Do You Take This Cowboy?. Vicki Thompson Lewis

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?”