right? We could drive in one afternoon if you like. At least once the storm is over.”
“I don’t think Jodie wants to see me.”
Adam’s arm slid around her shoulders. “You sure?”
“She’s all wrapped up in that guy she’s living with. We had a fight about it.”
“I’m sorry to hear.”
Adam somehow seemed different since returning from Texas. The moodiness from that day at Running Creek was gone. Even the cockiness of the cowboy she’d kind of fallen for over the past two months was gone. This Adam was gentler. More genuine.
Too bad it didn’t change anything in the long run.
“You haven’t told me much about your parents. Are they together?”
“There’s not much to say about them.”
Adam chuckled. “Sorry, I don’t believe you. Your dad’s a State Senator? You must have a ton of stories.”
Riley pulled away from Adam’s arm. “I don’t remember telling you that.”
“What’s the big deal? Everyone has a job. My stepdad’s a rancher. Your dad’s a Sen—”
“There are a lot of Dunnings in the US.”
He frowned, but his eyebrows rose. “True. Did I get the wrong one? Because New Mexico State Senator Dunning has two daughters, and one of them is named Riley.”
If he’d figured that out, Raul was likely to come out of the woodwork next. All those photos in the papers… yikes. She managed to keep her voice even. “No biggie.”
“I don’t understand you, Ry. Why would you want to keep it a secret what your dad does? I mean, I get that politics is a volatile topic and both sides hate the other, but New Mexico is a long way from Montana. And, I’m guessing, most people get into politics because they care about people’s rights.” Adam shrugged. “I wouldn’t know for sure, because I’ve never given running for office a passing thought.”
Riley couldn’t speak for other politicians, but Dad’s venture into the arena had very little to do with the concerns of the average citizen. And then there was Raul. “Can we drop the subject?”
“We could, but it sounds like you need someone to talk to. Here I am.”
“I don’t need someone to talk to. The less said about my father, the better.”
“Don’t you want your parents at your wedding? Your father should walk you down the aisle.”
Riley whirled toward Adam and parked her hands on her hips. “Have you forgotten there won’t be a wedding?”
“Shh.” He glanced around.
She heaved a sigh. “Adam, seriously. We need to get everything taken care of soon. This is driving me crazy.” He was driving her crazy. Sure, if they were really going to get married, he deserved to know all about the ugly situation in Santa Fe she’d run from. But they weren’t. “You need to talk to Declan and move things forward. I’m getting pressured from every angle. I ran into Mrs. McDiarmid in Jewel Lake last night, and she was pressing me for a date for the church.” While the church secretary glowered at Scotty Erickson sitting far too close to Riley, but Adam didn’t need to know that.
“We agreed on three months. It’s only been two.”
“Adam, I need out.”
“We shouldn’t be having this conversation outside.”
“We don’t need to have a conversation at all. Just do something. I need out of here by the end of the year. Make it happen.” She whirled away and marched toward her cabin. Was it her imagination, or was there a crunch of a boot in snow from a direction that was not Adam?
Probably her overactive imagination. Whatever. If someone was there, eavesdropping, Adam could take care of any explanations. The cowboy could lie like nobody’s business.
Adam took a few steps toward cabin six and nearly rammed directly into someone. His heart jolted until he realized it was Nathaniel. Then it pounded some more. This was not information he wanted his brother to know.
Nathaniel glowered at him. “What was all that about?”
“What was all what about?” Adam kept his voice even.
“You know.” Nat thumbed toward Riley’s cabin, where the door closed firmly behind her, taking the brief rectangle of light with it.
“Whatever you think you heard wasn’t the whole story.” Adam shoved his shoulder against his brother’s in an effort to get past.
Nathaniel blocked him. “It never is. Want to talk?”
“Not really.”
“I think you do.”
Adam pivoted and stared his brother in the eye. “Is that some kind of threat?”
“If the boot fits, wear it.” Nathaniel’s stance did not soften, nor did the hardness in his gaze.
At least it was Nathaniel who’d overheard, not Travis or — shudder — Declan.