Saddle Up(71)

“Does she like to bake?” Jo-Jo asked.

“Yes, but our bread is deep-fried rather than baked. Fry bread is a staple on the rez.”

“Then I’ll have to see if I can make you some. Do you have the recipe?”

“Actually, I do. Right here.” He tapped his head with a grin. “But don’t tell anyone. Where I grew up, men aren’t supposed to know anything about cooking.”

“Do you like to cook?” she asked.

“Sometimes. But I only know how to make a few of my favorite things.”

“Like what?”

“Mostly game dishes—venison, rabbit, elk, black bear. Bear is my specialty.”

“So you do a lot of hunting?”

“Yes. We stock the freezer with fish and game. We buy little meat.”

“Bud loved to hunt bighorn sheep,” she said. “Used to go every year with some buddies of his. We’ve got a whole trophy room, if you’d like to see it later.”

“I’d like that, Jo-Jo.”

“I didn’t get a chance to say so earlier, but I’m glad you’ve come, Keith.”

“I’m happy to help you out,” he said.

“But then you plan to leave again.”

“Yes.”

“Back to Wyoming? That’s a lot of distance to try to make a relationship work,” Jo-Jo remarked.

“It is,” he agreed. “I’m thinking about looking for some ranch work that’s closer.”

“Why not just stay on here?”

“I have some very good reasons for not accepting the job, Miz Sutton. Personal reasons.”

“If you’re serious about ranching, there’s an outfit about twenty miles down the way that’s probably looking. The Knowltons are raising some new hybrid cattle and might be needing some help come calving season. There are a few other places that always hire extra hands for branding. ’Course, that kinda work doesn’t pay a whole lot. If you wanted to reconsider staying on with us, I could try to make it worth your while.”

“I don’t need your money,” he said. “I have no debts and lead a very simple, uncomplicated life. I mostly work because I want to, not so much because I have to.”

“Oh?” Her brows rose inquisitively. Her gray eyes, so much like Miranda’s, pierced him with her next question. “Do you eventually plan to settle down somewhere?”

“Yes… Eventually. I’ve drifted mainly because I haven’t had a good reason to put roots down.”

“I saw your horse out in the small corral. He’s quite a looker.”

Keith breathed easier at the change of topic. “Looks are about all that horse has going for him at the moment,” he replied.

“What do you mean?” Jo-Jo asked.

“He’s been in captivity for over six months, and no one’s been able to do anything with him yet. I was planning to work with him in my spare time.”

“Are you talking about Blue Eye?” Miranda asked, entering the kitchen.

“Yes,” he replied, relieved that the grilling was over.

“I’d love to film you working with him. Would you mind?”

“No, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Supper smells great, Jo-Jo. I’m starving.”

“I’m not surprised.” Jo-Jo flashed them both a mildly chastising look. “I’m sure you’ve both worked up quite an appetite.”





Chapter 25


Miranda exited the house the next morning with a thermos in one hand and a basket in the other. She was surprised to find Keith waiting on the front porch. “Keith! You missed breakfast. I’ve got some coffee and biscuits if you want them. I was just heading over to the bunkhouse to bring them to you. I thought maybe you’d overslept.”

“I’ve been up for about two hours,” he said.

“I don’t understand. Why didn’t you come inside?”

He shrugged. “Wasn’t real hungry, and once a day is enough to impose.”

“It’s not like that!” she protested. “Jo-Jo likes feeding people. In fact, I think she lives for it. But if it really makes you uncomfortable to come over in the morning, we can always go into town later and pick up a few groceries after I take care of the horses.”

“Already done,” he said. “I fed them all and turned the geldings out so we can get started on the fence. Have you ridden out and checked for weak places?”

“Yes. Jo-Jo and I already did that. We know exactly where the bad spots are. We’ll need to replace a few rotted posts and raise the perimeter fence height.”

“Do you want to ride out now to show me where those bad posts are?”

“Sure,” she replied. “That’s probably the best place for us to start.”

“How many need to be replaced?” he asked.

“About a dozen,” she replied.

“The ground’s probably too frozen to dig holes for wood posts, but I’m hoping I can still drive in some metal ones. Got any T-posts and a driver?”

“Yeah, in the workshop,” she said. “There’s a big stack of them.”

After loading up the utility cart with T-posts and tools, they rode out together on the ATV, her arms wrapped around his waist. It was bitter with the wind, but she hardly noticed in her excitement to show him the ranch.