Page 9 of Protective Cowboy

Driven relentlessly forward by Matt and Autumn’s pursuit, Daisy’s bleats sounded angry now, her gallop broken by annoyed bucks and kicks as her two pursuers chased her away from every tempting morsel.

“BAA!” She easily leaped the waist-high barricades marking the festival boundary, and landed in the middle of the intersection of Main and First.

Moving almost casually, Spring lifted his rope, twirled it, and flung it. A lasso settled over Daisy’s head and slid down her neck. It tightened instantly.

“Gotcha, you little troublemaker!” he growled.

She skidded to an indignant stop. Then she planted all four hooves on the pavement, tossing her head as she tried to pull free. A long section of red licorice hanging from her jaw swung wildly.

When that failed, she threw herself down on the ground like a toddler having a tantrum. Bleating non-stop, she rolled onto her back and wriggled wildly, slender legs flailing.

Spring kept the rope taut as he moved forward. “Matt, help me out?”

He tossed Matt a harness and leash.

Daisy’s bleats turned to angry shrieks of protest as Matt swiftly buckled the straps in place around her neck and torso. His parents owned Parker Farms, and he’d grown up dealing with livestock.

Autumn came up to them as he straightened up and handed the leash to Spring.

“All yours. And don’t forget to pick up after your pet,” Matt added with a grin as Daisy let loose with a stream of small dark pellets.

Spring just rolled his eyes.

“And Deputy Matt and his trusty sidekick Deputy Gabe save the day!” Autumn narrated dramatically. “Let’s hear it for Snowberry Springs’ finest. And my cowboy brother Spring, too, of course.”

Gabe chuckled and touched the wide brim of his hat. “All in a day’s work, ma’am,” he said with mock seriousness. “But am I really just the sidekick?”

“Appears so.” Spring’s mouth quirked as he neatly reeled in Daisy’s stout, wriggling body. She promptly snaked her head around began chewing on the thick, woven-nylon leash. “I’m gonna go put her back in the petting zoo. And try to figure out how she escaped in the first place.”

He strode off, hauling a protesting Daisy in his wake.

As her indignant bleats faded in the distance, Autumn lowered her phone, tapped it a few times, then slid it into her dress pocket.

Matt’s amusement faded as he suddenly realized how close Autumn was standing.

She looked up at him with beautiful bright blue eyes filled with mirth. For a moment, the noise and people surrounding them faded away and there was only her.

He recalled himself with an effort, all-too-aware Gabe was watching them.

“Well, now that I’ve made a damn fool of myself on camera, I guess it’s back to work,” Matt announced, stepping back.

He’d meant it as self-deprecating joke, but Autumn’s smile faltered. “Oh gosh, Matt, you’re not upset about me filming this, are you?”

Before he could answer, she went on, “I’m sorry! I know I should have asked first. But I just got caught up in the moment.”

Matt blinked at her, surprised by her show of contrition.

The Autumn he’d known years ago would’ve laughed and agreed he’d made a fool of himself. But this new Autumn looked worried and genuinely apologetic.

She pulled her phone back out of her pocket. “Let me delete all this. I honestly didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

Matt reached out and caught her free hand before it could touch the phone screen. “It’s okay. Really.”

Her skin was as soft and warm as he remembered. The breeze wafted the scent of her hair to his nose, and he inhaled deeply. His cock stirred.

“Are you sure?” She gazed up at him, and the uncertainty in her expression made his chest tightened. She looked like she expected him to kick her puppy.

What the hell did her ex-husband do to her? Anger rose, leaving a steely taste in his mouth. With an effort of will, he pushed it down and forced himself to smile down at her.

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