Chapter 6

Travis and Maverick ate lunch in the pole barn with the guests. The cook had made a chicken crumble, prepared with shredded chicken and veggies—in this case, carrots and peas. The previous week, it was potatoes and onions, with a mixture of cream of chicken soup and biscuit mix to make the crust. It seemed the cook’s go-to main course was a casserole. Austin called the chicken crumble ‘the salt bomb.’

His dad had begun looking for a new cook. Fortunately, the current one wasn’t a family friend of the Houstons.

Austin had wisely gone to the apartment, where he found his dad microwaving frozen burritos.

“No salt bomb today?” Clay asked.

“I thought I’d pass for health reasons.”

“I got good feedback about how you did on the ride today. The only complaint was that you trotted the horses toward the end. Were you eager to end the ride?” Clay asked.

“No, I heard the Houstons shooting clay pigeons. I thought it best to move along quickly before a horse got spooked.”

“I’ll talk to Zeb about that,” Clay said. “How did Red handle being lead?”

“Like a champ. He’s had a few days in the pasture to assert his dominance. The rest fell in line,” Austin said.

The microwave dinged, signaling their burritos were ready. They sat down and ate. When they were almost finished, Clay said, “I won’t be here when you get back tonight. I’ve got a date in Waco.”

Austin tried to hide his grin, but his dad caught it.

“I met someone while taking my class.”

“At the chamber?” Austin asked.

“No. Actually, at the diner I’ve been going to.”

“You hit on the waitress?”

“So you think this is amusing. No, she’s actually the cook.”

“I heard the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” Austin joked.

“She does make a nice burger.”

Austin looked serious.

“I realize it’s been a while since you’ve dated. If you need any advice, let me know.”

“Based on your vast experience ... Or is that half vast? I think I’ll pass,” his dad said with a grin plastered on his face.

He gave the old man points for the comeback.

“Be a Boy Scout and have fun.”

“What?” Clay asked.

Austin sucked in a deep breath and made a dramatic sound.

“Make sure you bring condoms. I thought we’d had this talk before.”

“Boy!”

Austin looked at the clock on the wall.

“Gotta run. I have another ride to prepare for.”

His dad was shaking his head and chuckling as Austin left.

When he arrived downstairs, he found Travis and Maverick waiting for him.

“Bro, we need your help tonight,” Travis said.

“Bro?” Austin asked.

“Just something I’m trying out. Would ‘dude’ work better?” Travis asked.

“Dude is fine,” Austin said.

“Dude, we need your—”

Austin interrupted him.

“Help me saddle the horses, and we can talk while you do that.”

“It won’t take that long,” Maverick said.

“Just do it,” Austin said.

“Chill, Dude,” Maverick drawled.

“See? That works,” Austin said to Travis.

The two Houston boys helped Austin get the horses ready.

“So, what do you need my help with?” Austin asked.

“Tourists are like chum for sharks,” Travis said, causing Austin to do an actual eye roll.

He could see what Travis meant, though. The tourists were only there for a short time, and it was sort of like Vegas: what happened on the dude ranch would never be talked about again. So, why not have a bit of naughty fun?

“And...?” Austin asked when Travis made a dramatic pause.

He could do the math. There were three teen girls and only two Houston brothers, so they needed him to balance out the numbers.

“What my brother is trying to say is we can relieve you and Travis of your V cards tonight,” Maverick said.

“What’s wrong?” Austin asked Mav. “You don’t want to punch yours, too?”

“Bite me. I can call someone if you’re not interested,” Maverick said.

“Settle down, princess. I’ll help you out,” Austin said.

“You get the younger sister,” Travis blurted.

“Perfect,” Austin said with a big grin, which confused them.

If anyone would be putting out, it wouldn’t be the younger sister. The eager birthday girl and a walking sex dream would be much higher on the list. But Austin elected to go along with their plan because his dad wanted him to become friends with the boys. It would make his dad’s life easier as the ranch manager.

After dinner, Austin started the bonfire and lit citronella torches around the perimeter to ward off bugs. As soon as he finished setting up, guests began to trickle out to enjoy the evening. The girls found seats near the fire with Joyce.

“Ma’am. Ladies. Is there anything I can get you?” Austin asked.

“I either need a chiropractor or masseuse. My back is killing me after riding today,” Joyce complained.

“I’ll get you some pain relievers,” Austin said.

They kept them in the barn, so he quickly returned. When he came out of the barn, he saw Travis and Maverick had joined the guests at the fire. The boys were keeping their distance from the girls while Joyce was there.

Austin gave a small bottle to Joyce, who thanked him and told everyone she would turn in.

“You girls don’t stay up too late. We have an early ride in the morning, and then the fish fry before we go home,” Joyce reminded them.

Once she left, Travis and Maverick came over.

“How about we go somewhere more private? I got us some beers,” Maverick said.

They strolled to the executive cabin, the last one in the row. It was called that because it had three bedrooms, a large common area, and a view of the woods and lake. Most of the other cabins resembled motel rooms with beds in the central space and a small bathroom.

Austin hadn’t been in this unit and liked how it had been made to look like a log cabin, complete with a large fireplace. In front of it were two couches facing each other, with a long coffee table in between.

“Austin, can you make us a fire while I get everything ready?” Maverick asked.

Austin lit the fire as Maverick put a twelve-pack of Lone Star, the ‘Official Beer of Texas,’ in the fridge. His dad called it cheap swill, but this came from a Pabst Blue Ribbon drinker. Austin had never had a beer and wasn’t about to start.

The cabin also had an assortment of snacks, including chips and beef jerky.

When everyone sat down, the girls took one couch and the boys the other. Austin noticed he was seated across from Lucy, the younger sister. Travis was in the middle and faced the other sister, Ruby, while Mav sat across from the birthday girl, Kim.

They began by introducing themselves. Ruby and Kim were cheerleaders, and Kim was on the debate team. When it was Lucy’s turn, she just said, “I’m Lucy,” in a deadpan voice.

Maverick told them he was a jock, while Travis said he was the brains of the family. Austin doubted that because Nora was rumored to be a straight-A student.

“We know Austin. Tell me what all sports you play,” Kim said to Mav.

Lucy took that as her cue to get up and go to the kitchen for a glass of water. She wasn’t drinking beer, either, so Austin got up to join her. With the others involved in a lively discussion, Austin asked quietly, “Are you okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You just don’t seem to be enjoying yourself,” Austin said.

“This is just how I am. I normally don’t do stuff like this.”

“Me either. Until recently, I spent most of my free time on the back of a horse. I don’t really know what to do around girls.”