Desiree’s eyebrows rose. “Trying to keep up with Lucky?”
Angie just smiled.
“I love it.” Brit looked at Trent. “What’s our resident marketing expert think?”
“I say go for it. Only make it Two Handywomen and a Cowboy.”
“Except he isn’t one,” Lani said. “He told me he’s never been on a horse.”
“Minor detail. He’s already bought the hat. I guarantee someone will get him on a horse this week.” Trent looked straight at Sara.
She took a breath. “It’s an exciting idea.”
“You’re not crazy about it, though,” Angie said. “Why not?”
“I just think… he might want to do it, but I can’t imagine him leaving his grandmother and it doesn’t sound like she’d come with him.”
“I’d completely understand if that’s his choice. You could be right that she won’t budge.”
“I’m only going by what he’s said.”
“Then you think if I offered him a job, I might put him between a rock and a hard place?”
“Kind of. Yeah.”
“I won’t mention it yet. I’ll tell Kendall not to say anything, either. We’ll see how the next few days go.”
Sara’s anxiety eased. “That sounds good.” Angie’s offer could absolutely put him in a bind. The McLintocks were a dazzling bunch. But his granny was his top priority. His loyalty to her was one of the things that made him special.
“Now that we have that semi-settled and the fire’s almost out…” Dallas polished off his Bailey’s and stood. “We should probably shove off, honeybunch.”
“Yep. Sure was nice to hang out, though.” Angie got up, too. “Looks like we’ll all be here for Christmas.”
“I have Harry and Vanessa’s solid promise,” Desiree said, “so if Lani and Sara can?—”
“Oh, we’ll be here. Right, sis?” Lani glanced at her.
“Yep. Wouldn’t miss it.”
The gathering broke up after Dallas and Angie left. Within twenty minutes, Sara was headed down the hall with Lani.
She gave her sister dibs on the hall bathroom they shared. If the discussion went as she hoped, she wouldn’t be changing into her PJs tonight.
As she sat on her bed and waited for Lani’s return, she went over her pitch, but a little voice in her head kept distracting her. Was she also putting Kieran in a bind?
While she was wrestling with that, Lani came back in wearing her pjs.
“The bathroom’s all yours.” She tucked her clothes in a laundry bag.
“I have something I need to talk to you about.”
Turning, Lani gazed at her. “I knew it. Rance has been acting weird. You’re acting weird. He kidnapped Kieran. What are you guys up to?”
Sara told her.
“Oh, good Lord! Rance expects you to drive his big truck for the first time on the ranch roads by yourself at night?”
“Yes, but that’s not the part that worries me.”
