Sexual Affection (Contemporary Cowboys 3)

“You might say that.” Dallas looked at Dante and shrugged. “Guess we’re goin’ legal now, huh?”

“Yeah,” Zak snapped. “Problem is, we don’t have anywhere to move the last of the guns and now we’re sitting here with trailers to unload, tens of thousands of dollars in stock, and if we’re busted? We’re sunk.”

“Guess you’d better move some guns, big brother,” Mason said in a chipper voice.

“Or maybe somebody should’ve taken your name off the farm account,” Zak said, pissed off.

“Everything will be okay, Zak. Don’t stress the small stuff. We got this.” Dante started the march up hill with Mason.

Hales glanced at Zak. “We got this about like an aging whore has a bright future ahead of her.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Zak grumbled, aware of Brandon screaming his bloody head off behind them.

“Look on the bright side,” Dallas said. “We don’t have to worry about the kid spending any money now. By the time Brandon is through with the bank manager, Mason won’t be able to open his own account down at the Savings and Loan.”

Zak, Hales, and Dallas remained side by side, staring up the incline leading to the loading barn. Finally Zak asked, “You fellas remember anything about the cattle business?”

“Enough,” Dallas said, turning to Hales.

“Don’t look at me. I’m twenty-three. Dad and Mom already had their hands good and filthy by the time I kicked my way into this world.” He clucked. “The only things I know are through observation. We’ve always had cattle grazing the land. How hard can it be to add a hundred more head?”

Two additional trucks rolled by.

“If only,” Zak grumbled.

“Yeah buddy,” Dallas muttered. “Roll up your sleeves, little brother. You’re about to find out how hard it is to make easy money in the cattle business.” Dallas slapped him on the back hard enough to knock him forward.

“I’m joining Brandon for coffee,” Hales said, leaving Dallas and Zak alone.

“Brandon has a right to be bent out of shape over this.”

“Yep,” Dallas agreed. “How much do we have left to move?”

Zak considered the guns remaining. “With what we’ve got buried in the lower field pits, I’d guess at maybe two million in hardware and a few hundred thousand in ammo and supplies.”

“Enough for felonies.”

Zak rolled his eyes. “Is that a question?”

“Just making conversation,” Dallas said, turning to him. “Look. Kid made a mistake. He couldn’t have known we were trying to get this other shit cleaned up before we started wading knee deep in something else. How about I help you? We’ll get the guns walking in no time.”

Zak shook his head. “We can’t deal with the cartels right now. Our past customers think we’re clean. We want to keep it that way.”

“Any ideas?”

“No.” Zak dragged his palm down his face. “And I can’t think of options for worrying about Drina. The last thing I want is her mixed up in something like this.”

“Then don’t do it. Leave the guns buried. Let’s move some cattle and go legit just like we planned.”

“With the stock that just rolled in here, we’ll be lucky if there’s anything left in the accounts. What happens if we need the money?”

“Don’t borrow trouble, Zak. We’ve managed to make it this far in life. We’ll make it the rest of the way. You’ll see.”

“I hope you’re right because at the moment, we can’t move those guns. We start hauling firearms out of here and the Feds will be all over us.”

“So we keep the hardware buried and start moving the rest.”

Zak slowly nodded. “I guess that’ll work.” He balled his fists. “Damn it. I don’t want this. I didn’t want it when Nate and Momma were running the business and I don’t want it now.”