Page 93 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
“Wow.”
“Uh-huh. It’s been a bad, bad time. You have to stay home. You’re like a furry rabbit foot. You know, on the keychain.”
He blinked. “You mean like a lucky rabbit’s foot?”
“Uh-huh. Mason said they was real, but Lucy said no, they was fake. Because that would make me cry if you cut off a bunny’s foot because they couldn’t hippity hop.”
No wonder Coop had been losing his mind while Brooks was gone. He’d only been home for like seven seconds, and he’d already been compared to Jesus and a dismembered rabbit.
He walked into the house all the way, and Johnny glanced up at him, then hopped up. “Uncle Brooks? Where’s Uncle Coop.”
“He’s coming in with Kase. Can I get a hug?” He held out an arm, and Johnny ran to him. “You okay?” Brooks asked.
“Uh-huh. Some big boy called me names and hit me and was trying to make me eat dirt. Mason cleaned his clock.”
“Well, I’m home, so it’s time to go back to school, huh? I’ll talk to the principal.”
“Okay. I’m glad you’re home.” Johnny squeezed him tight.
“Oh, man, me too. I’ll talk at you later. Where’s Lucy?”
“She’s fussing with Uncle Coop’s bed.”
“I’m right here.” She came running out. “Uncle Coop?—”
“Hey, Luce. He’s coming. Thanks for making it all nice for him.”
“Uncle Brooks. Hey! Welcome home. I got all the pillows around like you said, and I got that bed table in there that Ricky put together and all. And the baby gate for the beagles. Suki will be real gentle.”
“Well, we should put him in bed and get him all settled before everyone comes to love on him. Where’s Ricky?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Mason’s outside, cleaning up the barn. The cowboys have been helping but?—”
She looked at him and burst into tears and then leaped at him. “I missed you so much. We really needed you here, and we’re so glad you’re home. And not just for the spaghetti.” She offered him a watery smile and winked. “Although we’ve talked about the spaghetti a lot.”
“I can make that tonight if you want.”
“No, sir,” Kase said, helping Coop limp inside with the help of a redheaded cowboy who had so many freckles it made Brooks’s eyes cross. “There’s King Ranch casserole in the fridge. And the stuff for breakfast burritos tomorrow. No cooking until tomorrow night.”
“Oh, good. That way I can get Coop to sleep.”
“I’m not sleeping right away. I just need to sit for a second.” Coop lifted his head and scowled at him. Then he grinned. “Welcome home, huh?”
“Finally. I’m glad to be here. Let’s get you settled so I can get everyone in to see you and stuff. Donot let the dogs jump on you.”
He was going to stop that argument before Coop even made it because he knew what Coop would say.
Coop would say, “Those dogs aren’t going to hurt me a bit. They’re my beasts.”
So Brooks was going to bully the son of a bitch into bed and a mound of protective pillows and then let the dogs see he was okay before kicking them out.
Man, he needed a beer. And a shower once Coop was settled.
Also, he was ordering a hot tub. It seemed to be the New Mexico cowboy right to have a hot tub at every single house. Somehow, their house didn’t have one.
He was opposed to this as a rule.
So he was buying them a hot tub tomorrow, possibly tonight. He’d call Ryder and tell him, “Get me a hot tub. I’ll write you a check.”
