Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17)(25)

“There’s a couple from San Francisco. They’re vegetarians.”

Cookie slammed the lettuce onto the counter and spun around to glare at Zane. “What did you say, boy?”

Zane remembered the first time he’d met the older man. He’d been called all the way to Sacramento to make bail for a few of the cowboys. Apparently the usual Saturday night carousing had gotten out of hand. When the party had finally broken up, they’d been making time with several teenage girls on the shy side of eighteen.

After listening to the list of charges and the men’s explanations, Zane had fired two of the men on the spot, had given three a second chance and left the last one—already on probation for fighting—in jail to serve his time. Cookie had been in the last cell. When Zane had finished his lecture to the men he’d sprung, the old cook had straightened and asked where Zane’s spread was located. Zane had told him. Six weeks later Cookie had shown up. Instead of a resume, he’d baked biscuits, grilled steaks and put together a fudge brownie sundae good enough to make ice sweat. Zane had confirmed there weren’t any outstanding warrants on the man, then had hired him on the spot.

That had been ten years ago. Zane had never learned why the old man had been in jail. Cookie didn’t talk about his past, but then Zane rarely looked into other people’s histories. Cookie was grouchy, opinionated, stubborn about only working with good quality food and disappeared for three weeks every year without saying where he was going.

Zane stood his ground. The fact that Cookie had never started a fight didn’t mean he couldn’t be pushed too far.

“Vegetarians.”

Cookie muttered something under his breath. “I ain’t cooking no tofu. I’ll quit first.”

“Fine by me. You cook what you like. I just wanted you to know.”

“Vegetarians.” Cookie washed his hands, then attacked the lettuce.

Frank walked into the kitchen. “Everything’s all set, boss. Tents, saddles, supplies. Cookie’s wagon is loaded, except for the fresh stuff. We have a schedule set up. You’ll get a delivery every afternoon.”

Zane nodded. “You get a look at the folks?”

His second in command did his best to keep his expression neutral, but Zane saw the corner of Frank’s mouth twitch.

“You mean the fact that you’ve got to deal with Maya’s mouth, some old ladies and a couple of kids?”

Cookie picked up a lethal-looking knife, then reached for several tomatoes. “You left out the good part, Zane. Tell him about the damn nut eaters.”

When Frank looked confused, Zane shrugged. “Vegetarians.”

This time Frank’s entire mouth jerked, but he controlled his humor. “Sounds interesting.”

“Tits are interesting, boy,” Cookie growled. “Vegetarians are just plain stupid. If people want to eat leaves and grubs, then they should go live in the forest. Root around with those ugly truffle pigs and get away from my table.”

“What time is supper?” Zane asked.

Cookie snarled something under his breath, then walked to the back door and stuck his head out. “Billy, you got that there barbecue ready yet, boy?”

“Yes, sir. Coals are hot and gray. You wanted them gray, didn’t you, Cookie?”

“What color gray?”

There was a pause. “Sort of medium.”

“Huh.” Cookie closed the back door and grinned at Zane. “I screw with him because he makes it so easy. Dinner can be ready in half an hour.”

Zane glanced at his watch. “Okay. We’ll have everyone in the dining room by then.”

“What about those people?” Cookie practically spit the last two words.

Zane knew who he was talking about. What would Andrea and Martin be eating?

“Let them make do.”

He left the kitchen with Frank on his heels.

Zane had given his guests a couple of hours to settle in and had asked them to collect in the living room at five-thirty. He walked into the large room and found them talking with each other.

The old ladies were playing some kind of game with the two kids while the temporary foster parents looked on uneasily. The tree huggers were admiring pictures of the area, while Maya had helped herself to a drink from the bar. And Phoebe... He braced himself for his unexplainable but very real attraction to her. His brain might know that she was all wrong, but his dick kept pointing in her direction.

She sat next to Maya on the sofa. When he walked in with Frank, conversation gradually ceased. He did his best to offer a warm and welcoming smile, then wondered why he bothered. Charming people was Chase’s job. Zane was the mean-ass brother who worried about work schedules and getting the payroll out. His busy days didn’t leave much time for charm.

Still he wanted to put everyone at ease before he offered them a chance to back out on what might be the disaster of a lifetime.

“I have some announcements,” he said when he had their attention. “First,” he looked at the kids. “Our neighbors brought over a couple of saddles for the kids. They’re worn but serviceable. However, the plan was for a six-day ride. This is a tough pace for some seasoned riders. I’m concerned about the children being able to keep up.”

As he spoke, the boy looked a little worried, but his sister got a stubborn expression he recognized from dealing with Maya. The foster parents shifted uncomfortably, but didn’t say anything.