Cowboy Heat by Mari Carr

Author:Mari Carr [Carr, Mari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carried Away Publishing

It felt like old times as they sat down to dinner. Usually her uncle ate with the ranch hands in the kitchen, but tonight he’d planned a special welcome home meal in the dining room. She’d spent all of her life sharing meals, listening to the men discuss the ranch and their day. Having Max and Shaw with them at the table felt right. Her uncle had been struggling to find ranch hands as reliable and hardworking as them since they’d left, and she knew he missed having them around on a day-to-day basis. Max and Shaw had been a part of Mockingbird Ranch from the time she’d turned twelve until two years ago. They were more than neighbors. They were family.

“So Liv married Rem Bradley,” she said, as the three men attempted to catch her up on all the changes that had occurred during her absence. “I was surprised to hear that.”

Max nodded. “Yep. Rumor has it they’re expecting another baby around Christmastime. It’ll be their third.”

The Bradleys owned one of the four ranches in the area. They were good people, kind neighbors, and Keri was looking forward to reconnecting with them. “I think I remember Brody mentioning that Liv’s brother Jeb married too.”

Shaw speared a bit of meatloaf with his fork. “He finally convinced his high-school sweetheart Claire to marry him. They’re running the ranch next to Rem’s.”

“That’s nice. I sort of thought Jeb would follow the rodeo forever.”

Brody wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Everybody’s gotta grow up sometime. I’ve noticed even these two scoundrels are slowing down in their advanced years.”

They all laughed as Shaw raised his hand in denial. “You don’t have to worry about me growing up, and you might wanna watch yourself throwing around that advanced years comment, old man. People who live in glass houses…”

Brody shrugged good-naturedly. “Speaking of houses, I’ve put a fresh coat of paint on the walls in the office. I never use the damn room, so it’s yours, Keri. You can set up your computer stuff in there, hang whatever pictures you want.”

Keri smiled at her uncle’s generosity. “That sounds great. Thanks, Brody. As long as your Internet service works, I’ll be set.”

“It works,” Brody said with a grin. “Only dead zone as far as Internet and cell service is on that six-mile stretch of road where you managed to break down.”

She laughed. “I didn’t break down. The damn car did.”

Her uncle’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket, waving it at her as if to prove his point. He started to turn if off but frowned when he read the caller ID. Rising, he excused himself. “I need to take this.”

He surprised Keri by leaving the room. Her uncle was a stickler for the dinner hour. He never allowed phone calls during meals.

“He’s missed you,” Shaw said.

Keri smiled. “I’ve missed him too. More than I can say.”

“Your mother doing okay?” Max asked.

She nodded. “Yep. She finally settled down and got married. Found a nice man, an insurance salesman.

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