inheritance, she could be awarded a hefty sum if she can prove anything.”
“But, Mike, if she is Beulah’s granddaughter, she deserves some of the money.”
“Abby! Bite your tongue. Don’t give her ammunition.”
Abby smiled and shook her head. “I’ll be careful, but I don’t believe she’s a scam artist, Mike.”
He held up his hands. “I’m just warning you.”
“I appreciate it, but I think everything will be okay. I’ve got to call Beth now.”
Michael withdrew and returned to the kitchen. Ellen was busy mixing up the cake, and Dani was standing at the back door, looking out at the land.
Probably figuring out how much she could inherit, he thought. He stepped closer to her. “Dani, did you drive down from Amarillo?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You must be tired. That’s a four- or five-hour drive.” The Circle K spread was a half hour southwest of Wichita Falls.
“It’s not too bad.”
“Are you heading back after dinner?”
“No,” she said, but added nothing about her plans.
He decided to ask a few more questions, but Logan and his two children entered the kitchen. His daughter, who was a smaller version of her mother, rushed to Michael, holding out her arms. He swung her up into his arms with a laugh. “Well hello there. What have you been up to?”
Mirabelle was four years of age and always in constant motion. “I been painting my wall. Daddy got mad at me.”
Michael looked at Logan. He spoiled his daughter rotten, so Michael didn’t think Logan had lost his temper with her.
“I didn’t yell at you, but Mom’s going to be upset with you. She painted your room last year, remember?”
“Yes, but now it’s this year,” Mirabelle explained patiently.
Michael grinned. He was pretty sure the little girl didn’t comprehend a year, but she was smart enough to use it in her argument.
Logan put his toddler son in his high chair and tied a bib around his neck. “Dani, this is our daughter, Mirabelle—or should I say Michaelangelo—and our son, Scotty.”
Dani greeted the children with a warm smile, one that startled Michael.
“Hello,” Mirabelle said. “Who are you?”
“This is Dani. She’s having dinner with us,” Logan explained.
Mirabelle turned back to Michael. “But, Uncle Michael, you said I was your girlfriend!”
“Of course you are,” he assured her, not making the connection for a moment. Then he hurriedly added, “I just met Dani when she came to the ranch looking for someone.”
“Oh. Then it’s okay,” she said to Dani with a nod. “You can stay for dinner.”
“Mirabelle!” her father warned. “Mind your manners.”
“I said she could stay, Daddy.”
“It is not your decision, young lady, and you know it.”
With all the grace of a French dancer, Mirabelle shrugged her shoulders and hugged Michael’s neck.
“Mirabelle, you need to get in your chair.” Logan turned to Ellen. “Where’s your husband?”
“He’s upstairs. Could you call him?”
“Sure. And I’ll find Abby, too. Then we can eat.”
The table was set for eight. Michael carried Mirabelle to her seat next to the end of the table where her mother always sat. He assumed the seat next to the little girl and motioned to Dani to take the seat beside him. “Floyd and Ellen like to sit together on the other side of the table by Scotty.”
“I see. Thank you,” Dani said, and sank gracefully into the chair beside him.
Suddenly the room seemed full as Floyd came in followed by Logan and Abby. They all took their places, and Logan said the prayer before they ate.
After the blessing, Logan introduced Dani to Floyd. He worked the ranch, having met Ellen here when Logan hired him years ago. In time, the platters of food began to be passed around the table. Michael noticed Dani didn’t take much of anything. He kept watching her, frowning. Finally he said, “Are you on a diet? Because from where I sit, you don’t need to lose weight.” He eyed her slender figure.
She looked up, startled, her blue eyes wide. “No, I’m not on a diet.”
“She’s probably saving herself for the dessert,” Abby said, smiling at the woman. “Never mind Michael. There are lots of men in his family. He’s the only one unmarried these days, so he’s still uncivilized.”
“Hey!” Michael complained. “Logan, are you going to let your wife say that about me?”
Logan grinned. “You can’t fight the truth. You know our brothers would agree with her.”
All four of Michael’s brothers had married good women. He’d never argue about that. But just because he wasn’t married didn’t mean he couldn’t handle women. He’d learned from his one sister. In fact, he was used to being on his best behavior around women.
Abby changed the subject. “Dani, have you lived in Amarillo all your life?”
“Except when I went to school. I moved to Lubbock for my education.”
“Texas Tech?” Abby asked, naming the large university located in Lubbock.
“Yes.”
“That’s a good school,” Logan said. He added with a grin, “My family all went to OU, but we try to keep that quiet around here.” OU was Oklahoma University, a fierce rival of the University of Texas on the football field.
That remark even drew a smile from Dani. But still she said nothing.
They continued with casual conversation throughout the meal. Dani answered any questions addressed to her, but she volunteered nothing about her life.
Michael realized all they knew about her was where she lived and where she went to school. He wanted to know a lot more.
When the meal was over, Ellen began clearing the table. Abby jumped up to help her. Dani, too, began picking up plates and carrying them to the counter next to the dishwasher. Michael picked up his dishes and followed suit. His brother was cleaning up Scotty so he could get down from his high chair. Then he took Mirabelle to the bathroom to wash up.
“Are your sisters bringing the little ones?” Logan asked as he came back into the kitchen with his daughter.
“No, I don’t think so,”
