The Four Cowboys

Birchwood Ranch

"Welcome to Birchwood Ranch, Rocky Azure!"

"Thank you, Haven Banks! Haven't seen you in five years."

"It's been a while. How are you dealing?"

"Oh, I'm fine. It's been an adjustment, but it's alright."

"If you ever need anything..."

"I know. I'm here for you too."

Haven giggles, tugging me though the gate. I was a trained black ops, navy seal stationed in Iraq. I'm trained in tactical weaponry, hand to hand combat, a human profiler, an intelligence specialist, a sharp shooter and many, many, many other specialist training things. I hate to brag, but I was one of the best, before everything went down. Lots of tours and bombs and death, but I was good at what I did. I'm still good, I'm just not in the military anymore.

"How was your drive?"

"It was fine, thank you. Where is everyone?"

"Well, it's unofficial guys night, which means..."

"All the ranch hands are guys, aren't they?"

She blushes and looks at me with her brown doe eyes. Gosh, why does she have to give me those eyes? Anyone, even the toughest of them, would forgive her. She's used to get out of trouble quite a bit. I remember as a kid she got out of detention four times with just her eyes. I hated her so much because she would never bail me out too.

"I think you lied to me, Haven."

"Okay, maybe a little, but my cousins need an extra hand around here."

"With what? House work?"

"No, no. They are totally fine with cleaning and cooking, it's the barn and stable that needs a little work. The four of them haven't gotten around to it yet."

"And why is that? Too many girls hanging off their arms?"

"Actually, no. The four of them...they don't play around with women."

"I'm surprised. Four guys surrounded more guys that aren't playing around with women. That's got to be something new."

"Well, my cousins are into a polyandrous relationship."