Page 19 of Take a Chance (Blue Creek Ranch #1)

I held up the blanket, then draped it over Pay, tucking it in a little so it wouldn’t fall. “Wait here a minute.”

I waited for him to nod, then raced off to the shed behind the broodmare barn where we kept the machinery and farm vehicles.

The cabins were a decent distance away. Not too far to walk, but it would be a trek with the weight of a sleeping child.

Plus, Pay might be getting sick. And though it was no longer cold at night, it was still chilly enough that he shouldn’t be out in it for too long. Hence the blanket, and now the UTV.

Mal was standing where I left him, and when I pulled up in the UTV, he gave me his real smile.

He eased into the seat, transferred Pay to the other shoulder so he was more in the middle and not by the open side, and then braced his now free hand on the roof.

I pointed us toward the cabins, driving at a much slower pace than I normally would.

Precious cargo and all that.

Neither of us spoke. I didn’t want to wake up Pay. I got the impression, from the glimpse of Mal’s furrowed brow, that he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t have to say anything. I would do this for anyone who needed it. Maybe not as eagerly, but just as happily.

There was just something about the man that caught my attention.

Held it fast. It could be the fact that Mal fit right in here.

Blue Creek Ranch was my home, my life, and I loved it.

I’d never had any desire to leave it. Mal, and his son, were a seamless addition.

For all that it had only been a couple of weeks, it felt like much longer.

Mal was competent and caring, compassionate and kind.

He knew what he was doing and did it with all of his heart and soul.

Everyone who worked with him sang his praises.

I’d permanently assigned him to Wy’s crew so he directly reported to her.

But he never hesitated to jump in whenever anyone needed an extra hand, no matter what, or where, it was.

At first, I’d worried a little that Mal was trying to prove his worth. That if we saw how invaluable he was, we wouldn’t cut him loose. And that was probably a part of it. But if it was, it was a small part. The majority of it was just how Mal was.

Truth was, I’d always been drawn to competence, and Mal had it in spades. Too bad he worked for me or I’d make a move to have him under me.

Thankfully, just as that thought entered my brain, we rolled up to the cabins.

I slowed to a stop between his and mine and hopped out.

I rounded the UTV quickly so that I could get his door open for him.

Just like the rest of us, he didn’t lock his cabin door.

The ranch was secure at night and everyone on it was trustworthy.

I followed Mal inside and almost kept right on going when he walked to the bedrooms, but stopped myself in time. He didn’t need my help to put his kid to bed. I should just leave. He didn’t need me here. Not anymore. And yet I couldn’t get my feet to move.

When Mal emerged a few minutes later, I was still standing there like an idiot, but he didn’t seem surprised. He just smiled a sweet smile, and then my traitorous feet finally moved. Toward him. I stopped when I was only a few inches away.

“Thanks for your help tonight,” I murmured, needing to say something.

Mal chuckled. “I didn’t do anything.”

“But you would have.” Even I heard the conviction in my tone. I tried to rein it in. “And you were company. It was good. Having you there, I mean.”

He nodded slowly, gaze darting all over my face. After a moment, he whispered, “It felt like I was meant to be there.”

“You were. You are. You belong here, Mal. You and Pay and Jaina…this is where you’re supposed to be.” Fuck, could I be anymore ridiculous? I meant every word, but it was way too intense for the moment. I tried to backtrack. “Uh, I just mean, we’re happy to have you. You know?”

“Thanks,” he said, but his brow knit together as though he didn’t understand. I wanted to explain it, but I’d done enough for the night. I took a deliberate step back and then another. I’d gotten too close.

“I’ll let you get to bed. You’re not expected until nine tomorrow.

” The moment the words left my mouth, I saw him gear up to refuse.

I held up a hand. “Everyone who pulls a night shift gets a later start time the next day. Or gets the day off, depending on what happened. Nine o’clock.

Unless Pay needs you to stay home and then just send word. ”

I didn’t wait for a response. I’d crossed all kind of lines tonight and I needed to get back on the right side of things.

I walked outside and breathed deeply for a few seconds.

The crisp, cool air did wonders to clear my head.

What the hell had gotten into me? Hadn’t I just given myself a stern talking to less than a couple of hours ago?

“What’d we get?”

Russ’s voice startled me but really it shouldn’t have. I should’ve known that he would be waiting for me to get home to give him the scoop. Russ wasn’t the best with technology but he’d sure gotten on board with the cameras and watching the feed remotely.

“Filly. Looks perfect, too.” I smiled and Russ nodded as though that’s what he expected.

“She’s gonna be a pain in the ass for at least a week,” he said knowingly, referring to Imelda Staunton.

It had happened last year too. Overprotective and bitey.

But she’d settle down quickly enough. Honestly, I preferred that over the dams that couldn’t care less if their foals were present or not.

“We’ll just have to walk soft for a bit.”

“Yep.” Russ stared me down for a few seconds, then turned his gaze out into the black of night. “Saw you coming in with Mal. Good kid. Got a chance to talk with him some tha’ other day.”

I had the strangest urge to ask what they’d talked about. But it wasn’t my business. “Don’t tell Mom, but she was right.”

Russ’s gruff laugh sounded like tires on gravel. “’Spect she already knows.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Have a good night, Russ.”

“You, too.”

I headed inside my own cabin and once the door was shut and I was finally alone, I allowed myself to breathe.

And truly acknowledge that yeah, I liked Mal.

I would love to get to know him better. If circumstances were different, I’d do just that.

But they weren’t so I had to keep things professional.

I didn’t have any other choice.