the left. “Is that your studio?”
She only nodded and continued toward the cabin door. Having Cassie let him anywhere near her studio didn’t seem likely in the near future.
* * *
Six nights later, no closer to going home, Luke found himself beside Cassie in the shed again, only this time watching Gracie struggle through another contraction. He placed his hand on her swollen belly, but had no freaking clue what signs to watch for. His SAR training covered the basics of delivering human babies, but nothing about alpacas. He patted the soon-to-be momma’s belly, hoping to reassure and comfort her, to let her know she wasn’t alone in her maiden birth.
“I read up on birthing crias and watched some online videos.” At the sound of Cassie’s voice, Luke turned to the woman who had spoken to him only rarely these past few days. They had shared meals, but the rest of the time she’d escaped to the privacy of her studio, leaving him to fend for himself. He’d managed to split some wood when he didn’t think she’d jump down his throat. Felt good to do something active and try to rebuild his strength after his bout with hypothermia and a possible concussion had left him weaker than a newborn foal.
Cassie stroked the alpaca’s neck, her fingers combing through the soft fleece. Cassie hadn’t let her guard down many times since he came to, but watching her touch the animal with such tenderness broke open a longing inside he’d thought had been buried too deep to surface again.
Not that Cassie would ever touch him that way. More likely he’d receive a kick in the butt to send him on his way down the mountain. She’d been sleeping in the studio the last few days. When she’d come running to tell him about Gracie’s labor, he’d been thrilled to be able to do something for her.
Now he wished she’d ask him to help her with something he could actually do well. If he screwed this up, she’d never forgive him.
“Anything I should be doing on this end, darlin’?”
Cassie’s hand stilled, and he realized she still hadn’t warmed up to his use of one of his favorite endearments. She met his gaze, the wariness blatant in her expression. “They are not like horses or cows.” Damn—she’d gone on the defensive again . “Alpacas need very little assistance when birthing their babies. Most owners just sit back and watch.”
That sounded good to him, especially because he found himself positioned closer to the business end of things than he liked. So why had she come running to him in a panic? Who was she trying to convince this would be a breeze—him or her? Luckily, the mother-to-be seemed calmer than either Luke or Cassie, merely standing and waiting, with an occasional glance behind her when she had a contraction.
Luke wished he had his camera to record the first photos of the baby. The lighting in here would have made for some beautiful shots. Okay, maybe the thought of making some kind of lasting and positive impression on Cassie was part of it, too.
But he hadn’t planned on being stranded up here in an avalanche, so he hadn’t packed anything when he went to Aspen Corners to hang out with friends over a week ago. While he’d finally located his phone in the crashed truck, the charger was stuck in the mangled dash. At least he’d been able to use Cassie’s phone to call his momma, check on his horses again with Matt, and try and figure out what the hell was going on with Marc. The man hadn’t answered his phone for days. Rafe and Matt said Angel told them Marc was doing some deep soul searching. Luke hoped to hell the man found the answers he needed to turn his life around before he lost Angel for good.
But right now, Luke had his own worries.
The small shed was warm and cozy, even though the early May winds continued to howl outside. Luke moved to the spot behind Graciela and saw the bulging sac beginning to emerge. Shouldn’t be long now—at least he hoped not. His gaze
She only nodded and continued toward the cabin door. Having Cassie let him anywhere near her studio didn’t seem likely in the near future.
* * *
Six nights later, no closer to going home, Luke found himself beside Cassie in the shed again, only this time watching Gracie struggle through another contraction. He placed his hand on her swollen belly, but had no freaking clue what signs to watch for. His SAR training covered the basics of delivering human babies, but nothing about alpacas. He patted the soon-to-be momma’s belly, hoping to reassure and comfort her, to let her know she wasn’t alone in her maiden birth.
“I read up on birthing crias and watched some online videos.” At the sound of Cassie’s voice, Luke turned to the woman who had spoken to him only rarely these past few days. They had shared meals, but the rest of the time she’d escaped to the privacy of her studio, leaving him to fend for himself. He’d managed to split some wood when he didn’t think she’d jump down his throat. Felt good to do something active and try to rebuild his strength after his bout with hypothermia and a possible concussion had left him weaker than a newborn foal.
Cassie stroked the alpaca’s neck, her fingers combing through the soft fleece. Cassie hadn’t let her guard down many times since he came to, but watching her touch the animal with such tenderness broke open a longing inside he’d thought had been buried too deep to surface again.
Not that Cassie would ever touch him that way. More likely he’d receive a kick in the butt to send him on his way down the mountain. She’d been sleeping in the studio the last few days. When she’d come running to tell him about Gracie’s labor, he’d been thrilled to be able to do something for her.
Now he wished she’d ask him to help her with something he could actually do well. If he screwed this up, she’d never forgive him.
“Anything I should be doing on this end, darlin’?”
Cassie’s hand stilled, and he realized she still hadn’t warmed up to his use of one of his favorite endearments. She met his gaze, the wariness blatant in her expression. “They are not like horses or cows.” Damn—she’d gone on the defensive again . “Alpacas need very little assistance when birthing their babies. Most owners just sit back and watch.”
That sounded good to him, especially because he found himself positioned closer to the business end of things than he liked. So why had she come running to him in a panic? Who was she trying to convince this would be a breeze—him or her? Luckily, the mother-to-be seemed calmer than either Luke or Cassie, merely standing and waiting, with an occasional glance behind her when she had a contraction.
Luke wished he had his camera to record the first photos of the baby. The lighting in here would have made for some beautiful shots. Okay, maybe the thought of making some kind of lasting and positive impression on Cassie was part of it, too.
But he hadn’t planned on being stranded up here in an avalanche, so he hadn’t packed anything when he went to Aspen Corners to hang out with friends over a week ago. While he’d finally located his phone in the crashed truck, the charger was stuck in the mangled dash. At least he’d been able to use Cassie’s phone to call his momma, check on his horses again with Matt, and try and figure out what the hell was going on with Marc. The man hadn’t answered his phone for days. Rafe and Matt said Angel told them Marc was doing some deep soul searching. Luke hoped to hell the man found the answers he needed to turn his life around before he lost Angel for good.
But right now, Luke had his own worries.
The small shed was warm and cozy, even though the early May winds continued to howl outside. Luke moved to the spot behind Graciela and saw the bulging sac beginning to emerge. Shouldn’t be long now—at least he hoped not. His gaze
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