Nodding, Colt jabbed a fork into his pie and held it aloft, letting ice cream drip onto the saucer as he spoke. “Every summer we take on a few agri-business interns from the university. We get some cheap help during a busy time and they gain a summer of living and working on a real ranch. Works out pretty well for all of us.”
“Hmpf.” Cookie whipped into the room to whisk the emptied dishes from the table. “Half-baked greenhorns is more of a nuisance than a help.”
“Everybody has to start somewhere, Cookie.”
Impressed and touched that Colt generously allowed greenhorns the opportunity for hands-on ranching experience, Katie couldn’t help smiling when Cookie barked back as he retreated into the kitchen. “I never said they didn’t. As long as they stay out of my kitchen, we do fine.”
With a chuckle, Colt winked at Kati. “The students we get out here would rather muck out barns than cook a meal. I think his kitchen’s safe. But the offer still stands. Anytime you want to take a horse out, just let me know. I’ll arrange for someone to ride with you until you feel comfortable on your own.”
Fingers tingling, insides warming with each kind word, Kati said, “As much as I’d like to, I doubt I’ll have the opportunity. Evan will take up all my time.”
Colt waved off the worry. “Ah, Cookie can watch him sometime when he’s napping.”
Once again Cookie appeared. “I ain’t no baby-sitter. Don’t know a thing about young’uns.”
Carrying a cup of coffee, the rotund cook scraped back a chair and settled his bulk next to Kati.
“Don’t let him fool you, Kati,” Colt said with an ornery grin. “I’ve caught him in the nursery a few times.”
“Some dumb cowboy was off somewhere and the little critter was crying.” With a huff of disapproval, Cookie folded his tree-trunk arms atop his generous belly. “I couldn’t leave the boy like that.”
“Feeds him mashed potatoes, too,” Colt whispered conspiratorially. “If we leave Evan with him too much, they’ll be sporting matching bellies.”
Enjoying the joke, Kati eyed the cook’s sailing battleship with a grin. “Just as long as he doesn’t get the tattoo to go with it.”
As soon as the teasing words popped out, Kati covered her lips with her fingers, aghast. Had she offended the kindhearted old cook?
For two eternal heartbeats both men stared at her, surprised. Then they looked at each other and nearly fell out of their chairs laughing.
The tight muscles in Kati’s neck eased as she joined them.
“I told you she’s a good one,” Cookie said.
Eyes dancing with laughter, Colt sat back in his chair and smiled at her.
Her accursed heart began another, most unwelcome, round of gymnastics. In the interest of self-preservation, experience had taught her to keep emotions firmly in check. But this time her heart paid no attention at all.
Over the years she’d been in enough new places to know how to make herself at home, but Colt Garret, with his innate kindness and warm humor, made her feel welcome. And it was the scariest feeling she’d ever experienced.
Chapter Three
Evan’s screams jolted Kati upright in bed, sending a disgruntled Caesar flying. Scurrying into her robe, she glanced at the clock and rushed across the hall to the nursery. Two hours of sleep again tonight. Little surprise that her head ached and her legs moved like blocks of concrete. Since her arrival Evan had kept her awake most of every night suffering bouts of colic.
No wonder Colt had been so exhausted he’d agreed to marry her.
Anxious not to awaken the entire household, Kati scooped the stiff, squalling child into her arms, rushed to the kitchen for a bottle—which the baby refused to take—and slipped out the back door as quietly as possible.
The rich butter of summer moonlight lit the grassy backyard, and the stars were so bright and near she could see plainly. She paced the yard, jouncing and bouncing, singing and patting, while Evan suffered the misery of colic. Each time she thought he was settling, and started toward the house and precious sleep, the crying began again. Having no other way to ease him broke her heart.
“Poor little man,” she crooned to Evan’s contorted face. “You must hurt so bad.”
The cool summer grass was damp with dew, so Kati took an old blanket from the patio, spread it on the ground and lowered her exhausted body. In the warm night air, frogs trilled and the scent of honeysuckle wafted in gentle waves.
The back door opened and she turned to see Colt silhouetted in the doorway. Quietly easing the door shut behind him, he came across the patio toward Kati and Evan. Kati’s heart lurched. Bare-chested and barefooted, he’d pulled on a pair of jeans without bothering with the top snap. His hair was disheveled and a five o’clock shadow had deepened the color of his cheeks so that he looked dark and dangerous and incredibly sexy.
“Boy sick again?” His quiet baritone carried on the still night air.
She nodded. To prove the point, Evan’s voltage went from whimper to wail.
“He’s miserable.” Kati laid him on his back and tenderly stroked the rigid tummy. The baby’s legs thrashed, but the wail eased to a fussy whimper. He gnawed repeatedly on his fist.
Colt hunkered down beside them. “Can’t the doctor give him anything for this?”
“I don’t know.” Kati’s braid fell forward and she tossed it back, suddenly self-conscious to have the half-dressed Colt so near. “Have you taken him for a checkup?”
Colt blinked at her, bewildered. “Hadn’t even thought of it.”
“We need to do that soon. He probably should start his immunizations.”
“Yeah.” He eased onto the blanket beside her. “Why don’t you give Doc Armstrong a call tomorrow and set up an appointment?”
“Okay.” With all her might, Kati concentrated on Evan. Not that it worked with Colt’s living, breathing body only inches away. Fortunately, he was watching her hands massage and soothe the fussy baby, but when he tilted his head, turning his full attention to Kati, her breath jammed in her throat. “You been coming out here every night?”
“I didn’t want to disturb anyone.” She fidgeted with Evan’s pajamas with one hand while the other patted and soothed. “Sorry if I woke you.”
“Not your fault. And Evan sure can’t help it.” His gorgeous lips tilted in a smile. “Good thing the mosquitoes aren’t out yet. They’d eat you alive.”
Kati replied with a tremulous smile. “If coming out here helps Evan and lets you sleep, I’d still do it. You need your rest to run a ranch this large.”
“Yeah. Well.” He stretched his shoulders upward and rolled his head from side to side. “You’re doing a good job with Evan. I just want you to know I’ve noticed, and I appreciate it.”
A purl of pleasure lifted some of Kati’s exhaustion. “He’s a wonderful baby most of the time.”
“Don’t go getting attached.” He said the words lightly, casually as if he meant them for himself as well as for her, but Kati needed the reminder. Evan was fast winning her heart.
“Don’t worry. I know better than that.” Relationships were unfailingly temporary, as every foster kid learned early on. That’s why Kati’s Angels was so important. The wonderful place filled with children who needed her would be permanent in a way nothing else ever had been. She was sorry Colt felt trapped by their marriage contract, but someday he’d understand all the good