Cowboy Logic - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,44
a fucker. I was out of line.”
“No problem, man. This is a family matter that spilled into your land, sort of literally. You have a right to be angry.”
“But not at you. Or Bailey. Y’all didn’t do anything.” Jericho tried his damnedest to be fair, to right the wrongs he inflicted when he was younger. Sometimes it fucking hurt his pride, but it was the least he could do, both for all the Logics and Naomis in his life and for himself.
“No. Although this bastard has to be insane, and insane people scare the hell out of me.”
“No shit on that, man. Ow. Goddamn it!” Fuck, now he was bleeding.
“Shit, are you okay?” Anderson came right up to him, touching him like they weren’t right there by the road.
“I think so?” He rolled up his sleeve to find a long score on his arm.
“Fuck. Do you have anything in your truck? Like baby wipes and Neosporin?” Anderson looked altogether too worried.
“I’ll wash it out when we get home. I’ve had my boosters. Just clumsy.”
“Okay. Sure. It looks like it stings.” Anderson got right back to it, head down, focused.
“It does.” He passed Anderson, stroking his arm. “Thanks.”
Oh, that made Anderson light up, eyes going warm. Didn’t that feel amazing? That a touch, a word, could warm someone so easily.
He shared a grin, and they made surprisingly short work of that section of fence. “Okay, we’ll need to run the rest of the road on the other side of y’all’s place.”
“Yes, sir. Then we can close up the rest between you guys.”
“Yeah. I mean, Bailey doesn’t run cattle, so we won’t have any trouble sorting.” He loaded the cutters and stretchers into the truck.
“And her horses won’t give you any hows or corses.”
“Right.” He laughed, feeling better every second.
“Although that might be a neat thing… corses… Huh.”
“Moooeeeiggh.” That was an unnatural thought, and it made him laugh harder. Anderson cracked up too, the stress getting to them a little.
“Whinny-oo! Whinny-oo!” Oh, they were just being silly, and God, it was funny.
They definitely deserved a Starbucks. Maybe more. A shot in a Starbucks.
It took all morning to fix the fence at the house, and they still had to get places fixed between, and Travis was beginning to text about his plans with his best friend.
“Jesus, my back is killing me.” He winked at Anderson. “Why am I a rancher again?”
“Beats me. I left home to build robots. Maybe I should make one that fixes fence.”
“Now there’s an idea. Travis would help.” Speaking of.
He texted Bailey.
Oh, good woman.
Anderson’s phone rang. “Hello. Uh-huh. I think we’re going to Starbucks.” Those pretty eyes shot to him. “Can we stop at the Walmart? She wants me to buy some cameras and stuff.”
“You know it. I think that’s a great idea.” This was a dicey situation. Video evidence might or might not be admissible, but it could be pretty damning.
“Cool. No problem, Sister. I’m on it. You’re good with the babies?” He wasn’t sure what she said, but it made Anderson blush.
“Okay. Right. Later.” Anderson shook his head.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. She was reminding me that she was all right with the kids for their whole lives, that’s all. I’m the newcomer.”
“Ah. Well, you know. It’s good to ask.”
“I guess so. I’ll stay in the truck while you get Trav, huh?”
“That works. I really appreciate all the help.” He gave Anderson a sly kind of look. “Maybe we can go parking a minute, since she has it all under control.”
“You sure your poor arm isn’t too wounded for that?” Anderson teased, and he flipped the butthead off, grinning like a fool.
“Fuck off, butthead.”
“Oh, you are clever.” Anderson’s hand landed on his leg.
“I try.” There now. He felt like they were right on track, as if his snarl had been forgiven.
“I swear you smell good. Even sweaty and all.” Anderson looked a little stunned by that.
“Yeah? You were totally hot playing cowboy today.” He pulled up at Bailey’s house. “You need anything? I’ll beg us a couple of Cokes.”
“That’ll work. Thanks, sexy.”
He flushed, his cheeks tingling, and headed inside. Sexy, huh? Woo. “Trav? You ready?”
“Yessir! Crazy day.” His boy grinned at him. “It’s still cool to go to Mike’s right now? His mom said it was cool.”
“It is. Bailey told me you