Page 63 of Road to a Cowboy

The kicker? Already he could see Austin living here.

Austin was Windsor, Wyoming, through and through from his dusty boots to his dusty cowboy hat. But he was also worldly. He’d been to more places than Cal could remember, sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a few weeks, and he always came home bursting with stories. Usually about how amazing the skies were wherever he’d just been; sometimes about the people he’d met and things he’d gotten to do and see.

Cal could see Austin here, having a pastry and a coffee at that café, enjoying his lunch on a bench in that park, taking a walk along that section of the fjord.

Falling in love with a sexy Norwegian who’d sweep him off his feet.

Fuck that last one.

In fact, the idea alone made him see so much green that when the taxi driver dropped him off at Austin’s accommodations, he was ready to grab Austin and lay claim to him once and for all.

But, because Cal’s luck had never been the four-leaf clover kind, there was no answer when he knocked. Blowing out a half laugh, he dropped onto the top step of the porch.

The neighborhood he found himself in was fancy. It was hilly, the type where the streets parallel to this one were down the hill or up the hill. The homes were all massive three-story structures the likes of which weren’t seen anywhere in Windsor, not even on the ranch.

Austin was staying in the mother-in-law cottage on the property of Hedda’s parents. The house itself was as big as the rest of them. And the cottage?

It was the size of Cal’s house back home. Way cuter too. White siding, deep green shutters, a very sharply peaked gray roof, and a covered porch complete with a white iron table and a pair of matching chairs.

Rising, Cal jogged down the porch steps to stretch his legs and texted Austin.

Cal

I sent you a present.

Austin

To Norway??

Cal

Yup. Tracking says it was just delivered.

Austin

Oooh. What is it? Can I guess?

Also, I would’ve been happy to receive this present when I got back home. You didn’t have to ship it.

Cal

It was time sensitive.

Austin

Is it cake?

Cal snorted a laugh and dropped into a lunge.

Austin

Is it Twizzlers? I swear, if it’s Twizzlers, I’m bashing you over the head with them when I get home.

Another laugh rumbled out of him as he texted back.

Cal

Guess you’ll have to open it and see.

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