“You happen to be anywhere nearby?”
“Why?”
“I kinda lost the key to the medicine cabinet.”
“Kinda?” Seth glanced at the dashboard clock. Already noon. Paxton should’ve given the pregnant mares their meds by now. “Either you lost it or you didn’t.”
Paxton noisily cleared his throat. “I had it earlier. Then I misplaced the damn thing. It’s gotta turn up. You got one, don’t you?”
“Where’s Clint?”
“He and Lila left for Kalispell about an hour ago. Won’t be back till late.”
Seth pinched the bridge of his nose. Kalispell was closer to the Whispering Pines, but he wouldn’t ask Clint to drive back. The poor guy deserved the time off with Lila. Hell, what he truly deserved was to be able to count on Seth for a change.
He looked over at Hannah. She’d been gazing out the window but she turned to him with a smile. She could only glean so much from his side of the conversation but she mouthed, “It’s fine.”
Cursing to himself, Seth exhaled slowly. She’d never know how much he appreciated her understanding. Though he doubted she understood their entire day and night together was about to be ruined. Maybe the whole week. He didn’t know if he could take another day off. But, hell, he owed his brother. His whole family.
After a nervous silence, Paxton asked, “You want me to give Clint a holler?”
“No. It’ll take me about three hours,” he said, and couldn’t quite look at Hannah.
“Sorry, boss,” Paxton mumbled.
“Yeah. I know.” Seth disconnected the call and put the phone down with too much force. “Son of a bitch.” He turned to Hannah. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, please. I can curse with the best of ’em.”
He managed a smile. “About everything. I have to get back to the Whispering Pines.”
“I guessed as much.”
“After that, it’ll be too late to come back here.” He saw the disappointment in her eyes. Just a flicker and then it was gone. She wouldn’t sulk or make him feel bad, like so many other women he knew. The thing was, they could still drive to Kalispell afterward, just to have dinner and spend the night. For that matter, there was a motel in Blackfoot Falls. But either option seemed too tacky. He wouldn’t feel right doing that to her.
“Shouldn’t we be getting back on the road?” she asked softly. “I’m not trying to rush you. It just sounded kind of important.”
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