Free McLeod, Anitra Lynn - Dirty Cowboy (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by McLeod-Anitra-Lynn Page A

same.”
    Everett agreed, but they had to move with great caution. “There has to be a way to do this and not lose one another.”
    “I think I know how.”
    Dalton twirled parallel to a well-used trail. Everett followed.
    “If we transform at the same time, we should remember before we can get too far from one another.”
    “I don’t like that word.”
    “Which word?”
    “Should.” Everett pushed until he was next to Dalton. “Should means that so much can go wrong.”
    “But so much could go right.” As if to prove his point, Dalton twirled into him until they became one cone. “You were afraid of this, too, remember?”
    How could he forget? When the other dust devil had confronted him, he’d been annoyed at first, and then afraid, but once he realized it was Dalton, he was eternally grateful.
    “Once we shift, we’ll both be naked.” Everett pointed out as he and Dalton moved as one.
    “Should make us instant partners.”
    Everett didn’t think so, but he didn’t convey his doubts to Dalton. In his exuberance, Dalton was very persuasive. As much as he was reluctant to lose what they had in this form, Everett knew they could have so much more as humans. Debating the risks and rewards had consumed his every moment since Dalton made the suggestion.
    “I swear, it will be all right.”
    After traveling for days, Everett realized where they were going. Inexorably they moved toward the spring where they had met. Anticipation and dread were as much his constant companions as Dalton. When they arrived, Everett noted the trees were a bit taller and the land had been cleared, most likely to make it easier for travelers to obtain water.
    “Looks like a popular spot,” Everett said as their cone bumped over the many hoof prints.
    “No one is here now.”
    Splitting into two separate devils took only moments, but Everett hated the feeling of Dalton leaving him. He worried this was but a small taste of things to come. And then, most horribly, he realized that if he couldn’t remember Dalton after they shifted, he wouldn’t miss him. Everett found no comfort in that idea at all. Just because he wouldn’t know at first didn’t mean he wouldn’t eventually remember.
    Dalton urged him toward the spring. “Are you ready?”
    “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Everett stopped just short of the water’s edge.
    “What?” Dalton was ready to plunge on in.
    “I just wanted to say, just in case I forget, that I love you.”
    Swirling particles vibrated in dappled sunlight.
    “I love you, too.”
    Everett felt Dalton waiting for him. In leaving the final push forward up to him, Dalton put the entire venture on Everett.
    “Don’t you let me forget.”
    “I won’t,” Dalton said.
    They hit the water together.
    Everett would never forget the feel of the spring pulling him in, washing him away to oblivion. He felt each individual grain of sand that was slipping away from his form. Such sharp terror gripped his soul that he shifted to human without really understanding exactly how it happened.
    As soon as he opened his eyes, Everett was confused by what he saw. Visually, nothing made sense to him because everything was different now that he was human. As a dust devil, he didn’t see so much as he sensed the land around him. Adjusting to his vision was nothing compared to simply trying to stand. Maintaining his equilibrium without spinning felt impossible. Everett’s arms windmilled, but he hit the water face-first anyway.
    Forgetting that he couldn’t breathe water, and frankly forgetting how to breathe at all, he took in a great amount of liquid that caused his chest to constrict. Thrashing about, flinging his arms and sputtering in a crazed attempt to simply survive, he slogged to his knees. He drew air into his lungs in great gasps as he groped for purchase. Whatever he grasped onto came away, and he went under.
    And then, just when he thought he was a goner for sure, something latched onto him and lifted him