Destry Read Free

best be gettin' it. I won’t be long. Gotta take care of this ‘shit-for-brains animal’, and then we’ll get going.”
    I didn’t like the snark in his voice and I was done being told what to do; rude or not, I wasn’t about to let him boss me around. I stood my ground, arms crossed over my chest, chin up, playing the defiant girl I had never been allowed to be.
    Lord only knows why I chose that moment to practice being stubborn, but to hell with men and their stupid cowboy hats.
    “You fixin’ to be stubborn? Knock ya socks off, darlin’,” Cocky cowboy called me out on my stunt.
    I watched as he walked up to the cow and pulled out his cell. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but not five minutes later, another truck pulled up; its lights shone directly onto the cowboy.
    My God, he’s gorgeous.
    I felt the heat rising in my face as I took him in for the first time. Brown, scuffed cowboy boots paired with washed-out Wranglers, were held tight with a huge metal belt buckle and topped with a well-worn white cotton t-shirt. His shirt strained against his defined body. I was too far away to get a good look at his face, but what I could see under his big black cowboy hat was a hard chin that screamed nibble me .
    “Howdy, ma’am. Sorry ‘bout the hold up.” Rumbled another husky voice.
    I spun around, taking in the two cowboys staring at me. The sight alone made my knees turn to jelly. The second cowboy moved forward, his hand out. I reached mine forward and he took it in both of his and shook it gently. I could feel the hard callouses on them.
    They were large, rough and hard, definitely working hands. The gentleness in them surprised me.
    Dear Lord, what was I? Some type of hand tramp?
    “Austin’s the name. I’m sure my brother, Destry, didn’t think to introduce himself so please excuse his manners. Dropped on his head a few times, he was. And you are?”
    “Amelia, my name is Amelia,” I answered.
    He smiled down at me, a glint in his eye. “A pretty name for a pretty lil’ lady. Would you mind holdin’ on a little longer while we move this here cow outta the way? We’ll be back in a lil’ bit.”
    He was smooth. I’d give him that. He had more charm than you could poke a stick at. “That’s all right, I have to get my things from my car anyway,” I told Austin while trying to ignore the foul look Destry was giving me, along with the grunt he threw out.
    If Destry had asked nicely like Austin did, I would have done it! Okay, that was total bull, but something about Destry just rubbed me the wrong way. His unique name caught my attention. It was an old name I thought, one that I hadn’t come across more than once of twice in old western novels.
    I quickly shoved everything into my enormous purse, and barefoot in a field on the side of the highway, I picked my way over rocks, glass, trash, and cow shit to the truck Austin had pulled up in. Destry and Austin came over, the cow now back on the right side of the fence. “C’mon, I’ll give ya a hand up,” Destry mumbled and walked to the passenger’s side of his truck.
    I looked to Austin who was smirking at me. “I’m stayin’ back to fix this here fence up. You should go on back to the ranch with Destry. Was a pleasure meetin’ ya, ‘Melia.” Austin tipped his hat and walked off, slapping his brother on the back as he passed.
    With a huff, I made for the other truck. “I can get in just fine, thank you very much,” I snapped at him. With one hand clutching my purse, I tried to climb up into the truck. My skirt making it a little more difficult than I imagined. A gasp tore from my throat as a large, warm hand planted itself on my backside and pushed. Hard.
    Clearly befuddled, I cleared my throat, and without looking his way, thanked him while buckling my seatbelt. Destry walked around the front of the truck. His face once again became visible as he passed the lights.
    Sweet baby Jesus.
    He was hot! Not just hot, but mess-your-panties