Page 4 of Lasso Lovebirds

“Are you a cowboy?” she asked. “Cowgirl? Cowthey?”

That made me snort. “None of the above, though I suppose cowthey would be the one. I’m a storm chaser.”

Pris cocked her head. “Interesting. I thought storm chasers were just a thing in the movies.”

I laughed. “I promise we’re real. I photograph the cells. There’s still a lot to learn about why tornadoes happen, and getting photographic evidence can make a huge difference.” Mylove of storms went all the way back to my childhood. Out of the rubble of a small dusty town, I’d taken my past and turned it into something good.

“Isn’t that dangerous to be doing alone?” Beau asked quietly.

My cheeks warmed. I became painfully aware of the fact that I was standing between the two of them.

Boone cleared his throat and gave his brother a look I couldn’t read. “I’m gonna go get started on that cup of coffee.” He spun around and started whistling a tune, earning an eye roll from Beau.

Pris shook her head. “They do that a lot. The twin telepathic link. Then there’s Billie and Benny, and when the four of them get going, it’s something else.”

“Four?” I echoed.

She smiled. “How about you come sit next to me, storm chaser?”

I glanced up at Beau and he nodded. “Let’s go get some food, and we can talk some more about your stay.”

A weight lifted off my shoulders. Already, this place felt better than Johnson Springs. Traveling alone the last couple weeks had left me feeling especially vulnerable. Even with the close call this morning, I felt ten times safer.

Rainbow Ranch was already living up to its reputation.

Beau and Pris led me through the doorway to the dining room. All eyes swiveled to the three of us. I hadn’t realized just how many people were here.

“This is Sky,” Pris said, gently taking my elbow and guiding me to an empty chair. I appreciated her taking the lead, especially since I was a stranger showing up on their doorstep. “Here, we’ll get seated. Boone will bring some coffee.”

“Hi Sky,” a woman at the end of the table said. She was clearly Boone and Beau’s sister, even if she didn’t have the identical features those two did. Although their vibes weredifferent enough I could tell them apart with ease. “I’m Billie. This is Benny.”

The man sitting next to her offered a kind smile. “Howdy.”

“Hi,” I said.

“I’m Winnie,” a woman said as she entered the dining room with three mugs of coffee. She sat one down in front of me and Pris, then shoved the other one into Beau’s hands.

He sighed happily. “Thanks, Winnie. Also, this is Wylie, Boone’s partner.”

I nodded toward the tough looking man currently biting into one of the biggest cinnamon rolls I’d ever seen. He waved his hand. “Welcome,” he said.

“And then last but not least, this is Pepper, Eren, Tyler, and Jake,” Beau said.

Four teens sat around the massive table with food piled onto their plates. From what I knew about Rainbow Ranch, which was only what I’d briefly read online while in Johnson Springs, it was a dude ranch, but it was also a place for foster kids to connect in a safe place. The entire operation made me feel emotional for several reasons, which was why it’d been a no-brainer to at least stop for a visit.

“Beau, do we have to work today if there’s rain?” Pepper asked.

“Yep,” he said. “Ranch life never stops. Maybe we’ll do some fence repairs once the storm passes.”

As if in response, a low rumble echoed through the house, rattling the windows.

“We should go check on the horses,” Wylie said, glancing at Benny.

“You mean, make sure Dennis hasn’t escaped?” Billie asked.

“Yes,” everyone said in agreement.

“Dennis is a menace,” Pris said next to me, grinning. “He’s a mini horse with a personality the size of Texas.”

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