Page 51 of Prospecting

“No,” Sheridan said. “He said he made his choices and the rest was up to me. I figure he’s upgraded his equipment for prospecting.”

“He made no changes to his prospecting equipment,” Calli said.

“Oh. What did he change,” Sheridan asked.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been sworn to secrecy,” Calli said. “You have to ask him. I think an eight percent overage isn’t excessive.”

“I want to stay on budget,” Sheridan said thinking of how her mother was. “It’s important he knows I won’t be…”

“Like your mother,” Ferrl asked finishing for her.

“Yes,” Sheridan said flushing with embarrassment.

“None of us think you’re like her,” Calli said. “Sheridan, go ask him. Don’t stress about it and go ask him.”

“Thanks,” Sheridan said. “I will.”

***

She wound her way down the steps. She heard him shifting things, wondered what he was doing. “Cade,” she said raising her voice so he heard her.

“Yeah,” he said grunting as he shifted crates.

“What are you doing,” she said looking around at all the crates. “This is very disorganized.”

“I keep meaning to organize it,” Cade said. “I get distracted when we shift locations and when we’re on location…” He shrugged and grinned at her. “What brings you down here?”

“Do you want me to work on organizing this,” she asked.

“If you want,” he said. “I was trying to find those supplies you wanted for the kitchen. I found them.”

“It wasn’t urgent,” Sheridan said seeing the box he held up. “You do too much for me.”

“I like doing for you,” he said. Looking in the box, he wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Maybe I’ll make you earn each of these.”

She took the box from him. “Do you have an inventory of what is supposed to be down here,” she asked.

“Yes,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

“I like organizing. I think I’m good at it,” she said.

“You are,” he said.

“Then let me organize this mess,” she said, hands on hips.

“Some of these crates are heavy,” Cade said.

“Then you’ll have to come down and do the lifting for me,” she said.

“Next time we shift,” he said. “The inventory is in the files for the ship.”

“I’ll look for it,” she said, relieved.

“You’re my partner,” he said seeing her uncertainty.

“I looked at the numbers for the new ship,” she said. “We’re over budget. I asked Calli and she said you made some changes.”

“Yes,” Cade said. “It’s equipment.”

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