“Ol’ Girl’s in labor.”
Her brows pinch together for a beat before widening. “Oh, your horse. That’s right.”
I’d talked a lot about my ranch with Ellyn over the meals we’ve shared together.
“Is she okay?”
I nod. “So far, she’s only presenting with signs that the birth will happen tonight. I’ll know more in a few hours if interventions are needed.”
“Then we have to go,” she says, taking my hand in hers.
I nod, but reluctance overcomes me. I don’t want my night with Ellyn to end. It felt like we were just getting started.
I push those selfish thoughts aside. Ol’ Girl needs me, and I’ve never missed the birth of one of my foals in the nearly three decades I’ve owned this ranch.
“I’ll drop you off at home and then head to the ranch,” I tell Ellyn, after helping her into my truck and before trying to shut the door.
But Ellyn’s hand on the doorhandle stops me. “Why do you have to do that?”
“I need to be with Ol’ Girl right now,” I tell her, confused since a few moments ago she understood that I needed to go.
Ellyn shakes her head. “No. I mean why do you have to drop me off at home?”
“I can’t leave you here,” I answer. “What type of man would I be to leave you here to call a car on one of those apps or some sort to take you home? You know how dangerous those things are? They try to tell you they’re safe, but I saw a documentary?—”
“No,” she says with a hand on my shoulder, laughing.
I don’t see what’s so funny.
“You are,” she says, and I then realize that I’d spoken that thought out loud.
“I didn’t mean leave me here. I meant, why can’t you take me with you to the ranch?”
I jut my head back. “It’s late and this birth could take hours.”
“So?” She shrugs. “I don’t have a curfew.”
I grin when she wiggles her eyebrows.
“Plus, dropping me off at home will add fifteen minutes onto your drive. From what I see, you’re impatient to get to your Ol’ Girl. Let’s go straight to your ranch.”
In lieu of an answer, I nod my head at her arm on the door. “Stick your arm in the truck.”
She does, allowing me to shut the door.
CHAPTER 17
Ellyn
“How’s she doin’?” Joel asks the guy standing in front of one of the horse stalls as we enter the huge barn on his ranch.
As soon as we’d arrived, Joel took me into his office where he had me exchange my heels for a pair of black, rubber boots that one of his daughters-in-law keeps here for when she visits.
Thus, while I may feel slightly overdressed in the long dress I’m wearing, I’m far from uncomfortable due to my footwear.
The guy, who I assume to be Randy, looks over at us, his eyes widening when he drops his gaze to find Joel’s and my hands intertwined.
“Randy?” Joel barks out, his voice impatient. “Ol’ Girl? How is she?” he asks as we approach.
