Country Courtship (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 2) (11 page)

Bobby Gray felt a tug at his heartstrings as he looked into Kelli's face. She wore her emotions for everyone to see and, if one were so inclined, to discover exactly how to hurt her. An inward cringe yanked at his protective instincts.

Her dad had forgotten her. Perhaps it was because he had so many children, or because he was so busy with important oil deals. Whatever the reason, no wonder Kelli was hurt.

Bobby Gray wanted to take charge of making sure she'd never be hurt again—or at least that they were only necessary minor hurts, like the kind from getting a vaccine.

He'd like to give the man a piece of his mind, but all Bobby Gray could do right now was apply figurative bandages and some much-needed cold water. She needed cheering up. He beckoned for her to get in the truck. "Climb on up and I'll take you home."

She hesitated, so he leaned across the seat and swung open the passenger door, adding, "Dare ya."

"I'll just catch a cab." She shook her head with a forlorn expression.

Man, she was really hurting. "If you ride with me, I've got a great surprise for you."

"I'll take the water, but will pass on the ride."

He handed her the bottle. "This isn't the surprise."

"All the more reason for a cab." She twisted the lid and took a gulp. "Thanks. I'm all better now."

"My surprise will be even better." Good. She didn't look quite so upset. "It's one surprise you won't want to miss."

"If it involves you, I probably do."

"It involves babies." He drawled out his words to emphasize the treat he offered.

"I don't want to make babies with you."

"You sure about that?"

She blushed.

"What I have in mind are newborn colts."

"You got some hidden in your truck bed?"

"Nah. Friend has some newborns that I'm thinking of buying when they're old enough. He's a breeder and has several for me to choose from. Want to tag along?"

Finally, a ray of sunshine beamed on her lips and she jumped into the truck. "First the water and now babies. You sure know how to lure a girl."

"Better than candy, huh?"

"Much better." As he turned the truck onto the road, she asked, "Is it far?"

"Nah." He wasn't sure what it was about her but she seemed so vulnerable and so sweet just sitting there beside him, as excited about seeing the colts as he'd expect from a gold digger on a visit to Cartier.

When he pulled into The Owens Pony and Horse Ranch, Kelli practically bounced in her seat with excitement. "I've heard about this place, but I've never been."

The Owens ranch wasn't large, but from what he could see was very well maintained. Bobby Gray could learn a lot from this operation. The Owens ranch was one of the finest breeders of prize-winning quarter horses and the Nelson family never went for less than the best.

Like Kelli.

Despite being out of his depth for once, he wanted to make her feel better about being deserted by her dad, or maybe just forget it.

Sure, he'd chased her in the beginning simply to get her help with Monty Joe and the banker, but now things were different. Now he just wanted to erase the shadows from her eyes and restore the color to her cheeks.

Color to her cheeks? Good heavens, what was wrong with him?

Bobby Gray gave himself a mental shake.

Kelli was just a girl.

He glanced at her, catching her smile in expectation of seeing colts.

Apparently he was the guy who wanted to take care of her and provide her with babies, albeit animal babies.

This was not a good development.

He needed to direct his thoughts toward buying horses and whatever was best for the Nelson Ranch; and off this woman who robbed him of functional brain activity.

"Thanks so much for bringing me, Bobby Gray. I can't wait to pet the newborns."

He gulped at the admiring gleam in her eyes and reminded himself that he wanted to protect her, not
ravish
her. "Don't thank me too quickly. Wait until you're actually near enough to touch one."

David Bishop must have recognized Davis's truck, because he came out of the barn before Bobby Gray had time to shut off the engine. Bobby Gray had always found David to be both friendly and knowledgeable about horseflesh.

"Welcome, Bobby Gray." David slapped him on the back, then leaned into the truck to check out Kelli.

Which Bobby Gray didn't much like. He scowled and forcibly kept the toe of his boot in the truck and not planted, hard, on the posterior of the big lug ogling Kelli.

"Who's the pretty lady with you?"

Not only did Bobby Gray not like it, but he wasn't sure whether he liked the fellow after all. However, Kelli lightly touched his forearm and, despite the briefest of skin contact, he coursed with warmth. She shot a warning look at him that demanded he not be rude, so he quickly performed the introductions.

"I thought I recognized you, Dr. Palmer," said David with a handshake and a smile. He turned to Bobby Gray. "If you go through the barn and then out the back, there's a few pens with some of our best new arrivals. Our prize mare is in labor or I'd take you around myself."

"We understand," replied Kelli before Bobby Gray could make it clear that David's presence was neither required nor desired.

It didn't take long to walk past the stalls and out to the pens. He took momentary comfort from the familiar feel of straw crunching beneath his boots.

The fragrant smell of fresh hay blended with the divine odor of prime horseflesh, one of his favorite scents.

Bobby Gray didn't much care for the way David Bishop had admired Kelli. Some men seemed to have a nose for good breeding and Bobby Gray didn't appreciate the way David had taken deep breaths near Kelli.

Again Bobby Gray's boot seemed to come alive, itching to make contact with David Bishop's posterior. But Bobby Gray did have to admit the man was a genius when it came to horses..

As Bobby Gray and Kelli strolled past the covered stalls, Kelli pointed out the pony a woman was working with, but neither of them saw any weanlings. They passed through a small arena and on to outdoor pens.

There Bobby Gray found the prettiest mare he'd seen in years, with a nicely configured foal wobbling beside her.

"Oh, Bobby Gray," said Kelli with awe in her voice. "She's beautiful."

They entered the pen and Kelli crossed directly to the mother and child. She magically produced sugar cubes from her jacket pocket and Bobby Gray smiled over her coming prepared without even knowing she'd be visiting the Owens ranch.

Kelli laughed nervously. "Guilty, Your Honor. I usually carry sugar cubes and a few other treats—just in case."

Bobby Gray liked her smile. Although she seemed somewhat unsure of herself around him, she certainly knew her way around a horse. Her hair floated in the slight breeze, almost in a halo circling her head, and he itched to tame it. Instead, he ran his palm over the mare's soft hide while the colt nuzzled Kelli's hand.

Taking a step back, he watched as her face beamed with happiness. She spent the next several minutes stroking the colt while Bobby Gray sized up his lines.

They heard a neigh from an adjoining pen. When they turned, they spied two weanlings.

"Better check them out, too," he suggested.

"I've got plenty of sugar."

With a light heart, he headed to the next pen alongside Kelli. This time the straw beneath his boots crunched with a satisfied, victorious air—as if he'd won a contest he hadn't known he'd entered.

Coaxing out one of Kelli's sweet smiles had evidently become a major concern of his and he felt proud that he'd thought to bring her to the Owens ranch. As they neared the pen holding the weanlings, a man's voice abruptly called out, "Bobby Gray and Dr. Palmer!"

Bobby Gray and Kelli turned toward him.

"Hold up!" It was David, running to join them. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Dr. Palmer, I need your help. My mare's in trouble. I think her foal is breech."

"I'll take a look." Kelli darted after him with Bobby Gray at her heels.

David led them into the barn. "I'll be eternally grateful if you can help Dancer."

Once they reached the stall, they found a lovely mare with a wild, pained expression in her huge brown eyes.

Dancer calmed as soon as she saw Kelli, allowing the woman to stroke her head and then begin examining her.

Bobby Gray took a deep breath, smelling only the fresh aroma of hay and horse but thinking that some people must smell trustworthy to animals. Kelli was certainly one.

Perhaps it was a hormonal chemical, compounded by Kelli's tranquil and reassuring manner.

Kelli took one look and said, "Flexed head. See how the colt's feet are visible?"

When Bobby Gray nodded, she added, "In a normal delivery, his nose would be between his legs."

Bobby Gray almost jumped when David Bishop spoke. "Do you need my help?" He looked hopeful. "When mayhem breaks out, it's always mayhem all over. I've got a meeting with a buyer right now."

"Go on," said Kelli, pulling a small bottle of antiseptic cleanser from her pocket and dabbing some on her hands. "Bobby Gray and I can handle this."

David nodded and rushed off.

Kelli pointed at Dancer and Bobby Gray saw the thin amniotic membrane covering the foal's hooves. Dancer, trembling a little, submitted patiently to Kelli's physical examination.

"It appears to be a ventral deviation," said Kelli. "I'm relieved because I generally don't have the strength to deal with a lateral deviation."

He didn't know what the medical terminology meant, but it sounded serious. The mare's eyes seemed wide and distressed. Bobby Gray wanted to help. "So, what do we do now?"

"After this contraction, I'm going to push back at the foal's crown while lifting his muzzle into the birth canal."

Bobby Gray didn't much care for the sound of that, but he was very impressed that Kelli was so brave and so smart. She was hard at work over the horse and he felt like a third wheel.

Kelli's manner was calming for both mare and man. She took her time and her movements were careful and well planned.

Bobby Gray wanted to participate. "Is there something I can do?"

"You want to boil some water?"

He almost started off for the ranch house and its kitchen, but the laugh in Kelli's voice pulled him up. "You're not serious," he said, a little crestfallen.

As Kelli stood she grinned widely while wiping off the knees of her pants. "I'm done. The foal's going to be fine."

"How much longer will it take?"

"Shouldn't be long."

Their gazes met. He'd always suspected a deep connection was waiting to spring up between them, but this was far better than he could have imagined. It felt as if they could see clear through each other's eyes and into each other's thoughts. Wow.

* * *

There's something deeply satisfying about attending the birth of any infant—human or animal. The experience was even sweeter because Kelli knew she'd made a positive difference.

Yet, best of all was sharing the moment with Bobby Gray.

The man's eyes had glazed with a sheen of relief when she'd told him everything was going to be okay.

The foal's head and front legs had emerged and Kelli had torn the amniotic sac. As expected, the foal began breathing on his own.

He wriggled out a little further, then rested with his rear legs hidden within the womb. Kelli's tear-filled gaze met Bobby Gray's and, like her, he couldn't keep his eyes dry over the birth of this precious foal who only minutes before had been in danger of not surviving.

"He's so beautiful."

"Finest foal I've ever seen," replied Bobby Gray. "Should we cut the umbilical cord?"

"No. He's still receiving nutrients from his mother. If all goes as usual, we won't need to interfere at all."

Kelli admired the tender expression on Bobby Gray's face as he looked at the newborn. It occurred to her that he'd make a wonderful father. She could almost picture him, with the same goofy, fond look, teaching a child how to ride a horse or go fishing. A dozen silly images sprang to mind before she chased them away.

She couldn't afford to think of him in this way.

Not with her sister feeling the way she did. But it was becoming more and more difficult to remind herself.

Dancer started making the movements that implied she was about to stand, so Kelli gently pulled Bobby Gray out of the way.

The mare climbed up and, as nature intended, the umbilical cord shredded. Kelli applied iodine she'd found among the supplies David had left for her and glanced at Bobby Gray.

He grinned like an idiot in love, his eyes trained on the newborn foal. Suddenly he seemed to feel her gaze and his eyes met hers.

"You should name him."

She shook her head. "He's not mine to name."

"A nickname, then," he said, leaning closely and lifting a strand of hair from her face.