Sam just nodded and ambled toward the kitchen, motioning for him to follow.
“Sister says to tell you hi, by the way, and that she wants y’all to come down for a pig roast, next time we find us a good one.” He grinned over. “You ever been at the corner of Airport and Milleux? I done clipped us a pig there a couple month back, but you was over at California and you missed it.”
Sam grunted, and he didn’t know if that meant yes or no, but it didn’t matter none. The man had never been too talky.
They headed to the barns, the dogs following. “I hope I didn’t bother y’all none. I was just…”
“Hidin’ from Laurel,” Sam said.
“Yessir.” He grinned. “Been long days, and you know how it is. ‘Bubba, the roof’s sagging.’ ‘Bubba, I need you to get me some craw daddies.’ ‘Bubba. Bubba. Bubba.’ It’s hell, having a twin sister that’ll curse your ass into next month, I swear to the good Lord himself.”
“Cajun woman.” Sam opened the barn door and led him in, until he was staring at the prettiest gray filly he’d ever seen. “Taggart stock.”
“She’s a beaut.” He went to her, humming low, the world sliding away as she batted her eyelashes at him. “So, cher, you got yourself a couple cowboys to love you, yeah?”
The filly nosed his shoulder, soft lips questing. Someone was spoiled on treats.
“Y’all gon’ make her fat, giving her sugars.” He winked back at Sam, who made that hooty sound again.
“Nope. Apples she wants for.” Sam pulled out a carrot from his pocket, not an apple, and Landon bit back a grin. He’d bet Mr. Beau hated doing laundry.
“Good on you.” It killed him, hurt his heart how that damn injury had made Sam’s words all wonky. “You gonna teach her to cut or to rope?”
“Ropin’. Left her with Tag for cuttin’.”
He nodded, sighed a little. He’d been watching Adam Taggart cut a swath through every cowboy that was even a little willing to get on their knees, but him? He was invisible. He wasn’t worth even a nod. Maybe the Taggarts didn’t go for Cajuns…
“You come some, work on her.”
“Sure, Mr. Sam. You know I’d love to.” He was more than happy to work with the horses, if it would bug no one.
“Good. Good. You do rope with Tag.”
“Mr. Sam, I cain’t.” He turned, stared at Sam, serious as a heart attack. “I. You know that me, I’m like you and Mr. Beau and… Well, I kinda cast my eyes on Adam Taggart and he don’t… He ain’t into Cajuns none and… I cain’t, huh?”
Sam’s eyes went wide, then the man gave him a huge grin. “He likes Cajun. I bet him thinking you’re too young, boy.”
“He ain’t even… Not even when I sorta was…overt and rude.” It was an odd man turned down a blow job. Especially one who so obviously liked them.
“Mmmhmm. You go wave yourself under his eyebrows.”
He blinked over, grinned a little. It was impossible not to trust that smile. “You think that’ll work? I mean, I done some wavin’.”
“He’s looking.” Sam nodded firmly, like he knew what was what.
“Yeah? ’Cause me… I could. You know.” He could just ride that particular pony all the way to the store and back.
He and Sam shared a grin, knowing and commiserating all at the same time. “I know,” Sam said finally, patting his back.
“Yeah.” God, this was weird. “She’s awful pretty, your new girl.” He went into the stall to check her over closer.
“Mmmhmm.” Sam let it drop, too, and finally Landon could relax and talk horses.
By the time Beau came down, telling them it was time for supper and he needed to call his sister to tell her he was going to be late, it was getting dark and him and Mr. Sam were sharing a beer, throwing loops at a dummy and laughing their asses off.
Landon sighed. He wasn’t ready to go home, but he wasn’t sure supper with the whole crowd at Sammy’s house was better than facing up to Sister. Lunch had been right hard.
“You stay?” Sam asked, and Landon shook his head.
