Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Yes.” Willow gave me a well-deserved eye roll because I’d been asking the same question every day since Maverick and Colt left for DC. Willow was quite possibly more put-together than I was. Between the girls, the bunkhouse, covering for Maverick, and my existing chores, I was more than a little scattered.
“Did you eat?” I asked. I’d been intending to get over in time to make sure they ate more than a granola bar, but I’d been waylaid with questions about who was mucking what from Reindeer, who’d overslept through the morning meeting with Grayson.
“Mom made French toast.” Hannah gave me a small, pleased smile.
“Excellent.” I held the door open for them. “Go on then. Don’t want to miss your bus.”
“Hope they don’t freeze out there.” Coming up next to me, Faith tightened her thick gray robe. “I also made coffee if you didn’t already get yours at the bunkhouse.”
“I did, but I could use a refill. Long day already.” Closing the door, I followed her back over to the coffee maker. “How are you doing?”
“Better than expected.” She rinsed the breakfast plates before loading them into the dishwasher. “I know Maverick is worried about me, but honestly, it’s kind of nice to be needed.”
“I know the feeling.” Amen to that. I might be busier than ever, and I would never wish bad news on Colt or his family, but I’d also gained a deep sense of satisfaction from being able to help. “Have you heard from Maverick?”
“Yeah. Colt’s brother has a TBI and a long road ahead of him, but he’s in DC now with a good team of doctors.” Faith moved from the dishes to put the syrup and butter in the fridge. She’d placed a careful list of daily chores and a rough schedule for herself on the front of the fridge. “The brother will likely end up with a medical discharge, but his overall prognosis is good.”
“I’m glad.” While the fridge was open, I snagged the milk for my coffee refill. I might be more used to cowboy living now, but I was never going to take my coffee black.
“I told Maverick to take as long as he and Colt need,” Faith added before shutting the fridge.
“Good.” I patted her on the shoulder as she passed by where I stood near the coffee maker. “We’re all doing a great job managing things here. You very much included.”
“Thanks.” A pink blush spread across Faith’s pale cheeks. “I…uh… Would you want to go into Durango with me Friday afternoon?”
“Absolutely. Sooner if you need.” I’d need to speak to Grayson about the schedule, but Faith was a priority as well.
“It’s not for a meeting.” Faith waved her slim wrist. “Well, not only that. I’m going to need one if I go through with this, but there’s a cosmetology school in Durango, like you predicted. Thought I might at least meet with the enrollment director.”
“I’m so excited for you.” I caught her up in a hug. “Yes, we can go check it out, catch a meeting, and be back before movie night with the girls.”
“Good.” Faith’s eyes went wide with surprise at the hug, but she had the same pleased smile as Hannah had earlier. “Busy week for you.”
“Yep. I have the tiny house people coming today for a meeting with Grayson about adding a few mobile visitor cabins.”
“Good luck with that.” Her cryptic tone gave me pause, and I released her from the hug.
“You think it’s a bad idea?”
“The cabins?” She shrugged before refilling her own coffee mug. “No, that will be fine. You and Maverick have a good eye for what guests will want. More that Grayson has been a thundercloud all week.”
“True.” No sense in denying it. He’d been more grumpy than usual, the return of his stern taskmaster side. Not outright hostile to me and as capable as ever, but he had been as prickly as a summer cactus. “I can handle him though. A little bad mood never scared me.”
“Better you than me.” Faith gave a light laugh, and I joined in to cover how much I enjoyed Grayson’s company, cranky or not. His skepticism over the dude ranch project notwithstanding, I spent the rest of my morning looking forward to seeing him for the meeting.
In fact, when he didn’t turn up at the horse barn or for lunch, I went and hunted him down, finding him at the hay barn, tools out as he tinkered with the bale loader.
“The tiny house people will be here soon.” I handed him the sack lunch I’d tossed together for him, which included two sandwiches and chips.
“Thanks.” He wiped off his hands before accepting the lunch and moving to sit on a nearby hay bale. “I didn’t forget about the meeting. Loader’s acting up again, though, so getting through the morning chores took longer. Snow’s on the way, too, so the animals are all twitchy.”