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So instead, I shoved my feet into my Justins, grabbed a blanket to wrap around my shoulders, and stumbled after Birdie as she led the way outside.
It wasn’t as dark as I would have expected, given that it was the middle of the night. A few dim bulbs lit the property, and the windows to one of the barns blazed brightly. But the majority of light came from the moon overhead. It wasn’t even full, yet I could see clearly enough to watch as Birdie trotted toward one of the fields and started to sniff around.
It was also bright enough for me to recognize the figure standing at the fence bordering the nearby pasture. Even in shadow, I would recognize Boone—the width of his shoulders tapering down to his narrow waist, the way he’d kicked one foot up on the lowest fence rail.
My pulse ticked up as my insides coiled in anticipation. It had been days since I’d seen him, and I realized I’d missed him. I was about to call out a saucy greeting when I noticed something about him seemed… off. Normally, he was a man in motion, always moving and doing. Always working. Tonight, he stood still, staring into the darkness.
“Everything okay, boss?” I asked, starting toward him.
He startled at my voice, his back going ramrod straight and his shoulders squaring. When he turned toward me in the moonlight, his exhaustion was obvious. He tried a smile, but even that seemed to take effort he didn’t have. He was practically dead on his feet, the strain of too much work and too little sleep evident on his face.
I wanted to wrap my arm around him, the same way he’d done for me my second night here, and carry him to bed, but I doubted he’d want that. Instead, I pulled the blanket tighter around myself to hide the effect that thoughts of Boone and bed had on me.
He frowned. “What are you doing out here so late?”
I gestured to Birdie, and he nodded, understanding.
“What about you?” I asked.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Work,” he said on an exhale. For a moment, I thought he was going to leave it at that, but then he sighed and added, “A cow and two heifers had twins, which is unheard of in one season for us. One set included a freemartin, and Doc Welch, our bovine vet, is slammed right now, what with that fool Walt Hosser biting off more than he can chew.” He let out a breath and lifted one shoulder. “Just means more for me to handle.”
I’d been around the other ranch hands enough to have picked up on the fact that Walt Hosser owned another huge cattle ranch nearby and that he was one of the reasons Boone was shorthanded. And I’d learned from all the data entry I’d been doing that a heifer was a female cow who hadn’t had a calf before.
I also knew that Boone looked exhausted, and if he kept going at this pace, he’d collapse. “Anything I can do to help?”
He snorted. “I wish.”
My back went rigid as blood rushed to my cheeks. I’d been working my ass off, not that he’d have noticed since he was never around to see.
Boone noticed my bristling because he immediately reached out a hand and laid it on my arm. “I didn’t mean it like that. I know you’ve been working hard.”
With those few simple words, my temper quieted just as quickly as it had risen, and my insides warmed at his compliment. It was a shame I’d left my phone in my room, otherwise I’d have made him repeat that on video so I could send it to Oscar with a “ha!” emoji.
“But you’re green still,” Boone continued. “I need help from someone who knows their way around parturition.”
Since I didn’t even know what that word meant, it was obvious I wasn’t the guy he needed. “Anything else I can do?” I asked. I realized I meant it. I wasn’t just saying the words to curry favor with the boss while secretly hoping he didn’t task me with anything. I genuinely wanted to help. I was willing to do extra work if it would ease Boone’s burden.
He started to shake his head but then reconsidered. “Actually, would you mind going into town first thing? They’re holding some meds for me at the feed store. They usually deliver, but we wouldn’t get them until the afternoon and—”
“No problem,” I said, cutting him off. “You need it, I’ll get it for you.”
He looked at me for a moment, his eyes holding mine. His hand still rested on my arm, his touch warm and solid. He squeezed. “Thank you,” he said softly.
My body acted on instinct, swaying toward him. The way he was looking at me, the way he was touching me, everything inside me screamed out kiss him! But before I could draw close enough, Boone straightened, pulling himself out of reach. His hand fell from my arm.
