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Maisie had to admit she didn’t have any better ideas. Why not use a hair dryer?
“You know, Hannah, I think you should talk to Drew about all of this. College, staying in town during the week, the whole nine yards. I know it’s scary, but it can’t hurt. Like you said, she needs to see you’re not a child. That might mean making her see it.”
Hannah sighed. “Maybe you’re right.”
Maisie turned on the dryer, making it too loud to talk, but that didn’t stop her thoughts from going a hundred miles a minute. Was Drew acting differently with her here that Hannah suspected something? Or was this just a teenager with a vivid imagination seeing signs that weren’t there? Or maybe Maisie was too tired to come up with any answers right now.
Maisie was lost in thought when the bathroom door opened and a weary Drew—her clothing covered in unspeakable substances that Maisie preferred not to contemplate—stood in the opening. Unable to be heard over the hair dryer, Drew held up the biggest bottle Maisie had ever seen. It looked like a half gallon of milk with a bright pink nipple the size of a human finger on top. Beside her, Hannah squealed, reaching for the dryer and turning it off.
“Mom and baby are fine,” Drew announced, “but no matter how hard we try, she won’t let him near her to nurse. Looks like we’re going to have to bottle feed him until we can bring her around or find a new mama.”
Hannah jumped up, eagerly reaching for the bottle. “Can I do it?”
“Go ahead. I’ll be down with this little girl in a minute.” Drew pointed to the mostly dry calf, unable to stifle a yawn.
“You go to bed,” Maisie said without a moment of hesitation. “Hannah can carry the calf down, and I’ll take the bottle.”
“Are you sure?” Drew asked, but the plan was already in motion with Hannah handing the bottle to Maisie and picking up the calf from the bathroom floor. “Thank you.”
“You need your rest.” Maisie glanced at the hallway to make sure Hannah, who had already started toward the barn with the calf, was out of earshot. Once she was certain she wouldn’t be overheard, Maisie held up the bottle and gave it a wiggle. “You know, getting married was one thing, but I really wasn’t expecting a baby.”
Despite the woman’s obvious exhaustion, the comment produced a hearty laugh. Maisie had never heard a more delightful sound.
CHAPTERTWENTY
“Areyou sure Wilbur will be okay?” Maisie turned her head toward the pasture, her eyes scanning the field for the tiny calf that had stolen her heart.
Drew stood back and admired the view.
Not the landscape, though that was pretty, too, with the grass turning that brilliant shade of green that heralded the arrival of spring. No, Drew was admiring the curve of Maisie’s neck, more prominent now that she’d made it to the nearest salon for a trim. As hard as it was to believe she’d been at the ranch long enough to need a haircut, it was equally hard to believe there’d been a time when Maisie hadn’t been there.
“I know it’s not easy letting go,” Drew said, “but Wilbur has a new cow mom now. She has it handled.”
“But… but…” Maisie blew a raspberry and not for the first time since Drew had broken the news that their bottle-fed calf was being paired with a cow whose calf had died. It was the way of things on a ranch, but Drew hated the sadness in Maisie’s eyes at having to give up the little guy.
“I planned a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” Maisie’s face brightened, and Drew’s heart fluttered. That was exactly the reaction she’d been hoping for. “Are you going to show me a new piece of machinery?”
“Is that the best surprise you think I can come up with?” Drew said it jokingly, but underneath it all, she was a little wounded. Just because she worked seven days a week didn’t mean she wanted to be thought of as all work and no play, especially where Maisie was concerned. “As a matter of fact, I’ve decided to take the day off and have a picnic.”
“The whole day?” Maisie’s expression went from bright to luminous at this revelation, and Drew could barely contain the desire to clap her hands or possibly to pick up Maisie and swing her around in celebration.
But that would be weird, right?
The longer Maisie had been on the ranch, the more she’d become part of the routines of daily life, the more often Drew asked herself questions like this. How was a person supposed to feel about a wife she hadn’t planned on, anyway?
“Let’s go get the horses,” Drew said, setting the question on top of the growing pile of things she would think about later.
“We’re going to ride horses?” Maisie’s steps became slower as they approached the equestrian barn.
“No, I thought we’d take them for a walk. You know, like dogs, only bigger.” Drew shook her head, chuckling at Maisie’s consistent and ongoing reluctance at getting on a horse. “No more excuses. I’ve already asked Cord to get Tarzan all saddled up and ready to go for you.”
“Tarzan?” Maisie’s voice shook. “Sounds terrifying.”
Assuring herself it was a perfectly appropriate friendly gesture and nothing more, Drew took Maisie’s hand and led the hesitant woman to where the large gray gelding waited beside her own favorite boy, Stormy. Drew patted Tarzan then moved Maisie’s hand she was still holding and helped her do the same, all the while trying to ignore the sudden fluttering in her chest.
“There, see? He’s our gentle giant and wouldn’t harm a fly.” Reluctantly, Drew let go of Maisie’s hand. She gave Stormy a quick pat and could tell the horse was raring to go have some fun. “Now, you said you’ve never been on a horse?”
