Merry & Wild (The Wilds of Montana #0.5)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

JOHN

“ I think your phone is ringing.” Joy pats me on the shoulder, and I lift my head, my brain not quite clear after that round of incredible sex. “You should answer it.”

“Yeah, okay.” I reluctantly sit up and pad naked into the kitchen, answering the phone on the wall. “Hello?”

“Hey,” Missy says. “The storm is really bad here in town. How is it out there?”

I can’t exactly tell her that I don’t know because I’ve been buried balls-deep in a beautiful woman, so I walk to the window, move the curtain, and raise an eyebrow.

“It’s bad,” I reply. “It’s good that you’re staying in town tonight.”

“Well, I was talking to Sarah Beth’s dad, and he said that I should just plan on staying the weekend since the storm isn’t supposed to lift for quite a while. So, I won’t need a ride tomorrow.”

“Okay, be sure to call the parents and fill them in so they don’t worry.”

“I will right now. I’m sorry that I won’t be home to help you with the extra chores this will pile on.”

Missy may be a normal teenager, but she’s also a damn good ranch hand.

“It’s fine,” I assure her. “I’ll grab a hand out of the bunkhouse if I need help. There isn’t much to do tonight anyway.”

“I hope that new baby filly will be okay.”

“They’re in the barn,” I reply. “They’ll be fine. Just let me know when you’re ready to come home, and I’ll come get you.”

“Thanks. See you in a few days. I’ll call Mom now.”

I hang up and drag my hand down my face. Honestly, there are a few things I should see to tonight, but I don’t want to leave Joy alone.

Not that she isn’t safe and can’t handle herself.

I just don’t want to leave her because I’m rapidly becoming addicted to her.

I make my way back down the hallway and see that Joy is lying down, curled up and softly breathing. If she’s passed out, I can hurry outside and do a couple of things really quick, then sneak back in, and she won’t even know that I was gone.

So, I reach for my jeans and start to slide them on.

“Are you trying to sneak out of your own house?”

I laugh and shake my head. “No. I have to see to a few things on the ranch since this storm is so out of control.”

“I’ll help.” She immediately stands and reaches for her own clothes.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” She pulls her sweater over her head and pushes her hair off of her face. “But I want to. You shouldn’t have to go out in the cold all by yourself. That’s not fair.”

“It’s my ranch,” I remind her. “Of course, it’s fair.”

“Do you think that I can’t help you?” There’s a challenge in her eyes now that makes me want to climb over this bed, pull her against me, and kiss the hell out of her.

“I think you’re more than capable,” I reply as I slip a shirt on. The first of a few layers. “But you don’t have the right clothes to simply walk to the barn from here.”

“I can borrow your clothes,” she insists.

“Honey, you swim in my clothes.”

“But I’ll be warm.” She flashes me a wide smile. “I can do this. I want to help.”

“Okay.” I sigh and pull another layer of clothing over my head, then root around and find some things for Joy, then pass them to her. “I want you good and bundled up. It’s damn cold out there, the wind is blowing, and it’s dark. You stay with me. I don’t need you getting lost and freezing to death.”

“Trust me, I won’t let you out of my sight.”

We hurry to dress, and then I push a thick hat that my mom knitted an eon ago on Joy’s head.

“Let’s get this over with,” I mutter as I lead her to the door.

“Are you nervous?” she asks with surprise.

“I’m happy to show you the ranch, but this isn’t what this is. You won’t be able to see much of anything, and I want to quickly get through the chores so we can get back here and warm up.”

“I understand,” she says with a solemn nod. “I won’t get in your way, but I’m an extra pair of hands to help where you need me.”

“Follow me. The barn is about fifty yards away. Just walk in my footsteps. Yell out to me if you get stuck, or if you want to come back to the cabin.”

“Okay. I will.”

I set off, always mindful of where Joy is and how she’s doing behind me. So far, she’s keeping up, and we’re more than halfway to the barn.

Once inside the barn, we stomp the snow off of our boots, and I pull my winter gloves off to replace them with work gloves. I’m relieved to see that one of my ranch hands has already been out here and fired up the electric heaters to warm the place up.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” she assures me. “I might not have grown up on a ranch, but I did grow up in Montana. This is just winter, John. Tell me what you need from me.”

She makes a good point.

“I have a pregnant mare in that stall there. I want to check on her to make sure she’s not in labor. In the stall across from her is another mare with a filly. We need to check on them, as well.”

I run through a few more chores with her, and without a word of complaint or hesitation, Joy dives in, not at all intimidated to get her hands dirty and work right alongside me.

It’s both surprising and sexy. I’ve never considered the fact that I might find a woman who would want to take on the responsibilities of the ranch with me.

My mom was never one to get out with the horses and cows. She kept the house, cooked, and took care of us kids.

She didn’t want to have anything to do with the animals.

But Joy just walks right into that pregnant mare’s stall as if she does it every single day, speaks to the horse soothingly and lovingly, and pats her side as she walks around her.

“No labor over here,” she announces calmly. “And you’re absolutely beautiful, aren’t you? Yes, you are.”

Joy walks out of the stall and frowns at me. “These are late babies, aren’t they? Don’t they usually give birth by September—October at the latest?”

“They were both surprise pregnancies,” I reply. “You’re right, it’s unusual. I’m almost done here.”

“No rush. It’s warm in here.” She sits on a bucket that’s turned upside down so she can watch me finish up.

“Have you ever been in a barn before?”

“No.”

I stop and stare at her, shocked. She looked so natural with the horses. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. First time. I did ride a horse once, as a kid, but that was at a birthday party, so it’s not like we were allowed into the barn to look around.”

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”