Jason tossed his gear into the back, thumping his cock but good as it did its dead-level best to wake up and say hello and howdy to Bax.
Good night. You’d think he was a Brazilian after a good ride.Down boy.
Bax threw his duffel back, too, sliding into the driver’s side. “So, where to? I figure that one little place where you circle your order will be closed.”
“There’s that one place by the highway—about twenty minutes out. It’s nothing but old ranchers taking their womenout. Nice T-bones.” And he always got tickled by those tables with the ads printed on them. Reminded him of going to auction with Paw-paw.
“That works.” The big dualie slid into traffic like an elephant into a herd of zebras, Bax muscling them right on in.
They scooted down 35, radio blaring. He found a pack of smokes in the console and lit one for Bax, then got himself one. They only allowed themselves one per show day. Three days of rest, then Tulsa.
“You think we ought to try and hit home ‘fore Tulsa?”
It was kinda eerie sometimes, the way Bax read his mind. Then again, they’d been on the road together for nigh on six years.
“We can. Momma’d like to see us. ‘Course, we could go on to the city. Goof off. Depends on how much you want Momma’s pineapple upside down cake.”
“Oh, I’d rather go see your momma.” That man did have a sweet tooth. Pineapple upside down was Bax’s very favorite.
“Cool. I’ll call her. Let her know we’ll be in.” He took a deep drag, grinned.Lord, lord. “I hope your knee’s up to riding fence.”
“Shit, you know it. Just don’t ask me to walk fence.” Wheeling around a little Honda, Bax started humming with King George on the radio, off tune as anything.
“Nah. You wouldn’t be worth shit in Tulsa, then.”
They both hooted, and Jason leaned back, easy in his bones.
Man, event win number three. Check in his pocket. Him and Bax heading for steak.
Life, she was good.
Chapter Two
Damn, life was good.
Bax liked riding fence. Well, all right, if he was honest, he liked riding fence with Jason. Somewhere after the first hour, Jason would take that starched shirt off and tie it to the back of the saddle, leaving him in just a tight, white undershirt, and damn. Oh, damn, Bax loved that.
Licking sweat off his upper lip, Bax leaned down to check a post joint, grinning when it wasn’t as dry rotted as he’d thought. “You think your momma’s baking right now?”
“Yup. She’s making a pie and one of them cakes you like. I saw beans on the back of the stove, so it’ll be brisket and cornbread for dinner.” Mini’s momma was as predictable as the day was long and, lord, that woman loved to cook.
“Oh, you know I like that.” Damn, his knee was throbbing. He pulled his bad leg up, leaning back in the saddle and stretching it out.
“You need to walk some, man?” Jason rode up closer, horses touching noses as Mini reached out, fingers hot on his knee. “It’s pretty swolled.”
The feel of that hand on him made him jump, eventhrough work glove and jeans. “Nah. I’m good. I just need to remember not to lean so hard on the stirrup.”
“‘kay.” He was given one more stroke—the crookedy thumb on Jason’s riding hand rubbing the inside a bit.
His cheeks heated up, and he was damned glad of the sun. Long as they’d been riding together, Bax’d never told Jason a bit what the man could do to him with just a touch.
“Anyway, we ain’t got much more to do today.”
“Nope. You want to ride to the river? Swim?” That straw hat was pushed back, the collar of Jason’s T-shirt wet with sweat.
“Shit, yes.” That water would be like bathwater, but it would be so damned nice to get wet. Bax approved. “Come on, slowpoke.”
“Slow… Oh, you old bastard!” Jason whomped Heidi, the two going tearing across the pasture, ass tight as a boar’s backside in that saddle.
