“No, bud. He’s young. He hasn’t even been ridden yet.”
“Okay, good.”
We went out through the washing room, then rounded the barn as I took the marker back to where it belonged. Yeah, I was particular about stuff like that. I hated misplacing things.
“Daddy?” Pay asked as we meandered back toward the cabin.
“Yeah?”
“Can I go have a sleepover at Auntie Demi’s place some time? I really like playing with Aria, even though she’s little.”
There were so many things about that sentence that punched me in the heart that I launched into a coughing fit.
“Sorry, I think I swallowed a bug,” I explained as I got my breathing in control.
The horror in his gaze was immense. “Oh eww, let’s go inside!”
Yeah, maybe that hadn’t been the best white lie to tell him.
Once we were inside, he looked at me patiently until I remembered I hadn’t answered his question.
“Let me talk to Demi, okay? We’ll see.”
“Okay, Daddy!”
In the next two days, two more foals were born. One delivery was a bit touch and go, and by the end of that 48 hours, everyone was exhausted, but relieved.
I’d briefly talked to Demi, who was all for taking Pay for the night. In fact, the idea hadn’t been his but something Demi and Jenn had chatted about too close to little ears. I didn’t really mind, and it would do Pay good to hang out with others I trusted, and I’d get a child-free evening. Not that I needed or really wanted one, but it would still be nice.
Demi also told me not to worry about getting him back, because she was coming to work the next morning anyway. Mid-morning, even, so she’d drop him off at the main house and I’d see him at lunchtime.
Because I knew that Crew was exhausted, and that the last mare that was about to pop wasn’t due for at least a few days and showed no signs of delivering early, I knew he had some time.
Demi came to the cabin in her SUV to grab Pay and his stuff at the end of the day, and soon they rolled off, my son bravely clutching Mr. Raven as he jauntily waved at me.
Crew was still somewhere, working away. I went to find him.
I had a pretty good idea that he’d be at his office, if not leaning against another stall door, looking at the youngest members of the Blue Creek herd.
I used the walk to try to figure out what I’d say. I still hadn’t come up with anything smart. So when I found him in his office, I just leaned on the doorframe and looked at him.
He was so concentrated on something on his computer that he didn’t notice me immediately.
Exhaustion was plain on his face. He’d been awake for far too long, because he just couldn’t let go of staying on top of things. Sure, he talked a big game of sharing the hours with the foal watch, but he wasn’t as sneaky as he thought he was. Everyone knew that even when he went to his cabin to sleep, he was keeping an eye on the live feeds just in case.
It was proven when Joan Collins began to have issues the other night. Russ had been in the barn, keeping an eye on the proceedings. Before he could alert anyone, Crew had materialized.
I shifted my weight, which finally alerted him to my presence.
“Oh, Mal.” He almost shook himself a little. Then he frowned and checked the time. “Is everything okay?”
I smiled. “Well, for one, the day’s done and you’re exhausted. You should go take a shower, eat something, and nap.”
He raised a brow at me, something like hope flaring to life in his gaze. “Oh, I should, should I?”
“Mhmm. In fact, if you stop working, walk with me to the cabins and go shower, I might be able to bring you some of my famous beef stew that I’ve had in my slow cooker all day.”
He looked away for long enough to finish what he was doing and close his laptop. Then he pushed to his feet.
