“Right,” Tracy commented. “I thought maybe you and Gerald?—”
“You thought wrong.”
“Okay,” Tracy said, wondering if Cash would be back for pizza, pasta, and pie.
Donna held up a finger and complained, “First and foremost, Cash has made it clear he’s not interested. Second, Sam let it be known he’s happily married.” Adding a third finger to finger number two, she said, “Beau only has eyes for Cristen.” Holding up finger number four, she said, “Larry has a puppy-dog crush on some woman named Fernat a neighboring ranch.” She rolled her eyes and holding up all five fingers, she mumbled, “And Ed claims he has a girlfriend. But I think Ed and Larry are lying. Which is a slap in my face.”
“There are lots of single men back in Colorado Springs, Donna.”
“Lots of men are coming to the barbecue too,” Donna said. “I overheard Diane and Joyce saying that Chase Cooper is drop-dead gorgeous like Cash and that Derek Brevard’s wife refers to him as a handsome-hot, bad boy.”
“Diane and Joyce are loyal friends of the Coopers.”
Donna snickered. “And old enough to be the mothers of those two men.”
“Joyce and Diane are just complimenting Chase and Derek,” Tracy said. “I’ve heard those ladies also say more than once how beautiful and kind Chloe and Jade are.”
“Those two old broads better stay out of my way.”
“Donna, I’m going to speak my mind,” Tracy said as they somewhat squared off on the porch between the rocking chairs. Fists going to her hips, Donna tilted her head. “You have become increasingly aggravated as this week has progressed. Why is that?”
“Maybe my life isn’t as easy and carefree as yours, Tracy.”
“Really?” Tracy asked. Easy? She was scratching out a living, working all the time. Carefree? She had lost her grandfather and was constantly worried about her grandmother. And now there was Cash. Where had he and the strawberry blonde gone? “I’m happy to listen and I’ll try to help.”
Donna laughed. “I don’t think so!”
“All right. Fine.” Tracy raised her hands in the air. “But as I’ve said before, we’re on assignment and here as guests,” she reminded her. “Please don’t cause any more trouble.”
“More trouble?” Donna spat. “Are you referring to the lousy food making me puke into that scum pond?”
Tracy didn’t comment. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see if Cristen needs help preparing supper.”
Donna waved her off and headed into the cabin. Tracy continued to the café. She’d been so happy when talking to her grandmother. Then seeing Cash with Rusty and dealing with Donna had weighed her down. Donna was one thing. But knowing Cash was interested in the redhead after the night they’d spent together in his tent, hurt. Darn it.
In the kitchen, she found Cristen more than busy. Evidently, Kellie had been there unloading supplies from the camping trip, but Cristen had shooed her off to rest for a bit. The Western shop had since closed, and Beau apparently had the same idea as to helping out.
“Hi Cristen. Hi Beau,” Tracy said, stopping in the dining area. “What can I do to help?”
“Hi Tracy. Nothing really,” Cristen said pleasantly, if somewhat distractedly, and turned back to Beau. “Are you sure he’s not mad at me? Because I definitely did not let her into the house. Rusty barged past me as I was carrying out some extra plates and silverware.”
“I’ll place the silverware and these napkins on the tables,” Tracy said quietly, picking up a pile of silverware from the end of the serving table that she figured had come from Cash’s house, along with a stack of napkins.
“Thank you, Tracy,” Cristen replied with a sweet but worried smile.
“If he’s mad at you, he might as well be mad at me too,” Beau said. “Rusty ordered a cowboy hat and instead of coming to the shop to pick it up, she went to the house. She found Cash and told him the store was locked up. That was not true.”
“We’re back,” Kellie called, seemingly unaware as she and Sam joined them.
“You and Sam are guests this evening,” Cristen said. “Beau and I have this. And Tracy’s helping too.”
“Something’s up. What?” Sam asked pointedly, apparently knowing them well. When they shrugged, Sam lookedat Beau. “Beau, what’s wrong?” Placing silverware and napkins on tables, Tracy couldn’t help but overhear as they told him about Rusty. “Hell, you both know Cash better than that,” Sam said. “Guarantee you he’s got it all figured out. His only regret will be that Rusty caused you both grief.”
And just like that, Tracy’s spirits rose again. Cash Cooper was a good guy through and through and she liked him more every day. But she had a magazine article to write, her grandmother’s pending visit, and a more immediate concern was hoping to prevent Donna from causing anyone on the ranch moregrief. Having completed her silverware and napkins job, she turned and saw Cash swaggering, as only he could, toward the dining area. In his hand was the cowboy hat that Tracy knew had been on Rusty’s head only minutes earlier.
“Got something for you, Cristen,” Cash said, walking into the dining area with a big smile as he held the hat out to her.
“Really?” Cristen asked. “I don’t have a cowboy hat.” She looked at Beau who grinned and nodded. Putting the hat on her head, she said, “I love it. Thank you, Cash.”
