Page 10 of The Cowboy’s Forever Promise

Cooper just chuckled.

Dylan touched Carson’s arm. “Look at me, bro,” he teased, “I want to see you glow.”

Irritated, Carson glared at his brother. “I’m not glowing. Where’s June?”

“Abby, her friend from Seattle, has arrived. Abby is going to declutter and organize our house. I’m not sure what exactly that means, but June is so excited to see her friend I don’t mind what she does. The study we’ve added to the house for June, is finished. She’ll probably start there.”

“Decluttering and organizing is a whole movement,” Ellie, married to Becket, said. “Marie Kondo started the idea. According to her, we all have way too much stuff, and we should only keep what sparks joy, as she calls it. I hope Abby will have time to give me a few pointers.”

Becket grabbed her and kissed her. “As long as you don’t get rid of me, we’ll be fine.”

Ellie grinned. “You, dear husband, give me endless joy.”

“Carson,” Willow said and he quickly looked up.

“Yes?”

She smiled. “You’ve met someone.”

Exasperated, he threw up his hands. “Okay yes, I have, but I don’t know her name or where she’s from. I’ll probably never see her again.”

Ellie, as well as Hayden’s wife, Laura, and Rose, Cooper’s wife, all inhaled sharply and turned their gazes on him.

“Where did you meet her?” Laura demanded.

“What does she look like?” Rose wanted to know.

“Why didn’t you ask for her number?” Ellie added.

Carson had had enough and quickly got up. “I have to go.”

With long strides he headed toward the door.

“Remember we’re all going to Grey’s Saloon tonight,” Willow called out. “Who knows, your mysterious woman may just be there.”

“Leave the poor guy be,” Hunter, Willow’s husband was saying as Carson fled.

Hopefully by tonight something else would occupy Willow’s mind.

“Hey coz,” Cooper called out behind him.

Sighing, Carson turned around. “I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

Cooper ignored his rudeness. “I have something to show you. Follow me, will you?” Next minute, Cooper was striding to his truck, not even waiting for Carson to agree.

Fed up, Carson got into his vehicle and followed his cousin. He liked all his cousins, but Cooper’s easy manner usually made him particularly likable. Today, however, Carson was out of sorts and irritable and couldn’t think what was so urgent that he had to follow Cooper right at that minute.

Cooper was already opening the front door of the house where he and Rose lived when Carson parked behind him. Happy barking reached his ears as he climbed out. So Cooper’s dogs had been left at home today. Why? Usually everyone brought their pets to the family meals. Cooper’s three-legged German Shephard and a terrier mutt were always nearby. The black cat only sometimes graced everyone with her presence.

As he got out of his truck, Cooper appeared, holding a puppy in his arms. “I was thinking you and George may like each other. Prince and Charlie have stayed home with him over the last few days so that he wouldn’t be lonely. He’s a standard schnauzer, I’d say, and probably around eight weeks old. They don’t shed, he’d be perfect for you.”

As Carson looked into the puppy’s brown eyes, his throat clogged up. Ever since he could remember, both he and Dylan had wanted a dog, but their mother had refused to listen to their pleas. Somewhere along the way, they’d stopped asking.

When Cooper had given Dylan a boxer puppy earlier this year, he’d enjoyed playing with it in the short time he’d lived with his brother while his house was being built. Maybe someday he’d get one, he’d thought. Turned out today was that day. Worried, he looked at Cooper. “I’m not sure I would know how to care for one.”

“You’ll be fine,” Cooper said as he put the puppy in his arms. The little dog looked at Carson and barked.

Carson smiled. The sound had clearly surprised the puppy.