Page 18 of Take a Chance (Blue Creek Ranch #1)

Crew

I melda Staunton was showing all signs of going into labor.

Honestly, I thought it would have happened last night with the amount of laying down she’d been doing, but things stalled out around two, and she went to sleep.

She’d been holding her tail out all day, biting and kicking at her sides, and generally acting uncomfortable.

Last year, with her first, she’d foaled at three hundred and thirty-two days.

This year she’d made it to three-thirty-five.

Ennis, Mal, and I were hanging out in my office and watching the camera.

We didn’t interfere unless the mare or foal were in trouble, but we wanted to be close, just in case.

Newer employees always got drafted for foal watch, but Dad and I had been ready to give Mal a pass on account of Payton, since mares most typically foaled at night.

Mal wanted to be there though, and as soon as Mom offered to keep Pay for however long it took—and Pay enthusiastically agreed—Mal joined us.

It was barely eleven, though, and my guess was we’d have a foal on the ground within the hour. I knew my broodmares and any minute now, she was going to show us that she was in active labor. I felt it in my bones.

My phone pinged and I looked away from the monitor to check it. I couldn’t help the grin when I saw Bodhi’s text.

It’ll be soon. Make sure you take care of my girl.

Yes, sir, staff sergeant sir.

Bodhi’s response was the middle finger emoji. I snorted a laugh.

Ennis made an inquisitive sound. I held up the phone. “Bodhi.”

“Ah,” he said with a nod, never taking his gaze off the monitor screen.

I glanced at Mal and he looked like he wanted to ask but wasn’t sure if he should. I figured the least I could do was explain.

“Older brother. Bodhi is a Marine through and through. I swear he’ll be in the Corps until they make him retire. But he’s got horses in his blood, the same as the rest of us. He’s watching the remote feed.”

We all had access to all the cameras on the property, both in the broodmare stalls and outside. I was sure Mom and Dad were watching on the iPad at the house and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hawk showed up minutes before the foal actually arrived. He had the knack.

Mal offered a smile that was hardly more than a quirk of his lips. “That’s nice.’

It was Ennis’ turn to snort but I outright chuckled.

I shook my head. “He’s trying to micromanage from South Carolina.

See, he’s always had a soft spot for Maggie Smith.

And Maggie Smith is Imelda Staunton’s dam.

Maggie Smith foals like clockwork, not before three-thirty-nine and not after three-forty-two.

Seven years ago, Bodhi took leave so he could be here for Maggie Smith’s first foal with us. ”

I watched Mal’s face as he put the pieces together. “Who was Imelda Staunton.”

“Bingo. Bodhi insisted Imelda Staunton was the keeper that year. He was right. She showed like a dream, proved herself and her dam’s other foals, until a stifle injury took her out of the show pen. She’s not sound enough to ride, but sound the rest of the time, and she’s an excellent mama.”

Mal sat up straight. “So this isn’t her first foal.”

“Second,” Ennis said absently, leaning forward. “Here we go.”

I whipped my gaze back to the screen. Sure enough, Imelda Staunton had laid down and was definitely pushing.

Ennis left my office without a word, going to check on them.

He’d stay outside the stall. If the cameras had sound, I was sure we’d be able to hear him speaking low and encouraging to the mare.

They were all so used to Ennis that I liked to think she’d find it comforting.

Mal left his seat to get closer to the screen. I caught a whiff of him and my stomach tightened. He smelled like sweat and hay, horse and leather, and something underneath it all that was uniquely him. I couldn’t help but inhale deeply, pulling that scent into my lungs. He smelled so damn good.

The thought came out of nowhere and I had to sit with it for a second.

I’d never shied away from my attraction to anybody and I wasn’t ashamed that I found him attractive.

It was fine that I thought he was pretty, and smelled good, and when he smiled for real it lit up his whole face.

As long as I didn’t act on it. As long as I kept my mouth shut and didn’t make Mal uncomfortable.

It was inappropriate and an abuse of power. I just wouldn’t do it.

As subtly as I could, I adjusted my seat so I wasn’t quite as close to him. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice since his gaze was glued to the screen. I studied him out of the corner of my eye and enjoyed the absolute joy on his features. It was clear horses were in his blood as well.

We’d join Ennis soon, unless something happened, but until then, I watched Mal watch what was happening.

And as I did, I couldn’t help but be drawn in.

He had a little freckle under the outer corner of left eye.

His lashes were ridiculously long. I had the insane urge to rub a finger against the scruff on his jaw.

Can it, Crew. He works for you.

I needed to heed my inner thoughts that were being sensible and not the ones that wanted to pull Mal down onto my lap.

“Are the hooves out?” Mal suddenly said, voice low as though he didn’t want to disturb the mare even though she couldn’t hear us.

“Let’s go see.” I nudged him and he all but sprinted out the door. I followed at a slower pace and when my gaze slid down to his denim-covered ass, I jerked the back up quickly. Christ, I needed to get my shit together. Because that was just unacceptable.

I could handle that.

An hour later, we had a filly on the ground.

She was already on her feet, but Imelda Staunton had been quick to stand too.

Dad raced down to check her out, and when he named her Angela Lansbury I knew she was staying with us.

She had a star instead of a blaze, but otherwise looked just like her mama.

We all stared at she took her wobbly first steps and nursed for the first time.

Imelda Staunton had gone back to eating.

I made sure to take plenty of pics for Bodhi, and video too, because he would want to see.

I’d wait to send them until I was back at the house, since the Wi-Fi was better there.

I didn’t want to be accused of not doing my duty.

Bodhi would kick my ass next time we saw each other if I didn’t show plenty of proof that the mare and foal were doing fine.

Since Dad and Ennis were staying with them, and the vet wouldn’t be here until the next day to check the placenta and give Angela Lansbury a good looking over, there was nothing left for me and Mal to do. I walked with him toward the house so he could pick up his kid.

“That never gets old,” Mal murmured, a touch of wonder in his voice.

“Nope,” I agreed. “It’s always a miracle.”

Mal was quiet for a few seconds and then he shook his head. There was a healthy dose of amusement in his tone when he said, “The British actress thing is strange though. Well, not that so much as always using the full name.”

“Dads are weird,” I said, laughing too. Then I realized what I said, “Uh, not that you’re weird. I mean—It’s just—.”

Mal waved it off. “Nah, I’m weird. Pay certainly thinks so. It’s a compliment, because in my experience, the weird dads are the good dads.”

There was something in his tone, an edge of hurt, that made me ask. “Your dad wasn’t, uh, weird?”

“Nope.” There was a finality to it that clearly put an end to the conversation.

I led the way up onto the porch, then held the door for Mal to go in first. I’d barely made it in myself and Mom was right there, eyes bright and a little teary.

“What is it? Is it as perfect as it looks?”

I smiled, looked my mom right in the eye, and said, “Dad named her Angela Lansbury.”

She squealed, but cut herself off in a second, whipping her head toward the living room.

Pay was sprawled out, one leg up against the back of the couch, one arm hanging off the cushion.

Mr. Raven was clutched tightly in the other hand.

As we watched, the little boy let out a snore far too big for his tiny body.

“Crap,” Mal whispered, heading for his kid. “He must be getting a cold. That’s the only time he snores like that.”

“Mal,” Mom called softly. “You can bring him to me even if he’s sick, okay?”

I added, “And if you need to take a day or two, just let us know.”

A complicated set of emotions passed over his face.

I spotted disbelief and stubbornness, but relief too.

After a few seconds, he just nodded and scooped Pay up.

The boy flopped like a sack of potatoes, deadweight in his father’s arms. When Mal rubbed his back, Pay snuggled right in, turning his head to tuck his face against Mal’s neck.

“Thanks so much for watching him, Jenn. I really appreciate the extra time. I’m glad I got to be a part of tonight.

” Mal kept his voice soft, but the sincerity was clear.

He tried for a smile, but it wasn’t his real one, because it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m sure Pay will be fine. He’s usually not grumpy when he’s sick. He handles it like a champ.”

“The offers stand,” Mom simply said.

“Thanks,” Mal repeated. “I better get him home. See you tomorrow.”

He headed out. I looked at Mom. She looked at me. Mom grabbed the fleece throw from the back of the couch and tossed it at me. I caught it without a word and raced out to catch Mal.

The property was well lit, and since people were up and moving around because of the foaling, we’d overridden the timers on the main drive.

But Mal whipped around and stepped back, probably unsure, and was half hidden in shadow.

I made my steps even and slow, not wanting to spook him.

His body relaxed when he realized it was me.

“Crew?” He whispered.