Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(133)

“I did not expect all this, Rielle, thanks. Will these keep awhile in a dark cabinet?

”


“Everything but the carrots. I also snipped some dill, chervil, chives and the last of

the lemon basil.”


“Sold. I’ll take all of it.”


“Great! I’ll just knock the worst of the dirt off and get them bagged.”


“Lemme help ya,” Ben said, digging his hands into the wheelbarrow.


Ainsley wished she’d changed clothes so she wasn’t standing there useless in her

business suit. It seemed strange Ben would be here. “Do you help Rielle with her

harvest a lot, Ben?”


“Not usually. I stopped by for something else and—”


“I roped him into helping me. Poor man. Ben is always getting stuck doing things

around here. No wonder he doesn’t come around as much as he used to.”


Ainsley fought the odd spike of jealousy. “It’s good to have neighbors you can count

on. I lived in a condo in Denver for almost five years and I had only a passing

acquaintance with anyone in our neighborhood.”


“The McKays and Wetzlers have been tied together for thirty years. We know all of each

other’s family secrets.” Rielle winked and went back to digging.


“You didn’t know about Gavin,” Ben pointed out.


“True. But I always wondered why your mom went out of her way to check on me when Rory

was a baby.”


That surprised Ben enough he stopped digging. “Really? Vi did that? Without preaching

about the high price of sin?”


“Jerk.” Rielle whipped a clump of dirt at him. “Vi never was like that toward me. Or

Rory. And you don’t give your mom enough credit, Ben. She might’ve made some mistakes

in her life, but she’s owned up to them. She’s changed a lot.”



“I didn’t realize you were so buddy-buddy with my mom.”


Rielle shrugged. “Vi’s a damn sight more interesting than Joan McKay, who was the

only other woman close by besides Libby.”


As Ainsley shifted her stance, feeling woefully out of place, three dogs came bounding

out of the treeline. Ace and Deuce made a beeline for her, barking happily, no doubt

remembering her last doggie bribe. There went this brand new pair of pantyhose.


“Ace! Deuce! Sit. Stay,” Ben commanded.


The dogs obeyed. Heck, she had the urge to obey.


Rielle’s dog cowered by her feet and stared balefully at the man with the obey now

voice.


Ben smiled at Ainsley. “Kept them at bay this time.”


“That you did.”


“Not a fan of dogs?” Rielle asked.


“They’re fine. I’m just more of a cat person. Cats are more self-sufficient and

easier to leave at home alone for a few days.”


“But not more forgiving,” Rielle said dryly. “Rory had an ornery cat that would

shred every roll of toilet paper in the house if she was gone for more than a day.

Which is why all our kitties are outside cats.”


“Rory is your…”


“Daughter. She’s getting her master’s at the UWYO.”