Page 42 of Roping Her In

Smiles’s grin faded, and he stepped closer to the table. “What now?”

“I first noticed it with our llamas in our sheep pastures,” Gun said. “I’ve got a couple of them with hoof problems.”

“And we’ve got four horses with the same problem,” Rock said. “Sort of—but there’s definite short-strided movement, and they haven’t been anywhere near the llama pastures.”

“And we’ve got cattle down in the Kindred area with a similar issue,” Robbie said, as he handled the equipment and cattle on that part of the ranch.

They all looked at Smiles, who needed to see the animals, as well as read over their observations and notes, before he could make any inkling of a reason why they had tender-footed animals popping up all over the ranch.

“Bev’s coming up today,” he said, picking up the top sheet of paper. “I can show her all of this, and maybe if she has time after we go over our sick calf shed issues, mind you, we can look at them together and see what we can determine.”

“Sure,” Wilder said, and then he sighed.

“Any problems with the llamas down at Llama Mamas?” Smiles asked, studying his brother’s notes. “And these are all family horses. Any from the working herd?”

“Nope,” Wilder said. “Savannah’s llamas down at my place are fine.”

“It’s only our horses, yes,” Rock said.

Smiles switched the papers, now looking at Gun’s handwriting. His phone chimed, but he ignored it as he read over the llama problem. “Have you pulled these animals for me?” He looked at his cousin. “We should isolate them from the others, in case it’s some sort of bacteria that could spread.”

Gun nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got them here, in the stables.”

“I moved the other horses out of here and over to stable three,” Rock said.

“I’ll get the cattle separated out,” Robbie said. “I haven’t done that yet, as I just noticed the limping this morning.”

Smiles nodded and replaced the papers on the stack, then picked it up. “I’ll go over this, and depending on how things go, I might be able to look at them today.”

“It’s going to rain all afternoon,” Rock said, and he seemed twice as grumpy now.

“Probably tomorrow, then,” Smiles said. “I have to sort through the calves and decide what to do with them.”

“Is that why Bev’s coming up?” Gun asked.

“Yep.” Smiles flashed a grin and pulled out his phone.

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s the only reason why,” Rock said.

Smiles saw she’d texted, so he ignored the suggestive quality of his brother’s voice. He didn’t even allow himself to look at any of them. “It is, and she’s here, so if you boys will excuse me.”

“Yeah, of course,” Wilder said. “Say hi to Bev for me.”

“For all of us,” Gun called after him, and light laughter followed. Smiles didn’t care what they thought. He’d be dating Bev if she’d let him, and he’d never been one to hide how he felt anyway.

I’m headed out of the stable now, he sent to Bev, and only a moment later, he pushed out of the door. He strode with purpose now, because thunder rolled above him, and he didn’t want to be caught outside when the sky opened.

Sure, that was why. It had nothing to do with the gorgeous brunette currently dropping out of a gray pick-up truck and looking around the ranch. When her attention swung in his direction, Smiles lifted his hand in greeting and grinned at her.

She relaxed and opened the back door on the driver’s side. When she faced him again, she carried a brown pastry box in her hands.

“Hey, you,” he said as he arrived. He leaned in and swept a kiss across both of her cheeks. “What did you bring?”

“Cupcakes,” she said, and she gave him a rare smile. It didn’t stay long, and Smiles once again wondered what had stolen the part of her that used to laugh and joke and exude happiness.

“But they’re for later,” she said.

“Later?”