Country Courtship (The Texas Two-Step Series, Book 2) by Kathy Carmichael Page A

smart. She was hard at work over the horse and he felt like a third wheel.
    Kelli's manner was calming for both mare and man. She took her time and her movements were careful and well planned.
    Bobby Gray wanted to participate. "Is there something I can do?"
    "You want to boil some water?"
    He almost started off for the ranch house and its kitchen, but the laugh in Kelli's voice pulled him up. "You're not serious," he said, a little crestfallen.
    As Kelli stood she grinned widely while wiping off the knees of her pants. "I'm done. The foal's going to be fine."
    "How much longer will it take?"
    "Shouldn't be long."
    Their gazes met. He'd always suspected a deep connection was waiting to spring up between them, but this was far better than he could have imagined. It felt as if they could see clear through each other's eyes and into each other's thoughts. Wow.
    * * *
    There's something deeply satisfying about attending the birth of any infant—human or animal. The experience was even sweeter because Kelli knew she'd made a positive difference.
    Yet, best of all was sharing the moment with Bobby Gray.
    The man's eyes had glazed with a sheen of relief when she'd told him everything was going to be okay.
    The foal's head and front legs had emerged and Kelli had torn the amniotic sac. As expected, the foal began breathing on his own.
    He wriggled out a little further, then rested with his rear legs hidden within the womb. Kelli's tear-filled gaze met Bobby Gray's and, like her, he couldn't keep his eyes dry over the birth of this precious foal who only minutes before had been in danger of not surviving.
    "He's so beautiful."
    "Finest foal I've ever seen," replied Bobby Gray. "Should we cut the umbilical cord?"
    "No. He's still receiving nutrients from his mother. If all goes as usual, we won't need to interfere at all."
    Kelli admired the tender expression on Bobby Gray's face as he looked at the newborn. It occurred to her that he'd make a wonderful father. She could almost picture him, with the same goofy, fond look, teaching a child how to ride a horse or go fishing. A dozen silly images sprang to mind before she chased them away.
    She couldn't afford to think of him in this way.
    Not with her sister feeling the way she did. But it was becoming more and more difficult to remind herself.
    Dancer started making the movements that implied she was about to stand, so Kelli gently pulled Bobby Gray out of the way.
    The mare climbed up and, as nature intended, the umbilical cord shredded. Kelli applied iodine she'd found among the supplies David had left for her and glanced at Bobby Gray.
    He grinned like an idiot in love, his eyes trained on the newborn foal. Suddenly he seemed to feel her gaze and his eyes met hers.
    "You should name him."
    She shook her head. "He's not mine to name."
    "A nickname, then," he said, leaning closely and lifting a strand of hair from her face.
    She trembled at his gentle touch, at the coarse fingertips that could so softly whisper across her brow. She looked down, afraid of the way her heart raced, afraid he'd see something in her face that would encourage him when she couldn't do that to Lori. "He's a stubborn foal, determined to be born healthy and filled with promise, so he needs a name that will reflect all that."
    She expected Bobby Gray to retreat at her words. Instead, he took a step toward her. Kelli couldn't make her feet back away. One part of her screamed, come closer, while the other said, run.
    Bobby Gray's head dipped low. What was he doing? Oh, heavens, was he about to kiss her?
    She pulled back an inch while her soul pleaded for her to remain in place. Was she guilty if he was the one doing the kissing? If he kissed her, it wouldn't be her fault, would it?
    Did she want him to kiss her? His green eyes were hooded as he came even closer, touching his forefinger to her chin. Her heart almost stopped beating. She did want his kiss. She craved his kiss.
    She wanted it more than the air she