“Tell him from me that he’d better not. He’s already had one warning. There won’t be another.”
Thomas tore a chunk of bread off the loaf that Mrs. Bennett had left in the kitchen. “I’ll tell him. Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but spending the night in a noisy bar packed with college students and cowboys isn’t my idea of fun.”
“Suit yourself, but you’ll miss a good night.”
Brett didn’t need the type of good night Thomas was talking about. “Just remember you’re feeding the cattle with me tomorrow morning. I’m leaving here no later than seven-thirty.”
“No problem. Thanks for the casserole.”
“You’re welcome. Next time, get home faster. You’re lucky Mrs. Bennett gave me extra.”
“She always does.” With the last of the casserole gone, Thomas rinsed his plate and added it to the dishwasher. “I need to get changed. See you tomorrow, boss.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”
Thomas’ smile was instant. “You always say that and you know what happens.”
“Yeah. You don’t listen to me.”
Thomas smiled as he pulled on his jacket and hat. “If I’m not home by two o’clock, don’t send out a search party.”
“As long as you’re up in time to feed the cattle, you can do what you want.”
Thomas snorted as he left Brett’s cottage. They both knew it had never been that easy.
***
An hour later, Brett wished he hadn’t answered the phone call from his sister. “You never give up, do you?”
“Someone has to make sure you don’t turn into a hermit. All you have to do is find a clean shirt and drive into town.”
“It will take an hour to get there.”
“If you’d left when you should have, you’d be here by now.”
The trouble with Mary-Beth was that she had a selective memory. “I never told you I was coming to the Christmas party.”
“You never said you weren’t, either. You could stay with me tonight to save you going back to the ranch.”
“Give me one good reason why I need to drive through a howling nor’wester to socialize with a bunch of strangers.”
“Because Christmas is getting closer and you’re in danger of turning into the Grinch. Besides, Nathan is your friend, not a stranger. When was the last time you came to town?”
“I was there two days ago.”
“Buying boots and jeans at Murdoch’s doesn’t count.”
Brett’s eyebrows rose. “It does when your boots are ready for the trash.”
“Don’t you want to meet different people?”
“By different, do you mean female?”
Mary-Beth hesitated before answering. “Not necessarily. But being cooped up on the ranch with a bunch of cowboys isn’t healthy. Mrs. Bennett is the only woman you see each day.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
