Taking the Reins(39)

Her own fault, most likely, thanks to the fact that she’d barely dated since college. She just couldn’t justify the time spent away from the ranch, not that the pickings were all that great in town anyway.

So maybe that’s all it was. Geographic proximity and general hormones. For both of them. If he was a typical man, he’d likely skip out to town on his next night off, find some hoochie wearing a too-tight tube top and use her mercilessly.

She should probably feel sorry for the woman, but the quick pang of jealousy was just further indication that she had no business tangling with Redford Callahan.

Skipping down the stairs, she ran into the kitchen. “Morning, Emma.”

“Morning. I knew you were running behind with lots to do, so I made a breakfast sandwich for you.” She pointed to a plate on the counter, and Peyton almost moaned in gratitude at the English muffin stacked with egg and bacon and what looked like little bits of sausage, diced red pepper, and cheese.

“You are amazing. A goddess.” She dropped a kiss on the older woman’s cheek, then wrapped the sandwich in a paper towel. On the way out the door, she detoured to the sitting area, where her nephew lay on his back on a quilt on the floor, rattling a toy. “And you’re pretty amazing, too.” She bent down to press a kiss to his nose, inhaling his fresh powdery baby scent that she never quite understood how babies managed, then jogged out the door.

“Good morning, Tiny,” she called as she walked in through the stables a minute later.

“Ha.” The older man huffed as he dragged a feed bucket out of the storage area. “Hardly. You’d think they’d never seen a horse before.”

She stopped in her tracks, taking a bite of the sandwich. “Who?”

“The hands.” He tilted his head toward the end of the stables, where the breeding stalls were located. “Bunch of goo-goo eyed men. It’s just a horse.”

She followed his nod and saw several of her men huddled around the stall where their newborn foal resided. Taking a moment to appreciate the amusing fact that grown men were literally cooing over a baby, she walked behind them and cleared her throat. “Guess all the chores are done already?” she asked mildly.

Several guilty heads swiveled in her direction before manly throat clearing and other grunting occurred. A few of the men scratched at their necks or looked away, and Steve’s face turned a bright pink. They dispersed, boots shuffling around her and out to the other stalls.

She stifled a laugh, then stepped up on a bucket to get a better view herself. The new little one was prancing almost in place, very proud of the fact that he had full control of his legs at less than twelve-hours-old.

She thought back to her nephew, who didn’t even have control of his head quite yet, and laughed.

Morgan walked up next to her. “So this is the new bundle of joy, huh? He got a name yet?”

“Nope. When the owners tell me, then we’ll know.” They watched in silence a little longer as he moved around the stall, content to explore his surroundings as long as mama was nearby. “He’s got spirit.”

Morgan nodded absently, pushing at his glasses a little with one finger. “I’ll give him a checkup here in a minute, after I deal with this sprain. Any problems with the delivery?”

“Nope, she was a champ.”

The colt walked over to his mother and butted his head against her leg, darting out of the way as soon as he could.

“Cocky little guy, isn’t he?” Morgan asked humorously.

“Aren’t all men?” she muttered.

“You wound me. I feel I need to stand up for my gender.”

“Don’t bother. Now, shoo.” He took off to examine another horse, leaving her to watch the colt just a little longer. Naturally, she had an excuse. Just watching out for their investment, she reasoned with herself. Couldn’t tell the client she’d just let the new baby flounder on his own. Tomorrow they’d turn baby and mama out into the pasture for some serious playtime. But now, she would just watch. Only for another minute or two . . .

“Good looking fella.”

A minute too long. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention. With a deep breath, she nodded. “Yup. Client was pleased with him. Checked my e-mail this morning. They’ll stop by later today to check on the two of them.”

Red walked up next to her, draping his arms over the wall. Unlike her, he didn’t need a bucket or anything else to stand on in order to see over the door. “Do they all leave the pregnant ones here?”

She shook her head, catching her hat before it fell off and into the stall. “Many just bring their mares here for breeding, then take them back when pregnancy is confirmed. But not all of them have the time or resources to handle their expanding ladies, so . . .” She gestured toward the proud new mama.