Page 19 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

Love it or not though, I cussed at the rising heat as I finished my fourth round-trip to the compost. I wished summer would give way to cooler weather sooner rather than later. I spread some fresh hay down on the stalls I’d finished, then shifted my focus to one which had been empty a while. We’d be getting a new horse in a few weeks. I wasn’t sure why. We didn’t need one. We had five, one for each of us. Cooper insisted though. He was a fool with that money. Levi managed to keep him somewhat in check, but nothing stopped mystery packages and unwanted surprises from showing up at the ranch.

“Oh, Captain, my Captain!” A familiar voice called out.

I moved back out of the empty horse stall and watched ‘speak of the devil’ saunter in holding a thermos. I hated how our relationship felt different now. I felt like I needed to pay him back. He got mad when I said he should have a greater share of Sagebrush though. He wouldn’t let us change our twenty percent equal split. But the fact remained that Cooper was the only reason we weren’t selling Sagebrush at auction right now. I hated how that made me feel—thankful, sure, but also small and dependent, like a damn charity case.

Wade felt the same way, but he’d never say it. I could see how it affected him though, how he was staying up later than normal these last couple months, pouring over his books and looking foran outlet for his unease. There were times when money came up that we’d just look at each other, twin understanding passing between us.

“Earth to my Captain.” Cooper snapped his fingers rapidly, trying to get my attention.

“Stop the Captain shit.” I ordered, then raised an eyebrow at him. “What do you want?” Normally, the guys just left me alone in the morning. I liked it that way, especially these days. I just felt wrong—like my insides were too big for my skin, an overfilled water balloon past capacity that might burst any second.

“Can’t a guy check on his stoic pack brother?” Cooper looked too chipper, maybe because that asshole never got up before dawn the way I did. He was also out here in rubber duck print boxers, a blue ‘kiss the cook’ apron, and yellow galoshes. The ridiculous outfit made me answer his question with one of my own.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Wealthy as hell, and he was still dressing like he’d raided the dumpster bin behind the Pinedale Salvation Army.

“Excuse me, you gave me this apron.” He brushed a bit of flour from its front. “It’s precious.”

“Wade got you that apron and put my name on it,” I countered, heading over to snag the utility broom. I needed to brush off the walls and knock down some cobwebs.

“It’s the thought that counts.” Cooper insisted.

“Wasn’t my thought.”

“Your nearly identical twin brother thought of it, which basically makes it your thought,” he pressed, obviously enjoying himself.

I sighed, then lifted the broom to rest its handle on my shoulder. For a split second, I thought about wielding it likea wooden sword and driving my beloved, but annoying, pack brother out of the stables.

“Cooper, per normal, I’ll come inside to eat once I’m done.”

He just laughed, his dirty blond braid swinging as he placed the thermos atop the wood bench beneath the saddle hooks. “Yes, I know. The Wyatt hours of morning solitude are sacred. But here’s some fresh coffee. Touch of cream. stupid amounts of sugar, just the way you like it.”

I scowled but couldn't stop myself from dropping the broom and walking over to reach for the thermos. I twisted off the top; the rich aroma hit me before the first sip, and goddammit if he didn't make it exactly how I liked it. Sweet enough to make a dentist weep, and with enough caffeine to jumpstart a dead battery.

"You trying to butter me up for something?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously over the rim of the thermos. Cooper's eyes held that mischievous glint which meant he was planning something.

"Can't a man gift coffee without ulterior motives?" He placed a hand over his heart, feigning innocence.

"Not you," I grunted, taking another swig. "Spill it."

Cooper leaned against the stall door, that easy smile of his spreading across his face. His dark blue eyes sparked with mischief. “Nothing to spill.” He shrugged, clearly lying.

“I don't have time for your nonsense.” I rolled my eyes, tipping the thermos back and downing the rest of the hot contents in one go. The liquid scorched down my throat, settling to burn in my belly. Not smart with how overheated I already was but,fuck, it tasted delicious. I replaced the lid and thudded the container back down onto the bench. “Go back to your half naked breakfast.”

“You’re such a buzz kill,” Cooper said, though his grin didn’t falter. “Won’t let me tease you at all. I’ve just got a little surprise coming today is all.”

“It’s the fancy ass coffee maker, isn’t it?” I accused “I told you to just wait until the new house is built. We don’t have room to keep piling your purchases up inside closets.”

“Not that,” he quipped playfully. “Though, I’m thinking of renting one of those big transport boxes they put on ships to store stuff. Then you can stop fussing about closet space.”

“Do not rent a fucking storage container,” I growled.

“If you say so, Captain.” He winked.

I exhaled heavily. Cooper was a moron half the time, and an idiot the rest of the time. This was nothing new. I just had less patience these days. He was one of my best friends, my pack brother, and I kept reminding myself of that in moments when I wanted to knock his head off his damn shoulders.

“Okay, Coop. Your flirty shenanigans might work on the others but remember I’m the one you’re not fucking,” I waited for his next witty comeback.

“If you and your brother would get over your hang-ups, we could change that.” His grin widened.