“Yeah,” Conner agreed. “It’s going to be a long day. We might as well drag out our muck boots and get started. If you’ll fix breakfast, I’ll see to the horses. By the time we’ve eaten, Rush should be here to help.”

“He’s going to be late,” Travis said. “I just got a call. He’s been tending a sick mare most of the night, and she’s still not out of the woods. For now, it’ll be just you and me.”

“Then we’ll have to manage, won’t we?” Conner had no cause to complain about Rush’s absence. It was understood that he was free to answer emergency vet calls. And the financial support he lent to the ranch more than made up for the times when he wasn’t around to work.

In the house, Conner filled Bucket’s bowl with kibble and set it on the porch so the dog could eat outside. With that done, he put on his oldest work clothes and tall rubber boots and went out to the barn. At least it wasn’t cold. But by the time the day was over, he and Travis would likely be as dirty as Bucket.

“No sleigh rides for you guys today.” Conner spoke to the horses as he gave them fresh hay and water and shoveled the manure out of their stalls. “You can take it easy till it snows again, or until the big Christmas Parade, whichever happens first.”

And that was one more problem, Conner mused as he sloshed his way back to the house. The sleigh rides were a source of extra income for the ranch. But most Texas winters tended to be dry. Snow for the holidays was a rare gift. This year, the partners had hoped it would last. But now the snow was gone, most likely for the season. If there was no more snow, there’d be no more cash coming in from sleigh rides. The new equipment they’d planned to buy for the ranch would have to wait.

On the porch, he kicked off the muddy boots and left them at the top of the steps. In the kitchen, Travis had brewed coffee, fried bacon, and was scrambling eggs in the drippings.

“How’s it looking out there?” he asked.

“About how you’d expect. We’ll be working in mud halfway up to our knees. But don’t look so gloomy. Ten days from now, you’ll be setting out on the sea of matrimony with the lovely Maggie. That should be enough to make any man smile.”

“You’re right.” Travis gave a halfhearted chuckle. “But I’m glad I only have to go through the blasted wedding once. If I could have my way, I’d just skip it and go right to the honeymoon.”