“I appreciate that.” I dropped my voice lower so we wouldn’t be overheard. “I don’t want to make your life more complicated than it already is. I’m here for you as a friend, okay?”
“Oh.” Her expression stiffened, and she nodded. “I see. Thank you.” Something had shifted between us, and suddenly the air felt tense. What had I said wrong? Ella had advised me to be there for her as a friend. Before I could find out what had happened, Freddy strode into the dining room looking like he was ready for a day on a yacht with his pristine chinos, button-down shirt and deck shoes.
“Please excuse me.” She headed toward an open table with her plate of food.
“Good morning!” Freddy called out as he approached me. “I see we have an American-style breakfast. Eat until your pants won’t button.”
I would not apologize for good, hearty food. “That’s right. Grab a plate, and I’ll fill it. We have fruit too.”
“Yum.” He eyed the buffet with such a snooty look on his face that it was hard not to react, but I managed. I’d had some experience with difficult guests. “What’s on tap for today, Mr. Hart? I’d love to join Lauren for whatever she has planned.”
“You’ll have to ask her if you’re invited to join her plans,” I said dully. “That’s none of my business.”
He stuck a fork into a slice of cantaloupe and slid it onto his plate. “You’re acting quite superior for someone who was pawing my wife last night.”
Trying to smile at this idiot hurt my face, but I didn’t want my other guests to see my temper flare up. “From what I understand, she doesn’t want to be your wife and hasn’t for a long time.”
His eyes sparkled with rage, but he was still smiling like an alligator. “And do you seriously think she would be with a man like you? As desperate as Lauren may be, I don’t think she’s ready for that kind of downgrade.”
Fortunately, Chef arrived with another pan of bacon before I could leap over the buffet table and downgrade Freddy’s face. No one had pushed my buttons this way since my brother Bowie and I had to share a bedroom as teenagers. Instead of storming straight back to the kitchen like he usually did, Chef stayed by my side, arms crossed over his chest.
“Is everything alright?” he asked me quietly. “I heard our new guest was giving Mrs. Wagonblast a hard time outside the Round Room last night.”
I loved that even Chef was looking out for Lauren. Maybe somewhere in his alcohol addled brain the other night he comprehended her concern and care for him.
“I think she’s okay,” I said. “But you can burn his piece of meat tonight.”
Chef’s mouth twisted into the closest thing to a smile I’d ever seen from him. “I thought you were obsessed with getting us good reviews.”
I glared over at the table where Freddy had taken the seat across from Lauren. “In this case, I’m willing to make an exception.”
He shrugged carelessly. “I’ll drop it on the floor before I cook it. He’ll never know.”
I pinned him down with a look. “Have you done that before, Chef?”
“Of course not.” He winked at me. “But if I did, you’d never know.”
* * *
When I stoppedby the stables after lunch, Walt was saddling up horses for a group trail ride.
He tightened the cinch on Banjo, one of our younger horses, as he looked over at me. “You coming with us today?”
“Nope.” Loki nickered and swished his tail to get my attention, so I walked over to greet him. “I’ve got too much to do, but I wanted to check on Elijah. Has the medicine been working, you think?”
“I thought you might be out here looking for Lauren.” He was right, but I certainly wouldn’t admit it. Instead, I stared Walt down until he sighed. “Elijah seems fine. He left me the gift of a dead mouse on my bench this morning, which is always a fun way to start the day.”
I casually leaned against the wall, crossing one leg over the other. “Since you brought her up, is Lauren riding today?”
“Oh, so you’re here to check on the cat. Right…” Walt chuckled as he placed the bridle on Banjo’s head. “She signed up for a ride this afternoon, and she’s bringing that Freddy person with her. Says he knows how to ride. Is he really her husband?”
Gossip spread around a dude ranch like a spark in dry brush. “Technically, yes, but they’re separated and in the middle of a divorce.”
“Ah, I see. That sounds miserable.” Walt stopped working and turned to look at me. “Are you getting yourself into trouble there, Matthew?”
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “I hope not. I don’t think so.” I squinted into the distance. “Maybe?”
He laughed again and tied up Banjo so he could bring Loki out of his stall. “Okay.”
