Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17)(23)

“You’re surprised that I wouldn’t want kids to starve. I figured she’d claimed I was a jerk, but it sounds like she’s also telling you that I’m mean to children.”

“No, nothing like that.” She took a step back. “Maya thinks you’re a little, you know, uptight maybe.”

His expression hardened, and she wanted to suck back the words.

“But not in a bad way.”

“Right.”

Zane turned his attention to the bus. Phoebe got a bad feeling when she caught sight of the worn sandals, tie-dyed T-shirts and woven hats on the next couple to disembark.

“Hey,” the man said. “I’m Martin Lagarde and this is my wife, Andrea.”

The woman, a thirtysomething brunette with freckles and glasses, shook hands with Zane.

“We’re so excited to be here. Martin and I just love being in the outdoors. We’ve hiked all over, and last year we did a week at a meditation retreat in Hawaii, but we’ve never done anything like this.” She continued to pump his hand as her expression turned earnest. “We really want this opportunity to be one with the land. To experience a different kind of life. The Old West.” She finally released Zane’s hand. “We’re vegetarians. I hope that won’t be a problem.”

Zane considered them for a moment, then said, “Not for me.” He jerked his head toward the compartment beneath the bus that the driver had opened. “Collect your gear and head inside. Chase will show you where you’ll bunk tonight.”

“Sure thing,” Martin said.

He held up his hand for a high five. When Zane simply stared at him, Martin grabbed Zane’s wrist and pulled it until it was level with his shoulder, then slapped his hand against Zane’s.

When he walked away, Zane turned to look at her. “Two starving kids and tree-hugging vegetarians. I’m going to kill Chase.”

Phoebe almost didn’t blame him. Despite her lack of experience in the cattle-drive department, even she could see the potential for trouble. Then a familiar figure standing beside the driver caught her attention, and she waved. Maya grinned and waved back.

“It’s Maya,” Phoebe said.

Zane turned and followed her gaze. “Just perfect,” he muttered as his ex-stepsister walked toward them.

“You’re looking grim, Zane,” Maya said cheerfully when she joined them. “Who died?” She smiled. “Oh, I forgot. You’re just being your usual charming self.” She squeezed his arm. “You’ve missed me, I know.”

Zane’s eyes narrowed. “Like foot fungus.”

She laughed and turned to Phoebe. “You’re still alive. I see Zane didn’t bore you to death.”

“Not even close.” Phoebe hugged her friend.

Maya waved forward the bus driver, a pretty woman in her fifties. “Phoebe, this is Elaine Mitchell.”

“You’re the one Maya worked for in high school?” Phoebe asked.

“I am.”

Maya put her arm around Phoebe’s shoulders. “And this is my BFF, Phoebe.”

“Welcome to Fool’s Gold,” Elaine said with a smile.

Instead of her usual suit and high heels, Maya wore jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and boots. Her blond hair was pulled back in a braid.

“You look like a local,” Phoebe said.

“Speaking of locals,” Maya began, a note of warning in her voice.

“Oh, shit,” Zane said before she could continue.

Phoebe looked toward the bus and immediately saw why Zane’s face had gone a little ashen. The two crazy old women who had cornered her at his truck in town had just gotten off the bus. Eddie and Gladys, if she remembered right. The skinny one was wearing stiff, dark blue jeans and a plaid Western shirt with pearly snaps along the front. The plump one, who still looked as if she had asked for one of everything at the cosmetic counter, was wearing jeans, too, and leather chaps with fringe along the sides. They both had cowboy hats perched atop their white curls.

Beside her Zane muttered under his breath. She caught a handful of words. Something about being old, broken bones and a reference to hanging Chase from the lightning rod in the middle of a storm.

“Ladies,” he said as he stepped forward. “I’m afraid we don’t have enough tents or saddles to add you to the group.”

“I already tried to stop them,” Elaine said, “but they insisted.” She turned to Phoebe. “Eddie and Gladys are known for being a little hardheaded.”

“Among other things,” Maya added wryly. “That one’s Eddie, and that one’s Gladys,” she said, pointing.

“We’re not additions,” Eddie said, “we’re replacements.”

Gladys dug through the large black purse strapped over her forearm and pulled out a checkbook. “We met a nice couple at Ronan’s last night, and they couldn’t say yes fast enough when we offered to buy their spots on the cattle drive.”

“They said they’re gonna stay in town and get a hot stone massage every day instead.”

“But—”

“We already paid,” Eddie said. “Five hundred bucks a pop. Figured it would be worth it if we could see some sexy cowboys. We’ve taken riding lessons from Shane Stryker, but he refuses to take off his shirt for us. I hope you’re not going to be so stubborn.”