Free Two Dude Ranchers for Dawn [Cowboy City 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Luxie Ryder

way and laughedatthethoughtofthetwohugemenlumberingthroughthecultivatedflowerbeds.
    “Hey,lookwhoitis!”Julie’svoicerangoutfromthecorneroftherestaurantandDawnturnedto findthateveryoneelsehadmadeitupintimeforbreakfast,too.
    “Hi.IthoughtI’dbettertrythebuffetatleastoncebeforeweleavetomorrow.Looksgreat,doesn’t it?”Sheavoidedtheireyes,suretheywouldbeabletotellshehadasecrettokeep.
    “What’swiththeflower?”
    Sheshrugged,staringdownatherhandsincaseshegavethegameawaybyblushing.“Nothing.It justcaughtmyeye.”
    It felt strange not to share everything with them, but this was different. What would they say if theyknew?Luckyforher,JenchangedthesubjectandDawndidn’thavetofindout,atleastnotforthe timebeing.
    “So,we’reallsetfortheRodeoandWildWestShowthisafternoon?Thisisourlastfullday,andI intendtomakethemostofit.”
    Achorusofagreementwentuparoundthetable,andDawnfeltanotherpangofguiltathowlittle timeshe’dspentwithherbestfriendsoverthelastcoupleofdays.
    The group finished eating and went back to their rooms to get dressed. As agreed, they met an hour later and walked down Main Street, taking a last opportunity to buy some keepsakes for themselvesandgiftsforfamilyandfriendsfromthequaintstoresintheheartofthetown.
    Dawn didn’t have much time to think about Garrett and Ben during that morning, which was probablyforthebest.There’dbeplentyoftimetoanalyzeeverythingtheysaid,andeverythingshedid, once she got back home to New York. She seemed to be handling the aftermath well, or at least she thought she was, until she found a watercolor painting of an Arizona sunset hanging in a small side streetartgallery.Dawnjusthadtohaveit,despitethefactitcostthebestpartofweek’swages.
    Astormofemotionshadassaultedherasshe’dstaredintoitsdepths,enchantedbyitsbeautybut acutelyawarethatitdimmedincomparisontotherealthing.Alittlelikehermemories?
    Adullachelodgedinherchestandsheclosedhereyes,leftalmostbreathlessbythedesiretobe back on the hillside with Garrett and Ben. The artist saw her reaction to the painting and gave her a discountasherangupthepurchase,tellingherhewashonoredthathisworkhadaffectedhersodeeply.
    Dawn didn’t have the heart to deceive him and paid him the full price—how would she ever enjoy lookingatitifsheknewshe’dtakenadvantageofhiskindness?
    She carried the painting back to her room, along with a couple of small desert rock sculptures she’dpurchasedfortogivetohermomandsisterwhentheycametostaywithheratChristmas,and stashedtheminhersuitcase.
    After a quick change of clothes and a rushed lunch, Dawn and the other girls settled into their seats in the third row of the lower section of a small rodeo ring. Paying the extra bucks to take the individualcabinsratherthansharealodgehadbeenwellworthit.Theyhadn’tpaidforasinglemealor drinksincetheirarrival,andtheseatsthey’dbeenallocatedfortheshowwerealmostthebestavailable.
    Thefirstfewminutespassedinablurofnoise,color,andactivitywhentheshowstartedwitha grand parade that involved Native Americans in traditional dress and cowboys wearing pristine white suits and hats circling the ring on horseback. A choreographed routine had them riding toward each other at full speed, barely avoiding a collision. Split-second timing probably made it look more dangerous than it was, but it impressed Dawn along with everybody else in the arena, and the performerslefttheringtothesoundofrapturousapplause.
    Dawnfoundherattentionwanderingafterthefirstcoupleofevents.Atfirst,thephysicalprowess ofthecowboysimpressedher,butthenthatjustmadeherthinkofGarrettandBen.Weretheyastough asthemenperforminginthering?They’dbeensotenderandgentlewithherthatshedoubtedit.She staredattheactionbelowherwithoutreallypayingattentiontoit.
    Theloudspeakercrackledintolifeagain.“Hopeyou’reenjoyingtheshow.Nextup,TheCowboy CitySharpshooters.”
    Anotherflurryofactivitysawafewlargepiecesofequipmentwheeledintotheringattheopen end of the arena that didn’t have any spectator seating. Another bunch of cowboys rode in, this