“Sounds like fun.”
Zinnia sighed. “We’re talking about the foal, Mar, not the cowboy.”
“I knew that.” She grinned at him.
He rolled his eyes. And so it begins. Time for him to make his escape. “Since everything’s going well, I should probably shove off.” He tucked everything back in his case and snapped it shut.
His bucket clutched to his chest, Tex swung in his direction. “Are you coming back?”
“Not today, sport.”
“Tomorrow?”
He grabbed the best response he could find. “Tomorrow’s my birthday.”
He brightened. “And the party?”
“Yessir.”
“Okay!” His attention shifted to his mother. “Do we gots a present?”
“We’ll get one today.”
He winced. “Oh, hey, you don’t have to get me a?—”
“We want to.” Zinnia met his gaze. “You’ve gone above and beyond for Speckles and… Monty.” The hesitation was still there, but she used the name.
“I’ll add my thanks, too,” Graham said. “It meant the world to all of us that you were here.”
“It sure did.” Mari laid a hand on his arm. “Because you were on duty, I was able to handle my shift without worrying myself sick about things back home. Thank you.” She gave his arm a squeeze.
“You’re welcome.” Something about her smile and the twinkle in her eyes put him on alert. She looked like a woman with a secret. “Glad to do it.”
“I’ll fold up your cot.” Graham walked back to where it sat with a pillow and blankets piled on top.
“I’ll get the other stuff.” Zinnia followed him.
“C’mon, Auntie Mari.” Tex marched over to the stall door. “We gots to go in.”
“Be right there.” She lowered her voice. “Stay open to the possibilities, my friend.”
He frowned. “I don’t?—”
“You will. I hope.” She gave his arm another squeeze before joining Tex and sliding open the stall door.
“Here’s the cot.” Graham handed it over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am.”
“This is the best part of being an equine vet. I love delivering foals.”
“Then it’s win-win. I’ll walk you out to the truck. Oh, and I saw the full wheelbarrow. Thanks for that, too.”
“Like I said, above and beyond.” Zinnia came toward them holding blankets under one arm and pillows under the other. “I’ll walk out with you, too. I have my checkbook in my back pocket.”
“Alrighty, then.” His mom had advised him to accept the check, which would establish a professional relationship instead of encouraging a personal one. So he’d do that. But he’d give her the family discount.
“Then let me take that bedding off your hands.” Graham relieved her of the pillows and blankets. “Where does it go?”
She glanced over her shoulder as she walked out of the barn. “You can leave it on my bed. How’re we doing on time?”
