months, and they were nearly at the end of that time. He hadn't said anything specific, but he had headed off to Divine a few times on his days off. Chase and Brian both knew he was happy to be here, to be building a relationship with his brother and his brother's new in-laws. But they both understood the truth of the matter.
"Maybe he'll give us a bit more time, but you have to know he's not completely at home here," Brian said. "I don't think Lusty is his place."
"I don't think it is, either. I think we should talk to him tonight, see if he can give us another month or so. And maybe we can get him to scout around for someone to take his place. He seems to know a lot of folks. He won't steer us wrong."
Brian smiled. "You know, in a way, I think I'd be happier having Julian just as a friend as opposed to an employee, too."
"Yeah, I hear ya. What does that make us?"
Brian shrugged. "Honest."
Julian walked his horse toward them. "Those cows seem to be settling in just fine. Once those three mommas found their babies, and they all found the feed and water, they appeared to be in bovine heaven."
"Good. We'll get Doc Marshall to come out from Gatesville and give them a good look."
"Medical records are in on your desk," Julian said. His gaze wandered to over Chase's shoulder, apparently looking toward the house and the long lane that led to the front door. "Huh."
Chase turned in his saddle to see what had caught the wrangler's attention. The sheriff's car was making its way down the lane. Whoever was driving sure wasn't wasting any time getting to them, either.
His heart in his throat, he put his heels to Jasper. The only reason he could think that either Adam or Matt would be speeding toward them that way was if someone they cared about was in trouble.
His family numbered in the dozens in Lusty, but only one name came to his mind and made his pulse pound.
Carrie.
Until he brought his horse to an abrupt stop, Chase hadn't realized that both Brian and Julian had joined him in racing toward the arriving vehicle.
The driver's door sprang open. Sheriff Adam Kendall was out of the car before Chase could reach him. "Carrie is fine. She's at work, none the wiser, and Matt's at the restaurant, keeping watch." He exhaled deeply.
"There's a problem."
"Yeah, you could say that. I'll tell you first, but then we have to go into town and tell your woman."
Chase met his brother's gaze and then turned his attention back to Adam. "We would never hide anything from Carrie, even if we thought telling her what was happening would upset her."
"I am glad to hear that," Adam said.
"Come on," Brian said. "Let's put these horses up and then go inside. I have a feeling I'm going to want to sit down to hear whatever it is you have to tell us."
Adam nodded, his expression grim. "I think you will, too."
* * * *
"We're down to three tables, and they're all fine for a few minutes." Michelle came into the kitchen and hopped up onto one of the stools kept there for staff. "That was a very busy lunch crowd."
"And a very generous one." Emily Anne had come through from the dining room just a few seconds behind Michelle. Instead of sitting down right away, she headed over to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of sweet tea.
Carrie looked up from the meatloaf she was mixing for the dinner crowd. "I can't say as I've ever seen a meal hour here that wasn't busy, and I've been here a few months now."
"True." Michelle nodded her thanks for the glass of ice tea Emily handed to her.
The younger woman boosted herself onto a stool and sighed with pleasure. She looked down at her feet. "I think I need to get a new pair of shoes for these tired old feet."
"They have some at that shoe store at the mall just as you get inside Waco," Tracy said. "They're pricey, but definitely worth the cost."
"In that case, I think a shopping trip is in my immediate future." Emily smiled. "This is the first job I've had where I'm on my feet most of the day. It's taking me a while to get used to it."
"I hear you," Tracy said. "Before Kelsey opened this restaurant, I worked in Waco at an insurance office,