Kiss Me (Fool's Gold #17)(38)

He started back toward the camp. Phoebe followed him happily.

“You think the raccoons could ever learn to tell time?” she asked.

He glanced at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Maybe I have a dry sense of humor, too.”

“City girl.”

He was probably insulting her, but the way he said the word made her feel almost tall and, if not blonde, then certainly highlighted.

“I think Rocky likes me,” she confided.

“I’m sure he does.”

CHAPTER TEN

“THIS IS A HAMBURGER,” Andrea announced with all the enthusiasm of a schoolteacher discovering a student with head lice.

Cookie glared at her. Zane figured his annoyance at having someone question him about his food overrode his natural inclination to flirt with the ladies.

The old man used his spatula to lift up the meat patty and stare underneath it. “Yup. Looks like hamburger to me. Now if you like I could fry you up some bacon to go on it, but I don’t have nothing fancy. None of them designer cheeses or guacamole.”

Andrea pushed her plate at him. “I can’t eat this.”

Cookie’s thick eyebrows drew together. “Listen here, little lady. I’ve been making burgers since before you were spitting up on your mama’s shoulder.”

Andrea turned to her husband. “Martin, it’s a hamburger.”

Martin cleared his throat. “We’re vegetarians, Cookie.”

Cookie frowned and looked at Zane who could only shrug. The cook shook his head.

“I heard tell you don’t eat meat. Don’t make sense to me.”

Andrea shuddered. “Meat is unhealthy, inhumane, and if you knew all the wasted land spent growing food for livestock you’d understand why a non-animal-based diet is so much—”

“You crazy?” Cookie asked, interrupting her.

Andrea looked unamused by the question. “Absolutely not. I am concerned about my health and the state of the environment. Now, I’m requesting an alternative for my lunch.”

Cookie glanced at Zane who shrugged again, then the cook picked up a clean plate. He put a grilled burger bun on first, flipped it open and set lettuce, tomato and cheese on the bottom half. Next he slapped on a mound of potato salad on the plate along with a scoop of cut up fresh fruit, then handed the plate to Andrea.

“Next,” he bellowed, glaring at Martin.

Andrea opened her mouth, then closed it. “Fine,” she murmured from between clenched teeth.

Martin stepped up to Cookie and offered a tentative smile. “Is the beef hormone free?” he asked.

Andrea swung on him. “Martin, you wouldn’t consider actually eating that, would you?”

From where Zane was standing, Martin looked more than a little interested in the juicy burger his wife had refused.

“If it’s hormone free,” he said, not meeting her gaze.

Zane stepped forward. “I don’t use feed with antibiotics in it,” he told Martin. “The steers are healthy, prime beef.”

“Fresh, too,” Cookie said with a wink. “Just last week this one was on the hoof.”

Andrea thrust her plate at her husband and made a beeline for the bushes. Martin paled and said the meat-free burger would be fine. Cookie shrugged as if to say it was his choice, but Zane wasn’t fooled. He collected a plate and took the burger neither Andrea nor Martin had wanted.

“I don’t guess they’ll be asking any more questions,” the cook said with a cackle.

“Serves ’em right,” Chase said as he joined them.

Zane glared at them both. “They’re our guests. Paying guests. Cookie, I want you to figure out something those two can eat. Chase, finish up your lunch, then check on the cattle.”

“But, Zane, I’ve been working all morning.”

“So has everyone else. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, so I suggest you do your best to not cause more trouble.”

Chase grabbed his food and stalked off. Cookie watched him go.

“You’re hard on the boy.”

“He’s earned it.” Zane grabbed a fork and napkin. “You hear me about those two?”

Cookie’s mouth twisted. “They’re vegetarians, Zane. You gotta let me have a little fun.”

“They’re my responsibility.”

“Aw, hell.”

Cookie grumbled as he tended the cook fire, but Zane knew the old man would respect his request. He depended on his crew, and they rarely let him down. If only he could say the same about Chase.

He headed toward the group of canvas and metal chairs that had been set up for the meal. The kids were sitting a few feet away from C.J. and Thad, close to the wagon. Neither of them were eating.

Just perfect, he thought as he stopped next to them.

“Don’t you like your lunch?” he asked.

The girl—Lucy—looked up at him. Her light brown eyes were wide and full of mistrust.

“We heard what that man said. About the burgers.”

The boy nodded, then swallowed. “Are we really eating a cow?”

Zane silently ran through five swearwords, using some in combination, damning Cookie, the tree huggers and Chase most of all. He set his plate on an empty chair and crouched in front of the kids.