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Not really, but Inez had given him an excellent starting point for his inquiries.
Jason got Arlo Presley’s contact info, thanked Inez for her help, and headed over to Ruby’s house, wading through the chickens, who tried to take clumsy, aborted flight as he passed.
He found her on her way out the door, bundled in a red and black plaid coat, her purse precariously balanced on the large white banker’s box she held in both arms.
“I was just on my way to invite you for supper,” Ruby greeted him. “Sam told me you’re on your own tonight.”
“I am. That would be great. Thank you.” He eyed the box. “Are you headed into town, by any chance?”
“Yep. If by ‘town’ you mean Cheyenne. Got a date with the tax man. Er, tax woman.”
“Mind if I tag along?”
“If you’re ready to leave now. I’m running late.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
“Okay, then! Follow me!”
It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone
It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone
Ruby drove a fireball-red 2018 Lexus IS. When she turned the key in the ignition, Engelbert Humperdinck’s voice blasted out of the stereo speakers and Jason nearly blasted out of his seat.
Which made it three for three because Ruby blasted out of the garage and took off down the dirt road toward the highway like Smoky running from the Bandits.
Jason unobtrusively gripped the door arm and avoided looking at the speedometer.
“Where do you want me to drop you?” Ruby shouted over Engelbert.
“If it’s not too far out of your way, the FBI building on Airport Parkway.”
“I can do that. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“It’s hard to say. Don’t worry about waiting for me.”
“Oh, it’ll be you waiting for me,” Ruby assured him. “What with the hair salon, the yoga studio, and the Cactus Café, it takes my gal a while to figure everything out.”
“You’re working three different jobs?” Jason was horrified. Ruby was a lot younger than his parents, but she was no spring chicken.
She guffawed. “No, honey. I’m retired now. My income comes from the businesses I own.”
“You own a yoga studio?”
“Sure I do. Yoga is fantastic. Everybody should do yoga. I try to tell Sam he should do yoga. It would do wonders for his nerves.”
Jason had no response, momentarily distracted by the unlikely mental vision of Sam in yoga pants.
Ruby chuckled again, apparently at however she interpreted his expression. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“I don’t even know what I’m thinking,” Jason said. “I had the impression Sam—” Maybe that wasn’t very tactful. He didn’t finish the thought.
“You’re wondering why I let Sam buy me the ranch when I can afford to buy my own ranches?”
“I… Not exactly.”
“Sam likes to be the man in the white hat. That’s one reason.”
