Page 21 of Take Me Away, Cowboy

Owen didn’t have the time to try and fix whatever impression Brad had. Maybe later over a beer later, but right then Owen needed help.

“What do you need?”

“Sorry it’s early, but I know your parents are out of town and I just found a downed fence panel.”

“Human? Weather?”

“Neither. Black bear, from what I can tell.”

“Shit. That’s the first I’ve heard of that here. My buddy’s ranch in Austin had some bear this past year, but this far west is wild.”

“Got any guesses as to why they’re here?”

“Probably trying to find food in the heat. River’s almost dry, most of their food source, too. What can I do?”

“Can I get your help holding the panels up for me so I can reattach them?” Owen asked.

“Of course. But how’re you gonna stop this from happening again?”

“Good question. Got any ideas?”

“Not right now, but I’ll do some thinking on my way over.”

“Can you come now? I hate to ask, but—” Owen asked.

Brad cut him off. “I’m already heading to the car. Need me to grab anything on my way?”

“An extra hammer and level might be good.”

“Done. I’ll be at your place in ten.”

The phone clicked and Owen breathed out a sigh of relief, relaxed his shoulders. Even though it would take a bit of finagling to get the fence put back together, and fucked his afternoon plans, he liked knowing it was closer to being fixed. That he’d be the one to do the fixing instead of the damage.

With Brad’s help, of course.

This.This is why he’d chosen to move to a smaller town. Everyone was so friendly. If he needed help, he could count on a veritable stranger to come to his aid.

It was kinda like being back in the Corps—a brotherhood.

He handed the phone back to Paige, muttered a “thanks,” and started walking back to his place, his pace fast and purposeful.

“Excuse me?” she said, her voice shrill. She caught up to him in a few short strides. She was quick, despite being at least a foot and a half shorter than him.

“Hmm?” he asked, noncommittal.

“What the hell was that?”

“What was what?” he asked.

He’d need a shirt, not so much for vanity as much as lifting the heavy logs that made up the fence post, as well as the barbed wire that he’d need to grab a coil of before he headed down. He’d use the Brinkerhoff wire he’d found in the back of the barn. Even though it was over a hundred years old, he’d rather match the wire to the rest of the fence until winter when he’d restring it with something more modern.

Shit, he’d need to find the staple gun too. Where had he put that damn thing when he moved in? It should be in the barn as well, but he remembered using it in the guest bath a few days ago. At least he’d unpacked it. He’d probably grab his Colt .45 as well, just in case the bear got curious while they were still there. Couldn’t be too careful with animals in the wild, a tidbit he’d learned firsthand from hunting trips with his uncle.

“Hellooooo?”

He’d forgotten Paige walked beside him, matched him stride for stride. What the hell did she want?

“What?”

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