Page 173 of Cowboy Daddies

“You’re gonna let a girl beat you?”

I looked left to see Luther riding up.

“I don’t need to win the race, I’ve already won the girl,” I said. Then I cocked my head. “Though looks like you’re about to lose.”

He glanced behind him just in time to see Kate bending low over her horse’s neck as she raced by us both. Luther looked back at me and grinned. “How the hell did we get so damn lucky?”

“That’s all Dad’s doing,” I said as we slowed further to let the girls enjoy their race. “Without those lessons and his example, I’m pretty sure the only one I’d be racing on this ranch is your sorry ass.”

“I’ll have you know, my ass is considered quite fine.” he said. His pretense of being affronted was ruined by his huge grin.

“I wasn’t aware we had any ass connoisseurs on the ranch.” I looked around as if searching for one.

“Only need one and she’s that brunette who is about to whup your redhead’s butt.”

I turned to see the girls riding side by side and grinned. “They do make quite the sight don’t—oh hell, no!”

We took off at the exact same time, hitting a gallop at the very moment the girls’ horses took flight. I lost another ten years off my life until they landed safely on the other side of the fence.

“That girl isn’t gonna sit for a month!” I said as I urged Zephyr to go faster.

“Kate will be standing right beside her,” Luther said as Duke matched the pace.

By the time we’d reached the fence, the girls had recovered their senses enough to gradually slow their pace until the horses were walking. I had just dismounted when I saw Livvy looking over her shoulder, her mouth forming a perfect little “O”.

“That’s right, pixie, your ass is about to meet Daddy’s paddle.”

Luther stood right beside me as we both lifted a hand and quirked a single finger in that universal come here gesture.

“What the hell were they thinking?” Luther asked as the girls looked at each other, then at us, then across the adjacent pasture.

“Don’t even think about it!” I called out in a tone that brooked no nonsense. Changing my hand’s position, I pointed to a spot directly in front of me and added, “Now!”

The girls looked at each other again and then Livvy called out, “Move so we can jump back,” before tapping her heels against her horse’s flanks.

“No!” Luther and I chorused.

“Jesus, pixie, are you trying to kill me?” I asked when she pulled back on Calico’s reins.

“Of course not, I just thought you were in a hurry so⁠—”

“So you will walk along the fence until you reach the gate. Then, young lady, you will walk through the gate all the way to the barn where you will unsaddle Calico, brush her down, water her and then head into the house where you will drop your jeans and panties and stick your nose in the corner of the living room.”

“Kate, you’ll be in the opposite corner. And, if you both aren’t there by the time we arrive, the only dancing you’ll be doing today is to the tune of a belt after the paddle.”

“Any questions?” I asked without missing a beat.

“No, Daddy,” the girls chorused.

We didn’t say another word as they turned to guide their horses along the fence line. Once they were out of earshot, I took off my hat and ran my fingers through my hair. When I realized Luther was leaning over to stare at me, I froze. “What, is something in my hair?”

“Nope, just checking to see how many gray hairs pop out because I feel like I aged about ten years.”

I chuckled and settled my hat back on my head. “Says the man who so cockily welcomed me to his club.”

“I never said that club was boring,” Luther said with his own chuckle.

“Nope, you didn’t, but you also never mentioned membership just might kill me,” I said as I put my foot in the stirrup.