Page 77 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

He listened before speaking again.“Okay.If we’re all gone, you know we’re on our way to the hospital.In the meantime, I have to get Meri inside and into fresh clothes, then into the car.”

He listened again.“Rose is in town doing the weekly shopping.Okay, we’ll wait, if we can.”Then he hitstopand pocketed his phone.“Your mom is on her way.She’ll be here in about ten to fifteen minutes.Can you wait that long, or should we head out now?”

“No, I’ll change clothes and then just walk around the kitchen until you’ve corralled the kids.They need to come in now, anyway.”

Chase put his arms around her and hugged her as close as her enormous belly would let him.“I’ll help you inside and then I’ll get the kids.Jake is out there and can watch them until I come back.When they’re in the house, I’ll take care of the horse as quick as I can and then walk with you until it’s time to go to the hospital.”

After they reached the kitchen, she reached up and cupped his jaw.“I’ll be fine.Now, go and hurry back.”

He gave her a quick kiss and then rushed outside to his children.

Ten minutes later, Jenny, CJ, and Danni ran into the kitchen.

“Mommy!”yelled Danni, her bright-red braids flopping down her back as she ran.“Daddy says we’re having a baby today.”Her green eyes sparkled with excitement.

“And we have to be good for Nana when she gets here.”Jenny stopped right in front of Meri.

She also took after Meri with bright red hair, but she had her daddy’s blue eyes.

“Your daddy is right.I want you three to be especially good for Nana.Can you do that for me?”

“We’ll be real good.”CJ, with his dark-hair and blue eyes, was almost a replica of Chase.

Chase trailed behind the kids carrying a box.“Look what I found in the barn after you three abandoned me.”

Meri and the children all gathered around him as he set the box on the floor.

Inside the box were three kittens.

“Chase?”Meri couldn’t believe her eyes.“Do you really think now is the time for kittens?I can’t handle them and the baby, too.”

“That’s the thing.These kittens are barn cats, but their mama died.”He looked down at his children, each of whom was now holding a kitten.“The kids are going to take care of them, but they will still live in the barn.They’re very small, only about four weeks, I’d guess, and they are too little to survive without help.I’ve noticed the other mama cats haven’t accepted them and they haven’t eaten in a couple of days, not since their mama died.”

Meri sighed.Oh well, I have time.I’m just a little panicked, but that’s because I’m scared.I’ll be fine.I’ll be fine.The baby will be fine.If I keep telling myself that, I might even believe it.“Nana will have to deal with the kittens when she gets here, which should be in a few minutes.”She looked up at Chase.“Can you get my overnight bag, please?”

“Sure, I’ll be right back.”Chase kissed her on the forehead.

Meri looked at her children, each with their own kitten, and admitted to herself that the scene was adorable.“Those kittens will need baths, but I don’t want you to do it until Nana gets here.You can’t get the kittens’ heads wet, and since they’re so tiny, Nana will have to be careful when she bathes them.You’re allowed to watch, but that’s all unless Nana says differently.Do you understand?”

“Yes, Mama.We can watch, but not give kittens a bath.”Jenny shook her head, her mouth closed, and her eyes narrowed.“I’ll make sure CJ and Danni mind Nana.”

Meri smiled.“You do that, sugar cakes.”She looked at the other two children.“What about you two?Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Mommy,” said CJ.

Danni nodded solemnly.“Yes, Mommy.We mind Nana and don’t get kitten’s heads wet.”

The kitchen door to the backyard opened.

Carole Anderson walked in.“How are all my babies?”

CJ ran to her.“Nana!”

“Nana!”Danni was right behind CJ.“We got kittens.”

Jenny walked up to her grandmother.“Daddy gave them to us.He said their mama died, and they haven’t eaten in two days.”

Carole bent and gathered the three children in her arms, hugging the group of them, careful of the kittens they held.“Well, we’ll just see what we can do about that.”She straightened and walked over to Meri.“How are you, ladybug?”