“Go ahead, and I’ll take your bet. I’m not calling Matthew and even if I did it wouldn’t do any good. He’s right—we’re about as compatible as a snail and a seagull.”
Bonnie grinned at Harry. “Stranger things have happened. Six months ago you never thought you’d be followed by a private investigator.”
Ashley took a deep breath. Six months ago her biggest headache had been how to report on two gala events in one evening. Now, because of a story she’d uncovered, a wealthy New York socialite and a congressman had been arrested.
It was the kind of fairy tale that would never have a happy ending.
***
Matthew opened his bedroom door and stumbled toward the bathroom.
“Don’t use all the hot water,” Sean yelled as he ran downstairs.
Matthew looked at his watch and frowned. He walked back to the landing and leaned over the rail. “Where are you going at six o’clock in the morning?”
There was no answer.
Sean never got out of bed before nine o’clock on a Sunday morning. It was the one day he slept in, watched TV, and ate anything he could get his hands on.
Matthew heard pots and pans banging against each other. He went downstairs, not quite sure of what he’d find.“What are you doing?”
Sean slid the skillet onto the stove and turned toward the refrigerator. “Going out for breakfast.” A packet of bacon landed on the counter. “Don’t tell me you ate the last tomatoes?”
Matthew leaned against the doorframe. “You ate them, too. If you’re going out for breakfast, why are you cooking bacon?”
“I’m having a shared breakfast with some friends. I’m bringing bacon, lettuce, and tomato toasted sandwiches.” Sean shoved a basket against Matthew’s chest. “Do me a favor and pick some tomatoes and lettuce from Nathan’s garden.”
“Now?”
“I haven’t got time to do it myself. I need to be in Bozeman in forty-five minutes.”
Matthew’s eyebrows rose. “You’re still in your boxers and haven’t had a shower. You’ll be late.”
“Not if you get the tomatoes and cook the bacon while I’m in the shower.”
“Fine. Go.”
Sean rushed across the kitchen and dropped four slices of bread into the toaster. “I’ll be back soon,” he yelled.
Matthew went back to his room, threw on some clothes and headed outside.He enjoyed the walk across to Nathan and Amy’s home. The mid-summer heat was still a few hours away, and except for a noisy rooster, the ranch was quiet. After the constant noise of New York, Bozeman was like a calm oasis.
“You’re up early.”
Matthew jumped. “You need to stop sneaking up on me.”
“That’s what older brothers are for,” Nathan said with a grin. He glanced at Matthew’s empty basket. “Are you raiding our garden again?”
“We need tomatoes and lettuce. Sean’s got some breakfast thing he’s going to. Where are the kids?”
“Still in bed. Toby had a rough night and kept everyone awake.”
“Is he okay now?”
“His temperature’s down and he hasn’t thrown up since midnight, so he’s probably on the mend.”
The black circles under Nathan’s eyes made him look ten years older. “Can I do anything?”
“We’ll be okay. Did Ashley call?”
