Page 77 of Knot Her Cowboys
“Are you okay, petal?” Dakota asked.
“Yep. No grievous injuries. Heart might be a little bruised but I’ll take it as penance.”
“I’ll talk to him as soon as he’s done here,” Dakota promised.
“You think you can out-stubborn him?”
“Cooper doesn’twantto be in pain. I know that much. He hasn’t figured out how to leave that state yet, but if I’m able to push a little communication on him, we can hopefully move him along on that path.”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Cooper has really good taste in pack members. He’s lucky to have you.” I turned to Cash, seeing his mouth already opened to ask. “He’s lucky to have you too, Cashy.”
Cash beamed. “You know me too well.”
“I try. What’s the horse’s name?”
“Ranger,” Dakota replied. “He’s Cooper’s personal horse.”
“He’s beautiful.”
“Cooper or the horse?” Cash asked with a laugh.
“Both. Always both.”
He and Ranger flowed like water around the corral. The audience learned all about the different gaits, and Ranger performed a whole host of fancy tricks that had everyone clapping.
“Cooper’s done a great job of training him.”
“He’s a man obsessed,” said Cash. “Do a job right or don’t do it at all.”
Was that also part of why he was avoiding me? He wasn’t certain of success, so he opted to not try?
With a sigh, I leaned my chin on the fence, breathing in as Cooper swept past. Aged oak and autumn leaves, the scent of my childhood when September slid into October.
Levi trotted over to join us. “If you’re not busy tonight, I think Buttons might be gracing us with her foal soon.”
It wouldn’t be my first foal by any means, but I could never say no to a brand-new baby horse. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”
“Good. Buttons will love the attention.” Levi dipped his head to kiss my cheek, sending my stomach fluttering. “I’m going to keep an eye on her, but swing by whenever you’re free.”
“Roger that. Send me a homing pigeon or something if the action starts before I get there.”
Levi laughed. “Will do. Enjoy the Cooper show in the meantime.”
Oh, I was going to. He might avoid me, but I wasdoneavoiding him. If we couldn’t talk this through like adults, I could throw it down and go old school. He wouldn’t be able to avoid me if I was stuck to him like a backpack.
Cooper came to a stop in front of us at the end of the show and I reached out a hand to stroke Ranger’s cheek. “Hello there, beautiful boy. You’re so talented.”
I glanced from Ranger to Cooper, finding the latter’s cheeks flushed pink.
“I didn’t hurt you with the lasso, did I?”
“Nah. I’m sturdier than that.”
His shoulders slumped with relief.
“Stay on Ranger,” Dakota ordered. “You and I are going for a ride.”
Cooper’s face pinched, but he didn’t refuse.
