“I can call my dad,” he said. “But I’m sure I can come along.”
“We have two puppies,” Cactus said, his mind whirring. Who could he call for help? He didn’t have time to get back up to Shiloh Ridge and back to the hospital. Maybe he did. He didn’t know how long it would take for Sammy to deliver.
Allison had been in labor for hours, and maybe he did have time to get to the Edge Cabin and back. He didn’t want to leave the pups alone in the house. He could only imagine the nightmare he’d come home to.
He picked up his phone and tapped a couple of times. The line rang, and he started praying that Willa would answer.
“Cactus,” she said, her voice bright and cheery. “I got your text. I just needed to look at the sub schedule first, but then Mitch wanted to make banana pancakes.” She laughed lightly, and Cactus grinned at the sound of it.
“I have a favor to ask,” he asked.
“Go for it.”
“I just picked up two puppies, and Ranger just called to say Sammy went into labor. I’ve got Lincoln with me, and we need to get over to the hospital….” He let the sentence hang there.
“You want me to babysit your puppies,” she said, her voice slightly less enthused now.
“That I do,” he said, sighing. “It’s fine. We could be hours at the hospital. I can take them to the ranch.” He could leave them in the barn with the horses.
“You don’t have time for that,” she said. “I can take them, Cactus.”
“You sure?”
“Of course.” She sounded sure then. “We’re just at home.”
“I’ll be there really soon,” he said. “I’m only a few minutes away.” Cactus eased back onto the road and made the next left turn. Only five minutes later, he turned into Willa’s driveway.
She rose from the front porch, and Cactus couldn’t help staring for a moment. She wore jeans and a red collared blouse with white polka dots on it. Her son stood too, and Lincoln said, “I wish I could play with Mitch.” He looked at Cactus. “Do I have to come to the hospital?”
“Yes,” Cactus said firmly. “Your mother is having the baby, Link. You can play with Mitch another day.” He got out of the car and opened the back door.
Oliver got out with one puppy in his arms, and he handed it to Cactus. “I’ll get the other one.”
Cactus took the gray pup toward Willa, whose gorgeous hair called to him. He needed to touch it and slide his fingers through it as he kissed her. The past ten weeks had been a bit maddening to him, but he’d coached himself to be patient. Willa had several new things in her life right now, and she was juggling a lot.
“Look how adorable,” Willa said, her smile bright and her eyes locked on Cactus’s.
“I’m sure you’re talking about the puppy,” Cactus said with a grin.
“Maybe.” Willa stepped right up to him and pressed her lips to his cheek, the wiggling dog between them.
Cactus’s mind blanked, and had it not been for Oliver, he probably would’ve stayed staring at Willa, her touch burning through his face and down into his neck.
“You could probably put them in the back yard,” Oliver said, and that got Cactus to thaw.
“Yeah,” he said. “They’ll be fine back there.”
“I know what to do with a puppy,” Willa said, taking the black puppy from Oliver. “You can give that one to Mitch.” She turned, and Mitchell stood right behind her.
Cactus swallowed, because he hadn’t spent a lot of time with Mitchell. He was a year older than Lincoln, so they weren’t in the same grade, though Bear had told him to take him to Willa’s so the two boys could play together.
That’ll give you a chance to see her, Bear had said.
Cactus had suggested it once, but Willa had said Mitch had not had a good day at school, and he’d never brought it up again. She hadn’t either, and he wasn’t sure what to do with that information.
He’d been learning and practicing sign language, texting with Willa, and employing every ounce of patience he had. They’d seen each other a couple of times over the weeks, but Cactus wouldn’t necessarily call them dates. He wanted a proper date with the woman. Badly.
Now, faced with her son, he decided he needed to practice his sign language. He shifted the puppy to his left arm so he could