Home on the Range by Susan Fox

Author:Susan Fox
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
ISBN: 9781420131918
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2013-08-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The guests had been told to rise at dawn and assemble in the lodge for a quick muffin and cup of coffee. After that, the plan was to ride for a couple of hours to a viewpoint where they’d be served a trail breakfast. They would eat and relax, then ride home again.

Evan’s own plan had been to check out, get a cab to Williams Lake, and fly home. He’d told Cynthia he wouldn’t be back in time for Saturday dinner, so they planned to get together for brunch on Sunday. He would spend the rest of Sunday in the office.

Instead, after a sleepless night, Evan decided he couldn’t leave now, with matters as they currently stood between him and Jess. He felt terrible about their fight, and knew how hurt and angry she was. Maybe she’d be calmer today, and if he apologized again, surely they could work things out. Evan had lost her friendship once, because he’d given up too easily. He wasn’t about to let it happen again.

He hurried to the lodge at the crack of dawn, wanting to make a call before the others began to assemble.

“Evan,” Cynthia answered. “Are you at the airport, darling? Good God, it must be the middle of the night there.”

“There’s been a small setback. I’m going to have to stay another day.”

“What’s wrong? Is your old friend still holding out on you?” Did he detect an edge to her voice when she said “old friend”? Was Cynthia’s patience wearing thin?

“Well . . . Actually, we have talked a bit about her plans. I had dinner at her place last night and—”

“Sounds cozy.” Now the edge was sharp enough to cut glass.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. She lives with her parents. They’re old friends, too.”

“She’s still with her parents? A grown woman? How quaint.”

He frowned. “Her father had a stroke and she helps run the family ranch. And her parents help with her daughter, which is a far better arrangement than some anonymous after-school care facility.”

Cynthia didn’t reply for a moment, and Evan realized his comment could be taken as a criticism of her preferred method of child rearing. It was a discussion they needed to have, but in person. He stifled a groan. Now he had two women mad at him.

“Daughter?” Cynthia sounded more pleased, probably figuring he wouldn’t be interested in a woman with a child. “You didn’t mention she had a child. Where’s the father?”

“They split up, though they’re still friends.”

“Hmm. So you had dinner with the family at the ranch. . . .”

“Yes, though Robin, the daughter, wasn’t there. I’ll meet her today.” That was another benefit to staying—assuming by then he’d made up enough with Jess that she’d introduce him to the girl.

“Another meal with the family?” she asked grimly.

“No, it’s one of the Crazy Horse activities. Jess and her daughter are putting on a cowgirl display. Roping and barrel racing. It should be fun. And this morning, since I’m staying, I’ll go on the breakfast ride.

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