“Thank you.” She wraps her towel around herself and tucks the top corner in to hold it in place.
I wrap the other one around my waist as I step out of the shower. “Want me to blow-dry your hair?”
She tilts her head, letting out a soft laugh. “Wow, pulling out the full-service salon treatment today, are we?”
“You hate when your hair is wet,” I point out, pulling the blow dryer out from under the sink.
She squints at me, fighting a smile. “How do you know that?”
“You’ve mentioned it a couple of times.”
She shifts her weight, crossing her arms loosely under her towel. “And you file away all of my preferences?”
I lean over to press a kiss to her forehead. “Every detail, sweetheart.”
I had every intention of leaving the ranch at a decent hour the next day to check on Charlie, but one of the ranch hands spotted a coyote near the outer fence line. We ended up pushing the herd into the south pasture where we’ll hold them until morning. By the time we finally corralled the last of the cattle, the sun is low in the sky.
I’ve just finished settling Dusty, my gray quarter horse, into his stall when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Charlie: You coming home soon?
Heath: Miss me, hellcat?
Charlie: It’s not fun throwing up my dignity without you.
A sharp stab of regret twists in my stomach for not being there to hold her hair back this afternoon.
Heath: Sounds like I missed one hell of a show.
Charlie: You did. It was an Oscar-worthy performance. The sound effects alone deserve an award.
Heath: I’ll make sure I’m there tomorrow.
Charlie: I’ll save you the best seat in the house. Right next to the toilet.
Heath: Looking forward to it.
Heath: Have you had dinner?
Charlie: Not yet. Got tied up labeling new inventory.
I scroll to her CGM app and see her blood sugar sitting at 74. It’s within range for now, but she needs to eat soon, or it’ll drop. She’s perfectly capable of managing it on her own, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to take care of her any way I can.
Heath: Just finished moving cattle to the south pasture. I’ll be back within the hour.
Heath: Will grab dinner from Prickly Pear. Think you can eat anything?
Charlie: Grilled cheese on sourdough with extra pickles. Oh! And a side of cottage cheese.
Heath: You got it.
I’m just coming out of the barn when I spot Pops riding toward me, slowing to a stop as he approaches.
“What are you doing out here so late?” he asks, swinging down from the saddle. “You should be home with your bride.”
I take off my hat and wipe my forehead with my handkerchief. “Cal spotted a coyote near the fence line, so we had to move the herd.”
Pops raises a brow. “And he and the rest of the ranch hands couldn’t handle it?”