LITMIR.BIZ

      AT FIVE MADDIE WAS UP and not so raring to go. She felt as if she’d just closed her eyes. But they planned to round up the expecting cows and wanted to get an early start. This might be just a little too early. Coop said there weren’t many cows calving this time of the year, so that was a plus. Births were usually in the spring and fall.

      After brushing her teeth, she thought of calling Walker, but it was too early. She’d call at lunch. She shimmied into jeans and stuck her arms into one of Cait’s pearl-snap shirts. Luckily they were close to the same size. After tucking her shirt into the jeans, she zipped and buttoned them, then deftly wove a tooled leather belt through the loops.

      She sat down to tug on her boots. Wiggling her toes, she was reminded how different her attire was from her Philadelphia wardrobe: suits, silk blouses and Jimmy Choo heels. Oh, yeah, she missed those shoes, but that was another life. Today she was a cowgirl, and work waited for her. Gathering her hair into a short ponytail, she jogged for the stairs, which she figured was a good way to wake up.

      She met Etta as she was going out the back door. “Good morning, lazy bug,” Maddie mocked with a smile.

      “Don’t get smart,” Etta replied, handing her something wrapped in tin foil. “Breakfast taco. I made them for Rufus and Cooper and I saved one for you.”

      “Thanks, Etta.”

      “Get some juice from the fridge.”

      Maddie grabbed bottled water. “This will do.”

      “Now, lunch will be ready at twelve and I expect everyone here. You can’t go all day without a proper meal.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” Maddie kissed her cheek. “Please look after Gran. I’ll check on her later.”

      “I always look after Miss Dorie.” Etta pushed her toward the door. “Go. Coop and Ru are waiting.”

      By noon Maddie’s butt was numb and her body ached, but they had a penful of expecting mamas. She leaned on the fence beside Cooper. “How do you know these cows are ready to give birth?”

      “Look at their udders.”

      “Oh, they’re swollen.”

      “Yep. Full of milk, and their…”

      When he stopped, she glanced at him. “What?”

      Cooper removed his hat and swiped back his hair as if he was thinking about his answer. “Their tail ends are swollen, too.”

      “Oh.” She playfully slapped his shoulder. “You thought I’d be embarrassed.”

      His sun-browned skin darkened. “Maybe.”

      “Ple-ease.” She pushed away from the fence, placed her hands on her hips and bobbled her head in a what’s-up-with-you movement. “I really am made of tougher stuff.”

      “Well, you surprised the hell out of me,” he admitted. “I thought you’d do your share of the work from the house.”

      “Not on your life, buster.” She started toward the house. “Let’s go have lunch. I’m starving.”

      She had thought of just doing the paperwork. Cooper could run the ranch without her help, but something about being part-owner made her take an active role. Cait had. And she enjoyed the physical exercise. And she needed to feel useful. And she craved the mind-numbing tiredness that kept her from thinking what if? What if the cancer came back?

      That fear never left her.