Do You Take This Cowboy?

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“I work at a dude ranch, and my boss wanted to offer weddings to our guests. He asked me if I’d be willing to get qualified to marry folks. You can apply online. It sounded like fun so I did it.”

Austin nodded. “I can see how it would be fun being the person who launches a couple on their great adventure.”

“Then you should get into it.”

“Nope, not my thing. I have other plans in the hopper. But I look forward to seeing your performance on Saturday.”

Drew realized that she’d heard Austin mention his future plans but he’d never been specific about them. She’d have to ask him about it tomorrow night. Right now, though, she needed to make her exit. These guys had some catching up to do, and at some point Austin had to drive back out to the clearing and gather the cookout gear.

She laid her hand on his arm. “Thanks for a great dinner. I’m going to head home.” She glanced over at his brother. “Great to meet you, Jonah.”

He touched the brim of his hat. “Same here, Drew.”

She raised her voice. “Rosie and Herb, I’m going home. Have a good night.”

“Come on up and sit for a while,” Rosie called back. “Have some coffee.”

“Thanks. I’ll take a rain check.” She turned back to Austin and smiled. “See you tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’ll walk you to your truck.” He looked over at Jonah. “Be right back.”

“Take your time.”

She didn’t bother to tell him that walking her to her truck, which was only a few yards away, was completely unnecessary. She suspected he’d want to open her door for her and give her a hand up. In truth, she was beginning to cherish that about him.

Once they’d reached the driver’s side they had a small measure of privacy. She kept her voice low. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stick around here tomorrow night and spend time with Jonah? You two seem fairly close.”

“We lived in the same cabin once I was old enough to move out of the ranch house. He’s a great guy and I’m glad he’s here, but the answer is no, I wouldn’t rather hang out here tomorrow. I want to be with you.”

“All right.” The intensity in his gaze made her heart race. “Then I’ll see you at four.”

He opened her door. “Don’t bring any food. That’ll be my contribution.”

“Understood, but I’ll ice up the chest so it’s ready for the food. Having a chef along will be a treat.”

He nudged back his hat and grinned. “Well, maybe food won’t be my only contribution, come to think of it.”

“Hey, don’t go getting me hot and bothered.”

“Do I?”

“You know you do.”

“Good.” He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. Then he helped her into the truck, closed the door and stepped back.

She had to get her keys from under the seat and when she looked out the window he was still there, feet braced apart, thumbs through his belt loops, looking amazing. She gave a little wave and he touched the brim of his hat.

Somehow she managed to start the engine and drive away even though her mind was completely occupied by the image of Austin standing in the driveway. She’d be sharing a small tent with that gorgeous cowboy within twenty-four hours and the concept left her breathless. It wasn’t until she’d started down the dark ranch road that she realized she’d forgotten to turn on her headlights.

* * *

Austin climbed the steps to the porch where Jonah had resumed his seat next to Rosie. He and Herb each had a beer but his foster mom was sipping from a coffee mug that probably contained her favorite evening beverage, maybe her favorite beverage period—coffee laced with a little Baileys.

She lowered the mug to smile at him. “Did you have a good time?”

“We had a great time. Thank you for loaning me all that stuff. I’d better get back out there and pick it up, though. If I could borrow the ranch truck one more time, that should be it for a while.”

Jonah put down his beer and stood. “We can take my truck. I wouldn’t mind paying a visit to the back twenty.”

“Hasn’t changed much,” Herb said. “Same scrub brush, same rocks around the perimeter.”

“But it must be overgrown with weeds by now.”

“It was a few months ago.” Herb cradled his beer in both hands. “But this summer I started taking the academy kids out there for sleepovers. They’ve cleaned out the weeds.”

“So that’s why I didn’t have much to do.” Austin had raked a little but the place had looked as if it had been used regularly. Apparently the teens enrolled in the recently launched equine program would carry on some of the traditions the foster brothers had helped create.

“It’s great to think of the kids enjoying the same things we did.” Jonah walked over to join Austin before turning back to Rosie and Herb. “Listen, if you two want to hit the sack, you can leave my beer where it is. I’ll come back to it after we finish up.”

“We’ll still be here,” Rosie said. “Unless you boys dawdle.”

“Then we’ll see you soon.” Austin walked with Jonah toward the barn where Jonah’s beat-up truck was parked.

“Drew’s pretty,” Jonah said.

Austin chuckled. “That doesn’t even begin to describe her.”

“I know that, but I have to be careful. If I get too detailed, you might punch me.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I know you better than that. You don’t poach.”

“None of us ever did. I mean, think about it. I’ll bet at one time or another all of us had a crush on Lexi. But once Cade made his move, that was it, hands off.” He fished his keys out of his pocket. “I suppose you got the word that we’re all considered part of the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood now.”

“Cade told me. It’s kind of nice, you know?”