up too, pure nerves in his expression. For him to call attention to himself meant a lot, and everyone in the room knew it. Maybe not Huey or Dot, but the somber quality of the atmosphere spoke volumes. “We won’t touch the slide,” he said, leaning toward Ace’s phone. “Okay, Huey? You guys keep in touch with Ace or Bear or whoever and tell us where to be. We’ll be there when you can come.”
“Sounds good,” Huey said. “I’ll be in touch, Ace.”
“Thanks again.” Ace picked up the phone and ended the call.
“I’ve got a basement storage room with food in it,” Ward said. “I know my cowboys don’t always have a lot on hand, so I’m going to let them come take what they need first. Who else needs food?”
Arizona raised her hand. “We just moved in a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve been living off whatever Etta or Bishop cooks and boxed granola bars.”
“We’ve got food here too,” Ranger said, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ward. “The pantry is stuffed with it. Take what you need.”
“I’ve got a ton of food at my house,” Ace said. “Holly Ann was making lunch for everyone, and you know how she is.” He smiled softly at his wife. “We have enough for the whole ranch times two.”
“Great,” Bear said. “Let’s do our big family meal tomorrow, at Ace’s like we were going to yesterday. Okay? Cowboys too?”
“Everyone is welcome,” Holly Ann said. “We can pull chairs over from True Blue.”
“We could just have it at True Blue,” Ace said. “Might be easier.”
“Might be,” Holly Ann said, but Ward could tell she didn’t like that idea.
“What else?” Cactus asked. “We’ve got water, power, food. Does anyone need medical attention?”
Ward’s eyes went to Dot, who’d been sitting quietly throughout the meeting. She said nothing now, and Ward certainly wasn’t going to call attention to her. She did look a little…off, but that could be exhaustion or being completely overwhelmed with the situation. Heck, meeting twenty-five people all with the last name Glover could make a person turn gray.
“We’ve got first aid supplies in every barn and every stable on the ranch,” Preacher said. “We have six homes we can access for anything. Sinks in barns and stables. Twelve cowboy cabins with power and water. This is fine. We can live up here for a lot longer than two days until the road crew comes.”
“He’s right,” Ward said. “We’ve still got a ton of work to do on the ranch, and I was almost done putting together our tier one needs. I haven’t eaten, and I might rip off one of your arms and start gnawing on it if that doesn’t happen soon.” He grinned around at everyone, and the sober mood broke as several people laughed.
Ward appreciated Dot’s smile and giggle the most. “So I’m going to go eat. I’m going to shower off this morning’s bad karma. Then, I’m going to get my men and women to work.”
“What time should we show up for assignments?” Preacher asked, looking at his phone. “Your house? Say, two o’clock?”
Ward glanced at the clock on the wall beside him. It was five to one. “Two o’clock,” he said. “My house. Preach, will you text the crews?”
“On it,” he said, his fingers already moving.
“Get the food and supplies you need before you go,” Bear said as people started standing and talking. “From either here or Bull House.”
Ward backed up and stood next to Ranger and Bear, the three of them pressed into the wall so others could walk by them. Preacher joined them, and soon enough, only the four of them remained.
“Mister said he’s going to stay at the Ranch House,” Preacher said. “Just to give you and Dot some privacy.”
“We don’t need privacy,” Ward said instantly. “No more than you and Charlie do.”
“Mm,” was Preacher’s only response.
Ward’s phone chimed, and he checked it. “Cactus would like a crew,” he told the group. “For animal care.” He looked at Preacher. “Who should we put on that? You work with him more than me.”
“I’ll take Judge, myself, Russ, and Angie. They’re all real good with animals, and they’ve worked with Cactus before.”
“He’ll have Mitch and Link with him,” Bear said. “And all those blasted dogs.”
The growling disdain in his voice struck Ward as hilarious, and while he tried to hold back his laughter, he couldn’t. It burst from him in a loud stream, and before he knew it, all four of them were chortling.
“Come on, Bear,” Ranger said. “This