Page 81 of Relentless

“You know this is for charity, right?” Oakleigh asked, swirling the coffee in her mug.

Crew and Maeve exchanged an amused glance.

“Competition is a competition,” Crew grinned. “And I’m bettin’ I’ll draw one of theSlimsthis time.”

He put a thumb firmly in his chest.

“I’ll be the first one ever to ride Big Slim a full eight seconds,” he bragged. “If I have anything to say about it.”

Oakleigh began to look uneasy at the mention of the ranch’s star bull.

“I think Oakleigh might have a few things to say about it,” Maeve observed.

That was an understatement.

“Melody Fields is hungry for our title,” Maeve continued. “I want to make sure we show up at our best.”

“Not easy to do without Sawyer,” Crew chimed in. “He’s salty as ever and raring to get out of bed.”

“Let him complain all he wants, he’s on rest until I say otherwise,” Maeve firmly stated. “Bethany’s sure been a blessing, though,” she mused. “She’s really seemed to raise his spirits — that was a good call, Oakleigh.”

Oakleigh beamed with pride at the compliment as she took a sip from her mug.

“And how’s the shop?” Maeve pivoted, hoping to cross off everything from her list quickly so she could move along to cooking supper. She knew Dallas and the ranch hands would be looking forward to a hot meal after the long drive home.

“I got a voice memo from Audrey,” Oakleigh said with an eye roll. “She’s in a panic.”

“When ain’t she in a panic?” Crew grinned.

Oakleigh shrugged. “I tried to talk her down.”

Her indifference caused Maeve a tinge of annoyance.

“Well,” Maeve asked. “What does she need?

“Power is out all over town,” Oakleigh answered flatly. “But we invested in that big generator last year, remember?” She flung her hand up to punctuate her words.

“All she has to do is press one little red button,” she said, rolling her eyes again, “and all those customers can have all the coffee they want.”

“Customers?” Maeve asked, tilting her head. “At this time of night?”

“Yeah,” Oakleigh confirmed, drawing another sip from her mug, “She’s slammed.”

“In this?” Maeve gestured to the wall of windows displaying the thick snow piling up on the balcony.

Her eyes widened.

She drew her fingers across her brow, trying to mitigate her accusatory tone.

“Oakleigh, did you do what I asked?”

Her eyes went wide, and there was a lengthy pause before Oakleigh responded.

“Which part?”

Her feigned ignorance on the matter was all the answer she needed.

Maeve was frustrated.

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