Slim Montagne is about to leave town and head home when he stumbles over a pair of long, lean legs on the sidewalk. Daniel "Danny" Crane, a battered, dusty and bruised cowboy, is world-weary and has stopped believing in humanity. A drifter, his last ride left him on the side of the road, and he just barely made it to town before collapsing against the nearest wall.<br><br>When Slim offers Danny a place to stay, he's suspicious, but figures he has nothing left to lose. Back at the ranch, Slim introduces Danny to Ret and Roscoe, two other men who live and work on the property. Turns out, Ret, Roscoe and Slim have a very intimate relationship, and they're more than willing to add Danny to their circle.<br><br>All Danny has to do is be their cowboy, for keeps.

A Cowboy for Keeps

“Back atcha,” he replied. I kissed Roscoe’s nose and patted his ass to send him on his way, then went in search of Danny.


It took me twenty minutes to find him. Ret had informed me that Danny was on the other side of the ranch, fixing a part of the fence that was rotting. I rode out on Shelby, my favorite horse and found Danny kneeling before a post, working on the barbed wire.


He looked up when I walked up to him after leaving Shelby in the shade of a nearby tree that was next to a stream. Danny’s eyes widened at my approach.


“Something wrong, Slim?” he asked, standing quickly and dusting off his gloves.


“Relax, Danny. Everything is fine,” I replied. I leaned against the fence and looked out at the view before me. The scenery always took my breath away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Danny watching me.


“You enjoy working here?” I asked to get the ball rolling.


He cleared his throat. “Absolutely. I’m grateful to you all for taking me in.”


Chapter 8