Page 332 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“I know, but his muscles. Damn, man. I can’t stop scopingthemout.”

“I’ll make sure to tell River you said that,” Daisyteased.

A twinge of jealousy raced up her spine. Meadow already had someone. She didn’t need another boyfriend. Daisy was sick of hearing her friend pant on top of River in the tent at night. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she wanted someone too. Maybe after they dropped off her brother in Canada, she’d be able to find a man ofherown.

“Oooh, did you see that guy?” Meadow pointed at another man who stood on the front porch of thehouse.

Much younger and with far less defined muscles, the teenager didn’t warrant a second glance. She turned her attention back to Mr. Shotgun. When he squatted down to cut a bunch of broccoli off of their stalks, his jeans clung to his firm butt. Her mouthwentdry.

“Let me know if I should wipe up the drool on your chin,” Meadow said with asmirk.

Daisy swiped her hand across her chin but it camebackdry.

“I’m not drooling,” shesnapped.

“Could have fooled me,” Meadow said. “You look like you want to march across the field and flop down on top of the cabbage and go at it like wildanimals.”

“Just because you and River screw like rabbits doesn’t mean I want to follow suit,” Daisy said. “We should be heading back before the guys getsuspicious.”

“Or before you race out there and fling yourself at Mr. Hottie’s feet,” Meadowadded.

Daisy rolled her eyes. As much as she loved her friend, she could also be a pain in the butt sometimes. She turned and walked several trees deep into the forest. Meadow crunched through the dried pine needles and fallen branches a few stepsbehindher.

As they made their way back toward the campsite, Daisy stopped to pick up dry twigs and smaller branches. Meadow also collected an armful of firewood. By the time they reached camp, they carried enough wood to make their extended tripbelievable.

Andy placed the final large rock around the center of a deep pit. He stepped back to survey hishandiwork.

“That looks great,”Daisysaid.

“We found the rocks around the bend. There’s a small stream that dumps into the lake over there.” Andy pointed toward the left side ofthelake.

“Babe, I missed you so much,” Meadow squealed as she raced intoRiver’sarms.

“Me too, babe,”Riversaid.

Daisy turned her back on them and wandered over to the bus. She pulled the ice chest out and set it on the ground. Ear-splitting laughter carried over from where Meadow and River frolicked. Daisy sighed. Maybe one day she’d have the kind of carefree relationship they had. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was better than being totallyalone.

* * *

Greg waiteduntil the moon rose up over the mountain before taking off into the woods. He’d just finished rounding up the horses for the night when high-pitched laughter pierced the silence. As he stalked toward the hippie’s camp, he clutched the shotgun in one hand. He’d never had to use it before, but he might have to fire a warning shot to get them off his family’s land. Whatever he did, it would be nothing compared to what his father would do if hecaughtthem.

Through a break in the trees, he spotted their campsite. A blazing fire crackled in the center of the tents. As he drew closer, the scent of burning wood mingled with the sickly-sweet smell of pot. He’d never smoked it himself, but he’d caught his sister Samantha out in the woods a few times. If their dad ever caught her, she’d get a licking with the belt. He could only warn her so much. Eventually she’d learn thehardway.

When he stepped into the clearing, Daisy looked up. Her eyes went wide as her gaze raked across his body before settling on the shotgun. He shifted it to his side and pointed the barrel at theground.

“I told you to leave,”hesaid.

“I know.” Daisy jumped up. “We’re going in the morning, Iswear.”

“You said that lastnight.”

“We were going to leave—honestly—but when we got up, it was so hot outside we decided to hang in the lake until it cooled off,”Daisysaid.

“It’s cool now,” Greg said. “So you have toleave.”

“Why are you so uptight, man?” the long-haired guyasked.

He puffed on the end of a joint before passing it to the other guy. Gregscowled.