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“Hey, Mr. Morgan.”
He looked up to see Nate Turner hanging out the window of his official car in the street alongside him.
“Hey, Nate.” Billy tried to look responsible. “Have you caught Axel yet?”
“Nope. He’s disappeared. Hopefully back to wherever he came from, but I’m still keeping an eye out.”
“Good. If he didn’t get his wages, he might need the money.”
“Bella has first-rate security at the bar,” Nate said. “I went over the place with her and Jay to make sure.”
“Yeah, but the bar is a public space, so anyone can get in there,” Billy said. “It’s never one-hundred percent secure.”
“I know that, but I also reckon most people who know Jay wouldn’t risk trying to get past him to his mother.” Nate nodded. “I’ll keep in touch. Have a great day, Mr. Morgan.”
“Thanks.” Billy found his truck and got inside. The temperature had dropped considerably since he’d arrived around lunchtime to find Bella in a fix. He used the time waiting for the condensation to clear from his windscreen to text his nearest and dearest that he was on his way home.
Quite what he was going to say to them when he got there, he wasn’t so sure.
Chapter Four
To Billy’s relief when he arrived home he met Avery coming out of the guest center and flagged her down. He really wasn’t ready yet to face all the questions his disappearance would have generated. She still worked occasionally for her parents at the only hotel in town, but focused most of her efforts on the ever-increasing list of functions being held at the dude ranch. She was also his son Ry’s fiancée, and the nicest, sweetest woman you could ever wish for a son to marry.
“Hey, Mr. Morgan!” She waved enthusiastically at him. He’d asked her to call him Billy, but she usually forgot. “Ry was wondering where you were. Apparently you were supposed to be hanging out with the cattle this afternoon.”
Billy grimaced. “Yeah, I got stuck in town helping Bella Williams in the Red Dragon kitchen. I wanted to talk to you about her staffing situation.”
“Sure! Come back into my office so we can chat. It’s way too cold to be standing out here.”
Glad to avoid his mother’s kitchen and her questions for a few more minutes, Billy followed Avery into the newest part of the ranch, which housed the guest dining room, state of the art kitchen, and the company offices. She was using her stick today, which meant she was moving more slowly.
“What can I help with?” She perched on the corner of her desk. “Ruth said that Bella had been having some problems keeping staff.”
“That’s right.” Billy sat down in the nearest chair. “I told her I’d ask you if you had anyone in mind who could help out—even temporarily.”
“Well, there is someone.” Avery reached over and picked up a piece of paper from her desk. “Do you remember Dev Patel, the architect who designed the guest center and the new barn?”
“Yeah, he’s great, but why would he want to work in Bella’s kitchen?”
“Not him—his sister Sonali,” Avery said. “She’s been staying in his apartment in town since she finished up her catering degree. She was working up here with Gustav for a while, but now our kitchen is shut down for a month. I’m sure she’d be more than willing to work at Bella’s.”
“Have you asked her?”
“Not yet, but I know she’s been looking for work because she told me Dev’s been nagging her to pay her share of the apartment bills.” Avery grinned. “Do you want me to give her a call and ask her formally? She’s not far from Bella’s place, so she could pop over for an interview anytime, and she’d be nice and local.”
“That would be great.” Billy smiled at Avery. “Bella’s going to need someone long term eventually, but if Sonali can help out for a few weeks, that will certainly make things easier for her.”
Billy stood up, came over to the desk, and kissed Avery on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” She blushed and tucked a curl of hair behind her ear. “Bella’s a really nice person.”
