She wanted to laugh at the surprised look on Burke
’
s face.
“
I
’
ll be right out.
”
It didn
’
t surprise her that Burke was waiting in her room for her.
“
Okay let
’
s go eat.
”
She couldn
’
t remember ever feeling so happy.
“
Good morning,
”
she said to Mrs. Harvy as she sat down at the kitchen table.
Mrs. Harvy looked from her to Burke with a secret smile.
“
Nice to
see
the two of you in the same room.
”
She poured coffee for Burke and
d
ecaf tea for Annie.
“
Will we be having a permanent houseguest?
”
Annie could feel Burke
’
s sizzling gaze on her. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to have her dreams come true. It scared her to death that she might get hurt. She didn
’
t think she
’
d survive a second time. I
n
truth, it wasn
’
t his fault. If Alice hadn
’
t…
“
We haven
’
t talked about it yet,
”
Burke replied.
“
Oh
,
posh
,
what is there to talk about? Honestly, you two are as bad as two stallions in the same stall. The way I see it, you are partners in the ranch and partners as parents why not just hop into the hayloft and have at it.
”
Annie and Burke both burst out laughing at the same time.
“
Hop into the hayloft?
”
Annie choked out.
M
r
s. Harvy looked flustered.
“
What
’
s wrong with that? Might save your marriage. Lord knows you two don
’
t know a thing about it. Now after you see that shiny new horse of yours
,
I
’
ll have a picnic waiting for you to take.
”
“
Yes
,
Ma
’
am,
”
Burke replied as he took Annie by the hand and led her outside.
“
Wait
,
you didn
’
t eat! Here take these rolls.
”
She handed them to Burke.
“
Thanks.
”
Walking hand in hand felt so right to Annie. She felt as giddy as a child.
“
I can
’
t wait to see him in the daylight.
”
“
Wait don
’
t walk so fast
.
I don
’
t want you to fall,
”
Burke admonished.
“
Oh
,
pooh
,
let
’
s just go.
”
“
Did Annie Dawson, just say pooh?
”
“
Yes
,
I did
,
and I
’
ve learned more words if you
’
d like to hear them.
”
Burke threw his head back as the deep laughter rumbled out of him.
“
God
,
I love you!
”
Annie gave him a sidelong glance and felt herself beaming.
“
Good
—
you
’
d
better.
”
Annie was instantly distracted as she caught a glimpse of King
’
s Crown. He was so beautiful. A beautiful black stallion, winner of many races
,
and he was hers. This was her hope for the future of her horse farm. He was going to produce outstanding foals. She was absolutely entranced by him.
She watched as Clint talked to him, getting him used to his new home. Clint smiled and waved.
“
I can
’
t believe he
’
s here.
”
Annie wished that she could climb up the rungs of the corral fence
, but
it
was too cumbersome.
“
I
’
m going in.
”
Burke swept her off her feet before she could take another step.
“
Not with my child you are not!
”
“
You are not the boss of me!
”
“
Oh yeah?
”
“
Hell yeah!
”
“
Hey, hey let
’
s keep it down, you
’
re spooking King
’
s Crown,
”
Clint said in a soothing voice trying to calm the big stallion.
Annie turned her head so she was looking right into Burke
’
s eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. She tried not to laugh as his eyes widened in surprise.
“
Minx,
”
he whispered.
“
Bully,
”
she whispered back.
“
Wait until I hop in the hay with you,
”
he said with a big grin on his face.
“
It might have to wait until the baby is born
, but
cowboy
,
I can
’
t wait to hop into the hay with you.
”
Burke kissed her holding her close.
“
Mmmm. You can put me down now.
”
Burke put her down and they walked the rest of the way to the corral. Clint walked King
’
s Crown over for Annie to pet.
“
I still can
’
t believe that he
’
s here. What do you think
,
Clint?
”
“
His offspring will be legendary, I can feel it.
”
“
How goes it with Ryelee?
”
she asked.
“
I saw her on your roof the other day.
”
Clint shook his head.
“
I don
’
t know what to do. She
’
s so good with Rheenie
, but
I have to say she doesn
’
t use the sense God gave her. She could have easily fallen off that roof and all for a Frisbee.
”
“
Sounds like you have your hands full,
”
Burke commented.
Clint smiled.
“
You
’
re telling me? Half of me thinks she
’
s a wonderful Nanny to Rheenie and
she is
a damn good cook too, but the other half has me praying hourly. I never know what she
’
d going to do next.
”
“
Well, cowboy you
’
ll get it all figured out. Rheenie seems happier than before.
”
“
Yeah
,
that
’
s the problem.
”
Annie and Burke laughed.
“
Well
,
I
’
m going to put him out in the north pasture alone so he can mellow a bit. Have a good one.
”
“
You too,
”
Annie answered. She reached out and touched Burke
’
s chest.
“
I can
’
t believe you are here with me. It tore my heart to see you on your horse watching me. I felt so alone.
”
Burke put his hand over hers and moved them so that they were over his heart.
“
How should we do this? If I had my way I
’
d move in right away
,
but
it
’
s your call.
”
Annie looked into his blue eyes and saw all the love he had for her and it stunned her, it humbled her
,
and it delighted her to her very soul.
“
I
’
m afraid
,
too,
”
he whispered.
“
Annie, please give me a chance, give us a chance. We have something good together.
”
Studying him,
Annie couldn
’
t think. Of course, she wanted to give him a chance
,
but what if it didn
’
t work? What if? She couldn
’
t live like this anymore. It was torture.
“
Hold me
,
Burke. I
’
m afraid.
”
I
nstantly cocooned in his embrace
, she
realized that with Burke she didn
’
t need to be afraid. All she ever wanted was right here.
“
I love you.
”
“
Your place or mine?
”
Burke asked in relief.
“
I thought you liked my new digs,
”
she teased.
“
I do. I can run my side of the ranch from here. A few fences would have to come down and maybe a road built
, but
it
’
s doable.
”
“
Think so?
”
she asked eagerly.
“
I know so. Now how about that picnic?
”
He took her hand and led her back to their house.
“
I
’
ll need a hat and probably a pillow because I don
’
t think I
’
ll be comfortable on the ground,
”
Annie started to say.
The kitchen door opened and there stood Mrs. Harvy
,
her arms leaden with items.
“
And sunblock, and a blanket.
”
“
What would we do without you?
”
Annie asked her dear friend.
“
To tell you the truth I just don
’
t know.
”
Burke laughed and took the items from Mrs. Harvy.
“
I
’
m moving in.
”
“‘
Bout time,
”
she replied, with a twinkle in her eye.
“
I think we should postpone the picnic.
”
Annie
felt her
water br
eak
.
“
It
’
s baby time.
”
She had to bite her lip when she saw the blood drain from Burke
’
s face. Even Mrs. Harvy became flustered.
“
Burke, I have a bag packed in my closet
.
C
an you get it? Mrs. Harvy, call
the
doctor and let him know I
’
m on my way.
”
“
People, am I the only calm one here? Get moving I have a feeling things are going to happen fast!
”
Burke and Mrs. Harvy looked at each other and ran in two different directions.
Keystone cop time
, Annie thought as a sharp pain sliced through her. The baby wasn
’
t due for another month
, but
she had a peaceful serene feeling. She wasn
’
t sure
, but
it felt almost spiritual. Somehow, she knew that everything was going to be all right.