She smiled at him and picked up the menu. “What are you going to eat?
“The fish tacos. Don’t ever tell my dad, but I sometimes get sick of beef.”
She smiled, her shoulders relaxing, as he took the hint and changed the conversation to something far less personal.
“Me too and the same, although it can be hard to get good beef in the city without having to take a mortgage out on it.”
“That’s because you guys insist on building housing estates over the ranchland out there,” Kaiden said.
“Didn’t you say that had nearly happened here?”
“Yeah, unbelievable, I know, but luckily Rio Martinez stepped in and bought the place from Adam’s old in-laws.”
“Why would anyone want to build out here?” Julia wondered.
“When the housing prices in the rest of the state are so high, dormitory towns with a two-hour commute each way are apparently the next big thing.”
Kaiden paused to give their order to Bella and then resumed talking.
“And we really do need housing here because of the success of Morgan Ranch and the growth of the businesses in town. Yvonne really struggles to get trainees for her bakery, I can’t get apprentices, and finding ranch hands is almost impossible. We can pay them a living wage, but they either can’t find somewhere to live locally, or the rent is too high, or the commute too long. We’re currently trying to remedy that by refitting infill projects into affordable housing, but at some point, we’ll run out of space, and the obvious thing to do is extend the town into one of the ranches.”
Julia nodded as Kaiden spoke, aware that her initial snobbish thought that he hadn’t left town, and therefore hadn’t educated himself, had been way off base. She was familiar with both his arguments and the solutions, both from living in the valley and from her job.
He paused for breath and offered her a sheepish grin. “Sorry, it’s a bit of a passion of mine.”
“And a good one,” she reassured him. “Can’t the Morgans build more property to house their workers on their land?”
“They are trying to, but they also have to build guest accommodations, and keep it all sympathetic to the environment.” He drank some beer. “And, it’s a community problem. It’s not just on them.”
“I’m sure Chase Morgan can afford it,” Julia said tartly.
“I’m sure he can, but as I said, that’s not the point, is it?” Kaiden met her gaze. “We’re all in this together. We’ve got to find a way to provide for the folks who want to live here, and yet try and keep the town how we like it.”
“I think you’re trying to do the impossible,” Julia said. “Things always change and not always for the better.”
Kaiden sat back. “Doesn’t mean you don’t try to make them better.”
“You’re such an optimist.” Julia smiled at him.
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, it’s just that I’ve never seen it as one of your dad’s strengths, and he basically brought you up, and you look just like him.”
He shrugged. “Maybe that’s why I’m like that. I don’t want to be Jeff Miller Two. I leave all that self-doubt to my brother Ben.”
“Ben seems to have done pretty well for himself despite that.”
Kaiden grinned. “He really hit the jackpot with Silver, didn’t he?” He shook his head. “If I’d known who he was taking out on that trail ride I would’ve volunteered to go myself.”
“That’s how he met her?”
“Yeah. They got cut off by a storm at the top end of Morgan Valley. Ben fell off his horse, and Silver basically kept him alive until the medics turned up. It’s almost as good as a romantic movie.”
“Lucky Ben.”
“And lucky Silver. My brother might be a slob, but he’s really good person, and he’ll always adore her.”
He looked up as Bella returned with their food. “Thanks! This looks great.”
* * *
Julia went quiet while they ate, and Kaiden didn’t blame her because the food was that good. The fish was perfectly spiced, the coleslaw mellow, and the fries crisp and hot. She hadn’t liked him implying that she’d had it tough, which didn’t surprise him in the least. She was not the kind of person to ever feel sorry for herself. She just took life on the chin and got on with it.
She’d also just endured half a day with the obnoxious Blaine so her defenses were probably sky high. He got it, but for some reason he wanted her to feel able to relax with him, to let go, to