Chapter Four
Landon needed to get home for a few. Sister said the plumbing in the back half of the house was horked, some boys had broke out three windows and needed beating, and she wanted to go shopping with Cotton’s woman. Cotton and Em coming in meant trying to get a pig and cleaning like a madman, not to mention buying beers.
Still, he really wanted to travel with the rest of the riders, the ropers.
The safety men.
Adam Taggart. Lord, that man rocked his world.
They’d spent some time together, fucking, playing around. They didn’t talk too much, not really. They just played.
In fact, Adam could be a grumpy bastard.
He worried a bit, that Adam didn’t like him—that Adam thought he was a pain in the ass, then Adam would touch him, cup his jaw, and that thought would disappear. Hell, those eye lines would crinkle up and Adam’s smile would reach his hazel eyes, and that was all Landon could think about.
He wandered out behind the chutes, whistling softly. He’d managed to travel with the Taggarts for another week, helping out, and he’d roped good enough to buy gas, even if he didn’tsend money home. The horses came right up to him, pushing into his hands.
“Howdy, y’all. How be you?” He stroked noses and scratched ears. Horses he understood.
He had carrots in his pockets, and he went one by one, murmuring to them, making sure all was well. The Taggarts owned the best horses he’d ever seen. Really. He went from the big-boned mare to the leaner gelding, then he headed for the bucking broncs. He’d visit the roping horses next. They all deserved a treat for working so hard.
“Should have known I’d find you back here, Nutbutter.” Cotton grinned at him, teeth wide in the freckled face. “You roping or riding today?”
“I’m an alternate.” If someone else came up hurt, he’d ride.
“Jason’s riding, I think. I am for sure. You want a beer?”
“Sure.” He’d sit and jaw with Cotton a bit. “Sister wants to go into town with your woman.”
“Emmy’d love that. We’re planning the wedding—she’s fixin’ to ask Laurel to stand up with her.”
“Is that why y’all are coming to visit?” How cool was that?
“Nah. Well, maybe her. I want to go riding, do some fishing.” Someone was spending a lot of time with a lot of women. Landon understood. Sometimes, growing up, Laurel had made him right crazy.
“Surely. I got that old airboat working. We’ll take it out.”
Cotton hooted, clapping him on the back. Cotton was a speed junkie. Liked to go fast and do silly things.
A couple of kids came up, asking to have their hats signed, and they both did it, grinning at each other like newborn fools. It was still the coolest thing, to sign shit. He never figured for it, and the first couple times he’d thought it was because he was with another rider.
Then someone had asked him by name when he was alone. Dieu. That had made him grin.
His Maw-Maw would be tickled as a pig in shit.
“Come on, Nutbutter.” Cotton clapped him on the back. “I need chili cheese fries. I’ll buy.”
“Oo-eee!” That sounded like heaven—cheese and meat and taters. And beer. Boll had said something about beer.
“I hear a Cajun love call.” Adam’s youngest brother came over. “You seen Adam?”
“No, sir. Not since breakfast.”
“Breakfast, huh?” Chrissy waggled his brows. “That’s got to be some sort of record.”
“More eggs and biscuits than anyone ever?” He wasn’t as dumb as advertised. Really. Still, Boll didn’t need to hear about his bedroom gymnastics.
“For someone your size, sure.” Chrissy laughed, whistling as he wandered off.
