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“What are the odds?” Parker shook his head. How many times had he heard about occurrences that others referred to as coincidence really being the hand of fate?
“I know. We learned a lot from Julián—whose brother Peter, by the way, is a cousin by marriage and lives here in Lusty—but this wasn’t his place—Julián’s. His place turned out to be Divine. He did, however, send us Ricoh. They’d been good friends on the rodeo circuit.”
Parker and Dale had met Ricoh Stone the night before, when he’d stopped in at Jackson and Cord’s with his new wife, who also happened to be sweet Jenny’s boss.
Parker pulled his thoughts back to the moment. He’d think about sweet Jenny later, at a time when he wouldn’t be razzed for the wood he’d surely sprout.
“You ever spend time on the circuit?” Parker asked. He knew their cousins, Trace and Lucas, had, and they’d had other friends back in Montana who’d spent time chasing eight as well.
“Just one summer, but not as competitors. The folks got Bri and me summer jobs working with a stockman who was tough as nails and twice as nasty.” He grinned. “They thought our desire to be cowboys was just a whim. They thought we’d quit before the first week of hard, grueling dirty labor was out, but…”
“Benedicts don’t quit on their dreams.” And they didn’t quit otherwise unless they’d reached the absolute end of their rope. That’s another thing I’m mad as hell about. Pecker-head made us quit.
“No, we do not quit on our dreams.” Chase nodded. “We made a deal, to go to college, get our MBAs, and give the corporate life an honest try. At the end of the allotted time, we both knew it just wasn’t us. So here we are, a few years later, and damned if we’re not having the time of our lives.”
“I’d think those Benedicts living the corporate life are more the anomaly,” Parker said.
“Our oldest brothers, the triplets, are damn good at it. So are our cousins, Josh and Alex. It’s what they were meant to do.” Then he stood straight. “This is what we were meant to do. That’s what Lusty’s all about. Living the life you were meant to live, proudly and freely.” He clapped Parker on the shoulder. “Get that mare saddled up, cousin. I’ll show y’all the ranch—or should I say ranches—on horseback.”
It didn’t take him long to do just that and join his brother and his cousin as they rode out. He was a rancher used to seeing mountains. There wasn’t a mountain in sight, but there were horses and cattle and blue skies and the southern sun beating down on them. And that, for now, was enough.
Chapter Five
Jenny already knew that Ari, Jackson, and Cord had headed into Houston for the weekend. So when Parker and Dale showed up at the end of her shift, she wondered what they’d suggest.
She hadn’t been in the least surprised to see them there, in the waiting area just inside the door. When she approached them, they got to their feet. Their gazes were locked on her, their kissable lips smiling. She couldn’t keep the pleasure she felt at their appearance out of her smile.
“We want to spend some time with you, getting to know you. Have you eaten supper yet?”
The music notched higher, and Jenny nodded toward the door. Dale opened it, and held it, while Parker set his hand gently on the small of her back, escorting her out. The sounds of work muted once they were outside and the door closed behind them. It was summer-hot tonight, but the relative freshness of the air rejuvenated her.
“That’s better. Now we can hear each other. And no, I haven’t had supper yet.” Only after the words left her mouth did she realize she might have hinted that she hadn’t eaten because she’d been hoping to see them.
Parker and Dale each took hold of one of her hands. They were both stroking the backs of those hands, which was making it really tough for her to keep her wits about her.
She wondered if they’d suggest going into Gatesville, which was closer than Waco. Though she didn’t want to go to another restaurant right after her shift, she’d say yes if they asked her.
