Page 60 of Rawhide and Ransom

“Had to come find you,” he reminded. “Josh and I have an unspoken agreement that he won’t take off and leave her alone without telling me.”

She sniffed. “He won’t take off until you boot him out. I won’t be surprised if he asks her on a date soon. Mark my words. There’s some chemistry sizzling between them.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” he grumbled.

“Me, either,” she sighed, “but we can’t keep her young forever — no matter how hard we try, and he happens to be excellent boyfriend material.”

“He’s dirt poor,” Hawk muttered, “and he’s going to stay that way. The ministry doesn’t pay well, and it pays even less on the rez than other places.”

Annalee wasn’t worried about that, and neither was Miley. “My daughter doesn’t judge folks by the size of their wallets. If she falls in love with him, none of that stuff will matter.” She made a face at him. “It’ll matter even less if you help me talk her into going to college.” That way, Miley could earn enough that it wouldn’t matter who she married.

“College isn’t the get-rich-quick scheme you seem to think it is,” he retorted mildly. “A lot of people graduate with degrees, no job, and nothing to show for it but a bunch of student loans.”

“Way to burst my bubble!” Though she didn’t disagree with his assessment, she was still enamored with the idea of Miley being the first Gilbert in the history of Gilberts to receive a higher education.

“I know you want what’s best for her, babe, but some things she’s gonna have to figure out for herself.” The thumb Hawk ran along the underside of her chin took the sting out of his words.

“Maybe you’re right.” Even though he hadn’t given her the answer she’d hoped for, she felt better after talking to him about it.

* * *

The morningof Ace’s memorial service dawned gloomy and overcast.

“It looks like rain, but I think it’s going to pass us by.” Annalee peered through the front window in the living room of the cabin, assessing the clouds drifting by overhead.

“That’s too bad.” Hawk was already dressed for the ceremony. He had on a white dress shirt and black blazer over black jeans and boots. “Every farmer in town is praying for rain.”

“I hope I’m wrong.” She glanced up at the sky again. “But I don’t think I am. My prediction is that the sun will break through the clouds before the end of the memorial ceremony. If you have any doubts, we could ask them to move the ceremony to the church or something.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “I trust your farm girl instincts. You haven’t steered me wrong yet.”

His answer made her smile. “Do you think I look okay?” She spun in a circle to give him the full effect of the black sheath dress she’d purchased the day before. She’d paired the sleeveless classic with black sandals that showed off her pedicure and summer orange toenails.

He cocked his head at her. “Okay is not the word I would choose to describe the hottest woman on the planet.”

She felt her face grow warm. “You clean up pretty good yourself, future Councilman Chesney.”

An hour later, they strolled outside together with Miley trailing behind them. She gave a muffled snicker, which made Annalee glance over her shoulder to see what was so humorous.

She found Rex prancing beside her daughter in a new black leather collar with a fat black bowtie beneath his chin. “You didn’t,” she groaned.

“Oh, but I did!” Miley sounded extraordinarily proud of herself. “It’s good advertisement for our products.”

“I take it you’re adding cat collars to the lineup?”

“Yes, and doesn’t he look like the cat’s meow? Pun intended.”

Despite the somberness of the occasion, Annalee smiled. It was impossible not to. “He looks a little cocky to me, like a fella who’s handsome and he knows it.”

Miley snickered again. “I agree there’s a little extra strut in his step this morning.”

It was surprising how many people were milling in the garden when they arrived. Including the members of the tribal council, there were at least fifty people gathered, and more were still walking and driving up.

“I thought Ace had been excommunicated from the tribe or something,” she whispered to Hawk.

He glanced down at her in bemusement. “Excommunicated?”

“You know what I mean!” She playfully swatted his arm.

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