The Cowbear's Summer 0f Love (Curvy Bear Ranch Book 7) Read online

  “Where are they?” Greg asked.

  “Your sister’s out back hanging the laundry and Aaron’s on his way into town to get some more flour and yeast. I want to make biscuits and gravy for breakfast tomorrow,” Betty said.

  “I would have gone to town for you,” Greg said.

  “You were too busy messing with these hippies,” Joseph snapped.

  “We’re not hippies,” Daisy said.

  When River’s gaze darted to her, she shook her head slightly. Betty smiled and waved away the concern.

  “Whatever you are, we could use a hand around here,” she said. “Canning season is about to start and Samantha and I can’t do it all. We have to work fast and hard. So if you can do that, then we can spare the money to get your car parts.”

  “Are you sure we can spare it?” Joseph said.

  “We were going to have to hire help anyway. In the long run, this might be cheaper.”

  “All right, hon. They can stay. But only because I don’t want you working so hard.” Joseph crossed the kitchen and kissed his wife on the cheek.

  “You’re a good man,” she whispered.

  Daisy averted her eyes. Their obvious love for each other held an intimacy that made her uncomfortable. She didn’t look up until someone brushed against her arm.

  “Let’s go check out the garden,” Greg said.

  “Wait,” Joseph said. “We haven’t talked about sleeping arrangements. My guess is that you’re going to have to stay on the farm a few weeks. We don’t get parts shipments up here too often and you have to work off your debt.”

  “We’re prepared to stay as long as you need us,” Daisy said.

  “Okay. But we don’t have enough room for all of you in the house,” Joseph said.

  “We have tents,” River said. “We’re happy to sleep outside under the stars.”

  “There’s some space in the barn,” Joseph said. “If it rains, you can sleep in there. Deal?”

  “Thank you, sir,” Andy said as he reached to shake his hand.

  When Joseph shook her brother’s hand, she released a held breath. Maybe this would work out after all.

  ***

  Greg led Daisy and her friends to the fields. Rows of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, lettuce, okra, onion, peas, pepper, radish, spinach, and tomatoes spanned the distance between the farmhouse and the lake. He and Aaron had done most of the planting in the late spring after the ground warmed enough.

  The short growing season meant that they had to work fast every year. Their livelihood depended on it. Although they kept most of the food for themselves, they also sold canned fruits and vegetables to neighbors. The town grocery liked to buy most of their spinach, which was great because Greg couldn’t stand it. It tasted worse than grass, something his bear insisted on chewing like gum. Crazy beast.

  “We have a process for picking the vegetables,” Greg said. “We only pick spinach and lettuce on Wednesdays. I drive it up to the market on Thursdays. I also do weekly deliveries to local farms.”

  “Do the farms pay you for the food?” Daisy asked.

  “Sometimes they pay cash, but we also trade based on what they grow. The Drummonds grow fruit trees. Dad thinks they dabble in the dark arts because no one else can seem to grow fruit the way they do.” Greg chuckled.

  “They’re probably a better explanation than hocus pocus,” Andy said.

  “I don’t know,” Meadow said. “Remember those witches we met in Reno? They seemed to have a lot more than they could afford. I think they worked some magic to get their stuff.”

  “Five-finger discount magic,” Andy said dryly.

  “He’s right,” River said. “I think they were stealing from the tourists in the casinos.”

  “Really?” Daisy asked. “They seemed nice to me.”

  “Sometimes you can be so naïve,” Andy said.

  As the group bantered with each other, Greg watched the dynamic. Andy seemed to be the most level-headed out of the bunch. River was off in la-la land and Meadow was only a hop and a skip behind him. Daisy, on the other hand, he hadn’t quiet figured out. But now that his parents had agreed to let her stay, he’d have time to get to know her.

  “Hey, Greg,” his brother Aaron called. “I just got home. Who are all these people?”

  His younger brother ambled over to them. At sixteen years old, he wasn’t quite a man yet, but he’d outgrown his gangly body. He was a lot stronger than he looked, which gave Greg an idea.

  “They broke down on the road,” Greg said after introducing everyone. “They’re going to be staying with us for a few weeks. They’ll be helping with the harvest.”

  “Groovy,” Aaron said.

  “Before it gets too much hotter, we should push the bus down to the barn. We can park it alongside it,” Greg said.

  “Good idea,” Andy said.

  “You have a bus?” Aaron asked.

  “Yeah,” Daisy said.

  “A hippie bus?” he asked.

  Daisy looked at him as if to ask how much she should tell his brother.

  “You’ll see,” Greg said.

  He winked at Daisy who flashed a stunning smile. His gut clenched. She was even more beautiful when she was happy. He wanted to do whatever it took to keep that look on her face.

  “How far is it?” Aaron asked.

  “About a mile,” River said.

  “Not too bad then,” Aaron said. “We should have it back well before lunch.”

  “Easily,” Greg agreed. “But let’s get moving before it gets too hot.”

  The group of six traipsed through the woods, laughing and joking with each other along the way. When they reached the bus, Aaron whistled.

  “Psychedelic,” he murmured as he ran his hand over the paint job. “Did dad see this yet? He’s going to flip out.”

  “He saw it,” Greg said.

  “And he didn’t go ape shit?” Aaron asked.

  “He knows mom needs help with canning and we need help harvesting. We were going to have to hire help anyway,” Greg said.

  “Right on,” Aaron said. “I guess you didn’t want to hit up the midnight auto supply?”

  “They’re not thieves,” Greg said, exasperated. His kid brother never knew when to keep his trap shut.

  “I know, man. I was just kidding,” Aaron said.

  Greg glanced at Daisy, who frowned at Aaron. Hopefully she understood his brother’s need to rebel. He was still trying to find his place in the world, unlike Greg. He knew exactly where he belonged—on the farm with his family.

  “I’ll steer,” Daisy opened the driver’s side and hopped in.

  Aaron, Greg, Andy, and River took positions at the rear of the bus while Meadow stood to the side twirling a strand of long, black hair around her finger. Greg shrugged. A girl couldn’t do this kind of work anyway. It was better that she walked along beside them rather than get into the bus with Daisy. It would be less weight to push.

  “You ready, Daisy?” Greg called.

  “Yep.” She stuck her head out of the window. “If you guys need a rest, just let me know.”

  “It should be easy enough,” he called.

  “All right.”

  “Let’s go on three,” he said. “One, two, three.”

  All four men pushed against the bus. For a second, it didn’t budge. Greg glanced at Aaron who grinned knowingly. They’d have to summon their bear’s strength without unleashing the creature. It wasn’t hard for someone who’d had years of practice, but Aaron’s first shift had happened less than two years earlier.

  Greg shot him a warning look. They couldn’t risk revealing their secret to humans. But he was even more concerned about Daisy finding out. She’d never look at him the same way if she knew what he was capable of doing to her.

  As he called to his bear, the pulsing, building energy of brute strength flowed through his veins. His bear chuffed with excitement, thinking he was about to be free. When the beast figured out Greg was only using him
for extra power, the creature snarled in protest.

  Greg gritted his teeth and shoved with all of his might. Standing beside him, Aaron grunted and pushed. Fine strands of fur sprouted on his arm.

  “Watch it,” Greg murmured.

  “I know,” Aaron whispered.

  They propelled the bus forward until they reached a slight incline. At that point, the combination of gravity and their forcefulness drove the bus forward at a faster pace. When they rounded the final bend in the road, Greg glanced around the side of the bus.

  The fence was too close.

  “Daisy, brake and turn right more,” he yelled.

  She braked and missed the fence by mere inches. Greg’s elbow dinged the post, sending a shock of pain up his arm. He gasped and shook his hand to try to stop the sensation. It dissipated after a few seconds, leaving a dull ache in its place. Ever since he’d fallen out of the hay loft, his elbow had given him problems. He’d probably fractured it slightly, but not enough to require more than a whupping from his dad for horsing around.

  “Pull up next to the barn,” he called.

  Daisy positioned the bus parallel to the barn, then slammed on the brakes. Greg smacked against the back of the bus along with his brother, Andy, and River.

  “Damn women drivers,” Aaron grumbled.

  “As if you’re any better,” Greg snorted.

  “Humph.”

  Greg circled around to the driver’s side and helped Daisy down. His hands lingered on her waist a moment longer than necessary but it had been worth the sharp look her brother shot him.

  “Thank you,” Daisy said. “Now what should we do?”

  “Mom’s going to have lunch ready in about an hour,” Greg said. “Until then, let’s grab a few baskets and start working on the lettuce and spinach. I want to pack it into crates before lunch so that we have the afternoon off.”

  “Sounds good,” Daisy said.

  Hours later after packing the crates brimming with spinach and lettuce into the shade inside the barn, they washed up with the garden hose. Greg had never been so tempted to spray anyone from head to toe before. But he couldn’t stop thinking about what Daisy’s dress would look like if it was plastered to her body. He restrained himself, then silently congratulated himself on the willpower he’d expended.

  A sharp ringing pierced the air. Lunch time.

  He hung back as his brother, Andy, River, and Meadow filed up the porch steps. He waited until Daisy strolled up next to him.

  “You worked hard,” he said.

  “Thanks. I’m starving.”

  “Wait until you try mom’s stew. It will make you want to cram three bowls into your mouth,” he said.

  “I don’t know about that much,” she laughed. “But I might be able to put away two bowls.”

  He grinned and placed his hand on the small of her back as they climbed the stairs to the porch. When he opened the screen door for her, his dad stood in the entryway. He skewed them with a disapproving look. Greg quickly dropped his hand to his side then stuffed it in his jeans.

  “I’d like a word,” his dad said.

  “Of course,” Greg said. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  After Daisy had disappeared into the kitchen, his dad took him out onto the front porch.

  “You need to leave that girl alone,” he said. “She’s not the kind of girl you mess with.”

  “I wasn’t,” Greg said.

  “I saw your hand on her. Don’t take me for a fool, son.”

  Greg sighed.

  “She’s only going to be here a few weeks. I don’t know why I agreed to let them stay. I guess to help your mom out. But don’t think I won’t kick them out in a second if I think they’re trying to corrupt you with their hippie ways,” his dad said.

  “Corrupt me?” Greg asked, stunned. “She’s not doing anything. I was just helping her up the stairs.”

  “Really?” His dad narrowed his eyes. “Because from where I was standing, I don’t think she needed a bit of help.”

  His dad turned and stomped back into the house without another word. Greg clenched his fists. He hadn’t done anything out of line. Why was his dad so uptight about her? He did seem to have an unhealthy dislike of hippies, but why? As far as Greg knew, his dad had never had a run-in with them.

  If he was going to get closer to Daisy over the next few weeks, he’d have to be more cautious. He couldn’t do anything that would jeopardize her ability to stay on the farm. He’d never kept secrets from his parents before, and he’d never lied so much in his life. But when it came to Daisy, he was ready to risk anything to get to know her better.

  ***

  Later that day, after he’d mucked the barn and finished the rest of his chores, he headed out to find Daisy and her friends. He found them splashing in the lake far enough around the bend to be out of sight of the house. He grinned as Andy lifted her onto his shoulders and River did the same with Meadow.

  Greg stripped down to his briefs and raced into the chilly water. The cool liquid soothed both the heat in his body, and the fire in his soul. They were still chicken-fighting when Greg waded over to them.

  “Hey,” Daisy said. “I was just about to win—again!”

  She lunged for Meadow and pushed her friend over to one side. Meadow’s thighs clamped around River’s head as he yelped in protest. She hung on for several seconds before losing her balance she toppled over. A huge splash resounded as she fell into the lake.

  “You’re up next,” Daisy yelled.

  “Me?” Greg pointed at his chest.

  “Yes, you.”

  “I don’t think River can hold me.”

  “I’m not putting another guy on my shoulders,” River said. “I’m all for free love and stuff, but I already got my fox.”

  He grabbed Meadow as she surfaced and planted a huge kiss on her lips.

  “What was that for?” she gasped.

  “He was just proving his sexual preference,” Daisy said.

  She playfully splashed water at River, who retaliated with a few well-aimed shots. As she moved, her shirt clung to every inch of flesh. The full swell of her breasts mesmerized him. He licked his bottom lip, wishing they were alone so he could pull her into his arms and press her against him. He waded further into the lake to hide his growing erection.

  “Why don’t I jump up on Greg, and Meadow, you jump up on Andy. We’ll change it up for a bit,” Daisy suggested.

  Andy leaned back. She shrieked as she plunged into the water. Meadow paddled over to Andy and grinned.

  “I don’t know about this,” River said.

  “It’ll give your back a break,” Meadow said.

  “My back’s fine,” he grumbled.

  “Just once,” Andy said. “Then we’ll switch back.”

  Greg breathed a sigh of relief. He’d expected Andy to protest, but maybe he wanted Meadow’s thighs wrapped around his head.

  “It’s you and me,” Daisy said.

  “Yep.” He backed up a step so she wouldn’t brush against him and discover his hardness. “Come around from behind and get on that way.”

  “Okay.” She smirked and circled behind him.

  Did she already know how much he wanted her? He glanced down through the murky water but he couldn’t make out anything in the gloom. She couldn’t have seen him.

  “You’re going to have to squat,” she said.

  He bent down and reached back to grab her underneath her knees. As she hooked one leg over each shoulder, his bear perked up. The beast sniffed her sultry scent and shivered with lust. Greg tried to force his body to stop responding, but he couldn’t. This was a really, really bad idea.

  As Daisy writhed around to get into position, he bit back a moan. Her silky thighs pressed against his cheeks. All he’d have to do is turn his head if he wanted to kiss her. But Andy gave him a warning look that said he’d better stick to the game.

  Meadow rose up on Andy’s shoulders while River stood to the side, scowlin
g at them. Jealousy twisted his mouth into a pout. Greg gripped Daisy’s thighs tighter as if laying claim to her. He’d never want to see his girlfriend with her legs wrapped around another man, even if it was just a game.

  Chapter 7

  As one warm July day melted into the next, Daisy spent more and more time in the kitchen with Greg’s mom. Today, she’d promised to show her how to bake her famous huckleberry pie. Daisy stood at the sink with a colander. She washed a large basket full of huckleberries under a stream of cool water.

  “When you get done cleaning those, we need to start on the crust. You can leave those to drain,” Betty said.

  “Okay.”

  As Daisy turned off the faucet, she glanced through the window toward the field. Greg stood at the end of a row of tomatoes. He pointed at one and plucked it from the vine then showed it to Andy. They were too far away to hear what they were saying, but Greg was probably teaching them how to pick ripe tomatoes.

  “I hope Meadow is feeling better,” Betty said. “The heat can get to you if you’re not careful.”

  “She’s lying down in the shade. I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Daisy said.

  Although she couldn’t prove it, she suspected Meadow was faking heat exhaustion. She’d expected River to pull that, but he hadn’t. In fact, he’d worked just as hard as Andy over the last few days. Both men sported sunburns which were beginning to turn into tans. They’d be golden by the end of the month if they stayed out as much as they had been.

  Greg strolled past several rows before he stopped to shuck his T-shirt. Sweat glistened on rock-hard abs. A thin line of hair pointed down the flat plane of his belly toward the low-slung waist of his jeans. Too bad he didn’t work naked. She’d love to get a good look at all of him.

  Ever since the day they’d played chicken in the lake, she couldn’t stop fantasizing about wrapping her legs around him. But she didn’t want them around his head. She wanted them cinched around his waist. Then she’d be able to ride him like a wild horse. Was he wild in bed? Was he experienced?

  “Bring the flour sifter,” Betty said.

  Daisy grabbed it and carried it to the kitchen table. She pushed sexy thoughts about Greg out of her mind. She’d have plenty of time to think about what she’d like to do to him later.