“Oh, yeah. I don’t care if the sun is shining, it’s going to be lit up. Mama is supposed to call me soon as they pull out, so I’ll have time to turn everything on. Y’all were supposed to bring the tables over tomorrow evening for the barn. I know where they’re stored. Is it all right if I bring Blaze and some of the guys over there and borrow them? You’ll be busy with Danny Boy, I’m sure. Colleen, if you don’t have to babysit, come on over and help us set up the party.”

Colleen nodded. “Thanks for the invitation. If Danny Boy is better, I’d love to help. Do you have enough decorations? You are welcome to borrow the boxes of decorations we use for the ranch Christmas party. It’s not until the second weekend in December.”

“Got plenty but thanks for the offer,” Liz told her.

“What time do you think your people will arrive?” Colleen asked.

“Sometime around three,” Liz told her. “They’ll have to do some last minute clean-up before they leave.”

“I’ll be there.” Colleen stood up. “I should be getting back to the house. I’m sure Mama will be checking in with y’all at least every hour.”

The minute Colleen cleared the end of the stall, Raylen picked Liz up and settled her onto his lap. and then his cell phone vibrated in his shirt pocket. He removed it and sighed. “Colleen says that Mama is on her way.”

Liz quickly left her place in his lap and moved to the other end of the cot.

“Y’all back here? How’s my Danny Boy?” Maddie’s voice echoed through the barn and Danny Boy’s whinny came through the monitor.

Raylen yelled back as he pulled Liz down beside him and grabbed her hand. “He heard your voice and whimpered for you. Come on back here and check him out for yourself.”

“I’ll have to remember to give Colleen the same warning if she almost gets caught in a compromising situation with Blaze,” Liz whispered.

“You do realize that’s the real reason she took vacation time. She’s dated a lot of cowboys in her day. Some guys I probably don’t even know about, but she’s never gone all tongue-tied over one like she has Blaze,” Raylen said.

“And how do you feel about that?” Liz asked.

“I didn’t like it at all. I hated it because of what you’ve told me about him. But then your Aunt Tressa sent me to work with him, and he’s a good man. But…”

Maddie bypassed them and went straight to Danny Boy. She whispered in his ear and stroked his nose for a few minutes.

“But what?” Liz asked.

“But we’ll talk about it later.” Raylen lowered his voice. “Mama doesn’t need to know about Blaze when Danny Boy is hurt.”

Maddie settled into the metal chair in front of them. “He’s lookin’ good, and I appreciate all you kids chipping in to sit with him,” Maddie said. “When is your party, Liz? I’m hoping that Danny Boy is enough better that we can all come over to it.”