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Phil chuckled and pointed toward the pasture. Tanner was covered in mud and manure, but he had all the leg warmers off the heifer. He raised them in the air with a shout of victory. Parker saluted him before chasing after a calf that didn’t want to part with its scarf.
Mack drank the last of his coffee and set his cup down. “I better go help, or we’ll be here all day.”
Angie leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Think about what I said, Mack. You should have more to look forward to in life than chasing cattle around the pasture.”
Mack grinned as he ducked through the fence. Maybe he would get out more, and maybe he wouldn’t. He was content with his life. At the very least, it was never boring living in Hobson Hills.
By lunchtime,Mack was ready for a break. All the cattle had been put to rights, and he was on the way to take the knitted items back to Ernie.
He pulled into the gravel drive leading to Ernie’s home and eyed the man’s front porch. A dog gate blocked off the steps, but Mack could see Ernie lounging in a chair with his youngest son, Maury. Clover and Anthony, Ernie’s twins, crawled around the porch, chasing their big dog, Pudge.
Mack parked his car and grabbed the bag of knitted items before making his way to the porch.
“Well, would you look at that, kids,” Ernie said, a mischievous smile covering his face, “our favorite sheriff brought some gifts.”
Anthony crawled to the gate and grinned at Mack, holding his arms up.
Mack grunted and set the bag down so he could pick up the little boy. “You’re lucky these kids are distractingly cute, Ernie Wilson.”
“Ernie Wilson-Hart,” Ernie corrected primly. “I assume that bag has some knitted scarves and hats ready for donation?”
“After a good wash.” Mack bounced Anthony, grinning as the little boy laughed. “Sometimes, I miss babies.”
Ernie gave him a sly look. “Want me to set you up with a few single omegas? I’d love to see Lacey’s face when you tell her that she’s going to have a new sibling.”
Mack snorted. “Why do the two of you enjoy picking at each other so much? You’re both sweet people, but I swear you bring out the worse in each other.”
Ernie shrugged. “I can’t help it. Everyone needs a nemesis. Mine is a six-foot-tall blonde accountant.”
Ernie and Mack’s daughter had gone to school together. Ever since they met in grade school, the two had professed their hatred of one another. At first, Mack and Darren had thought their daughter had a crush on Ernie and didn’t know how to deal with it. When they had sat down to talk with her, Lacey had quickly explained that boys were gross and that she liked Renee Donahue.
After years of admittedly funny pranks, the two had finally settled into adulthood. Well, mostly. Occasionally, they crossed one another in town and pointedly ignored each other, but at least the active shenanigans were over.
Mack sighed. Now, he just had to worry about Ernie’s pranks on cattle, and Lacey’s obsession with her upcoming wedding to Renee. It was all she ever talked about, other than those lovely moments when she decided to convince him to retire.
“Make my life easier, Ernie.” Mack reluctantly set Anthony down. “Leave the Turnbells’ cattle alone.”
Ernie’s eyes narrowed. “Did Phil Turnbell learn his lesson?”
Mack nodded, one hundred percent lying. “He deeply regrets ever doubting the existence of Bigfoot.”
“Good.” Ernie stood. “Come in, and I’ll make you some lunch. You can play with the babies.”
Mack looked at Anthony’s cute chubby face. “Deal.”
Ernie opened the door. “Reuben made coconut curry last night. Is that good with you?”
“Sounds delicious.” Mack herded the twins and Pudge inside. Ernie’s husband was an excellent cook, and Mack enjoyed anything the man made.
A few moments later, he sat on the floor in the living room and watched the twins play while he held a sleepy Pudge in his arms. The large dog still thought he was a baby.
Maury watched the twins from his swing, likely planning how to get in as much trouble as possible as soon as he could crawl. The twins were just under one year old and already full of energy. Mack remembered well how active Lacey was at that age. Soon enough, they would be walking, and then Ernie wouldn’t have the time to play pranks on anyone. He hoped.
Pudge licked Mack’s face before settling his head on his shoulder.
“Yuck.” Mack wiped his face with his sleeve. “I was supposed to have babies to play with, not you, Pudge.”
Clover crawled to him and patted his leg before chasing after one of Ernie’s cats. Anthony giggled and followed behind her.
