Submitting to the Cattleman (Cowboy Doms 6)

“Well, don’t just stand there and expect me to escort you to your usual table.” She jerked her head toward the far corner booth. “The sheriff and our new doc beat you here.”

Chuckling, Kurt tossed his hat on a hook next to several others, winking at her as they crossed the black and white checkered floor. “I’ve missed you, Gert.”

“Don’t call me Gert or you can forget the free piece of cherry cobbler I have saved for you,” she snapped.

“Slip of the tongue.” Still smiling, he slid into one of the chairs facing the long, curved seating against the wall, holding out his hand to Grayson Monroe. “How the hell are you, Monroe?”

Grayson’s lips tipped up at one corner, shifting the toothpick he was always chewing on. “Good, and happy to welcome you back. Hopefully, adding two new members will keep the subs from complaining about too many Doms getting hitched.”

“Speaking for myself, I don’t have a problem filling in the gap.” Kurt nodded at the doctor. “Mitchell, meet the Dunbars, the other two owners of The Barn.”

It took less than ten minutes of good-natured ribbing and small talk to know Mitchell would fit in as well as Kurt always had. By the time Gertie helped their waitress, Barbara serve their burgers and fries, talk had switched from the club to horses, a passion they discovered, that Mitchell shared with them.

“Buying my own mount is one of my top priorities now that I’ve settled in and started work,” the doctor said after Caden filled Kurt in on the new breeding program he and Connor were undertaking. “Is there a boarding facility nearby? I don’t want to stable one as far away as Billings.”

“Are you living in town?” Kurt asked before diving into his double cheeseburger with relish.

Mitchell nodded. “Just put a down payment on a place over on Bluff, but don’t think a horse or the good sheriff here would take kindly to me housing it in the back yard.”

Grayson’s lips quirked, his version of a grin. “So I don’t have to cite you, why don’t you board with my bay, Thunder? I’ve got a two-stall stable and a few acres just outside of town.”

“Thank you. I’ll let you know.”

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nbsp; Kurt crunched on a fry as he made an offer of his own. “You’re welcome on the ranch, but the distance is twice what Grayson’s place is.”

“And so is our place, but we’ve got another offer on the table, if you ever need it,” Caden put in. “We’re all passionate about our horses, in case you couldn’t tell. You’re from Denver, right?”

Mitchell nodded, swallowing a bite before answering, “Originally from Maryland, but did my residency in Denver and stayed.”

“Some damn fine livestock hail from there. If you’re interested in a Thoroughbred, I can give you a good price.” Kurt figured that was the least he could do in return for the care he was giving his dad.

“I’ll see what you have, but I’m more inclined toward adopting a rescue with issues and working with it. I enjoy a challenge and like to keep busy.”

A shadow of grief crossed Mitchell’s face again, and Kurt saw his friends noticed it also. None of them would pry, and he wouldn’t reveal the little Mitchell had told him. “Those animals are capable of breaking you if you’re not careful. Feel free to come to any of us for help, or just advice if you need it.”

Connor smiled. “I love the workout of breaking in a new bronc, but for any more of a challenge than that, I’ll stick with my newbie sub. She still has a lot to learn.”

That is not envy tightening my gut, Kurt insisted. Yeah, he’d had fleeting moments wondering what it would be like to settle down with one woman who knew him as well as he knew her. But, for all the relationships he’d enjoyed, none had left a lasting impression or resulted in strong enough feelings to contemplate making it permanent. There were a few vanilla affairs he remembered with fondness, and a few Dom/sub pairings he recalled with interest in a repeat if they were both ever so inclined, but that was as far as his emotional investment with anyone had gone.

A pretty face surrounded by a swath of dark blonde hair popped into his head again. It must be worry over Leslie’s fragile state that kept the memory of their one night together a week ago in the forefront of his mind. If he couldn’t forget her within the next week, he might consider driving back to Billings and stopping by her apartment to set his mind at ease. He doubted she would welcome a surprise visit, but that would be too bad if that was what he needed to do to settle his conscience.

“Where’d you go?”

Caden’s amused voice pulled Kurt’s head out of the clouds. “Sorry, just thinking about something. I need to get back.” He pushed away from the table, tossing down a generous tip and picking up his tab. “I’ll pay my membership online in the morning and see you tomorrow night at the club. How about you, Mitchell?”

The doctor nodded. “I’ll do the same.” His gaze swept the Dunbars and Grayson as he said, “Thank you for the invite.”

“Welcome aboard. Come early and we can give you a tour of the place,” Caden offered as Kurt lifted his hand in farewell and turned to leave.

“It’s good to have you back,” Gertie commented when she met him at the cash register. “You get your old man out and bring him in. He’s stayed to himself way too long. Grief’s going to be there whether he sits around moping or not.”

“He’s lost a spouse and a child, and since I can’t relate to either, I don’t push,” Kurt returned. “But I know you can commiserate with the loss of a spouse.”

“The work helps. Your daddy can’t get out and work the ranch now, but he can come into town and shoot the breeze. You tell him I said to quit being so lazy and ornery.”

Kurt grinned. “I’ll do that, Gertie. Thanks.”