Page 39 of Cowboy

“Thanks, brother. I guess just set all that in the conference room. What’s the box?”

“That’s the box the attorney sent Autumn. Do you think we should check it?” he asked with a suspicious smile.

“It’s probably a good idea. Beast? Here, boy!” he called down the hallway.

Beast came rumbling toward him, and Luke held up his hand, trying to slow the dog from knocking him over. But the poor thing didn’t know his own size and strength. Jumping on Luke’s chest, he stumbled backwards, hitting the wall as Beast licked his face.

“Well, you did call him,” laughed Robbie.

“Shut up,” grinned Luke. “Okay, boy. Okay. Down.” He led the dog toward the table and laid everything out.

“Search, Beast. Search.”

Beast put his front paws on the table and sniffed each envelope, then stuck his nose against the box. Luke turned it, so he could smell the entire thing, but Beast didn’t react to anything inside.

“Looks like we’re good. I’ll let Cowboy know that it’s here,” said Robbie.

“Thanks, man.”

Luke sat on the floor rubbing Beast’s head. The damn thing must weigh two hundred pounds, but he didn’t seem to mind lying all over the man. Of course, he probably thought they were the same size, so what did it matter.

“You’re a good boy, Beast. Good boy,” he cooed. Adam and Ben stuck their head in the room, smirking at their older brother.

“Resorting to talking to dogs now?” asked Adam.

“Bite me, asshole,” he smiled. “He’s a good boy. Comes when you call him, checks the packages, even works well with the other animals. If we could just get him to not jump on us when we call, we’d all be safe.”

“Well, he is called Beast for a reason,” smirked Ben.

“What are you guys doing?” asked Luke.

“We heard some chatter on the web about some insurgent forces chasing a lone U.S. military guy. We’re trying to figure out who it might be, but it all seems suspect. Maybe just a bunch of bullshit. We’re not even sure it’s good intel.”

“Who do we have out there?” asked Luke with a frown.

“BJ, JB, Dan, Tobias, Nathan Luke, Michael, Rush, Everett, Eastman, Ethan, Connor, and Christian,” said Ben, counting on his fingers.

“Damn. That’s a lot of our boys out there,” said Luke. “Christian has to be forty now. What the hell is he still doing out there?”

“I asked Vince and Ally the same thing. They just said that he felt like it was where he needed to be. He made Major last year. Maybe he wants to do thirty,” said Adam.

“Sounds insane to me, but I admire him if that’s what he wants,” said Luke. “Well, if you hear that it’s one of our boys, let me know. You know that we’ll be in to help as soon as we can. Is everything good with Caroline?”

“She’s fine,” said Adam. “We know that the Turkish army is at the zoo helping them move the animals. Hopefully, she can get this done and get back and finish her last semester. I know Sniff and Lucy are ready to have her home.”

“Don’t tell Dad, but I’m ready to have them all home,” said Luke. “I never understood what they were going through. What they were feeling. It was bad enough when Garrett was out there, but now having all the others as well. Damn. It’s making me old before my time.”

“Brother, I hate to tell you, but ‘nine toes’ Robicheaux is old.” Luke scowled at his little brother, then whispered to the dog.

“Get him, Beast,” said Luke. Beast jumped on Adam’s chest, licking his face as he fell backwards into the hallway.

“Not funny, Luke! Get him off of me!” Luke stood, laughing at his brother. He gripped Ben’s shoulder and steered him toward the door.

“I think it’s time for dinner,” said Luke.

“I’m starving,” laughed Ben. When they reached the door, Luke turned and looked at Beast, sitting on his brother’s chest, licking his face.

“Beast. Come. Dinner.”

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