Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17)(26)

That seed planted, he turned to the next issue. Trying to appear apologetic, he smiled at Andrea and Martin.

“We weren’t aware we were going to have vegetarians on the cattle drive. At this point, we can’t offer you a special menu plan. Meals will be served family style, so you can take as much or as little as you want of any one dish, but there won’t be any vegetarian entrees.”

Martin seemed okay with the information, but Andrea—who Zane suspected wore the pants in the family—appeared outraged.

She took a step toward him. “Are you aware of the havoc your steers cause the environment? And what about pigs? Ninety percent of the corn grown in this country goes to feed pigs. If Americans cut down on their pork consumption by as little as fifty percent, we could send almost half our corn crop to other countries—”

Andrea stopped suddenly when her husband lightly touched her arm. She glanced around. Everyone was staring at her.

She pressed her lips together. “I’m not a meat eater.”

“I understand,” Zane told her. “But we’re not equipped to provide you with vegetarian meals. I’m more than willing to refund you the price of the vacation, including your airline tickets, and arrange for you to fly home in the morning.” He turned to the couple in charge of the children. “I would be happy to do the same for the four of you.”

He was hoping that with more than half the group gone, the old ladies would feel strange about staying by themselves. Not that they were known for a sense of appropriate behavior.

Maya stretched her legs out in front of her and swirled her glass. “Zane, how generous. And here I thought you were committed to the cattle drive.”

He ignored her. “Just let me know.”

Eddie stood up. “Now hold on, Zane,” she said with a smile. “There’s no reason to get all fired up because Andrea here won’t eat meat. I’m sure your cook can make some extra vegetable dishes for her and Martin. As for the kids—” She smiled at them fondly. “Gladys and I are happy to help out. We love kids.”

She crouched down in front of Lucy and Tommy. “You two live in the city, don’t you?”

Tommy still looked worried, but he nodded.

“Ever been on a horse?”

The boy shook his head.

“Ever want to be a cowboy?”

A slight smile pulled at the boy’s mouth.

Eddie rose and faced Zane. “See there? He wants to be a cowboy. This young man and his pretty sister need to spend a little time in the outdoors.”

Gladys slapped Zane on the back. “You’re a good man to be so concerned about everyone, but I say let’s have at it. We’re all here for an adventure, and you’re just the man to provide it.”

Andrea looked mollified. “We have wanted to try something new,” she said to her husband. “I guess we could work around the food choices.”

“I’d like to try,” Martin told her.

Even the temporary foster parents looked less apprehensive than they had.

Zane knew when he’d been bested, and he didn’t try to argue. He’d given it his best shot.

“We’ll meet again after supper, and Frank will explain what you should bring and what should be left behind at the house. Then you can turn in early. We’ll head out just after dawn.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“YOU DON’T MIND SHARING?” Phoebe asked when she and Maya retreated to their room after dinner.

“Of course not.” Maya sank down on the bed by the window, then looked around the room. “It’s so weird to be back. Maybe that’s why I don’t come home very often. It’s too strange.”

Phoebe thought about her own lack of roots and how she would love to have a home to go back to. She settled on her bed. “If it were me, I’d come back every chance I got.”

“I believe that.” Maya flopped down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “Looking back, I was so young. I thought I was mature and together, but I was a kid.” She looked at Phoebe. “This was the first house where I felt safe.”

Phoebe knew her friend had grown up in Las Vegas. Maya’s mother had been a stripper who had constantly been on the lookout for a man to rescue her. Then Zane’s father had come along. After a whirlwind courtship, they’d married, and Maya and her mother had moved to Fool’s Gold and the Nicholson Ranch.

“Safe is nice,” Phoebe said.

“It is.” Maya sighed. “I liked seeing Elaine. She’s the lady who drove us in today. Elaine Mitchell. I knew her when I lived here before. I worked for her the summer before college. We’ve always kept in touch.”

“Mitchell Adventure Tours,” Phoebe said, then tilted her head. “Wait a minute. Mitchell, as in Del Mitchell?”

Maya groaned. “Don’t say that name. Yes, Del. My one true love.” She wrinkled her nose. “At least that’s what I thought back then. The first time I saw him, I swear I heard sound-track music. We were convinced it was going to last forever.”

It hadn’t, Phoebe knew. And these days Maya rarely got involved with a guy for very long. Giving her heart wasn’t an option. Phoebe knew most of the reasons. While they made sense, she still felt badly for her friend. At least one of them should be feeling the buzz on falling in love.