Dust motes danced in the day's last rays as Aiden Reynolds poured grain into Foster's feed sack.

The light was then eclipsed as Hoss filled the doorframe. "The missus says you need to finish up. Supper's near ready. Said she's of a mind to eat it hot tonight."

"Tired of congealed vittles, is she?" Aiden asked, pitching another forkful of clean hay into the stall. It had been a while since he'd been home at a decent hour. Hell, this wasn't truly a decent hour – just night blurring to day and then some. That was calving season for you. When he wasn't looking after his own, he was being waved by a panicked neighbor, eyes as wide and spooked as the laboring cow.

And today? It'd been a good'n. Managed to save both the Weston cow and calf. Real good day; he couldn't wait to share the eve of it with Sabrina. "She say anything else?"

"Well," Hoss drawled, "there may've been something 'bout 'a powerful need for you to attend to some soap and water'."

He snorted, leading Foster to the fresh stall. A tub full of hot water, Sabrina running a cloth on his back… Sounded mighty fine to him. "Anything else?"

"Well… to put on that daisy yellow party dress."

Aiden's eyebrows crept near to his scalp. He looked across the horse's withers, staring Hoss down.

To his credit, the hand kept a poker-quality face as he shrugged his broad shoulders and added, "Said it made your eyes look so purdy." But even Hoss couldn't stay that stoic, and a slow grin spread wide across his face.

Aiden laughed hard enough that the stallion's ears swiveled back. That wouldn't do. Pulling his mirth in, he whispered assurances and ran his hand along Foster's neck, withers, and flank, making sure the horse was dried proper.

"Hoss?" Aiden called out, wondering where the man had disappeared to while he'd been tending to the horse. "You mind—" And there he was, waterbucket in hand.

"I'll take it from here. You get into that missus of yours."

"Thank ye, Hoss." Aiden clapped him on the shoulder. "The Starlight sure g