Page 53 of Heart Like a Cowboy

Egan appreciated his brother saying that, but he wouldn’t let Cal do any sword falling. “I’ll come up with a way to make things work. A way that’ll include you staying in uniform. Blue and Remi, too.”

Even though they were already riding at a snail’s pace, they slowed some more when they went past the limestone and pine cabin just on the other side of the east pasture fence. The backyard was covered with blooming lazy daisies that made him think of Alana and that rainy day at the creek.

“I take it you’re not staying there?” Cal asked.

Egan shook his head. “I’m at the main house.”

Though the cabin was, indeed, his. His dad had had it built for him shortly after he’d left for college. He’d done the same for all of Egan’s siblings, telling them that he wanted them to feel free to keep their old rooms but that they should have their own space, too. Egan supposed his dad had done that so they’d never feel pressured to stay under his roof when they came home.

Egan had stayed at the cabin on occasions when he’d wanted to have friends over. Especially girlfriends. Ironically, not Colleen, though. By the time they’d started dating, she’d had her own place in town. Overnighting there had been more convenient for her. She had sold that place after they’d married, and when they’d made trips to the ranch, they’d just stayed in his bedroom in the main house.

Seeing the cabin now had even more thoughts of Alana flashing in his head. Specifically, the idea of him bringing Alana here. Which would, of course, lead to kissing and sex.

And that meant it was a really bad idea.

“Want to talk about Alana now?” Cal asked, and for a moment, Egan thought he might have unknowingly muttered Alana’s name, and that’s why Cal was bringing her up. Judging from his brother’s expression, though, it was an innocent question.

Well, partially innocent, anyway.

Cal had good instincts and had probably picked up on some kind of vibe Egan was throwing off about Alana.

“No,” Egan insisted as they rode in earnest toward the ranch. “I don’t want to talk about her.” She was already too much on his mind.

“Do you want to talk about Jack’s life celebration, what’s going on with Tilly or the ranch?” Cal continued.

Again, Egan had to go with “No.”

“All right. Then, that leaves Dad, Audrey or the new burger of the week at Desi’s Diner. Did you know Desi named it after you?”

“No,” Egan muttered again.

“It’s called the Lieutenant Colonel Top Dog, Top Gun.”

“That’s a terrible name for a burger,” Egan snarled.

Cal was quick to make a sound of agreement. “A terrible idea for the burger itself, too. A beef patty, topped with hot dog slices, bacon, cheddar and probably a few other things I’m forgetting. I saw it advertised in the window of the diner when I drove through town.”

Egan made a mental note to call Desi and tactfully ask him to take it down. No way would Tilly want to see that every time she went by the diner.

Thankfully, Cal didn’t ask any other questions, and Egan didn’t push him on that stupid notion of him getting out of the Air Force. If the subject came up again, Egan would make sure to shut it down as fast as he could.

When they made it back to the ranch and into the barn, Noah Callaghan was waiting for them. Because Egan had familiarized himself with the new hires, he knew that Noah was the youngest of the ranch hands, barely out of high school, but he’d worked part-time during the past two summers before coming onboard full-time.

“Maybell asked for me to tend to the horses for you,” Noah explained.

That shot some alarm through Egan. “Why?”

“I’m to tell you nothing’s wrong,” Noah quickly added, looking straight at Egan. “Maybell said to make that clear. It’s just your dad wants to see you.”

Hell. Despite Maybell’s insistence, Egan figured there had to be something wrong. Cal must have thought the same thing because they didn’t waste any time handing off the horses to Noah, and they hurried to the house, going in through the kitchen.

Maybell was there, and for the first time in a couple of weeks, she wasn’t trying to find a place in the fridge for food that people had brought over. Thankfully, that was tapering off some, but Egan did spot a box from the bakery and a grease-stained white takeout bag from Desi’s.

“Your namesake burger,” Maybell explained when she noticed it had gotten Egan’s attention. “A well-wisher brought it over, but needless to say, your dad won’t be eating it.”

Judging from the smell, Egan doubted anyone would chow down on it. The burger and the hot dog combo seemed to be at war with each other in the aroma department.

“Did something happen to Dad?” Egan asked her.

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