Do You Take This Cowboy?

“You probably need to grab that opportunity while you can.” His chances of spending an evening with her anytime soon were growing dimmer by the minute.

“Right. I would have gone this afternoon except Lexi and Cade asked me to film the video for their folks and it had to be edited right away. I like to get out there in the late afternoon and set up camp, so I couldn’t see that working out today.”

“So how about this. What if I went with you?” It was a bold suggestion, but tough times called for tough measures.

She blinked. “Um, I’ll be camping overnight.”

“So you’d rather not?” He didn’t want to push her. “Look, I realize that might not work for you. Like we’ve said, we just met.” He hesitated. “I could bring my own tent.”

“Do you have one?”

“No, but I’d have time to go into town and pick one up.”

“That seems silly. Mine sleeps two.”

Now there was an encouraging remark. He didn’t think they’d spend the whole time sleeping but decided not to say so. “I’d be honored to be your Sherpa. I’m good at carrying things, setting up tents and building fires. I’d bring the food and do all the cooking. And I’ll drive us there in my new truck.” He was already picturing that it would be black.

“That makes no sense. The ranch is on the way to the refuge. If you come, I should just swing by and pick you up.”

“That would be fine.” He still needed to buy that truck, but maybe not tomorrow.

“I was planning to leave around four. The best times to film the horses are at dusk and dawn.”

He thought about all the time that left in between but again decided to keep his mouth shut about it. Instead he offered her a way out of taking him along in case she had any second thoughts. “If I go along, I promise not to mess with your schedule for getting good videos. But if you’d rather go out there alone, I’ll back off. I’d never want to interfere with your job.”

She reached out and touched his cheek. “Don’t back off. Persistence is sexy.”

Capturing her hand, he turned his head so he could place a kiss in her palm.

She moaned softly and pulled her hand away. “And so are you. Let’s go back before we both forget this is only our first date.”

Chapter Five (#u63e7269a-b423-5d65-90b6-4efb47220606)

Drew put the dirty dishes and anything food-related in the metal cooler while Austin smothered the fire. He told her the ice chest was fairly critter-proof and should be okay until he drove out with the ranch truck in a little while to haul everything back and make sure the fire was out.

“But we can take the blanket.” He shook it out, folded it and handed it to her. “If you wouldn’t mind holding it on the way back.”

“Or I could sit on it. That might make more sense.” She wasn’t sure why he wanted to take the blanket when he was leaving the rest of the gear, but she’d go along with the plan.

“Actually, I want you to stuff it between us.”

“You want me to... Oh, I get it.” She managed not to laugh. “A barrier.”

“The trip out here was painful, especially going over bumps.” He tugged on the brim of his hat. “Now that I’ve kissed you, the ride back will be even worse.”

“I’m really glad I’m a girl.”

He laughed. “Yes, ma’am, so am I. Let’s go.” He swung his leg over the ATV and sat down.

She climbed on after him and sandwiched the folded blanket between them. “I’ll still need to hold on to you.” She wrapped her arms around both the blanket and him. Not nearly as much fun as she’d had without the extra padding, but she didn’t want to make the poor guy suffer.

“That’s okay. I’m just trying to avoid having you pressed tight against my backside.”

“What if I drove?”

“That would be worse.”

She imagined his arms wrapped around her middle just below her breasts and her bottom nestled in the V of his legs. Her pulse kicked up a notch. “Guess so. Next time we do this you should probably just drive the truck out here and forget about the ATV.”

“Next time we do this I don’t plan to be in a constant state of arousal. Ready?”

“Y-yes.” She managed to get the word out, but her brain had stalled on his last statement. She’d never met a person more goal-oriented than Austin.

She was beginning to understand what Cade meant. Being with Austin was a little like booking a ticket on a high-speed train and she could be in for a thrilling ride. She might regret allowing him to go along on this video trip because of all the ramifications, but she seriously doubted that he’d get in her way.

If anything, he might make things easier because he was more experienced at camping than she was. The more she thought about it, the more she looked forward to showing him something inspirational right here in Wyoming. Those mustangs were descended from horses ridden by Spaniards looking for adventure two hundred years ago. That should appeal to him.

Mostly, though, she was excited about exploring a relationship with a man, both sexually and emotionally, without her family members knowing about it. They’d met and evaluated nearly everyone she’d dated except a few times when she’d only gone out with the guy once. Setting up this overnight camping trip with Austin seemed strange because he hadn’t been vetted. But ultimately it felt liberating.

When they pulled up in front of the ranch house, she was very glad they hadn’t continued to make out furiously on that blanket because Rosie and Herb sat on the front porch with a cowboy she didn’t recognize.

Austin did, though. “Jonah, is that you? I thought you were driving over tomorrow!”

“Got off a day earlier so I just headed out.” The cowboy ambled down the steps toward them.

“And why wouldn’t you? We’ve gotta be more fun than the folks in Pinedale.” Austin dismounted from the ATV and then helped her climb off.

“That’s the truth, bro.”

Drew left the blanket on the seat and turned to meet another returning foster son. His name sounded familiar but she’d heard so many recently that they were all blurring together.

Austin gestured toward the newcomer. “Drew Martinelli, I’d like you to meet Jonah Bridger, Zen master.”

Jonah shook her hand. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. Don’t pay attention to that Zen stuff Austin’s spouting. I’m not a master of anything. But Rosie and Herb tell me that you’re the best videographer in Wyoming.”

“That’s stretching it, but it’s nice to hear.”

“Ah, she’s just modest.” Austin gave his foster brother a hug. “Like you are, bro. With all that meditating you used to do, you must be enlightened by now.”

“’Fraid not. I’ve learned just enough to be dangerous.”

“And to conduct Cade and Lexi’s ceremony.” Austin clapped him on the back. “I’m gonna get a kick out of that.”

“Oh, right!” Drew remembered now. “You’re the minister.”

“With no church and no parishioners,” Jonah said.

“So how does that work?” All Drew’s relatives had been married in a church.