The Cowboy's Prize

Epilogue

Scott kissed the top of Mitch's head as a sleepy eyed Mitch turned his face up to Scott for a kiss before stroking Scott's bare shoulder and snuggling tighter against Scott's side in their very well rumpled bed.

"How does it feel Champ?" Scott asked Mitch.

"I don't know Champ." Mitch said as they turned their heads to look at the mantel over the fireplace in their bedroom at the ranch.

Two trophies and one belt buckle were lined up in the middle of the shelf, prominent in their gaudy contentiousness.

"It feels damn good." Scott said with a wide grin as Mitch nodded in agreement.

The rooster in the hen house crowed again as the sun rose up over the horizon and brightened their room. "Time to get to work." Scott said with a happy smile as he moved out from under Mitch's protesting figure and bounced out of bed. Running a finger over the trophies, he said, "You're not winning another one if you don't get out there and tend your ladies."

Scott's grin and bare arse disappearing into the glass shower cubicle in the corner of their open plan room gave Mitch the only encouragement he needed to join Scott in the shower.

"They're your ladies too." He retorted, before ducking his head under the second shower head and flicking water at Scott.

"Yes, but I only run the herd, you make them give the best milk." Scott said leering at Mitch before pulling him in close to his wet, naked body.

"Mmm Hmm." Mitch agreed, standing on tip toes to meet Scott's descending mouth with his own.

"A match made in heaven." He mumbled against Scott's mouth before reaching for the loofah.

"A profitable one now that we're both champions." Scott added before kissing Mitch again and making him forget the loofah in his hand in favour of clutching Scott's arms to remain standing under the onslaught of his man's amazing mouth.

When Mitch could breathe again he acknowledged that they both made a fabulous team. Scott's decision to give up the life of a bull-rider in favour of becoming a buffalo rancher had been easy. With the addition of an export standard processing plant, temperature controlled storage rooms and a new label, he and Mitch had made their other dreams come true.

Mitch's baskets were the current talk of the town, with enough customers in the upper echelons making Mitch's idea for expansion look more possible. Winning Gold in the World Cheese Awards for their buffalo milk and buffalo with truffle cheeses was an absolutely fantastic break out impetus for their new and growing business.

"Scotty..." Mitch said as he lathered up the loofah and began rubbing Scott's back with it. "How do you feel about goats?"

Scott turned around to look at Mitch and asked, "More cheese?" He asked with a knowing smile.

"So many other categories we can try for next time." Mitch agreed with a nod, flicking his wet bangs out of his eyes and nodding with enthusiasm as Scott chuckled and lifted him up into his arms.

"Whatever you want Princess." Scott said with a smile and bent his head to thoroughly kiss his partner in crime.

"I love you." Mitch whispered against his mouth before kissing Scott's answering response away under the spray. Scott didn't mind, his thoughts flashed to the ring in his bedside drawer and the picnic he had planned for that evening at their favorite spot overlooking the pond.

His imagined happiness at Mitch's delighted expression when he got down on one knee turned into immediate happiness as they decided to let the buffalo wait a few moments longer. He'd won the buckle at the Rodeo, but his prize would always be the man walking into the morning sun beside him. Once they'd dried off and dressed, they headed out the door towards the milking shed.

"What about sheep?" Mitch asked, as they went out to tend their herd.

"Absolutely." Scott said with a grin, slapping his lucky hat on his head. "It's not like the ranch doesn't have the acreage!"

Chance would be in their favour.

So would the cheese.