Totoka River this cowboy is running from himself

Grayday seemed to perk up at the idea of a trip with Deirdre, but quickly sobered once more as he remembered his other obligations. He couldn't leave his children for that long. Not yet.

"I'd be honored to escort you, miss, but I can't be away from my pack for that long, at the moment. One of our women is sick and pregnant, and my cubs - they're still young, and their mother just left them. The only reason I'm out at all is to find her," he explained, hoping she could see the earnest regret in his eyes.

"You helped me with my eyes, and I want to repay that kindness, but my family needs me right now." He felt guilty and flustered by his inability to do so with her simple request. Hopefully, she didn't notice. "Perhaps in a few weeks, when my cubs have had a little time to adjust to losing their mother..." He suggested, trailing off as he realized how silly it was to ask her to wait for him - him.

"I'm terribly sorry," he finished lamely.