7
Megan rolled over in bed, groaning as her face encountered something rough and scratchy, and why was she so cold? Her eyes popped open, and a red wool horse blanket came into focus before her bleary eyes. Right. Night in the barn.
Making out in the barn…
A grin tugged at her lips as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Dawn had brightened the sky outside, and Jake stood at Bug’s stall door, watching her with a matching grin on his handsome face.
“How long was I asleep?” she asked, her voice as rough and scratchy as the blanket she’d been laying on.
“An hour or so. You needed it.”
“Not gonna lie, I’m heading straight for my bed as soon as we know Bug’s okay.”
“I’m probably going to do the same thing.” Fatigue sharpened the angles of his face and the tiny crinkles around his eyes. “The good news is that Bug just took a huge dump.”
Megan giggled as she climbed to her feet. “Feeling better now?” she asked the horse as she peered into her stall. Bug lifted her head, indeed looking much perkier than she had earlier in the night. “A big load off your mind, huh?”
Jake chuckled. “Doc Kaminski will be here in a few minutes. Hopefully he’ll give her the all clear.”
In the meantime, they took turns visiting the farmhouse to freshen up. By the time she made it back to the barn, the vet’s truck was in the driveway. She found him and Jake in the stall with Bug, examining her.
“Morning, Megan,” Doc Kaminski said.
“Good morning.”
“Heard you guys had a long night.”
“We did, but at least she seems to be getting better. Sheisgetting better, right?” she asked, worry sneaking back into her tone.
The vet nodded, an easy smile on his weathered face. “She looks good this morning. I think she’s out of danger, although you’ll still want to keep a close eye on her for a couple of days, and I’ve recommended to Jake that you limit her hay for the rest of the week.” He gave Bug a pat on the rump as he left her stall. “I’ll call later to check on her.”
“Thanks again, Doc.”
Megan was quiet as the vet left, standing beside Bug’s stall. “Well, that’s a relief.”
He nodded. “I’d say we can safely go crash now. I’ll check on her later this morning.”
“I’ll come down and check on her again too.” She pushed Bug’s stall door open and walked to the horse, resting a hand gently on her neck. “Really glad you’re feeling better, kiddo.”
“That makes two of us,” Jake said from behind her.
She walked out of the stall, shut and latched the door, and turned to face him. “So, we should probably talk, preferably soon, before I wind up in your lap again.”
He grinned. “How about dinner? My place? Say, seven tonight?”
“I’d like that.” And wow, she couldn’t remember the last time a man had cooked for her, let aloneofferedto cook for her without any prompting on her part.
“See you tonight, if I don’t bump into you in the barn before then.” He leaned in to press a quick, gentle kiss against her lips before they walked out of the barn together, parting at the end of the driveway. He took the fork toward the farmhouse, and she climbed the lane toward the main castle.
“You look like you had a rough night,” Ruby said, walking out of the parlor as Megan pushed through the castle’s front doors.
“Spending the night in the barn will do that to a girl.” She allowed her empty stomach to guide her straight to the kitchen.
Ruby followed, laptop tucked beneath her arm. “How’s Bug?”
“Out of danger for now, although apparently we’ll have to watch her more closely to keep it from happening again.”
“She’s okay, though?” Elle asked as she walked into the kitchen.
