At times it seemed Kyle wanted more. Other times she felt he was eager to do the ranch work on his own and he’d be happy to see her taillights at the end of their agreed time together. So she decided that waiting to broach a possible change in their agreement was her best option. Wasn’t like she would fall out of love with him. And maybe if he wasn’t in love with her now, he would be in a few more months.

After her ride, she brushed Coco down, fed her some oats, and hung up her tack. She noticed Kyle hanging over the fence, talking to the horses.

She exited the gate and stood beside him. “What’s up?”

“Checking out my horseflesh. What did you find out on your frigid horseback ride?”

“There’s an old metal shed northwest of here that’d work as a calving shed if we got stuck out there.” She looked at him. “Any signs in the herd that we’ll have calves soon?”

“Explain signs,” Kyle asked without a hint of sarcasm.

“Teats filling with milk. Any cows laying down, getting up over and over, then looking for a place away from the herd?”

“Not that I saw. But to be honest, I wasn’t looking for those signs. I’ll do a teat check tomorrow for sure.” He sighed. “Thanks for not makin’ me feel like an idiot because I don’t know much about this stuff, Cele.”

She patted Minnie’s neck. “There’s a lot to learn about raising cattle. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know it all.”

“Seems like you do to me.” He raised his hand to pat Minnie too but she shied away from him. “I’d like these horses a whole lot more if we were facing off in the arena and they were trying to buck me off. I might stand a chance with them.”

“That’s crazy talk. They’re all very sweet.”

“Which one is pregnant?”

“Blue. She’s not here. I left her with Eli.”

“Why didn’t he bring her when he brought the others yesterday?”

“Since Blue’s due date is during calving, I didn’t want her to deliver when I couldn’t give her all my attention. Mares in the same pasture that don’t foal will try to steal another mare’s baby.”

“Seriously? I’ve never heard of that.”

“It happens all the time. This is Blue’s first foal. She’s so sweet-tempered and she doesn’t have the experience to fight off more aggressive mares. Since Eli has a pasture of pregnant mares, Blue is better off there.”

“Who’s the sire?”

“Mickey. The randy bastard mounted Blue before we could put her with Xavier.”

“Speaking of foaling…”

Celia met Kyle’s eyes.

“Let’s take a trip to town.”

She wondered if he’d bring it up. “I’ve been dealing with horses all morning. I’m a mess.”

“You look fine.”

“She’s probably tired.”

“We won’t stay long.”

“Why are you pushing me on this?” she demanded.

“Because you’ll kick yourself if you don’t.” He held out his gloved hand. “Come on. I’ll drive.”

Celia and Kyle scoured the hospital parking lot for Abe’s truck or Janie’s Prius before they entered the hospital.

She knocked on the door of Janie’s room, then poked her head in. “You decent?”

Janie was sitting up, a blanket-wrapped bundle tucked in the crook of her left arm. “Celia! I’m so glad you came.”

Grateful for the reassuring squeeze from Kyle, she kept hold of his hand as they entered the room. She gave Janie a one-armed hug. “I’m so thrilled for you.”

“Thanks. It is a pretty thrilling thing to finally get to see the fruit of my labors—ha ha.”

“Congrats, Mama. You look happy.”

“And Kyle’s here too,” Janie said as Kyle kissed Janie’s forehead. “Thank you.” She shifted to better show them the baby. “This is our boy, Tyler. All eight pounds of him. According to the Mud Lilies gals, all this dark hair is the reason I had heartburn for six months.”

“He’s beautiful.”

Janie flicked a glance at Kyle and Celia’s joined hands and then her gaze moved between them. “Congratulations are in order for you two as well.”

“Thanks. We’re happy.” Kyle lifted Celia’s hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

“Your brother is a jackass, Celia,” Janie said.

“I know.”

“He’ll come around, but probably not until he’s done fussing at me like an old woman and he’s got me and precious here locked down at the ranch under his watchful eye.”

“Some big changes in your lives, that’s for sure.”

“Changes we’re ready for this time around. Although I worry the one with the biggest adjustment will be George.” Janie frowned. “I’m not convinced he needs to be a house dog.”

“My mom never would’ve let me have Murray inside either. I threw a hissy fit when Hank and Abe got me a puppy but wouldn’t let me have him in my room.”

“I remember that,” Kyle said dryly. “You tried to enlist my help.”

“And you thwarted me, which was par for the course with us.”

“Then,” he emphasized. “Not so much anymore.”

Tyler fussed and Celia leaned closer to see if he’d open his eyes.