“I appreciate the compliment, Chase,” Jacob said. Turning to Tracy, he asked, “Can you tell us what Kirk Devereux said when he called a few minutes ago?”
“Mr. Devereux said Gerald contacted him stating he didn’t have enough money to bail himself out of jail. Gerald asked if someone from the magazine could bail him out.”
“What did Kirk say?” Cash asked.
“He said, and I quote,” Tracy began, “‘Hell no, and you’re fired, Moles.’”
“Kirk’s a great guy,” Chase said. “I’ll bet there’s more to the Moles’ back story.”
Tracy nodded and said, “Yes, Mr. Devereux said something about this being the third time Gerald’s lack of good judgment had landed him in jail since he went to work forRanchers and Rangesless than a year ago.”
“Wow, three strikes. No wonder he’s out,” Jacob said and shook his head. “What a loser. Anything new on Donna?”
“Yes.” Tracy told them, “The hospital permitted Donna to call the office to advise them she couldn’t report to work due to being in detox. Evidently, she begged whoever she spokewith to send someone from the magazine to pick her up. They didn’t do that but sent a cab. When it arrived, Donna was restricted from leaving. Turns out one of the doctors had placed her on a seventy-two-hour psychiatric hold for making homicidal threats against her father.”
“Damn,” Cash said and shook his head. “I can’t imagine that.”
“Me neither,” Chase said, looking at his brother.
“I was hoping they’d be on their way to North Dakota soon,” Jacob said.
“Me too,” Tracy admitted quietly. “That’s the downside to their being fired.”
“Do either of you have a gun for personal protection?” Chase asked her and Jacob.
“I do,” Jacob said. “Do you, Tracy?”
She shook her head. “No. But getting one is on my to-do list.”
Cash said, “We’ll add it to flying and whistling.”
“I’ve heard those things are on the agenda,” Tracy said. The way Cash had emphasizedspitfirewhen he’d suggested making time to talk about flying was causing her to reassess. She’d thought back to the day they’d met. Driving that Mustang had been well out of her comfort zone. Since when did she not step out of her comfort zone? She smiled at Cash. “Cash thinks I need to take a ride in the Triple C helicopter.”
“Definitely,” Chase agreed.
They all dismounted at that point and Tracy hugged Dude. Chase led them to a huge barn where there were picnic tables used for meals by his cowboys. Some of his crew, she was told were out on the range rounding up more Black Angus for branding. Others were hauling cows to markets. Chase passed out water to anyone who wanted a bottle and gave Dude fresh water as well. Cash wed to the guests gathered around the corral admiring the cows.
“We’d better head back to Triple C-East or we’ll miss the chow bell rounding us up,” Cash said to his cowboys and dude ranchers. Jeff and Beau wrangled the guests back in thesaddle and headed east. Jacob was staying in the bunkhouse again and left with them. Dude was ready to go too. But he remained close to Cash, looking up at him with nothing short of love and devotion in his big brown eyes. Cash petted his head and asked Tracy, “Is your interview over?”
“Yes, with Chase. Jade is making time for me tomorrow and then I’ll head down the road to Triple C-West,” Tracy said. “So, I’ll go now before I completely lose my dog to you.”
Cash chuckled, Dude glued to his side. “Thanks, Chase.”
“Yes, thank you again, Chase,” Tracy said. “I enjoyed herding the cows.”
“You’re welcome,” Chase said. “Before I forget, Jade wants us all to do dinner on Saturday. Would that work for you guys?”
“Sounds good to me,” Cash said. “Tracy?”
Tracy smiled knowing that meant she had at least one more day past Friday to spend with Cash. “Works for me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“You know ranch work starts before sunup,” Cash said with a chuckle on Wednesday as he sat on the side of the big bed.
“I didn’t hear the breakfast chow bell yet.” Tracy covered her head with the pillow. She made a blind grab for him, caught his wrist, and tugged. The sheet lay so low across her naked back it barely covered her rounded derrière. “Come here, Cash.”
“You stay in bed as long as you want, and I’ll come back for you when the chow bell rings for lunch.”
