The dirt road was easy to miss as most drivers were busy keeping an eye on the winding road or the showy fall foliage. Down that dirt road tucked in a cocoon of woods sat a small meadow with a tangled old oak and a small cabin. Only minutes east of the Seaside district and, thus, the Sharks' arena, it still felt miles and miles away from the city proper and its chaos. From the stone chimney came woodsmoke, curling in the breeze and scenting the air. It was the picture of fall.

This time of year reds, yellows, golds, and a peppering of evergreen surrounding the cabin gave the front porch one of the best views in the city. Therefore, it was no surprise that it was one of Colt's favorite drinking spots with or without a drinking companion.

But tonight he wasn't alone. Colt had claimed one side of the wide stones steps and Nate Teager, one of the Sharks' wide receivers, had the other. A row of Silvermark bottles extended between them.

"So things with that Carla girl didn't work out?"

The relaxed vibe was sinking deep into Nate?s bones. The cabin and it's surrounding were right up his alley, reminding him of home back in Iowa. Looking over to Colt, he shook his head and rolled his eyes while giving a sarcastic chuckle into his beer bottle. "No, man. Too clingy. Somehow she talked me into letting her stay the night. I woke up at six a.m. and she's wearing my shirt and watching me sleep. Dude, have you ever woke up to some chick hovering over you and staring at you? I kicked her ass right outta the bed.?

Nate shook his head at the disbelieving lift of Colt?s brow and amended his original assertion. ?Okay, not literally, but she had to go. She started talking about kids? names. I told her I had practice and I'd call her. I haven't called her."

"Do you attract the crazies naturally or is that the only sort of girl you can get?" The question was a tease wrapped up in a too serious tone and look shot over the lip of the bottle Colt was lifting to his lips.

"It's the chicks in this place man. The majority of them are crazy. They're either running from something, hiding something, or dreaming of white picket fences and ...and.. fucking drapes. Never thought I'd say it, but I miss the Iowa girls. Nothing like the small town girls with wide eyes and big dreams who look at me like I'm their golden ticket." Nate?s grin and arrogant pop of the collar of his shirt indicated he was joking even if the tone was missed.

"Your chick seems cool though, hot too. How'd you manage that one?"

Colt peeled the bottle of Silvermark away from his lips, tipping his head to the side as he pretended to consider the question. "Talent. Yeah, most definitely talent. I've got it by the bucket loads."

"Dude, I don't want to hear about your loads." Nate had a loud and dry laugh which echoed off the porch. "If you think you're so much more talented me, that I'm just going to strike out, why don't you introduce me to one of your cousins? What have you got to worry about?"

?My cousins are trolls.?

But the grin he sported didn't match up with the statement and the cover of ugly would only work until Sunday when Dylan and Chey would be in the stands for the Seaside Sharks taking on the Dockside Divers. "I'm not worried. You'd strike out. It takes a lot of game to get a Daniels girl."

For some reason that statement didn't sound all that confident.

"Oh, come on! Help a brother out. I can tell from that shit eating grin that you're lying." Nate groaned. "I'll be they have those cute southern accents too. I've got game. What do you bet I score a date with one of your cousins after the game on Sunday?"

A lazy, stupid grin took hold as Colt took his time stretching out his legs until his feet reached several steps below. His elbows rested on the step behind him and his beer dangled from his hand. It was a contemplating look. "And if I agree and you are unable to get the one I introduce you to in a week what do I get?"

"I've got this in the bag. Nothing to worry about. If I lose, which won't happen, but if I do, I'll shovel the snow from your steps and walk for a month. I'll even throw down some salt so you don't break your neck. If I win, what do I get? Besides your cousin?"

"My cousin's not enough for you?" Humor lit up his eyes and for a brief moment a red flag was raised in his mind. Perhaps this was a bad idea. Perhaps it wasn't kind to turn one of his cousins' love life into a bet. The red flag was drowned by another swallow from the bottle. "Fine, fine. If I lose I will carry your pads back into the locker room for the same month. Like a rookie."

"You have got yourself a bet." Nate raised his beer bottle towards Colt.

Colt gave a huff of a laugh, mirroring the solemn salute with the bottle in his hand. "I can't wait to introduce you. Cheyenne Daniels is one nut that you're not gonna be able to crack."

((With thanks to the player behind Nate Teager.))