The bunkhouse had not been this entertained in months.
Maybe years.
The source of everyone’s entertainment currently stood in the middle of the yard wearing cow-print rain boots, a pink shirt, and the confidence of a queen addressing her subjects.
Angel had spent exactly three days on the Yellowstone.
Three days.
And somehow she’d already decided she owned the place.
You watched from the porch with a cup of tea while John stood beside you pretending he wasn’t listening.
Pretending.
Being the important word.
Because every few seconds his mouth twitched.
Across the yard, Angel had cornered poor Jimmy.
“You know Papa Cow?”
Jimmy blinked.
“Uh…”
She pointed dramatically toward John.
“My Papa Cow.”
Jimmy looked toward John.
Then back at the child.
“Yeah, I know him.”
Angel nodded.
“Okay.”
Jimmy waited.
The little girl seemed satisfied.
Then she wandered off.
“That’s it?” Jimmy called after her.
She turned around.
“Oh.”
The toddler pointed at you.
“That’s my mama.”
Jimmy nodded.
“Okay.”
“And Papa Cow loves her.”
Several ranch hands immediately started snickering.
John groaned.
You covered your face.
Angel wasn’t finished.
“And we’re gonna get a baby.”
The entire bunkhouse yard froze.
Lloyd nearly choked on his coffee.
Walker doubled over laughing.
Ryan looked toward John.
John looked toward heaven.
The heavens offered no assistance.
“A baby?” Jimmy asked carefully.
Angel nodded enthusiastically.
“Yep.”
“Where from?”
The little girl considered.
Then shrugged.
“No clue.”
Reasonable answer.
She wandered off again.
Unfortunately.
She found Lloyd next.
The older cowboy was sitting in a chair outside the bunkhouse.
Angel marched right up.
“You old.”
Lloyd barked out a laugh.
“Well, that’s one way to introduce yourself.”
“You older than Papa Cow?”
Lloyd looked toward John.
John immediately walked away.
Coward.
“Maybe,” Lloyd answered.
Angel gasped.
“You really old.”
The bunkhouse erupted.
Even Lloyd couldn’t stop laughing.
Angel climbed directly onto the arm of his chair.
“My mama likes flowers.”
“Yeah?”
“And stories.”
“Uh huh.”
“And Papa Cow likes cows.”
Lloyd nodded solemnly.
“Seems that way.”
The little girl leaned closer.
“We’re getting a baby.”
Lloyd almost dropped his coffee.
“Oh, are you now?”
“Yep.”
She nodded.
“Papa Cow don’t know it yet.”
The yard exploded.
Teeter laughed so hard she nearly fell off the porch steps.
“Oh my God.”
Laramie was wiping tears from her eyes.
Walker looked seconds away from death.
Across the yard, John had stopped walking.
Very.
Very slowly.
He turned around.
“Angel.”
The child smiled brightly.
“Hi Papa Cow!”
“Come here.”
“No.”
The bunkhouse lost whatever composure remained.
Angel scampered away before John could catch her.
Her next victim was Colby.
She stopped in front of him and looked up.
“Do you got cows?”
“Several thousand.”
She gasped.
“THAT MANY?”
“Yep.”
“Can I pet all of them?”
“Probably not.”
She looked genuinely disappointed.
Then brightened.
“Okay.”
A pause.
“My Papa Cow owns them.”
Colby nodded.
“That he does.”
“And my mama.”
The silence that followed was spectacular.
Colby nearly swallowed his tongue.
The entire bunkhouse stared at John.
John stared back.
Daring somebody.
Anybody.
To comment.
Nobody was brave enough.
Angel continued happily.
“My mama says she ain’t property.”
Smart girl.
“But Papa Cow still keeps her.”
You laughed so hard your tea nearly came out your nose.
John covered his eyes.
Walker physically turned away from the scene because he couldn’t breathe.
Then Angel spotted Teeter.
“Oh!”
She ran over.
Teeter immediately crouched down.
“Hey there, little bit.”
Angel studied her.
“Why you talk funny?”
The entire yard fell silent.
Teeter blinked.
Then burst out laughing.
“That’s a fair question.”
“I like it.”
“Thanks.”
Angel nodded approvingly.
Then wrapped her arms around Teeter’s neck.
Teeter looked startled.
Then melted immediately.
“Well hell.”
“You nice.”
“Damn right.”
Angel pointed toward the house.
“Papa Cow nice too.”