Alexander mumbled something again, shifting in his sleep under the blanket. Mia leaned over and picked another piece of hay from his dark hair and smiled. These are her kids. She didn't need to have them within her to love them.
She made sure they were tucked in and comfortable before heading back to the birthing stall. Lily was still learning everything she could from the vet and luckily the vet looked interested in teaching. They'd moved on to the anatomy changes required to facilitate a birth. Mia shook her head and looked for Carter.
He was sitting in the hay with the little sleeping foal in his lap. Carter beamed up at her as she approached, his eyes glowing with pride. He was as proud of this little horse as if he had fathered it himself. Mia smiled at him. He should be proud. His favorite mare had given birth and he'd been there to help.
“Come here,” he whispered as the little foal's eyes flickered with dreams in his lap.
Mia knelt in the hay and reached out to touch the small creature. He was so perfect. He made her heart ache again, but in a different way this time. He was beautiful and loved, which was all she ever wanted for any child.
Hopeful Dreamer nickered softly as if to say, Isn't he wonderful?
Mia reached out and stroked his soft coat. She couldn't agree more. He was wonderful.
Chapter 16
Mia
Mia was pouting and she knew it. She didn't like that she was pouting, but she wasn't about to stop. She was committed to the pout now and there was nothing that was going to change it. It was the last day on the ranch. The sun shone as if nothing was changing. The breeze blew colder, but still, it didn't feel as if everything were coming to an end. The kids were grumpy and worked slowly as if taking more time to do their chores would make their time here last longer. They were pouting, too.
Mia wasn't going to miss having to rearrange her work schedule to fit in these trips, but she was going to miss just about everything else. She'd found herself looking forward to these visits, not for the time on the ranch, but because of Carter. He'd made these days brighter and the best parts of her week.
She wasn't sure how she was going to see him again. The kiss in the kitchen still burned in her thoughts, but it was just a kiss. After the birth of the horse, they didn't have a chance to discuss what had gone on. Now, it was a day later and she wasn't sure what to do about it now.
She wanted to see him again, but with the kids no longer working on the ranch, she didn't exactly have a good excuse to come out here and see him. So, today, she'd dressed up in the sweater that she knew made her look good, her best jeans, and took the extra time to fix her makeup before coming. If today was their last day, she was at least going to feel confident and look good. Even with a pout.
Carter was busy with work when they'd arrived, so Mia had gone to her favorite spot just outside the barn to watch the kids while she waited. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on how good the sun felt on her face. It was hard to pout when the sun felt so warm.
“You going to miss us?” Carter asked, coming up behind her. She smiled, and turned her face from the sunshine to look at him.
He wore a dark blue shirt that brought out the color of his eyes. His hair was mussed by the wind and he wore that cocky smile that she loved. She vividly remembered the way he tasted, sweet and delicious, and the way his body felt pressed up against her. It took all her willpower not to just drag him off behind the barn to finish what they'd started the other night.
“Maybe,” she teased, doing her best to give him a nonchalant sh
rug. He raised his eyebrows and she couldn't help but laugh. “Okay, definitely. I didn't think I'd enjoy spending my afternoons watching my kids haul horse feces around, but, I'll miss the company.”
She met his eyes and loved the way he lit up at her words.
“I was actually hoping to talk to you about that,” he said with a smile.
“About horse feces?”
Carter laughed. “Kind of. With the new foal, we can use a few more hands around here. Would your kids be interested in a job? Laura already has Lily half-trained to her position and has been asking me if we can keep them on.”
“You're offering my hooligans a job?” Mia asked.
“I'm hoping their social worker might think it's a beneficial program for them,” Carter replied. “That it will enhance their social skills and provide physical activities unavailable elsewhere.”
Mia's heart lightened. This wasn't their last day on the ranch. She looked over at the barn to see Alexander pause and sigh wistfully before continuing with his duties. He looked so sad that she wanted to run over and tell him the good news right then. Instead, she grinned at Carter.
“I think I might be able to make something work,” she said, her smiling giving away her excitement. “I might need some extra convincing, though.”
“Could I possibly convince you over dinner?” Carter asked.
Her heart fluttered and the nervous energy of a romantic encounter flooded through her. “Dinner?”
Carter nodded, his eyes fixed completely on her. “You, me... someplace that isn't a barn. Food that isn't a pizza.”
Mia's stomach was already doing excited flip-flops. “I'd like that.”