Page 19 of Wyoming Tough

“You, too,” he said gently.

“The heifers doing okay?” she asked.

“Doing fine. We’ll just hope and pray that that the weatherman’s wrong on that snow forecast.”

“I’ll agree with that. Good night.”

“’Nite.”

She went into her room and closed the door. Darby had seemed shocked that the boss went to the restaurant where Morie was eating. She was shocked, too, but also pleased and flattered and thrilled to death.

She slept, finally. And her dreams were sweet.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE LAST THINGMORIE EXPECTEDthe next day was to find a seething Gelly Bruner on her doorstep. Well, at the bunkhouse when she went in for lunch.

“I hate Chinese food,” Gelly said without a greeting.

“I’m sorry,” Morie said. “In that case, perhaps you should avoid Chinese restaurants.” She smiled.

“He went there because of you, didn’t he?” she demanded. “To make sure your date knew he was watching out for you.”

Morie looked innocent. “Why would he do that? He’s not my dad.”

Gelly frowned. “He’s not your boyfriend, either, and you’d better not make eyes at him,” she added coldly. “You won’t last long here if you do.”

“I work here,” Morie pointed out. “That’s all.”

“You see how they live and you like it,” the blonde said, giving Morie’s clothing an even colder look. “You’re poor and you’d like to have nice things and mingle with the right people.”

“I do mingle with the right people,” Morie said, offended.

“Cowboys” came the disparaging reply. “Smelly and stupid.”

“They’re neither.”

“If you do anything to make Mallory notice you, I’ll make sure it never happens again,” she added, lowering her voice. “You won’t be the first person I’ve helped off this ranch. It isn’t wise to make an enemy of me.”

“I work here,” Morie said, growing angry. She had her mother’s looks, but her father’s fiery temper. “And nobody threatens me.”

Gelly shifted. She wasn’t used to people who fought back. “My people are well-to-do,” she said stiffly. “And you won’t like how I get even.”

Morie raised an eyebrow. “Ditto.”

“Well, you just stay away from Mallory,” she said bluntly. “He’s mine and I don’t share!”

“Does he know?”

Gelly blinked. “Know what?”

“That he belongs to you? Perhaps I should ask him….”

“You shut up!” The blonde woman’s fists balled at her sides and her face grew flushed with temper. “I’ll get you!”

“Wind and water,” Morie said philosophically. “Words.”

Gelly drew back her hand and started to slap the younger woman, but Morie threw up her forearm instinctively and blocked the move.

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