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Trey’s surprise was a ten-year-old quarter horse gelding, red roan in color and named Strawberry Joe. Trey couldn’t have been happier if he had been presented with the moon.
Confident that it would be a long afternoon spent with horse and rider getting to know one another, Jessy knew it wasn’t likely she would be missed. As always, her parents were eager for any opportunity to look after their grandchildren. Her mother was especially happy to have, at last, a little girl who loved dolls and tea parties—unlike the tomboy daughter she had raised.
Stumpy readily accepted Jessy’s excuse that she needed to drive around and get a feel of range conditions for herself. But when she left the South Branch camp, Jessy drove straight to the Boar’s Nest. It was close to mid-afternoon when she arrived, the heat of the day. But high up in the foothills, a cooling wind lessened the effect of a blazing sun.
Stepping out of the pickup, Jessy looked around. There was no sign of Laredo’s truck anywhere. The whole place had a deserted feel to it.
“Hello?” Her seeking call seemed harsh in the stillness. “It’s me, Jessy!”
Faint noises came from inside the line cabin. Immediately she approached it. A tanned and fit-looking Chase pushed open the screen door to admit her.
“I wondered when you would be able to slip away again.” There was a smile of welcome in his brown eyes.
“It wasn’t easy.” Stepping inside, Jessy glanced around. “Where is everybody?”
“Hattie and Laredo went to town for groceries. They should be back anytime.” Chase crossed to the sink and set about brewing some coffee. “Have you had a chance to show Cat my note?”
Vaguely restless, Jessy wandered over to watch him. “I did—at the reception following Sally’s funeral.” She had barely begun to fill him in on the details when she heard the distant honking of a horn. She immediately stiffened in alarm.
Noting her reaction, Chase explained, “That’s Laredo. He always signals from the road so I know it’s him and not someone else.”
“That’s another thing,” Jessy recalled. “At the reception, Logan was asking questions about Laredo.”
“I was afraid of that.” A grimness thinned the line of his mouth. “Maybe we can get Cat settled down before he gets any answers that might start him looking into Laredo’s past on his own.” Chase lit the fire under the range-top coffee percolator and turned away. “We might as well give them a hand unloading those groceries. The coffee should be ready by the time we’re through.”
Jessy followed him outside, conscious of an odd tension tingling through her at the prospect of seeing Laredo. She knew it was that teasing kiss he stole in the barn that was responsible for the vague discomfort she felt. Mostly because she hadn’t found it offensive. After Ty, she hadn’t expected to be physically attracted to another man. It was disconcerting to discover that a part of her was.
Hattie bounded out of the cab seconds after the pickup rolled to a stop. Laredo was slower to emerge. “Hi, Jessy.” She waved to her and went directly to the truck’s tailgate. “Am I ever glad we took the cooler with us. If we hadn’t, half of what we bought would be spoiled from the long drive in this heat.”
Hattie lowered the tailgate and dragged the heavy cooler onto it. As she maneuvered it around to lift it out of the truck bed, Chase moved to take it from her.
“I’ll get that for you,” he said.
“Are you sure it isn’t too heavy for you?” But the sidelong glance she gave him was teasing, rather than concerned.
Chase smiled down at her, eyes twinkling. “It shouldn’t be. You aren’t.”
Stunned by the intimate exchange, Jessy stared at the pair. She couldn’t recall hearing Chase saying anything remotely like that to Sally.
She was too distracted to notice when Laredo came up behind her. Jessy was unaware of his presence until he murmured near her ear, “Better close your mouth unless you plan on catching flies.”
Her mouth happened to be closed, but it snapped open when she swung
around to deliver a sharp answer. But Laredo was already moving away. Jessy clamped her mouth shut and moved to the truck to help with the groceries.
Hattie hurried ahead to hold the screen door for Chase while he manhandled the bulky cooler through the opening. Jessy curled her arm around the second sack of groceries and started for the cabin. Laredo slowed his steps, allowing her to catch up with him.
His side glance was lazy but cool. “Aren’t you going to ask how long that’s been going on?” he asked with a nod in Chase and Hattie’s direction.
“It’s none of my business.”
“I’m glad you realize that,” he replied. “When you think about it, it’s natural. A man and a woman, alone in a cabin, hour after hour, day after day, no radio, no television. Nothing but each other.”
“I could figure that out for myself,” Jessy replied tightly. “I don’t need you to draw me pictures.”
“I don’t imagine there is much that you do need me for,” he stated with a faintly sardonic smile. “But Chase does need me.”
When they reached the cabin, Laredo waited, letting her enter ahead of him. Jessy found she didn’t like the touch of acid coolness in his attitude toward her. She much preferred his lazy mockery and laughing eyes. She was careful not to examine too closely the reason for that.
