“Leaves Ed and Larry for what?”
“A roll in the hay.” Donna had apparently amused herself and laughed.
“Just for sex?” Tracy asked, probably showing her backward village persona.
“Umm…yes.” Donna wiggled her head all around and repeated, “Just for sex.”
“Do you even like Ed and Larry?”
“I like what’s in their jeans.”
“Those guys could be married like Sam, or maybe have a girlfriend like Beau.”
“MaybeI’ll find out on the trail tomorrow. At the campsite.” Donna turned away. “Two at a time.” She wandered away into the living room. “In their tent.”
“Donna,” Tracy began but heard her bedroom door slam, “please don’t get us fired.”
CHAPTER NINE
“Wednesday morning,” Cash muttered, realizing Tracy’s assignment was close to halfway done.
The chow bell clanged, officially announcing breakfast. He strode from the stables with Sam. They and the wranglers had already saddled the horses. For this overnight adventure, they would hitch both mules; Eloise the brown one and Mavis the black one to midsize, covered wagons. The guests always got a kick out of the mules and wagons on the overnight trips. The wranglers had gone ahead of Cash and Sam to eat so they could be ready to assist guests with saddlebags and saddling up. For some reason, Kellie had decided to accompany them on the excursion which meant packing an extra tent for Sam and Kellie to share.
That also meant Cash would be alone in his own tent. Never once had Cash shared a tent with a guest. But he sure as hell wanted to share one with Tracy. He’d gone to bed the previous night, tossed and turned until he fell asleep, and then dreamed of her. It had been so real when he had awakened he rolled over in bed and reached for her. But dammit, she hadn’t been there.
He and Sam reached the café and took places across fromeach other at a table. Halfway through his stack of pancakes, Cash saw her. An Elsa hat atop cinnamon waves, surrounding a beautiful face with those alluring turquoise eyes, she swayed toward them. Perky breasts filled out a shirt Cash recognized from his shop. At her waist, where his hands had rested the night before, the shirt was tied in a knot across her belly button. Blue jeans hugged her hips and thighs. Glistening cinnamon lips smiled as cowboy boots walked her closer. As he’d said to the barrel racing twins, Cash reminded himself he was a rancher running a business. Where Tracy was concerned, he’d rein himself in today.
“Is this seat taken, Cash?” Jacob asked, with a plate of food.
“No, sit down, Jacob,” Cash said, pulling his eyes off Tracy.
“Your grandfather, Coop, is one of the nicest gentlemen I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” Jacob said, setting his plate on the table. “I got some great sunset photos.”
“Good deal,” Cash said and heard Donna’s sharp, odd laugh. She had met up with Ed and Larry near the corral. “Yes, thanks, we all think Coop’s the best too.”
Turning in his chair, Jacob called, “Tracy,” and waved her their way.
Cash hoped Tracy joined them before Donna could as she linked arms with the wranglers and tugged them toward the café. Those guys knew how to handle themselves. He wasn’t concerned.
“Morning, gentlemen,” Tracy said a moment later as Jacob pulled out the chair beside him. Setting her breakfast tray down on the table, she took the seat directly across from Cash. She smiled at him and said, “I’m excited about our camping trip.”
Cash nodded. “It’s never dull.”
“I was telling Cash that thanks to Coop, we’ve got some fantastic shots of the sunset here on Triple C-East,” Jacob said as Tracy sliced into her pancake.
“That’s great, Jacob.” With a glance to include Cash,Tracy said, “At sunrise or sunset, the beauty of your ranch is nothing short of magnificent.” Cash smiled and Tracy took a bite of pancake. Then back to Jacob she said, “I emailed Gerald last night and told him that along with Cash and Coop, I’d like to include some photos and quotes from the families on Triple C-Central and West.”
“Emailed…like on a laptop…in the dark?” Cash asked innocently.
“Yes,” Tracy said. Her eyes widened playfully warning him against telling Jacob about the laptop episode. “I had time to send an email last night since I wasn’t chasing chickens.”
“Good to know they weren’t holding you hostage.” Cash’s lips twitched as he tried not to grin. When Jacob glanced away at Donna, who was heading their way without Ed and Larry in tow, Cash gave Tracy a wink of conspiracy as to her laptop. “Who’s Gerald?”
“My editor at the magazine,” Tracy told him.
“He’s smitten with Tracy,” Jacob said, back in the conversation as he nudged her in the arm with his elbow. He looked across the table at Cash to say, “Gerald will give Tracy whatever she wants whether she asks for it or not. Like a badass Mustang to drive on assignment.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Tracy laughed, but Cash could see on her face she suspected Jacob’s assessment was accurate. “As for our assignment, the owner, not Gerald, has final say about this article.”
