Page 31 of Wrangle Me, Cowboys

“Oooh, which one?” she asked.

“Two, actually,” I said. “One was not impressive.”

“Aww,” she said, laughing. “Did one of the brothers get the short end of the dick? I mean, stick?”

“It’s not one of the brothers,” I said. And then for the second time that day, I recounted events with Grimes.

“Oh my God, that’s so gross,” she squealed, which made me feel totally validated. I started to relax.

“It really was,” I said. “I’m glad I saw Sawyer’s yesterday or that would have been my first mental dick pic.”

“No, there was that guy who flashed us outside the pizza place,” she said.

“Oh, and that one in Central Park when we were kids.”

“Oh, God, I forgot about him,” she agreed. “But then, I have a brother who ran around with no pants until he was, like, ten.”

“Eww,” I said. “Actually, I guess I saw Mark’s, too. Does it count if I don’t remember?”

“Definitely not,” she said decisively. “So, are you going to tell me all about Sawyer’s penis, or am I going to have to come out there and see it for myself?”

Before I could answer, Holden came back in, stomped the snow off his boots, and took off his hat. I told Haley I’d call her later, since I didn’t really want to describe Sawyer’s cock with his brother in the room. I still wasn’t sure how much they were okay with sharing.

“What happened?” I asked Holden when I’d hung up.

Holden shrugged. “My brothers will take care of him.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, jumping up and going to the window. I couldn’t see anyone out there.

“He’ll be fine,” Holden said, taking my shoulder and turning me towards him.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” He looked me straight in the eye, and I relaxed a little. Holden wouldn’t lie to me. He towered over me, and yet, I felt nothing but safe with him there. When a car started outside, he pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me. I rested my head against his wide, strong chest. “What about you?” he murmured. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just grossed out,” I said. “And I really didn’t want anything to happen to him. I mean, I was pissed, but it wasn’t a big deal.”

“It is a big deal,” he said quietly. “No one disrespects our girl like that.”

I felt a swell of warmth inside, and I snuggled closer to his chest. I was their girl.

*

Holden stayed with me for an hour, holding me in front of the fire until the door swung open and the others stomped in. Sawyer hung up his coat and came to warm himself by the fire with us.

“Well?” I asked. “What happened?”

“He won’t be bothering you again,” Waylon said flatly.

“Did you…” I broke off and gulped, not sure I wanted to know the answer to the next question. “Is he still alive?”

“If he’d laid a finger on you, he wouldn’t be,” Waylon said. He shoved his hat lower on his head and glowered at the fire. “It’s going to be tough around here without him.”

“What are you saying?” I asked. “It’s not my fault you kicked his ass. I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“And no one is blaming you,” Holden assured me, squeezing my shoulders.

“He got what was coming to him,” Sawyer said. “I just don’t know how we’re going to replace him. Not this winter, that’s for sure.”