Vicki Thompson: Do You Take This Cowboy?

“I’d say so. How was New Zealand?” He took the beer Cade handed him. “Thanks, bro.”

“I loved New Zealand but I got homesick.”

Zeke nodded. “I can understand that. New Zealand’s a long way from Wyoming. Listen, I came over hoping you’d be around. As you’ve probably heard, I’ve been the caretaker at Matt’s ranch for the past few weeks.”

“I did hear that.” Their foster brother Matt Forrest was starring in his first major film and he’d used the sudden influx of money to buy a ranch adjoining Thunder Mountain. “Matt’s premiere was another reason to come back. I want to go to LA with everybody next month.”

“Yeah, with all the people going, we might end up renting a couple of vans instead of flying. Anyway, my situation is changing and I’m looking for someone to take over for me at Matt’s. I thought you might be interested.”

“That could be a good deal for you, Junior,” Cade said. “Free room and board.”

Austin thought about it for less than two seconds. Good deal or not, it would mean he’d agreed to take care of someone else’s place instead of moving toward buying his own. He might have to start with a tiny apartment, but it would be his. Paying his rent on time would establish his creditworthiness when he applied for a home loan.

He gazed at Zeke. “Much as I’d like to help, staying at Matt’s doesn’t fit in with my plans. Sorry.” He noticed that Lexi and Cade exchanged a look. At one time he would have followed any advice either of them had given him. But he’d had four years of being completely on his own. He still respected their opinions, but he no longer felt obligated to make decisions based on what they thought.

“That’s okay.” Zeke shrugged. “Just thought I’d ask.” He moved to the table and took a seat. “Somebody will turn up.”

“They will.” Cade walked to the refrigerator. “Who’s ready for another beer? Junior?”

“In a little while, thanks. If you’ll all excuse me, I need to make a phone call.” He left the kitchen and walked through the living room and out to the porch. Now that the moment was here, he had to decide where he’d take Drew if she agreed to go out with him.

Then it came to him. Plopping into an Adirondack chair, he touched the screen and put the phone to his ear. Damn it, he got her voice mail. “Hi, this is Austin Teague. I enjoyed meeting you today and was hoping you’d have some free time tonight.” He gave his number and disconnected.

He knew she was going home because she had a video to edit, so she might have been engrossed in that and hadn’t heard the phone. Or maybe she automatically let every call go to voice mail. Then again, she might have turned off her phone. She might—

His phone chimed and her name popped up on the screen. Heart pounding, he answered. “Hi, Drew.”

“Hi, yourself.” She sounded happy. Interested. “Didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”

“Didn’t you?”

“Well, okay, I sort of did. What did you have in mind?”

He didn’t dare tell her what was in his mind this very minute. He’d already started imagining what it would be like to kiss her.

“Austin? Are you there?”

“Yes, ma’am. Sorry. I’m on the porch and got distracted by...” He glanced around for an excuse. “A butterfly.”

“I can understand how that could happen. They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Yes, ma’am. Anyway, here’s my thought, if you’re available for dinner. We’ll have a cookout.”

“Where?”

“There’s a nice little spot on a far corner of the ranch property. Since you’re not into cooking, I’ll handle that.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I can pick you up.”

“That’s totally unnecessary. I’ll meet you there. What time?”

He glanced at the time on his phone and quickly calculated how long he’d need to set things up. “Is seven too late?”

“Seven’s perfect. That will give me time to finish the video and send the link to Cade and Lexi. I’ll see you then.”

“Great!” He disconnected the call. He’d just given himself a heck of a lot of work to do in a short time. This was his deal so he wouldn’t raid the Thunder Mountain kitchen for what he needed.

But he had a transportation problem. His foster mom and dad had been generous with the loan of their truck but they weren’t back from town. He really did need to buy that courtin’ truck Cade had teased him about, but he certainly wouldn’t be doing that between now and seven tonight.

As if in answer to his silent plea, Herb and Rosie drove up and parked in front of the porch steps. Austin got up and went around to the passenger side where Rosie was to see if he could help with her packages.

His foster mom was a short, rounded lady who had decided to be a blond for the rest of her life. She was the kindest woman Austin had ever known, but tough enough to keep her foster boys in line. Most of the time there had been at least ten boys living in the log cabins down in the meadow. They’d all known that Rosie was the boss around here.

She’d already opened her door but he was able to take her shopping bags and give her a hand down. She was perfectly capable of doing all that herself, but she’d taught her boys to be gentlemen. They’d practiced their manners on her because usually she’d been the only available woman.

“Are you the sentry?” she asked as she stepped down from the truck’s running board.

“The sentry?”

“You know. The lookout. The person watching for us in case we got home before whatever was happening was still happening.”

“Oh. No, ma’am.” Then he realized he hadn’t contradicted her assumption that something secret was going on. “I mean, nothing’s happening. Nothing at all. Zeke’s inside talking to Cade and Lexi. That’s about the size of it.”

“I saw Zeke’s truck parked down by the barn.” Herb, a wiry man who’d finally surrendered to wearing glasses in his later years, chuckled as he walked around the truck to join them. “We dawdled in town as long as we could but finally ran out of things to do other than cruising Main Street. That looks a little strange for a couple of sixtysomethings.”

“Like I said.” Austin tried to blot out the image of Drew because she was part of the secret. “Not a single thing going on, except the sink’s fixed.”

“Thank you!” Rosie beamed at him. “By the way, now that some of my boys are back, they sometimes get together for poker. If they ask you to play, you might want to think twice.”

“Yes, ma’am, I already know I’m lousy at poker. Some of the guides got me into a game and ended up with all my tip money for the week.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But at least now you know it’s not your thing.”

“Nothing wrong with being a bad liar, son.” Herb clapped him on the shoulder. “So are you saying it’s okay for us to go in the house?”

“Absolutely. But now that you’re back, would it be possible for me to borrow the truck to run a few errands?”

“Sure thing.” Herb handed over the keys.

“And would it be okay if I used a Coleman stove for a little cookout on the back twenty tonight? I’ll get the food, but I’ll also need to borrow some tongs and a pan or two.”

Rosie smiled at him. “This sounds like it could be a date.”

“It is.” And now he was in the soup because she’d probably ask who he’d asked out and how he could possibly have met someone when he’d been in town exactly two days. He was saved when Zeke, Cade and Lexi came out the front door.

Amid much laughter and teasing, Rosie and Herb promised they wouldn’t try to uncover whatever surprise was in the works. Lexi wanted to see what they’d bought in town so Austin handed her the bags and excused himself to go put on a shirt. That finished, he grabbed his hat and wallet and headed out the door, his shirt still unbuttoned. He was eager to get away before he had to answer any more questions that would bring up the subject of Drew being here.