Taming a Texas Rascal (Bad Boy Ranch #6) - Katie Lane Page 0,23

boys finished laughing, he lifted his long-necked bottle of beer. “To the soon-to-be daddies, Holden and Cru.”

Sawyer clinked his bottle with the rest of the boys’. He was enjoying being with his friends, but he’d much rather be back on the rodeo circuit getting ready for his ride. He would’ve been if Lincoln hadn’t done such a good job of guilt tripping him into staying to celebrate Holden and Cru’s kids.

He glanced down the table at his friend. Lincoln seemed pensive tonight. As if he had a lot on his mind. As a Texas Ranger, he probably did.

“Okay, enough talk about babies,” Cru said. “We’re boring the hell out of Sawyer.”

He grinned. “Hey, I love to talk about babes.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Especially if they look like that redheaded babe standing at the bar. I wouldn’t mind her waking me up at two in the morning.”

The conversation moved onto the redhead’s assets for a few moments before Logan turned to Sawyer. “Tell us about this horse you found. Have you discovered anything about the owner yet?”

“No.” Sawyer took a sip of beer. “Animal control came out to take a look at him and filled out a report, but they said they hadn’t heard a word about a missing horse.”

“Did they take him?” Val asked.

“They wanted to, but Angel threw a fit when they tried to get him in the trailer. So they decided it was best to leave him where he is.”

Sawyer probably could’ve gotten the horse in, but he hadn’t offered to help. For some strange reason, he didn’t want to let the horse go. In fact, just the thought of animal control taking him freaked him out almost as much as it did Angel. Obviously, the concussion had affected his emotions.

“Do Chester and Lucas want to keep him?” Logan asked.

Lincoln jumped in. “I’m sure they do. But they don’t need another horse to take care of. Especially one with as many issues as Angel has. They’re good cowboys, but they’re getting up in age. I worry about them having to care for a horse that’s so aggressive.”

Lincoln had a good point. Sawyer would feel guilty as hell if Chester and Lucas got injured taking care of Angel. And yet, he hated the thought of Angel going to someone who didn’t understand him. There was something about the wounded animal that struck a chord with him. Something in his eyes that spoke to something inside of Sawyer.

“Maybe one of you could take him,” Sawyer said. “I think he could be a damned good riding horse in time.”

Cru spoke up. “I would be willing—” He cut off suddenly and cringed as if in pain. He glanced at Lincoln and then cleared his throat. “I would be willing to ask around to see if anyone wants him.”

Holden shrugged and looked down at his beer. “Maybe you should keep him, Sawyer.”

“And drag him around with me to a bunch of rodeos? I’m sure Angel would love life in the back of a horse trailer.”

“You’re right,” Logan said. “Traveling is hard on a horse.” He paused. “And a thirty-year-old man.”

Sawyer didn’t need the reminder. In his teens and early twenties, thirty had seemed a lifetime away. Now suddenly it was here . . . and terrifying. Or maybe what was terrifying was being thirty and not having accomplished anything.

As if reading his thoughts, Cru called to the barmaid. “Hey, Wanda. A round of tequila shots. My friend Sawyer just had a birthday and is officially over the hill.”

“Thanks, Cru,” he said drily.

Cru grinned. “Anytime, buddy. Anytime.”

When the shots arrived, Sawyer wanted to decline his. Tequila had now become his least favorite drink. But with his friends toasting his birthday, he was forced to down the shot. He choked on the fiery liquid when the reason he no longer liked tequila walked up.

Maisy gave him a hard whack on the back. “You okay, Saw?”

“I’m good,” he said, even though he wasn’t. With Maisy standing so close, his body was strung as tight as a fiddle string. She smelled nice. Like the sheets his grandmother used to dry out in the sunshine. As a kid, he had loved running through those sheets and feeling the soft cotton brush against his face as his nose filled with the fresh, clean scent. Now, he tried to hold his breath. It was too bad that he could still see.

Maisy looked hot.

She wore a short flowery dress that showed off her toned legs and brand new brown