Stony Creek Hero [Stony Creek 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Taylor Berke

a pregnancy mission call me?” Cole demanded with a growl. Jackson obviously was earning his reputation with his and Billie’s desire to get started on their family, like yesterday.
    Troy checked to make sure that it was in fact Jackson who was riding up toward the barn because he couldn’t wait to watch the full-out brawl that was brewing. He didn’t require the largest of the cousins sticking his face in a pile of dung just because he was sensitive about his age.
    “Well, during the last calving season, while he was mooning over Billie, he was in a really bad mood,” Troy reminded Cole.
    Ben even looked up at that comment as he recalled the short temper that their elder brother had graced them all with at the time. Man, he had it bad then and they all just wanted to slap him and tell him to marry her already. Shit, Ben thought, he never wanted to be like that.
    Ben watched as Cole shuddered.
    “Don’t remind me! He was off his rocker. He should have just whacked off more or fucked a damned cow, he was so miserable to be around. What the hell name did he give me?”
    “You aren’t gonna like it!” Troy taunted him with glee.
    “Just tell me,” Cole asked again, appearing to get agitated. Cole did not like being made fun of, ever.
    “Where is the fun in that, Cole? I could just torture you for days and tell everyone but you. Maybe I will call your mom first.” Troy held his fingers up to his ear, mimicking a fake phone. “Hello, Aunt Flo, yes it’s your favorite nephew here.” Ben had to snort out loud at that.
    “Auntie, do you know what your beloved baby boy’s new name is? Well, let me tell you.”
    Troy pretended to whisper into his “phone-hand,” further annoying Cole if his stance was any indication.
    “Grow up, you idiots,” Ben yelled out as he went back to mucking, disgusted that grown men could act like such morons.
    Ben watched as the ever hyperaware Brody took stock in his brother’s agitation. He knew exactly how to divert Cole’s attention from knocking the head off their eldest cousin’s shoulders when he saw Jackson or giving Troy the beat down that he deserved. He chimed in, “Wasn’t that about the time some cute waitress was starting to ring your bell, bro?”
    Cole swung around seeing his brother in the doorway. “Hey, Brody, yeah. Something about that Mimi. Going to have to take some time and figure that one out. Every time I get near her, I get hard. I can’t just walk around town like that, you know. I might have to stop eating at Lizzie’s café if this keeps up.”
    Ben looked up again at the mention of Lizzie’s name. “You are always up, you horny butthead. Who were you with this weekend? Was it the new Miss Wallander Rodeo Queen or something?”
    “Yeah, she earned her spurs for a reason,” Cole said quickly then actually blushed. He was never comfortable with trash-talking women. He added, “She was a sweet girl though. I had a good time just being with her.”
    Ben shook his head. Cole was a healthy man with an appetite, like most of the men in their family. They all were raised with respect but tended to enjoy the delights that a warm, soft female could offer on a regular basis.
    Being ever the charming devil of the family, Troy taunted Cole.
    “Sooooo, you got some. Now, don’t you want to know your new name?”
    Both Brody and Ben groaned at the same time. Troy was so going to get a black eye on this one and they weren’t going to even try to prevent it.
    “Just tell me already!” Cole yelled out impatiently.
    “Pussy hound!” crowed an overly enthusiastic Troy.
    Quiet descended over the barn momentarily, with only the occasional stomp of a horse’s hoof to break the sound.
    Cole looked perplexed, Ben thought, as though he thought Troy had lost his mind. “That’s it? Really? I thought it was something bad. That was the best he could do? He really is getting old.”
    “You don’t care that Jackson is going to call you a name of someone who needs