Page 94 of The Cowboy's Bullfighter
He bet that son of a bitch had a hot tub here tomorrow. He’d do that as soon as he could go outside and talk to Kase.
“Come on, babe. Let’s get you in bed.” He took the cowboy’s place, nodding at him, and him and Kase got Coop to the bedroom, the kids trailing behind them.
“I texted Mason and Ricky,” Lucy said. “But I told Mason he has to wash up super good before he’s allowed to come see Uncle Coop.”
“That’s perfect, honey. We’ll all have to do that for a while. Uncle Coop had a real bad infection.”
“Uh-huh. I was reading all about it.”
Johnny sniffled as he trailed along behind them. “I was real scared.”
“I was too, son,” Coop said. “But guess what? Granny and Grandpa are staying for a bit, too. They just went to the store, is all.”
“Yeah?” Mina beamed. “They like ice cream.”
“Sure they do. Who doesn’t?” Coop smiled, but the strainwas showing by the time they got him in bed and all comfy, the dogs up, then down, and the kids all gathered.
“Lucy, you make sure everyone follows the rules, okay? I’m gonna walk Mr. Kase out. And find Mason,” he mouthed at Coop, who nodded.
The kids always came first.
He walked Kase out to the truck, which was unloaded now, their bags on the porch, the freckled kid having pulled them out.
“Thanks, uh…”
“Hale. Nice to meet you, sir.”
“You too.”
Kase grinned at him, slapped him on the back. “Holler when you want your straws. They’re safely stored for whenever.”
“You got it, man. Thank you so much for everything.” He shook hands with the man.
“You let me know if you need anything.”
“A hot tub.”
Kase blinked. “Uh. What?”
“I want to put in a hot tub out by the deck. You and Ryder know anyone?”
“I’ll have him call you.”
“Thanks.” He grinned. “He’ll want to soak once he’s cleared.”
“Hell yes.” Kase clapped him on the back, then climbed into the truck, waving. The man no doubt wanted to finally be home with his own kids too. He and Ryder had been alternating three- or four-day shifts in Albuquerque.
He hauled their shit into the laundry room and changed from good boots into his work boots, which damn near made him cry.
His good boots were fine, but the work bootswere like an old friend.
Then he headed out to the barns to ‘see the horses’, which was where he found Mason.
“Hey, you. Thanks for mucking out in here.”
“You’re welcome. You glad to be home?” Mason looked at him, hope clear on the boy’s face.
“You know it. I was sick of being stuck there, kiddo. I swear it. Both Oz and the hospital. Lucy is pulling out hamburger for noodles tomorrow night.”
