally bare. Riley did the same and scampered ahead of me, pausing at the open door of the main floor bathroom.

“Here or your en suite?”

“Here,” I replied. We didn’t like to track ranch mess too deep into the house so the main floor bathroom got a lot of use.

Riley darted inside and I was treated with the spectacular view of her ass as she bent over to fiddle with the tap handle to get the water running. She squeaked as I got closer and cupped one of the ass cheeks.

Her eyes were full of fire when she looked at me over her shoulder. “Come on in here, cowboy.”

She nudged me to sit on the shower bench, scrubbed up her hands with some of the available soap, and rinsed them clean before snatching the wand to soak my hair.

“You’re bathing me?” I asked.

“You worked hard making sure Bluebell came safely into the world. You deserve a little rest.”

I wasn’t going to complain about that. I closed my eyes, letting her shampoo my curls, my purr rumbling as she scrubbed my scalp. She lulled me into a state of bliss, methodically cleaning me from head to toe before standing between my spread knees, allowing me to do the same for her.

I traced the length of flower tattoos on her sides and swept my thumb over the one nestled on her hip, a little barrel with lupines poking out the top. “Do they have any particular meaning, or just for the aesthetic?”

“The ones on the sides are mostly aesthetic and nostalgic. I got a different Montana wildflower each year I was gone.”

“And this one?” I asked, tapping the barrel and flowers.

She pressed her lips into a line, like she wasn’t ready to admit what that one meant.

“You don’t have to tell me. Want to sit on my lap?”

She obliged, putting her hands behind my neck and tucking my very awake cock between us. Her eyes closed slowly as I slipped soapy fingers over her skin.

“You were a very good vet assistant today.”

“I barely did anything.”

“You did. It’s always easier to care for animals if someone soothes them while I have to do all of the medical stuff. It’s not a small job, and you definitely have to be brave around horses.”

“They’re just big babies,” she said with a laugh.

“They definitely are, but a lot of people don’t view them like that. Thank you for caring enough to stick out all those hours with me.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks for trusting me to help.” Her kiss that followed wasn’t a surprise, but it kicked my heart into gear nonetheless. She moved slow and easy, like we had all the time in the world.

The hot water would run out eventually, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to care.

Having her close soothed my nerves and had me craving her all at once. I’d always been envious of people who had found their scent-matched omega, absolutely certain some sort of magic was involved. Now that I’d found mine, I knew I was right.

I didn’t have a bond with her, not yet anyway, but I wanted one. I wanted to know Riley down to the depths of her soul and find a way to heal all of the trauma she carried so she never had to fear staying with us.

Maybe it wasn’t possible, but I was damn sure going to try.