Something Blue, page 11
Lina glanced back, communicating something silently, but Joe just stood there. She gave up and refocused on Beth. “He’s in the stables. The pregnant mare started pacing and fussing like it was time, and he likes to be there for the labor whenever possible.”
Sawyer was delivering a baby horse?
She wasn’t going to let that dim her anger at him, and yet…
“You’re welcome to wait here until he gets back.” Lina smoothed down her apron. “I was just in the kitchen making samosas for dinner, if you’d like some.”
Beth focused on Lina rather than thinking about Sawyer helping a new foal come into the world.
She didn’t realize a person could get that rumpled making samosas.
“No, that’s okay.” She was clearly interrupting everyone.
“Don’t be silly.” Joe stepped forward, urging her inside. “Come on in here.”
“Have something to eat,” Lina added.
“And drink. It’s a scorcher out there today.”
They both ushered her into the kitchen to wait, the savory scent of garlic and cumin filling the room.
“What brings you out here?” Lina asked, scooping out a tablespoon of the potato mixture to place into the dough.
“I wanted to talk to Sawyer about some stuff. Wedding stuff.”
“Here, try one.” Joe shoved a plate with a samosa into her hands.
“I thought they were for dinner.”
Lina shook her head, but there was a smile on her lips. “If any make it to dinner. This man can’t stop snacking on them as soon as they’re ready.”
Unable to resist the smell, Beth took a bite. A little spice, a little salt, a little sweet. The textures and flavors came together perfectly, making her salivate for more.
No wonder Uncle Joe kept eating them before it was time for dinner.
“I wish Garrett were here for your visit,” Lina kept talking. “But he’s off with Shelby, I believe. You should see that boy. He practically floats around the ranch every day. Head in the clouds. How are things going with the wedding planning?” Lina folded the edges of the dough to make a little pocket for the potatoes blended with spices.
“Good?” Beth tried to keep the insecurity from her voice as she finished her samosa.
Joe took a couple more and settled on a stool at the kitchen’s bar. “Doesn’t sound that good.”
“Well, things are okay, but…” She was just going to spit it out. “It seems Sawyer still has some reservations about Orchard Inn as the location.”
“What do you mean still?” Lina looked completely confused.
Joe groaned. “That boy has always got reservations. What happened now?”
“I’m not one to put much stock in gossip, but it seems he’s going around town saying he doesn’t want Garrett getting married at the inn. Maybe he really would rather have it here.”
Lina’s pop of laughter almost made Beth drop her plate.
“Oh, honey, he would never bad-mouth you.”
“And he would never have a wedding here at the ranch,” Uncle Joe said.
“He wouldn’t?”
“No,” Lina answered for him. “Besides the fact that he has no clue how to throw any kind of party, he’d never muddy the works of running the ranch with things like weddings. Not to mention how hurtful it’d be since his own—” Lina pinched her lips together and quickly went back to stuffing dough with filling.
“Since his own what?”
Lina shook her head. “I’ve said too much.”
Beth looked to Joe.
“Guess there’s no sense in hiding what most folks already know.” Joe patted the stool next to him, and Beth joined him at the counter.
“See, back…what was it, Lina, just over a year ago?”
Lina nodded.
“Sawyer was engaged.”
Beth’s eyebrows shot up. That was the relationship Cece had so insightfully predicted, but more than a girlfriend. Sawyer had a fiancée.
“And he floated around here just like Garrett is doing. Maybe even more so. He was going to have the whole shebang here at the ranch because that’s what the girl wanted. Sawyer would just as likely sneak off down to the courthouse if he had his way. He’s not one for show, as you probably already know. But nope. The girl wanted the big wedding and all that, but then…things didn’t work out.”
“It was bad,” Lina added.
“And the wedding was off.”
Uncle Joe picked up another samosa. “As happy as Sawyer was when engaged, he was equally as unhappy when things went sideways.”
“More so,” Lina added. “He had so much anger and hurt.” She shook her head.
Beth was a little surprised that they’d share this information so openly with her. Then again, it shouldn’t be too surprising. Folks loved to talk, and they knew she and Sawyer were friends, so—
Wait. Were they friends?
She would’ve qualified them as such after their dinner at Frank’s. Friends with the potential for more.
But now?
Beth didn’t know what they were.
Anger and frustration at him still simmered beneath the surface, very close to a rolling boil, but now she also had compassion for what he’d been through.
Uncle Joe patted her hand, surprising her. “I love that boy to the ends of the earth, but he can be more difficult than an ornery mule if he gets in his head about something. He probably doesn’t have a problem with your inn or you planning the wedding, or anything that’s got to do with this wedding in particular. His problem is with weddings, period.”
So much made sense now. His hesitancy with committing to something if he wasn’t the one in charge, his hang-ups about the timing of his brother getting married, his suspicions about Shelby.
His dag-blasted insistence in believing the worst of people.
She now understood why he resisted at every turn, but he needed to move past it. If his brother was his priority, like they’d talked about at Firewheel, then Garrett needed to be the priority. Not Sawyer’s fear.
But how did you tell a man like Sawyer to get over himself?
She couldn’t stomp up to him, as originally planned, and chew him out. He’d only become more obstinate and refuse to cooperate with anything.
No, more flies with honey. That was the way.
She’d ask him about trash-talking the inn—that was a must—but she couldn’t match fire with fire or all she’d be left with were ashes.
“You know”—Beth pushed herself off the stool—“I can call Sawyer or come back later. It’s not an emergency.”
“Are you sure?” Lina left her spot by the counter.
“I’m sure.”
“Well, I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
Uncle Joe insisted on walking her out, and Lina insisted on giving her food to take with her. Beth eventually left the house with a renewed sense of purpose, and a Tupperware of samosas.
She followed the path from the house with every intention of calling Sawyer first thing the next day and arranging a time to meet for coffee. She’d ask him what he’d said about Orchard Inn, and if he’d really said what he was accused of, she’d set him straight with a come-to-Jesus he’d never forget, and he could forget hanging out after the wedding.
If he hadn’t talked trash about the inn, then that was another story.
Regardless, though, the wedding would move forward. That was what really mattered.
A low voice coming from the nearest stable pulled her from her thoughts.
She followed the sound, recognizing his voice, but not the tone. She stepped into the stable and saw him standing just outside the last stall, in the far corner.
“You’re doing great. That’s it. It’s okay. No, don’t get up. Easy does it,” he cooed.
The last stall was twice the size of the others, and deep bedding hay was strewn out into the corridor.
“That’s it, Bella. Nice and easy.”
Beth approached quietly. Sawyer was oblivious to anything around him. In his jeans and a white undershirt, he had eyes only for Bella and her baby, which must be on its way.
Beth made it to the edge of the stall and saw the sable mare on her side, her back legs moving up and down slowly, side to side, as two black hooves edged into sight.
The moment was here.
“Oh my goodness,” she whispered.
Sawyer’s gaze jerked to her, his eyes rounding. “What, ah— Hey.”
Surprise, she thought.
“Hey.” She kept her voice low.
“What…” he began, but then shook his head. “Did we have a meeting or…?”
“No, no.” She moved closer. “I wanted to talk to you, but Lina told me you were busy. I was leaving but I heard you in here and…”
Now she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay here. With him.
Say it.
“Do you want to stay?” he asked. “Watch the birth?”
“Can I? If that’s okay, I’d love to.”
His eyes widened even more. “Yeah, of course. I didn’t think—never mind.” He waved her over, closer to him. “You can see a little better over here. Have you ever seen a foal being born?”
“No.” She’d been around horses her whole life but had never witnessed a birth.
“You’re in for a treat, then. At least, I think it is. Mileage varies depending on people’s point of view.”
He meant some people didn’t have the stomach for things like births.
Beth had a stomach of cast iron.
“I like to let the mother and Mother Nature take the lead,” he explained. “I’m here in case I’m needed, but mostly, thankfully, the momma’s got it under control.”
Beth moved closer to him, her arm brushing against his.
Bella made a few low noises, but not ones of distress.
“It’s taken her foal a little while to breach, but this is her first, and I think we’re on the other side of things now.
“No, no, baby,” he cooed to Bella again, his mouth so close it ruffled Beth’s hair. “Don’t get up. It’s okay, girl. There you go.”
Bella lifted her head, her huge dark eyes on Sawyer before she tried to see what was going on.
“Just keep pushing. You can do it.”
Sawyer’s hand touched the small of Beth’s back as he leaned down as if to whisper in confidence. “She’s trying to see what’s going on, like, what in the world is happening down there.”
Beth nodded.
“But instincts kick in and she’ll know just what to do. It’s the most amazing thing. I’m glad you’ll get to see this.”
The awe and admiration in his voice made Beth’s heart clench.
Bella let out a neigh and laid her head back down, another movement of her hind legs, and more of the foal emerged, dark legs visible through the placenta.
“Baby is going to have her coloring, I bet,” Sawyer said. “Good. She’s got a great color.”
A few moments later, a mouth and muzzle appeared. Then the long bridge of a nose.
“You’re doing great, momma,” Sawyer encouraged. “You’re almost there.”
Bella’s body moved up and down with her efforts and breathing.
“That’s it, girl. Rest a sec. You’re almost done.”
His encouragement and positive coaching touched Beth. How could this be the same naysayer from her sitting room? The cynic who’d toured her home the day they met?
Putting the two sides of Sawyer together was a puzzle.
“There’s the head.” He nudged Beth.
The foal’s head emerged, followed quickly by the body. Another push and the hindquarters were out.
“You did it!” Sawyer exclaimed. “You did it! Look at that!”
The baby’s head was fully out of the sack. The foal took its first deep breath, and something squeezed Beth’s chest. Her eyes pricked with a burn before her vision went all liquid with joy.
She tried to blink back the tears and the knot in her throat, but it was no good.
Sawyer would just have to know she was a big weepy mess sometimes, and get over it.
A baby horse lay on the hay, and it was one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen.
She risked looking at Sawyer, prepared to have him patronize her for that kind of reaction.
Instead, she lifted her gaze to his, and found his eyes were damp, too, with a smile on his face so wide it made her heart ache.
Chapter 11
That was incredible.” Beth gazed up at him, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears and wonder.
“Wasn’t it? It never fails to amaze me and put things in perspective.” His face hurt from smiling.
The foal was already trying to move about, with Bella maneuvering around to lick at her baby. She licked at the foal’s face, its haunches.
The sack pulled away as Bella slowly made her way to stand.
“Easy, girl. Nice and steady. You’ve had a big day.”
Bella stood and hooved the ground, moving hay around. She then began cleaning the foal again, in earnest.
As she cleaned, the foal’s color became clear. Dark points with a chestnut coat. A bay, just like its mom.
“We need to name the foal,” he said, as it rose on wobbly legs.
“It’s all knobby knees and legs, isn’t it?”
“Definitely. Easy, there. There you go. Take your time.”
Bella kept cleaning her newborn, nuzzling and licking and attempting to help it stand.
“A name.” Beth smiled. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“I prefer something not too cutesy. Bella means beautiful, so something more in line with the mother. And it appears…” Sawyer bent down and waited for the appropriate view. “It appears we have a female, so something that matches Mama Bella here.”
Sawyer took in the moment. The tawny coat of the foal, just like her mother’s, the warm glow of the waning day. This was his second sunset with Beth, the sky the same golden orange, a warm, rich tone.
“What about Amber?” he asked her.
“Amber. I love it.”
The foal took shaky steps and lilted to one side but managed to keep her balance. Sawyer couldn’t stop the smile of pride that broke across his face.
He loved these moments. Easily his favorite part of being a horse rancher was watching one come into the world, the mother’s tender care, the first unsure steps that would one day turn into a confident stride.
He glanced at Beth and caught a new glistening of tears.
“You okay?” He moved closer to her.
“I’m great. It’s just…this was really beautiful and I…okay, I confess, I can be a big softie about stuff like this.”
His heart clenched as it swelled. “I know. Me too.”
It continued to surprise him, how well she fit with him. They fit and it felt right. Except for attempting to work on the wedding. But then, wasn’t that mostly his doing?
Birthing foals? Totally his wheelhouse. He was in his element, and happily so. His brother getting married to a girl he barely knew, from a family he didn’t like? Unhappily out of his element.
“I could stand here all day and watch them.” Beth rested her arms on the stall door.
“Same here.” Especially with her there.
They remained in place for an endless moment. He had no idea how long, watching as Amber went from barely being able to stand to clumsily walking around and even nursing.
Mother and daughter were doing well. He could ask for nothing better, but he wouldn’t leave them without eyes on them for another hour or two.
“I thought you left an hour ago.” Uncle Joe’s voice boomed down the stable.
Beth straightened, color touching her cheeks. “Oh. I was, but…”
“She got to see the foal, Amber, being born.”
Joe reached them, all smiles and sneaky twinkle in his eyes. “Well, that’s nice, huh? Ever seen anything like that, Beth?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Sawyer didn’t much like it when his uncle twinkled. “What’s up, Uncle? Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just thought I’d relieve you. Let you grab some grub. I know you don’t like to leave them alone until some time has gone by, but it’s past dinner.”
As if on cue, Sawyer’s stomach growled like a bear coming out of hibernation.
“I should get going anyway,” Beth said.
“You hungry? You can stay and have dinner if you’re hungry.” Said another way, he didn’t want her to leave. Not just yet.
“I don’t want to impose. Plus, I’ve got the samosas already and—”
“Those can be your contribution to dinner. If I know my uncle at all, there are none left up at the house, so you’d be doing me a favor by sharing yours.”
Beth paused, considering his offer.
Behind her, his uncle was still grinning and twinkling. They were going to need to have a talk about that.
“Okay,” she answered. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“Quite the opposite. Uncle Joe, Bella and Amber are all yours.” Sawyer escorted Beth back to the house, ignoring his uncle though he tried to get Sawyer’s attention.
He knew exactly what his uncle was going to do anyway. Something silly like giving him two thumbs up or making a good-natured but goofy face. Joe was anything but subtle.
Encouraging, sure. But not subtle.
“I’d like to wash up a bit,” Beth said as they reached the house.
He pointed her to the hall bathroom and went into his office’s bathroom to do the same. As he washed his hands, he reminded himself this was just a friendly dinner. A gesture in return for meeting him at Frank’s BBQ and extending the olive branch.
That should’ve been his move, but she beat him to it.
Figures. Beth was a woman who kept him on his toes, as she was always on hers. He found he rather liked that about her. His mind liked to be busy, and busily thinking of her was big improvement over worrying about the most mundane of tasks at the ranch.
At least he’d been the one to tell her he liked her. Basically. Now wasn’t the time to get into dating or anything beyond just hanging out. If his worst suspicions about her friend proved true and he brought those to light, he doubted she’d want to be around him at all. But he was tired of keeping his interest in her at bay, tired of pretending he didn’t notice they made quite the pair.
