“Oh, my gosh, that’s right! If the road’s out it’ll only be you. I’ll help.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to. The work load’s not too bad. Several of our boarders are off on holiday rides elsewhere. I can handle—”
“No, I’ll definitely help. I’ve never been here at feeding time, but I used to pitch in when I was riding at the stable back in Boston. Can’t be terribly different.”
“I know absolutely nothing about feedin’ horses,” Aleck said, “but surely I can be of some use.”
“Thanks, Aleck, but Rory mentioned that you’re not into this kind of thing. I wouldn’t want to—”
“By all means, put me to work. There’s no way I’ll sit up here drinkin’ coffee while you and Tansy are slavin’ away in the barn.”
“Alrighty, then. The horses will appreciate it and so will I.”
“Only thing I’m worried about is gettin’ my boots dirty.”
Zane ducked his head but didn’t quite manage to hide his grin. When he looked up, only a flash of humor in his eyes gave him away. “I can fix that problem.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“We should have some rubber boots around here. Might even be in this bedroom closet. Let’s look.” Moving into the room, he opened a door. “Yep, just as I thought.” He picked up a pair of brown rain boots and handed them over. “These should fit. Rubber is more forgiving than leather.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine. What time do you feed the horses?”
“Sunup.”
“When’s that?”
“About five-thirty.”
He swallowed a groan. “I’ll be there. See you both in the mornin’.” He walked out of the room.
“Have a good night,” Tansy called after him.
“You, too, lass!” He went into his room, shut the door and leaned against it. Rain pounded on the roof, energetic as his brother’s sticks on the snare drum.
He’d agreed to meet Zane down at the barn at sunup. Might not be any sun. Might still be raining. Quite likely mud would be involved. He’d be feeding large animals he knew nothing about and likely dealing with their poop.
So what? Tansy would be there. For a chance to spend time with her, he’d clean out stalls with his bare hands.
Aleck’s phone alarm chimed at five. Two other sounds registered—rain on the roof and loud clucking. He peered into the semi-darkness outside his window and sure enough, Zane was moving around the chicken coop, scattering seed in the rain. Rural life. Bloody tough, in his estimation.
Pulling on his jeans, he went to the door and opened it a crack. A light shone under the bathroom door and the shower was going. Really? She was showering before she hiked down to the barn through rain and mud?
He ran his hand over his bristle. On the other hand, a quick shower would feel great and he should also shave. Walking back to the dresser, he grabbed his shaving kit. Then he opened his door and leaned against the jam, chest tight with anticipation as he waited for her to come out.
He’d dreamed about her, dreams involving porches, stripping down and making love in the rain. Better not dwell on that. Greeting her with a bulge in his pants was not classy.
The doorknob turned and he held his breath. She came out wrapped in a pink towel that matched the streaks in her wet hair. She kept the towel secure with one hand and carried a hair dryer in the other.
“Oh!” She stopped abruptly. “Good morning.” Her gaze traveled over his bare chest and her tempting mouth curved in a smile.
Evidently he’d passed inspection. He pushed away from the doorframe. “Good—” The word came out as a croak. She was just that lovely. He cleared his throat. “Good mornin’ to you, too, lass.” Only a towel and a few feet of hallway separated him from all he’d dreamed of during the night.
He couldn’t have more than a kiss, though. They had a schedule to keep. But a kiss was better than nothing. He could almost taste it as he took a step toward her.
Then Mandy came out of the master bedroom with Rhys in her arms. “Hey, guys! Looks like everybody’s up! Zane said you’d offered to help feed and I’m so grateful.”
He caught the flash of amusement in Tansy’s eyes. She’d likely read his intent loud and clear. “He’s gettin’ a numptie with me,” he said, “but I’ll give it my best.”
“With Tansy and Zane to guide you, you’ll be fine.” Mandy glanced down at the impossibly tiny bairn. “Won’t they, Rhys?”
The wee babe was more pink than red this morning. He gazed up at his mother intently, his brow wrinkled.
“He looks worried,” Aleck said. “I think he knows an amateur when he sees one.”
Mandy laughed. “I’m sure he’s figured out I am, poor kid. I’m all thumbs with the diaper routine. I keep waiting for that instinctive tribal knowledge to kick in, but so far, it’s like any other first day on the job. I suck.”
“I doubt it.” Tansy moved closer to Mandy. “He looks good. Did you guys have a peaceful night?”
Mandy smiled. “We did, although we didn’t sleep much. Kept admiring this little guy. How about you two?”
“I can’t speak for Aleck, but I was asleep the minute my head hit the pillow.”
“Same here. Slept like a log.” And woke up with a woody.
“I need to get out of your way so you can get dressed and go help Zane.” Mandy continued down the hall. “He’s out there feeding the chickens, poor guy.”
“Saw that,” Aleck called after her.
“Rub it in.” Tansy gave him a saucy glance. “Lord it over those of us who don’t have a chicken-coop view.”
“That I will, and it’s worth every penny.”
“Do you need this?” She held up the dryer. “If so, I can—”
“Don’t need it. I’ll just shower and shave, skip the hair for now.”
“Then the bathroom’s all yours.” She gestured with the hair dryer.
“Thanks.” He quickly estimated whether he dared kiss her. Nope. Too much time had passed. Could sabotage the entire plan. “See you in a few.” He started toward the bathroom.
“I hope you’re not shaving for me.”
“Why?” Because he was.
“I think you look hot with a little scruff.”
“Then I’ll just wash up a bit.” He walked into the bathroom and closed the door. “She thinks I look hot with a little scruff,” he informed his reflection. “Let’s hope those ugly rubber boots don’t cancel out my hotness factor.”
Eliminating his shave meant he was showered, dressed and ready to go before she was. He’d brought a rain jacket with a hood so he put that on before tapping on her door. Wasn’t risking his Stetson again. “I’ll wait for you in the livin’ room.”
“You can go down ahead of me if you want.”
“I’d rather not. I’m hopin’ for pointers on the way there. I’ll wait for you.”
“Truly, it’s not that hard.”
“Easy for you to say. How long have you been ridin’?”
“Since I was nine.”
“That puts you kilometers ahead of me. I don’t know one end of a horse from the other.”
“The front end eats the hay and the back end—”
“Just kiddin’.”
“Me, too.” She opened her door and came out wearing a Guzzling Grizzly hooded sweatshirt, jeans and her boots, which had been cleaned.
“Look at you, lass! When did you have time to scrape the mud off your boots?”
“Zane did it. They washed our stuff, too, but your jeans are still in the dryer. Guess they’re thicker denim than mine. Mandy loaned me a sweatshirt.”
“I don’t know how those two are still upright, let alone doin’ laundry.”
“They’re high on the joys of parenthood. Ready to go?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“One more thing.” Bracing her hand on his shoulder, she lifted to her toes and gave him a quick but potent kiss.
He groaned. “Damn, lass
. That makes me want—”
“Later.” She patted his chest. “Trust me, we’ll find time.” She started down the hall.
As he followed her, he continued to process her unexpected kiss. His lips tingled and his pulse hammered. “I hope you mean that, because I’m goin’ crazy.”
“My shift at the GG begins at six tonight. That gives us plenty of hours to work with.”
“Rory wants to get in some practice time on our numbers for the parade.”
“That’s important. We’ll work around any obligations.”
“I wish I didn’t have to leave on Friday, but I’m expected back.”
“I understand.” She turned to him as they reached the front door. “We’ll make every moment count.”
“Aye.” He took a deep breath. “We will.”
She opened the door and walked out on the porch. “Still raining.”
“Yep.”
“I could ask Mandy if she has an umbrella we could use.”
“I haven’t been here long, but that doesn’t sound like how a McGavin operates.”
“You’ve got that right. They laugh at the rain. And the snow, the sleet and the hail.”
He held out his hand. “Then let’s make a run for it.”
“Didn’t you want pointers along the way? You won’t get any if we’re racing in the rain.”
“Who needs pointers?” He flashed her a grin. “I’m a McGavin. It’s in my blood.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Aleck’s manly scruff and rakish smile were a lethal combo. Even the ugly rain boots couldn’t make a dent in his sexy Scottish appeal. He should have had trouble running in them, but he was amazingly agile in those things. Halfway to the barn he let out a yee-haw that made Tansy laugh so hard she almost couldn’t run at all.
Light from inside the barn cut through the gray drizzle, giving them a target. Zane had left the sliding barn door open wide enough for them to fit through one at a time.
Aleck skidded to a stop at the entrance, raindrops clinging to his eyelashes and scruff. The barn provided a windbreak. “You first,” he said, panting.
“What was that yee-haw all about?”
“Only cowboy phrase I know. Seemed like the time to use it.”
“Yeah.” She grinned. “Guess it was.” Resisting the urge to kiss him again, she ducked inside. He was quickly becoming irresistible.
A wheelbarrow full of fragrant hay stood in front of her. Zane wheeled a similarly loaded one down the wooden aisle toward the back of the barn. Winston, a butterscotch and white Paint in the last stall on the right, trumpeted a greeting. Horses’ noses poked out from the other stalls as Zane passed by with the wheelbarrow.
“We’re here,” Tansy called out. “Want us to close the barn door?”
“You can leave it,” he said over his shoulder. “The rain’s coming from the other direction and the horses love a little fresh air. If you two will follow me down to the end, I’ll get you started.”
“On our way.” She flipped back her hood and turned to check on Aleck.
He stood with his hands shoved in his back pockets and his hood thrown back as he made a visual sweep of the barn. He met her gaze. “Just needed a minute to take it all in. Let’s go.”
She started off. “You’ve never been in a barn?”
“Not one as grand as this.” He fell into step beside her. “Gran and Grandpa have a sheep barn, but it doesn’t compare.”
“The new one is more utilitarian, but I love this one more. It’s elegant.”
“Good word for it.” He eyed the horses keeping track of their progress. “Do you think they can sense I’m a numptie?”
“Not unless you’re afraid of them. Are you?”
He shook his head. “Cautious. Curious. And to my surprise, fascinated.”
“All good things when you’re dealing with horses.”
Zane turned the wheelbarrow around and lowered the handles before coming out from behind it to greet them. “Thanks for doing this, guys.”
“You’re most welcome,” Tansy said. “How’re you holding up, family man? Heard you were up with the chickens and out with ’em, too.”
He gave them a weary smile. “The adrenaline rush is wearing off. Talked to Mom this morning and she was glad you’d volunteered. They’re pinned down, too. Even Quinn’s road is washed out and his property is higher than ours.”
“I’m glad we’re here to help.” Aleck surveyed the two rows of stalls. “Plenty of horses to feed.”
“Normally I can handle it, but like I was telling Winston, I—”
“Who’s Winston?” Aleck glanced around as if expecting a person to show up.
“Right over there.” Tansy pointed to the gelding. “Hey, Winston! How’re you doin’, boy?”
He whinnied in response.
Made her laugh. “If you talk to him, he talks back.”
“No kiddin’?”
“It’s the truth,” Zane said. “He’s a good listener, too. Winston and I have had some long discussions.”
“Interestin’ name for a horse. The only Winston I’ve heard of is Churchill.”
“That’s who we named him for,” Zane said. “Both big talkers.”
Aleck grinned. “I like that.”
Winston snorted and bobbed his head. Then he made a low-throated noise that sounded like grumbling.
“Now he’s telling us he’s starving and we need to get a move on.” Zane handed over two pairs of work gloves.
“Thanks.” Tansy pulled hers on. “And thank you for cleaning the mud off my boots. That was above and beyond. I’m afraid they’re messed up again.”
“No worries. At least it’s fresh mud.” He grabbed a bundle of hay. “A hay flake goes in the hay net in each stall. Like this.” He opened Winston’s stall and demonstrated. Then he gave Winston a pat on the rump as he left the stall. “The pat is optional.”
“Very much like what I’m used to.” Tansy glanced at Aleck. “You good to go?”
“Aye. I’ll follow your lead.”
Zane gestured toward a dappled gray who was wearing his typical hangdog expression. “Aleck, you can start with Eeyore. He’s Mandy’s horse.”
“Looks a wee bit peely-wally to me.”
“He’s fine. He does his best to appear pathetic so people will feel sorry for him. He’s been pulling that for years, even though we treat him like royalty.”
“And so will I.” Aleck picked up a hay flake. “Cheer up, laddie. I’m here to serve your highness.”
“I’ll start with Bert and Ernie.” Tansy turned to the right and opened Bert’s stall.
“Bert and Ernie.” Aleck chuckled. “I’m gettin’ a kick out of these names. Must be fun thinkin’ them up.”
“Yeah, it is.” Zane didn’t quite smother his yawn.
“I heard that yawn.” Tansy came out of Bert’s stall and closed the door. “You’re dead on your feet, aren’t you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Uh-huh. You’d say that if you were ready to pass out.”
Aleck come out of Eeyore’s stall. “I think I have the hang of this routine. I gave him a pat but couldn’t tell if he liked it or not.”
Zane chuckled. “He did but he won’t show it.” He rolled his shoulders. “Carry on. I’ll start at the other end and meet you in the middle.”
“I have a better idea,” Tansy said. “Going by what you said last night, there are fewer horses in the other barn.”
“That’s true. Once we finish with this bunch, we’ll have the bulk of it done.”
“Then let us handle the horses in this barn while you take care of the ones over there.”
“That’s not fair. I’ll finish way before you.”
“That’s the point. When you’re done, you can go back to the house and sleep.”
“While you’re still working? I couldn’t do that.”
“Sure you could.”
“What if you run into a problem?”
She p
ulled out her phone. “We won’t, but on the small chance that we suddenly need you down here, I’ll call.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and stared into space. Then he let out a long sigh. “I’ll consider it. I’ll head over to the other barn and come back this way when I’m done to see how you’re faring.” He clamped a battered cowboy hat on his head. “Thanks, guys.” He zipped his jacket and left the barn.
Aleck gazed after him. “He’s lookin’ a bit peely-wally, too.”
“Peely-wally.” She grinned. “Great description. And yes, he’s clearly exhausted. He needs to let us do this so he can crash.”
“Then let’s get to it. Who’s this next one I’m deliverin’ to?”
“That’s either Bonnie or Clyde. They look a lot alike.” She carried a flake of hay into Ernie’s stall. “This pair’s easy. Bert’s the taller one and Ernie’s the shorter, stockier one. Bonnie and Clyde are almost identical.”
“There’s one sure way to tell which is which.”
“That’s—”
“Obvious, right? Which is likely why you didn’t think of it. I’ll check it out and let you know.”
“Okay, you do that.” This would be fun.
He delivered a flake to the first horse and came out of the stall. “That one is definitely Clyde.”
“If you say so.”
“I know so. He has a tadger. He seems to be missing the rest of his equipment, though.”
“Because he’s a gelding.” She smiled at his use of the word tadger. Thanks to Damaris, she knew what the Scottish word meant.
“Does that mean he’s been neutered?”
“Yes. Stallions usually aren’t a good choice for a riding stable. Geldings are more reliable.”
“That’s logical. Even I can see that you wouldn’t want a hot-blooded stallion out on a trail ride. Could create a legal liability.”
“Definitely.” She moved down the line. “This is Diablo, the horse Rory’s been riding ever since he came to the ranch.”
“He told me about Diablo. He looks too calm to have that name, though.”
“He was already named when Kendra got him.”
“Maybe he was a right chancer of a stallion.”
“That would explain it, but he’s extremely safe now. He’d be a good choice for you when we go out today.”
A Cowboy’s Destiny: The McGavin Brothers Page 9