A Temporary Texas Arrangement by Thacker Cathy Gillen

Author:Thacker, Cathy Gillen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“How did the walk-through go?” Noah asked Tess, twenty minutes later.

“Fine.” Vet bag in hand, she strode into the stable, where it seemed his entire family was gathered. Including their chocolate Labrador retriever, Tank. “What’s going on?”

“We can’t get Tank to come back to the house,” Avery explained.

“And we don’t know why he doesn’t want to come with us,” Lucy said, looking upset. “He always comes when it’s about dinnertime.”

“Maybe he’s just not hungry,” Angelica mused.

Tess could see Tank hanging out in the aisleway, in the middle of the barn, across from Miss Coco’s stall.

“He’s been like this all day,” Noah said. “Every time I let him out he makes a beeline for the stable. And won’t leave until he goes inside and checks on Miss Coco. I have to snap a leash on him to get him to go back to the house.”

Tess walked over to Tank and petted him on the head. “Sounds like you’re doing a great job of guarding today, buddy.”

She opened the wooden half door and went in to see the miniature donkey. Swiftly spotting the reason, she looked at Noah. “The foal is starting to turn.” Which was one of the first signs of impending birth.

“What is that?” Lucy asked curiously.

Noah gave a barely perceptible nod, letting her know it was okay to continue.

Tess surveyed the girls gently, making eye contact with each. “Miss Coco is getting ready to have her baby donkey.”

“Now?” Angelica and Avery clapped their hands and jumped up and down excitedly, squealing.

Noah put his finger to his lips. “Shhh!” He whispered sternly, “You don’t want to scare our pets.”

They settled immediately, somewhat chagrined. “Sorry, Daddy,” the twins murmured in unison.

“It takes a while for the mama donkey to get ready to give birth, so it’s not going to happen right away,” Tess cautioned.

“When do you think?” His handsome face etched with concern, Noah echoed his eldest daughter’s query.

Once again, she tried not to think how intimate this all felt. “Maybe by the weekend.”

Lucy crossed her arms. Recalcitrant once again. “That can’t happen. We are going to Fort Worth to see Aunt Mackenzie and Uncle Griff and their twins, with all the rest of our cousins.” Hands on her hips, she swung back to Noah. “Daddy, tell Tess to tell Miss Coco she has to wait!”

Noah put a gentle hand on her shoulder. He looked down at her, and patiently soothed, “It doesn’t work that way, honey.”

Lucy became even more defiant. She stomped her rubber-boot-clad foot. “But I want to see the baby donkey be born!”

“So do I!” chimed the twins, continuing to squeal loudly in excitement.

Noah shushed them all once again. “That’s not a good idea.”

Lucy’s lower lip trembled. “Why not?” she demanded.

Sensing it was time for a little medical expertise, Tess interjected, “Because it is a very private and special time for a mama donkey, and she needs to have quiet, so she can’t have a lot of people around while she is trying to give birth. It’s too distracting.

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