Page 66 of A Sweet Chat for the Cowboy

Oh.That made sense.

Everyone looked at the ground as if the tension between Tucker and her was making them uncomfortable.

“Do you have a site picked out ahead of that one?” she asked.

Slowly Tucker shook his head. Of course he didn’t. He hadn’t had much time to scout new spots today. But she also sensed that he wouldn’t have done it even if he’d had the time, not once he had heard that decision, anyway. “But I can find one,” Tucker said.

She didn’t doubt that he could.. She looked at Gunner. “Are you okay with being in charge of a station again tonight?”

She couldn’t read his expression, but he nodded solemnly.

She looked at Tucker. “Let’s put his team where we were. And we’ll move on.”

“Do you want me to stay with them?” Martin asked. “I have some of the tracking pants.”

“I’m not putting pants on a toad,” Gunner said matter-of-factly. “I can trap the thing and wait for a scientist to come put doll clothes on the toad.”

“Okay,” Wynona said, still trying to form a plan even as she delivered it. “Let’s put Gunner’s team where we were last night, and then we’ll try to find a spot beyond that. Worst case scenario is, we’ll have to come back and join them.”

Without a word, Tucker turned and started walking again.

Wow,overreact much?

They stopped when they reached the site of last night’s victory. It felt weird to be back there. She had been so happy less than twenty-four hours ago, and now everything felt heavy and sullen. Where had the joy gone? This no longer felt like an adventure. It no longer felt hopeful. It just felt cold.

And for reasons she didn’t understand, she felt lonely.

Only Tucker, Holden, Sundance, and Wynona kept going.

But they didn’t go far before Tucker stopped. “This isn’t exactly level, but I’m guessing you don’t want to go too far from where we found your little friend last night.”

“Good thinking.” She took her pack off and thought about how she’d feel if she saw the same toad tonight. It would be both fun and disappointing if they saw a scarlet stripe only to then find out it was already wearing underwear.

Chapter 35

Tucker knew he wasbeing a jerk, but he couldn’t make himself care. He was so over this. When he was sure that she was out of earshot he asked Holden, “What do you think? Does she even need a guide anymore?”

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