so. I can find someone to fill in temporarily. I’m glad you’re ready to make some changes in your life, but don’t jump before you look, okay?”
They’d been a close family, and when their parents had died, he and Ethan had grown even closer. He’d do anything for his brother—except live his life for him.
“Another month on the ranch is fine, but I’m probably going to start looking around at what I want to do. I may hire another new hand to fill in on some of the straightforward work.”
“Sounds good. We’ll talk more when I come. And bro? I’m too old to sleep on the floor. Think you can find some furniture before I arrive?”
Maggie could . The thought jumped into his head before he could censor it. She’d probably do an incredible job of decorating the house. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her, though, and not want to hold her in his arms.
Obviously, he needed to start dating other women. His reaction to Maggie was unreasonable for the amount of time they’d spent together, which was hardly any at all. Things were all out of whack, and he needed to bring more balance into his life.
He picked up the phone again. Ellie had asked him if he wanted to go to the movies the last time he’d eaten at Arnie’s. A little . . . ordinary compared to Maggie. But he might as well get used to it. Everyone seemed ordinary compared to her. Didn’t mean Ellie wasn’t a nice woman, though. Nice was good.
Chapter Four
“Don’t you look all spiffed up.” Dave grinned at JD. “Got a date?”
JD had decided at the last minute that he needed to dress up his jeans and white shirt and had grabbed a suit jacket to wear. He’d been spending as much time as he could in the far boundaries of the ranch, mending fences for the last two weeks. He’d finally gotten so sick of his own company, he’d returned home. He needed to move forward, to get on with his life. “Going to the movies with Ellie. Hey, Sammie.” He nodded at the small woman. “Didn’t see you there. Feeling better?”
“Yes. Thanks. Took me about a week to shake that flu. Ellie had it, too, didn’t she?”
She hauled a bucket of water to the box stall. Sodapop, a roan JD had bought without realizing she was pregnant, was lying down in fresh hay inside the stall. She was due to give birth any time now.
“Did she? I don’t know.” JD looked back at Dave. “You sure you don’t mind if I leave? I can stay if you need me.”
“Sammie and I have everything under control. I’ll call when Sodapop starts giving birth. Clay wants me to call him, too. Said he’d swing by if he’s free later.”
JD let himself into the stall and laid his hand on Sodapop’s side. “Any reason we need the vet? Did Clay say he was worried about Sodapop?”
Dave snickered. “I think he wanted another excuse to visit Maggie. She’s been reeling them in, that one.”
“Hey,” Sammie protested. “Maggie’s my friend. Don’t talk about her like she’s hunting down men. She isn’t like that.”
JD hadn’t spoken to Maggie in the past two weeks, and he’d prefer to keep on that track. He sure as hell didn’t want to hear about her and other men. Not that it was any of his business. He’d moved on. Had put out feelers about designing houses again. Seemed like there might be a few interested clients. He had to drive down to Salt Lake in a week or two to talk to a couple about designing their dream house for them and to take a look at their building lot.
And he was going out with Ellie tonight. They were just good friends, and he didn’t see the relationship going beyond that. But it would be nice to catch a movie and a drink with someone as easygoing as Ellie.
He stood. “Call me if you need me. I can be back in fifteen minutes.”
“Sure thing. Say hi to Ellie for me. Tell her I’ll be in for a slice of her blueberry pie soon.”
“Will do. Thanks for helping out, Sammie. I appreciate it.”
The tiny woman blushed under his
They’d been a close family, and when their parents had died, he and Ethan had grown even closer. He’d do anything for his brother—except live his life for him.
“Another month on the ranch is fine, but I’m probably going to start looking around at what I want to do. I may hire another new hand to fill in on some of the straightforward work.”
“Sounds good. We’ll talk more when I come. And bro? I’m too old to sleep on the floor. Think you can find some furniture before I arrive?”
Maggie could . The thought jumped into his head before he could censor it. She’d probably do an incredible job of decorating the house. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her, though, and not want to hold her in his arms.
Obviously, he needed to start dating other women. His reaction to Maggie was unreasonable for the amount of time they’d spent together, which was hardly any at all. Things were all out of whack, and he needed to bring more balance into his life.
He picked up the phone again. Ellie had asked him if he wanted to go to the movies the last time he’d eaten at Arnie’s. A little . . . ordinary compared to Maggie. But he might as well get used to it. Everyone seemed ordinary compared to her. Didn’t mean Ellie wasn’t a nice woman, though. Nice was good.
Chapter Four
“Don’t you look all spiffed up.” Dave grinned at JD. “Got a date?”
JD had decided at the last minute that he needed to dress up his jeans and white shirt and had grabbed a suit jacket to wear. He’d been spending as much time as he could in the far boundaries of the ranch, mending fences for the last two weeks. He’d finally gotten so sick of his own company, he’d returned home. He needed to move forward, to get on with his life. “Going to the movies with Ellie. Hey, Sammie.” He nodded at the small woman. “Didn’t see you there. Feeling better?”
“Yes. Thanks. Took me about a week to shake that flu. Ellie had it, too, didn’t she?”
She hauled a bucket of water to the box stall. Sodapop, a roan JD had bought without realizing she was pregnant, was lying down in fresh hay inside the stall. She was due to give birth any time now.
“Did she? I don’t know.” JD looked back at Dave. “You sure you don’t mind if I leave? I can stay if you need me.”
“Sammie and I have everything under control. I’ll call when Sodapop starts giving birth. Clay wants me to call him, too. Said he’d swing by if he’s free later.”
JD let himself into the stall and laid his hand on Sodapop’s side. “Any reason we need the vet? Did Clay say he was worried about Sodapop?”
Dave snickered. “I think he wanted another excuse to visit Maggie. She’s been reeling them in, that one.”
“Hey,” Sammie protested. “Maggie’s my friend. Don’t talk about her like she’s hunting down men. She isn’t like that.”
JD hadn’t spoken to Maggie in the past two weeks, and he’d prefer to keep on that track. He sure as hell didn’t want to hear about her and other men. Not that it was any of his business. He’d moved on. Had put out feelers about designing houses again. Seemed like there might be a few interested clients. He had to drive down to Salt Lake in a week or two to talk to a couple about designing their dream house for them and to take a look at their building lot.
And he was going out with Ellie tonight. They were just good friends, and he didn’t see the relationship going beyond that. But it would be nice to catch a movie and a drink with someone as easygoing as Ellie.
He stood. “Call me if you need me. I can be back in fifteen minutes.”
“Sure thing. Say hi to Ellie for me. Tell her I’ll be in for a slice of her blueberry pie soon.”
“Will do. Thanks for helping out, Sammie. I appreciate it.”
The tiny woman blushed under his
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