CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sean swung an ax into the air and brought it down hard on the log in front of him. “Ashley’s been home for two months. Don’t you think it’s time the two of you talked?”
Matthew moved the wheelbarrow closer. “I don’t have anything to say to her.”
“Yeah, right. You’ve spent more time at Tess’ café over the last month than you ever have. For someone who doesn’t care about Ashley, you listen to everything Tess says about her.”
“It would be rude if I didn’t.”
Sean’s snort of disbelief made Matthew’s cheeks burn. He thought no one had noticed his regular trips into town. Whatever they needed, he made sure he was the person getting it.
“Sally said that Ashley’s looking at buying a house.” Sean waited for him to throw some wood into the wheelbarrow before continuing. “You could go with her. Someone needs to make sure she doesn’t buy a bad investment.”
“I don’t know anything about buying houses.”
“You saw the potential in the warehouse in New York. Even Jacob said it was a good deal. If you can do that there, you’ll have no trouble in Bozeman.”
“Commercial and residential properties are completely different.”
Sean split another log. “The principles must be the same. Ask Jacob—he knows what he’s talking about.”
“I don’t know why she doesn’t stay in the apartment she’s renting. It’s not far from town, and it’s in a family-friendly neighborhood.”
“And you know this because?”
“Tess told me,” Matthew muttered. He didn’t add that he’d taken a detour once or twice to check on her.
“Maybe she wants to put down roots—you know—the ones you decided she’d never have.”
“You were the one who told me to be careful.”
“That was before she stayed with us. Ashley’s okay if you like the tall, blond, intelligent type. Amy said she’s a great cook.”
Matthew froze. “Amy has been to Ashley’s apartment?”
“Lots of times. Catherine and Toby have been there, too. Just because you’re not talking to her, it doesn’t mean everyone is ignoring her.”
“Are you going to chop more wood or stand there talking?”
Sean leaned on the handle of the ax. “You always get bossy when you know you’re wrong. Some of us have a conscience, and some of us don’t.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She moved here to be closer to you.”
Matthew threw another log into the wheelbarrow. “That was only part of the reason.”
“According to Sally, it was most of the reason. She could be earning twice as much money in Washington, D.C.”
“Money isn’t everything.”
“It is when you want to buy a house.”
Matthew gripped the handles of the wheelbarrow. “I need to empty this. I’ll be back soon.”
“Make sure you are,” Sean yelled after him. “By the time I’ve finished chopping all the wood, there’ll be enough to keep half of Montana warm.”
Sean wasn’t wrong. Two huge pine trees had come down in a freak storm. Rather than let the wood rot, they’d pulled the trees closer to home and were chopping them into logs for the fire.
