Can’t he take Rich with him? Or someone?”
“Your mom said Rich offered to go with him, but he’s insisting he wants to go alone. He’s not really going to camp out. He’s going to stay at a cabin. I can’t remember the name of it.”
“Potter’s cabin?”
“Yeah. How’d you know that?”
“The brothers bought out a man named Potter about twenty years ago. The only building on his place was the house, no more than a cabin, and a falling-down corral. We’ve gone there in the summers to look for strays, sometimes to move a herd up there, but it’s not good rangeland.”
“Who are the brothers?”
That question made her open her eyes wide. “Sorry, I forgot you wouldn’t know. We kids call them the brothers when we’re talking about Dad, I mean, Brett, Jake, Pete and Chad. My three uncles. We call their wives the aunts.”
“So Russ will be sleeping inside?”
“Yes. How long did he say he’d be gone?”
“A few days.”
She frowned and said nothing. Today was Tuesday. So he’d leave on Wednesday and he would be back before the weekend was over.
“You think he’ll be okay?”
Her head snapped up. “Of course…if he remembers to eat.”
“He probably will.”
“I hope so, but…sometimes, with what’s happened, it’s hard to remember it’s important.”
“Like you didn’t eat lunch today?”
“One meal doesn’t matter. I’m eating tonight.” She avoided his gaze, sure he would remind her that she was only eating because he insisted. But she would’ve eaten something when she got home. The sound of the phone ringing next door warned her what was waiting for her.
“You finished?” he asked, drawing her attention again.
“Yes. Thank you for helping out tonight. I won’t bother you anymore.”
“Well, I appreciate that. But first you have to eat your pie.”
“I ordered pie?” she asked in surprise.
“You sure did. Said you wanted the same as me. And either Mona wanted to justify that big tip, or they serve mighty big pieces of pie at the café.”
“I forgot about Mona’s tip! I forgot about paying at all. I’m so sorry. Here, I’ll get my purse and—”
“Eat your pie. I gave Mona a big tip and you can buy next time.”
He certainly knew how to distract a woman. “Next time? There won’t be a next time. Don’t you understand? If you’re seen with anyone twice, the gossips in Rawhide will have you married to her within a week. In their minds, at least.”
“Really? I don’t think—” The phone rang. He excused himself and went to the bedroom. Then he returned to the door.
“It’s your mom. She’s worried about her little chick.”
Straightening her shoulders, she glared at him before stalking into the bedroom. She sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up the receiver. “How did you know I was here?” she asked her mother.
“You weren’t at home, and Jon promised he’d try to get you to eat something, so I took a chance. How are you, darling?”
“It’s been rough, Mom. The phone has rung off the wall, and I have enough potted plants at the office to start a garden. Does Russ—? I know he’s leaving in the morning, but what would he want me to do about them?”
“I think he can’t make decisions right now. I tried to convince Pete that someone should go with him, but he said he understood how Russ felt.”
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