Page 19 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

“Something you need to give your attention to before we meet again at your ranch. It’s some results of my earlier research into this place and two others also, in comparison. To make the best-informed decision, you need facts. So, you can settle in and begin reading. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning for the trip home. I have meetings in the afternoon that I cannot miss so we need to get moving as soon as the sun comes up. Have a good evening.”

As her door closed behind her, she allowed the breath she had been holding inside to slowly escape. Escape…had she done just that? Well, he might think she ran away. Either way, she remembered just in time why they had come to begin with and what was most important. Let him think what he wanted. She might want him to release the springs to the town but she wasn’t going to use any means necessary to obtain his compliance. And if he thought she would, then he would have a long night ahead…with figures of a totally different kind.

Chapter Nine

“Did you findall your facts?”

Matt’s question caught her off guard. Which had happened more than once in the two days since her return from the trip with Cade. “What do you mean?”

“You said you were going on a fact-finding mission. So, what fact did you find out? Did you and Cade discover any common ground?”

Common ground? Shaky ground would be a better description.And nothing to do with the springs issue. But she wasn’t going to say that to her brother. “We’re still discussing the issue.”

Matt grinned but kept his attention on the plate of nachos in front of him. He wasn’t fooling Tori though. He was her brother after all, and she knew from past experiences that he could feign ignorance of something with the best of them.

“I see.”

Tori gave her brother one of those big sister looks that had always served her well in the past. Except it didn’t this time. “What are you inferring?”

“Me? Who said I wasinferringanything? We lawmen don’t do a lot ofinferring. We look at evidence and make flat-out statements.”

“Then make a statement if you think you’re so smart.”

He settled his gaze upon her. “Well, now that you’ve asked. It’s fairly simple deducing.”

She shook her head. “I have a feeling you’re about to find your deducing skills are not all that sharp all the time.”

“I believe that both of you did find some common ground on the springs issue. Becauseyouwouldn’t have it any other way. However, I believe that you both agreed to keep discussing the matter because there are other things that came up during this trip. Let’s say you two didn’t come back as the combatants you left. Which is why I saw the man twice…once yesterday and once today and both times he asked how my sister was doing. He has never done that before as we both well know.”

“You are way off base, Matthew.”

“And you never call me Matthew unless I’ve really gotten under your skin.”

“I would change the subject if I were you,” she added, giving him the look.

“One last bit of evidence,” he said. “The man just walked in the door and was going to another direction until he spied you. Smile, sis…he’s heading straight for you.” Matthew said the last words while putting a welcoming smile on his face and outstretching his hand.

Why did her stomach squeeze and a sense of panic set in?Get a grip.She would have two pairs of prying eyes on her now. She hoped the smile on her face was not as shaky as she was feeling as she met those blue eyes, and he shook hands with Matt.

“Good to see you, Cade. Care to join us?”

Tori wished she could give a swift kick to her brother’s leg beneath the table at that moment. He’d issued the invite on purpose. There was nothing for it but to lift a smile at the cowboy who stood beside their table.

“Good afternoon, Matt. And to you, Mayor.” His voice and demeanor gave nothing away but a casual greeting. That seemed to irritate her more than it should have. But if they were back to their usual selves in Destiny’s River, then so be it. She nodded and said a brief: “Afternoon Mr. Lockwood.”

He had already turned his attention back to Matt. “Thanks for the invite but I’m meeting someone, and I see she’s already been seated toward the back and is waiting on me. Maybe another time. Have a good lunch.” He left them and Matt reclaimed his seat.

Tori itched to turn around and see who the ‘she’ was he had mentioned. But that would be too noticeable, especially by her brother. However, it didn’t keep him from giving an account of what he saw.

“My, my…so he does have a very nice-looking lunch partner if my eyesight doesn’t deceive me. I wonder who she is? I would remember her if she was from these parts.”

Tori kept her focus on the salad in front of her. “If you’re so interested, then go introduce yourself. She might find the badge lends you some sort of country charm.”

“Meow,” he commented, looking across at his sister. “That sounded almost catty on your part, but then why should it? Evidently you don’t have any particular interest in the man…even after you two took a trip together.”

Tori shook her head. “It takes a good deal of patience to be your sister. And I’m not the one ogling them.”

“I am not ogling. I am, after all, a single man who appreciates a beautiful woman when he sees one. And looks like Cade does, also. They are having a very deep conversation…heads close together, gazes locked on each other. Yep, she might be a keeper.”

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