Page 21 of Heart of Stone

“Indeed I have not,” James replied, still looking at Stone. “I was hoping I might prevail upon my cousin to let me stay here. It would make getting to know one another so much easier, don’t you think?”

Frankly, Stone would rather have let his “cousin” stay in town with everyone else who wasn’t a part of the ranch, but it would powerfully rude to send him packing, and since Luke had asked the question, Stone felt like he had no choice at all.

“I suppose so. I’ll have Mary make up the front room and move Priss’s stuff to the housekeeper’s room.” He had no doubt Mary would be ecstatic about their unexpected guest, but Stone was certain she’d be the only one.

James gave him a quizzical look at that. “I remember there being a guest room. That’s where I stayed before. Has that changed?”

“I took that room when I moved it, since I felt wrong disturbin’ my aunt’s things.” Stone shrugged, refusing to elaborate. “Luke has the other room on the front, so unless you want Sarah’s old room by the kitchen, that’s about all we got.” He didn’t mention the foreman’s house, because he wasn’t going to say anything that might send Luke packing.

“Yourforemanstayshere?” James appeared on the verge of being scandalized. “Well, I hope you have him paying rent for the privilege, at least.”

“‘Scuse me?” Stone’s jaw dropped as he stared at his supposed cousin, unable to believe what he was hearing. “Now look here, Mr. Rivers, I am willin’ to give you a chance on account of you claimin’ kinship, but you best be understandin’ how it works ‘round here. A man who’s proved himself don’t have to pay for nothin’ in my book, and if it weren’t for Luke, there wouldn’tbea ranch. If you’re so keen on family, where were you when Priss was sick and needed help? I feel bad enough not bein’ here for her, and I didn’t even know I had an aunt. So you best be showin’ Luke the respect he deserves for doin’ more for Priss than her kin by blood or marriage ever did, or I’ll be takin’ back that invitation.” He stared at James, not blinking. He wasn’t going to listen to anyone badmouth Luke.

James’ smile turned conciliatory. “I’m terribly sorry, cousin,” he said in a tone that Stone wasn’t entirely convinced was sincere. “I didn’t mean to cause offense to you or your foreman here. I’m sure he’s been invaluable. Of course, I’ll take whatever accommodations you have available, and I’m grateful for them.”

Stone nodded curtly. “Well, then. Mary has supper ready, and we’ve been workin’ since sun up, so if you’re of a mind to join us for a meal, we’re eatin’ in the kitchen. Mary can make up that room in the meantime.” He turned and looked at Luke. “That suit?”

“Yes, sir, it suits me fine,” Luke replied, turning his back just enough to shut James out of their conversation without quite being rude about it.

“It suits me as well,” James interjected smoothly.

Stone nodded and headed for the kitchen. “Mary, we have a guest for supper.” He moved to the sink and began to prime the pump with suppressed aggression. He washed his hands, telling himself he needed to calm down and get his temper under control. James Rivers had gotten under his skin, but Stone knew he was no longer in a position where he could deck the man for being a jackass and get away with it. He probably should have sent the man packing at once, but it was too late to do anything about it now, except hope James kept his visit brief.

“Oh!” Mary’s eyes widened, and she smiled bashfully at James. “I’ll set another place, sir.”

“That’ll be fine.” Stone dried his hands and headed to the table. “Then if you don’t mind clearin’ Priss’s room, Mr. Rivers will be stayin’ with us for a spell.”

Mary was beaming at that, but Stone felt weary. He had someone in his house whom he didn’t much care for, forcing to be social, and for some reason, the whole situation with Luke was suddenly eating at him again, probably because he had really wanted to punch Mr. Smarmy-Pants Rivers right in his elegant nose for insulting Luke. But he had to get through this somehow, so he clenched his jaw and took his seat at the table.

James claimed a seat without waiting to see where Luke would sit, lounging with indolent grace and casting flirtatious smiles at Mary as she served them.

“It all looks delicious,” he said, but as soon as Mary was out of the room, he added, “Of course, it’s quite different from what I’m accustomed to. I’d forgotten how simple and unsophisticated the fare is out here.”

Stone looked at Luke instead of James in an effort to keep himself from saying something rude. “Mary’s cookin’ suits us just fine.”

“It’ll suit me just fine, too,” James replied, showing little reluctance to dig in. “Although you really must visit me sometime and let me show you around Boston. You’d be amazed at all the advances we have in technology these days, and it does take such a long time to bring civilization out west.”

“We have indoor plumbin’ and an ice box here,” Luke spoke up at last, lifting his chin proudly.

“Do you?” James turned to him with an indulgent smile. “How grand.”

Stone normally didn’t talk much at supper, but something about this city slicker was pestering him. “It’s enough for us,” he said, taking a sip of the cold well water in his glass. “Trappin’s don’t make a man, and we’ve got all the civilization we want.” He caught Luke’s eye and kept his face perfectly straight. “I don’t reckon we’ve had a witch burnin’ in at least a month.”

“There was that near miss when old Mrs. Dawkins showed up in church with a wart on her nose, but other than that, yeah, I’d say at least a good month,” Luke replied, his expression admirably deadpan.

James laughed heartily, but somehow the sound rang false. “Touché, gentlemen. I stand corrected.”

“Copper Lake Ranch is right comfortable,” Stone replied. “Maybe we don’t know much better, but it’s home. That’s all that really matters, leastwise to me.”

“Of course. I’m sure it’s quite nice to have somewhere to settle down in relative comfort this far from civilization,” James replied. “I would miss the amenities offered by city life, but I can already appreciate the rustic charms of this area.”

Stone nodded, but he didn’t say anything. Even when James sounded like he was saying something complimentary, there seemed to be another meaning underneath his words. People like that annoyed Stone, and nothing he said was going to make a difference at all to this man. It was best to save his breath.

He finished up his third piece of fried chicken and wiped his hands on his napkin. “I think Mary made apple pie.” He pushed back his chair and looked at Luke. “You want a cup of coffee with it?”

“I’ll get it.” Luke glanced over at James, who looked disapproving.

“No, I’m up.” Stone didn’t care a fig what Mr. James Rivers thought. He crossed to the stove and fetched the coffee pot that Mary had left out to keep warm, bringing it to the table and filling Luke’s cup. “How about you, cousin? Coffee?”

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