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Then Arden sighed. “I’m not going this year.”

Jodie looked at her. “What? Is something wrong?” Her gaze dropped immediately to Arden’s stomach.

“No.” Arden covered the slight swell instinctively. “Nothing like that. The babies are fine.”

Jodie released the breath she’d already started holding. “Okay. Good.”

“I had an appointment yesterday. They’re bigger than the doc expected. Apparently, they’re both already overachievers.”

Jodie grinned. “Of course they are. Look at their parents.”

Arden smiled softly. “But my doctor isn’t thrilled with how sick I’ve been. I’ve lost a little weight, and with twins, I’m supposed to gain extra. And well, my blood pressure is already misbehaving along with a couple other things. I’m supposed to take it easy, and apparently spending days driving over washboard roads, hiking around in the heat, standing for hours, and working around wild horses doesn’t qualify as taking it easy.” She rolled her eyes.

Jodie smiled, but disappointment settled into her chest anyway. Not for herself, for Arden.

“I’m sorry.” Jodie grabbed her friend’s hand. Arden had been preparing for this for months, like she did every year.

“Thank you. Like I said, I’m fine so far. But you’ll have to find someone to replace me. I wanted to tell you first before letting the group know, so you could get a head start looking for someone.” Arden rolled her eyes. “That is, if the BLM will still let us dart the horses.”

“Considering the other gathers, that’s a big if.”

Arden tapped the binder. “But I’ll still bid on four horses afterward. Assuming the right ones become available. I’m glad I have you telling me who to watch.”

Jodie scoffed. “You’re the one who’s been out there and has actually seen them.”

“Are you kidding? I’m out there once a year, looking at them through a scope. In the meantime, every photograph comes to you. Every report on a new foal. Every band change. Every mare we’re watching. Every placement report after a removal. All the people who go out there send their notes to you because you’re the one who knows where everything belongs.”

Yeah, that’s me. The one with the sedentary job.

Jodie studied the photograph of Sagebrush as she tried to push away memories of Dale’s sneering face. The jabs about her expanding ass didn’t bother her. Well, okay, they really did. But what bothered her more was how helpless she’d felt. How weak.

“Finish your tea,” Arden said. “If you’re up for it, let’s walk out toward the pasture. I want to show you what we’ve gotten done and what we’re still planning. I’m so thankful to everyone who’s volunteered to help us.”

“The pain meds are doing their thing, so I’m good. But only if it’s okay with your⁠—”

Arden held up her hand, palm out. “Don’t even start with the ‘if it’s okay with your doc’ crap. Kyle’s bad enough, I’m surprised he’s letting me off the couch.”

Jodie laughed as she tucked the binder back into her tote. “Yeah, I’m not surprised. All the guys are overprotective like that, much to my chagrin.”

But…it’s kinda wonderful sometimes.

Arden studied her face. “What’s that smile all about?”

“Nothing.” Jodie left her tote on the deck and followed Arden down the steps with Camo trotting ahead of them.

“So…it wouldn’t have anything to do with the mystery man who rescued you from that jackass who abandoned you?”

“Okay, it might.” Jodie laughed softly as she walked beside her friend. “I should’ve known you wouldn’t let it go.”

Arden bumped her shoulder against Jodie’s. “Nope. Fess up. You have a hot date tonight? Oh, and FYI, if you don’t tell me, Kyle will grill you over it on Tuesday. He told me last night if the guy’s interested, he’d recruit him as a new bodyguard.”

“Tuesday? I don’t have tomorrow off.”

“You do now. Kyle’s not letting you come in.”

“He didn’t tell me.”

“That’s because he knew you’d fight him, so he left the heavy lifting up to me.”