"Means I get to come up with a nickname for you.”
He shrugs. “There’s no need. I’m just Tobes. That’s it.”
“We’ll see,” I muse, earning narrowed eyes.
"We can help you with suggestions. But he’s right, usually it’s Tobes. Or hustler. Or idiot," Austin says, the taller of the two men. He wears a cowboy hat and a blue plaid shirt with a black thermal underneath and shoots a conspiratorial grin my way. "You must be Delilah, I'm Austin. This one's big brother."
"Bigsomethin’, anyway," Toby teases, stepping in and roughhousing with Austin.
While they're doing that, the other cowboy who looks just like the rest of them moves forward.Those Graham genes sure are strong.
"I'm Rhett, and this is my fiancée Cora. It’s nice to meet you, Dee. I’ve heard a lot about you" He holds out his hand and I take it willingly, letting go and doing the same with Cora.
"You have?”
Rhett’s grin widens. “Sure have. Spoke to Red last night after y’all met. Tobes had a bit to say too so it’s good to have you here.
“It’s nice to meet you too. Toby has been tellin’ me about the ranch on the way here so I’m excited to get to know y’all.”
"Not sure you should believe whathesays. He probably made himself sound like the biggest and best brother,” Rhett jokes.
My lips twitch as I shoot a fake but also skeptical look Toby's way. "Is that so?" I smirk, playing along with their banter. “So hedoesn’tcarry the load here and make all of y’all look good?”
Toby splutters, Cora giggles, Rhett laughs, and Austin just shakes his head. “Damn, Tobes. She’s got your number already.”
The man in question chuckles, narrowing his eyes my way. “Sure seems that way, doesn’t it?”
"Then there was somethin’ about a duck on the ranch. Is that true, too?"
Austin leans a hip into the porch railing. "That’s definitely true. Duck Dickward Dilbert Norris is a force to be reckoned with. He's like a feathered tornado wreakin’ havoc wherever he goes."
"Don't forget Nelly Nosy Parker," Rhett adds with a chuckle. "That goat follows Duck Norris around like they're best pals. It's a sight to behold."
Cora’s expression turns amused. “You'll soon learn that life on Bull Mountain is filled with unexpected adventures and characters. It's never a borin’ day around here. Duck Norris and Nelly and even our dog Bruno, they’re just some of many it seems."
"Word of warnin', though. Make sure you shut your bedroom door or keep anythin’ off the floor. The duck has taught the goat how to be a kleptomaniac."
"No way," I wheeze, struggling not to laugh. “Do they have a little den of stolen wares too?”
Austin laughs. “Not that we’ve found so far but I wouldn’t put it past them. We've lost countless socks, gloves, and even a few important documents to that mischievous duo. Duck Norris hasa knack for stealin’ shiny objects, and Nelly follows him around, snatchin’ anythin’ she can get her hooves on."
“The duck likes baked goods too. Especially blueberry pie,” Cora continues.
“And even when you think they can’t get in, they find a way,” Toby adds.
I stare at them in disbelief. "Guess I better be on the lookout then. I ain’t got much with me so if they start nicking my clothes, we’re gonna have a problem.”
“Nicking?” Cora laughs. “Haven’t heard that term since I’ve been here. I love it!”
I shrug. “I still have some Aussie-isms that sneak through. Doesn’t matter how long I’ve been in the US, some things just stick.”
Rhett wraps his arm around Cora. “Like when this one calls the animals ‘little buggers.’
Cora smiles knowingly. "They’ve got used to having a Brit around, I’m sure they’ll get used to having an Aussie here just as quick,” she says reassuringly. Her British accent sounds so out of place on an Alaskan ranch, but she looks right at home.
"Livin’ on Bull Mountain is an adventure, that's for sure," Austin says. "But I can promise you, it'll be a good one. Probably won’t be that different from Montana in the winter though.”
"Just colder?” I suggest.
