Page 22 of Sudden Summer

“If you can win over my mama fast enough to have her offer you a place out here, I’m not going to step against her judgment.”

“Smart man.” Emmett laughed. “I’m the same way with my mama, and my girl.”

“The room on the right at the end of the hall is open. It’s not fancy, but it serves its purpose,” I said as I let Emmett into the bunkhouse. The guys were usually good about keeping things tidy, and they had left things in good condition this morning, too.

“This is great. I’m happy to pitch in however I can.”

“I’m sure the guys will appreciate that. We’ve got a cook that comes out during weekdays and leaves dinner in the fridge. Denver is the guy you’ll most likely find sliding whatever it is in the oven for everyone, but feel free to if you’re the first one in for the night.”

“That cook leave instructions? I’ve been known to fuck up toast.”

I laughed. “Yeah. He writes the directions right on the container.”

“We’ll be good then.”

I pointed to the closet. “There’s a washing machine and dryer, feel free to use it when you need it.”

“This is great. My girl’ll be happy I’m not bringing ranch clothes home for washing, especially with the baby.”

“Speaking of that, we’ll work out what two days you get off each week here in the next couple of days. It rolls monthly, so it’s not always the longest tenured guy getting the weekends. No one’s ever really bitched about it, and of course, if your family has something come up, we’ll make it work so you can be with them.”

My phone rang, and Travis’s name flashed across the screen.

“What’s going on?” I asked as soon as the phone was against my ear.

“I’m out in the calving pasture. Looks like one mama had her baby last night.”

“Great, but why are you calling me? Is there a problem with the calf?”

“No. Got another one getting ready to have her calf…but something's not right. She’s struggling.”

“How bad?” I asked.

“I’ve been watching her for an hour, stepped in to see what I could do, but…We need to get her help, now. Everything I’m doing ain’t working. Gonna lose her and the baby if I don’t get a second set of hands out here to help. You’re the closest.”

“Give me ten minutes. I’ll be out there.”

“Get your ass out here in five.”

“Fuck.” I shoved the phone into my pocket and jogged to the door. “Sorry, man. We’ve got a mama in distress trying to deliver her calf. Think you can walk back to the barn?”

Emmett jogged up to me. “I’ll do one better—I can come out and try to help. I’ve been around the block a time or two with a stubborn delivery.”

I didn’t have time to waste.

“Good. Let’s go.”

We were out of the bunkhouse and out to the truck in what felt like two seconds.

“So, you have a kid?” I asked, pulling off the main road to head out to the pasture where Travis had called from.

“Yep. She’s just a little thing, just like her mama. A handful of weeks old now, and we’re in the trenches. Who knew such a small kid could cause so much disruption to life?” Emmett smiled. “How ‘bout you? Got a missus or any kids?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a daughter, too. She’s four months old.”

“Tell me it gets easier.” He laughed. “I need to know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Fuck. I wouldn’t know. The few days Juniper had been with us hadn’t been all too bad. Sure, she woke up at night, but it was nothing to give her a cuddle and a bottle to get her back to sleep. I actually really liked it. “Couldn’t tell ya really if it gets easier or not. I only just found out about her. Last week, actually.”