“There’s one other problem.” Zane scrubbed a hand over his face. “I left the mare in the arena. You’ll probably notice that when you drive in.”

  “She’s still tacked up?”

  “I hope so. No telling what she might have done after we left.” He pulled out his phone. “But you don’t need to deal with her. I’ll call –”

  “Don’t be silly. I’ll take care of her while I’m out there.”

  “I don’t know. That mare’s a handful. Mom said she bites.”

  “No worries. Eeyore used to bite.”

  “He did?” Zane frowned. “I don’t remember that.”

  “And I never knew it.” Her mom gave her a look.

  “I was afraid you’d make me get rid of him. He wasn’t always as sweet as he is now. I had to work with him.” She turned toward Zane. “I can handle the mare. What’s her name?”

  “Licorice.”

  “Cute.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s not. I don’t want anything happening to you.” His gaze was filled with concern and something else, a flicker of awareness that was growing stronger by the second.

  Her breath caught. When they were kids she’d been able to read him pretty well. Today he was even more transparent. She’d bet he was thinking about what had happened between them, and now she was, too. “I’ll be careful.”

  “Please do.” He reached over and touched her arm. “Text me after you get her in the stall.”

  “I will.” Pulse racing, she made her getaway. It seemed she didn’t have to worry about embarrassment where Zane was concerned. She hadn’t blushed when she’d seen that telltale warmth in his eyes. No sir. She’d wanted to push him into the nearest broom closet and kiss him senseless.

  The drive to the ranch gave her time to cool off. She didn’t drive back at her mom’s breakneck speed, but she made good time. She found Licorice standing by the gate looking forlorn, reins dangling to the ground. Normally, Mandy would have been sympathetic, but this was the animal that had sent Aunt Kendra to the emergency room.

  Opening the gate, she got a tight grip on the bridle so the mare couldn’t bite her. “You’re in a heap of trouble, Licorice.” She gathered up the reins and looped them around the saddle horn. “You’d better behave yourself if you know what’s good for you.” She had nothing to back up that threat, but a firm tone was usually helpful.

  She led the horse straight to the barn, put her in the nearest empty stall and closed her in. “I need to fetch a halter. No funny business, okay?”

  Clearly Licorice was affected by the circumstances, because for a horse that was supposed to be feisty she acted subdued. When Mandy came back, the mare was in the same spot. She continued her docile behavior while Mandy unsaddled her and replaced the bridle with a halter.

  She glanced at the mare’s dusty coat. “You could use a good brushing, but I don’t have time for that. I’m heading back to the hospital to see the woman who has a broken leg because of you.”

  Licorice gazed at her. Mandy imagined she saw regret in those brown eyes. Then the mare tried to nip her arm and she ducked out of the stall and latched the door. “If I were sticking around, I’d take you on as a personal challenge. I’m kind of sorry I won’t be able to.”

  After sending Zane a quick text that Licorice was safely in a stall, she left the barn and walked up to the house. The list was right where Zane had said it would be because the office was tidy. That would help in the coming weeks, but running this operation without Aunt Kendra’s full participation would be a challenge.

  The accident could have a ripple effect – altering Zane’s plans to buy the house and her mom’s timetable for moving out of it. Would her mom want to stay until Aunt Kendra was back on her feet? She might.

  Mandy would like to have her mother living in New York within a month or so. She’d checked out summer festivals and new plays that were opening. But she also loved Aunt Kendra. Her mom would be a comfort during the recovery period.

  A delay in the plan seemed likely, not to mention that her mom hadn’t officially agreed to the move. Once she did, that would simplify things.

  Before returning to the hospital she made a quick detour home so she could toss the incriminating bra in the laundry hamper. No doubt her mom had suspected what had gone on last night before she’d had it confirmed by the dangling bra.

  Mandy sighed. Moving her mother should have been a slam dunk but it wasn’t turning out that way. The harder she tried, the more things got effed up.

  Chapter Eleven

  Zane relaxed when Mandy came into the waiting room. Her text had helped him figure her ETA so he’d walked out to meet her. She was good with horses, but that mare was trouble.

  Thankfully Mandy was fine. More than fine. She was…beautiful. She must have rushed out of the house this morning, and yet she was gorgeous, all the same. She’d been gorgeous yesterday when she’d appeared in a hot pink t-shirt and tight jeans. He’d even liked the messy hairstyle.

  When he’d discovered her stranded on the road, she’d been decked out like the city girl she’d become, but since then she’d reverted to the Mandy he knew best, the one he…no, better not go there.

  She hurried toward him. “How’s she doing?”

  “They’re putting the cast on. Your mom is with her and talking up a storm. We’ve been trading off since you left, trying to take her attention away from that damned cast. It’ll be like a ball and chain. Worse than one, actually.”

  “But that’s how she’ll heal.”

  “You’re right.” He took off his hat and ran his hands through his hair. “I just wish…well, it doesn’t matter what I wish, does it?” He put his hat back on. “Listen, I can’t thank you enough for driving out there and taking care of Licorice. Did she give you any trouble?”

  “Not really. Except when I started thinking she was harmless and let down my guard a little she tried to nip me. I have good reflexes, though. She didn’t succeed.”

  He clenched his fists. “I think Licorice needs to be boarded with someone else. I don’t want her around.”

  “But your stable is the best in the area. If any horse needs extra TLC, Licorice does.”

  “I’m not in the mood to give that mare anything extra.” Arguing about the horse kept him from doing something stupid, like hauling her into his arms. Not a good idea. He wasn’t entirely in control where Mandy was concerned. “Licorice would be better off with someone who doesn’t look at her and remember his mom lying on the ground with a broken leg.”

  “It’s not her fault, Zane.” Her tone was gentle rather than challenging. She didn’t sound like she was trying to start a fight. More like she was advocating for the horse.

  “Maybe not, but her best hope for a change of attitude is currently having a cast put on her leg. Even if I wanted to tackle the job, Licorice doesn’t like men. She barely tolerates women but men really get her dander up.”

  “I wish I could do it.”

  “I wish you could, too.” Whoops. He’d said that with way too much enthusiasm. “I mean, I wish you could magically keep your job in New York and whisk yourself out here several times a week to train Licorice.” And make love to me.

  “Wouldn’t that be nice? Being around horses is one of the things I’ve missed.”

  He’d like to know if being around him was another thing she’d missed, but he wouldn’t ask. Whichever way she answered would create problems. “Did you find the list?”

  “Yep.” She pulled the folded sheet out of her purse. “I can help you make the calls if you want. My phone’s charged.”

  “I may take you up on that. I had a long talk with Cody that sucked a lot of battery life and naturally I didn’t bring my charger. It’s a wonder I remembered my phone.”

  “Is he driving down?”

  “He doesn’t know yet. He committed to helping with an event at the dude ranch and he’s not sure if he can get out of it. I told him not to worry if he can’t. She’ll be in this condition for a while so anytime he can visit will be welcome.”

  “So Cody’s a maybe and Ryker is out of the country until August. When are Trevor and Bryce coming back from Texas?”

  “Last I heard it was indefinite. The guy who hired them has a big ranch and those two are good hands. They’re making great money, too, so I’m holding off calling them about Mom. They might quit and drive back. She wouldn’t want that.”

  “I think you’re right to wait.”

  “I’ll tell them you said so when they chew my ass about it later.” He gazed at her. She had such expressive eyes. They were filled with sympathy and he soaked it up, but he had to be careful not to appear needy. He was still smarting from the way she’d cut out on him last night.

  “So it’s just you holding down the fort.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “You and the Whine and Cheese ladies.”

  He smiled. ”Yeah, they’ll be a big help with Mom, but can you picture any of those women mucking out a stall?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never met them.”

  “You haven’t? How come?”

  “Mom said it was because my visits have been so short.” She paused. “I think it was so I wouldn’t have an awkward meeting with your mom.”

  “Oh.” Damn, she looked sad.

  “My own fault.”

  “I’ll bet you’ll meet them this time.”

  “Yep. Tonight, in fact. They’re coming over to the ranch house around five-thirty to help Aunt Kendra adjust to this new development. I got the impression they’ll pull an all-nighter.”

  “I should have figured on that.”

  She peered up at him. “You’re okay with it?”

  “Sure. I was wondering if I’d need to bunk in the house tonight but this is better. They’ll make her laugh and that’s way more important than anything else. They’ll be a big help while we work through this thing.”

  “Mom said they were a big help to her when she went through the divorce.”

  “I think they were.” He would tread carefully. That period was filled with land mines.

  “I had this idea that except for Aunt Kendra, Mom was sort of isolated after the divorce.”

  “Not really.” He considered stating the obvious, that her mom had a full life in Eagles Nest with friends she’d known for years, but he didn’t have the heart to push her buttons right now.

  She dragged in a breath. “Okay, what’s the plan? Do you want my phone? Should I go relieve Mom?”

  “Yes, and yes. Let’s head back there so I can show you where she is.”

  “Maybe I should tell her some jokes.”

  “That depends.” He ushered her through the double doors and into the corridor. “You used to be famous for forgetting the punch line.”

  “Not the ones for my specialty jokes.”

  Oh, yeah. He’d forgotten about those. “Nix on the knock-knock jokes, Buttercup.”

  “I’ll bet she’d laugh.”

  He took her arm and pulled her to a stop. “If you’re planning to torture that poor woman when she can’t escape, then I’m not taking you back there.”

  ”Knock-knock.”

  “I’m not playing. This isn’t the time for –”

  “Come on. You know you want to. Knock-knock.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Who’s there?”

  “Hoo.”

  “Who who?” It was just dumb enough to break through his crappy mood and make him smile. “I can’t believe I fell for that.”

  “See? It’s so silly it works. Take me to Aunt Kendra. She needs to hear my jokes.”

  “Maybe so.” He hadn’t seen the goofy side of Mandy in a long time. He’d wondered if he ever would again. “If she tells you to stop, promise me you will.”

  “Never fear. I love your mom.” She walked with him down the corridor. “That who-who joke reminds me that on my way home last night the owls were hooting.”

  Her casual reference to last night brought him up short and he sucked in a breath.

  She put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

  “About what?” He wondered if she was going to apologize for coming to his cabin.

  “I shouldn’t have mentioned the owls.”

  She looked so remorseful that he almost reached for her. Then he remembered they were standing in a hospital corridor with people passing by. “Why not? Hearing the owls is very cool.”

  “Yes, but it’s not helpful to bring up a topic related to last night when you’re probably trying to forget it ever happened.” She glanced away. “You might even wish it never had.”

  “This morning I wished exactly that.”

  “Oh, Zane.” She gazed up at him, her voice filled with regret. “It was all my fault.”

  “Not all your fault.” He hesitated. “The thing is, I don’t wish that anymore. But you probably do.”

  “I thought I did. Now, though…well, it happened and we can’t do anything about it, so what’s the point in wishing it away?”

  “No point.” He wanted to hold her more than he wanted to breathe.

  “But it’s changed everything between us.”

  “It changed a long time ago, Buttercup.”

  “I know and I hate that. I’ve missed you.”

  His heart lurched. “I’ve missed you, too. Maybe…maybe we could start changing it back.”

  “How?”

  He took a deep breath. “For one thing, we used to be able to say anything to each other, but now I censor myself.”

  “Me, too.”

  “We should stop doing that.”

  “We should.” She paused. “All right, here goes. Does Aunt Kendra’s accident mean you won’t buy our house?”

  “I don’t know yet. I hope not. Would you be happy if I didn’t?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough. Anything else you want to say before we head back to see Mom?”

  “You look really hot today.”

  He choked on a laugh and had to clear his throat before he could speak. “So do you.”

  * * *

  Mandy had no time to think about Zane after she handed him her phone and took her mom’s place in the curtained cubicle. Aunt Kendra didn’t look as perky as she had the last time Mandy had seen her, but she showed remarkable courage under fire.

  She laughed at Mandy’s knock-knock jokes and she wasn’t faking it, either. Maybe the jokes were why she seemed so cheerful about the damage to her favorite work jeans, which had been sliced along the seam when she’d been brought in. The nurse pinned the jeans back in place to keep her patient from mooning everybody when she practiced walking with her crutches in the hallway.

  Aunt Kendra declared the jeans were good as new. But Mandy knew clothing and those jeans would never fit the same. If she could take them back to New York with her, she might be able to recreate them. She’d give it a shot because perfect-fitting jeans didn’t come along every day.

  The crutches turned into quite a challenge. The doctor offered a wheelchair but Aunt Kendra firmly rejected that option. Instead she practiced with the crutches, going up and down the corridor with Mandy by her side ready to catch her if she started to fall.

  The sun was low in the sky when it was finally time for the trip home. Everyone concluded the SUV was a better bet than Zane’s truck. Getting the injured passenger inside and positioned on the back seat with her leg propped up was a trick, but Zane’s muscles came in handy and they managed it.

  After his mom was as comfortable as possible, he leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “See you at home.”

  “Thanks, Zaneman.”

  He chuckled and shook his head before loping over to his truck.

  Zaneman? Mandy never remembered hearing that before, but then she hadn’t interacted with either of them for ten years. She climbed into the passenger seat and turned so that she could keep an eye on Aunt Kendra during the ride back. She gave her an encouraging smile. “How’re you doing?”

  “Perfectamundo, Mandy-Wandy.”

  “Uh, that’s good, I guess.” She glanced over at her mother.

  Her mom grinned as she turned the key. “They increased the dosage on her pain meds so she could tolerate the trip home. She’s high as a kite.”

  “Yes, yes I am!” Their backseat passenger put both hands in the air. “Wheeee.”

  Okay, so drugs were a big part of her cheerful attitude. She was a very brave woman. Stoned, but brave.

  “Hey, Mandy-Wandy.”

  Mandy ignored her mother’s snort and turned toward the back seat. “What?”

  “Don’t take Jo to New York, okay?”

  “I won’t take her now, that’s for sure.” That clinched it. The move would be delayed.

  “Thanks, Mandy-Wandy. Hey, knock, knock.”

  “Who’s there?”

  “Boo.”

  “Boo who?”

  “Gotcha! Hey, Josie-Wosie, it’s karaoke time!” Aunt Kendra launched into a rendition of “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”

  To Mandy’s astonishment, her mom jumped in with a pretty darned good falsetto. The two women belted out the song as if they’d been singing together for years. Maybe they had been, although Mandy couldn’t remember ever hearing them do it. Must have started after she’d left town.

  Then they switched to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” She knew the words to that one because she’d grown up listening to her mom’s eighties music. She joined in and her mother flashed her a grin of delight. Mandy had never seen her looking like…like a teenager. They made it through “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” before they pulled up in front of the ranch house.

  Zane had beat them there and he opened the back door of the SUV. “How’s it going, ladies?”

  “I wanna dance with somebody!”

  He braced his hands on the roof of the SUV and peered in at his mother. “I promise you’ll be dancing before you know it, Mom.”

  “Oh, goodie.” She stared at her cast. “Maybe not today, though.”

  “Maybe not. But I’d consider it an honor if you’d let me carry you into the house.”

  “An honor?” She placed a hand dramatically on her chest. “Then how can I possibly refuse?”