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“Let’s go see the house,” Rhine said.
Kent knew it was a two story but the interior looked much smaller now than it had during the wake. There was a front parlor, a dining room, and the outdoor kitchen. Remembering all the food from the wake, he opened the cold box but found it empty. He asked Matt, “Who cooks your grub?”
“Mrs.Salinas comes in every Sunday. She also cooks for MissPortia’s dude visitors, but the rest of the time we had to make do with whatever the old man burned.”
Kent turned to Rhine. “Is she related to Gabriella over at your place?”
“Yes. Her mother.”
He wondered if she was available to cook full-time. With all the work needing to be done, the hands deserved a good meal at the end of the day, but he’d ask Rhine about that once he’d taken a full measure of the place. Exploring further, he surveyed the small bedroom off the kitchen. It came with its own washroom, but it didn’t look as if it had been used in years. The tub’s interior was coated with dirt and cobwebs and had a hole in the bottom rivaling the ones in the bunkhouse roof. He and Rhine exchanged a silent look and headed upstairs. The second floor was in better shape. The bedroom where they’d played poker was arguably the best kept room the house had to offer, but its washroom had water-warped wooden floors and no running water.
“Pipe busted a year or so ago,” Matt said by way of explanation. “We’ve been washing down at the pond.”
Kent took one last look around, blew out a breath and said to Rhine, “Lots to do around here, old man.”
“I agree. The value is in the land though. Houses and washrooms can be repaired. Make a list of what you want to work on first, besides the roof, and we’ll discuss it and the costs later.”
“Okay.”
“I need to get back to the hotel,” Rhine said.
Kent nodded. “I’ll ride over later to pick up my gear. I’ll sleep here tonight. I don’t want Parnell coming back and taking out his hurt feelings on the place.”
He saw Matt watching him and wondered what he might be thinking.
Rhine said, “Good plan but bring the men over for dinner. I’m owner now. They shouldn’t have to scrounge like hens for a meal.”
Kent nodded.
That evening, with Regan off on her overnight mail run, Portia and Eddy were the only women at the dinner table. Portia had known Buck and Farley most of her life so their presence was a pleasure. She didn’t mind that Parnell wasn’t with them because she’d never liked him. There was always an ugly intent in his eyes that made her never want to be alone with him. Young Matt Iler usually had very little to say and that evening was no exception. She assumed there was a story tied to Parnell’s absence and planned to ask her uncle about it later. Kent seemed more subdued than usual as well. He’d given her a nod of greeting when he and the men entered the house, but there’d been no hint of flirtation or amusement in his manner.
“Portia, were you aware of the sad state of Blanchard’s bunkhouse?” her uncle asked.
“If you mean the holes in the roof, yes. I ordered new shingles and he kept promising to get to it but never did. I think he was more concerned with beating Buck and Farley at poker and checkers.”
The two men smiled in reply.
Kent said to her, “We found the shingles in one of the barns. Matt and I will start work first thing tomorrow morning.”
Rhine said, “I’d offer to help but I’m heading to San Francisco in the morning for business.”
“Do you want my help?” Portia asked, and she saw Kent pause. Confusion etched his face.
Farley said, “She and MissRegan helped us roof the bunkhouse and the main house the last time we did them. They were just little ladies back then.”
Buck saluted her with his glass of sangria. “But they put in a full day’s work just like we did. Didn’t you, missy?”
The praise made her smile. “We had fun. We weren’t old enough to know girls weren’t supposed to do that sort of thing.”
Kent was eyeing her the way he had when she told him she handled the books and ran the hotel. She supposed he wasn’t sure what to make of her or her offer, and she found she enjoyed throwing him off balance. She added, “I can help most of the day. If Regan were here, we could get it done faster, but she’s not.”
Kent finally said okay and shook his head with what appeared to be wonder. “Join us as early as you can.”
“I will.” She saw Eddy and Rhine share a speaking look. Her aunt then met Portia’s eyes and smiled.
Instead of the usual high-collared blouse and flowing skirt, Portia showed up at the ranch the next morning striding to the bunkhouse in a pair of snug-fitting denims. Kent almost fell off the roof. Taking in the bewitching sight, he whispered appreciatively, “Damn.” So mesmerized was he watching her walk, he only belatedly noted her black flat-crowned hat, red flannel man’s shirt, and the red bandana tied around her throat.
Matt, working beside him on the roof, glanced up to see what had grabbed his attention. He eyed Portia, took a look up at Kent, shook his head, and went back to nailing shingles.
