Page 44 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

"What about you?"Deacon asked."Are you and Ari making plans yet?"

"Not yet.We know it's something we want to do, but it hasn't made it to the top of the priority list yet.Although if Nessa keeps up her nagging, we might speed things along just to appease her."

That made Trip smile.Ari's daughter, Nessa, had come to see Ace as her dad.And considering that Ace had always wanted kids and not been able to have them, he loved being in that role.Trip loved seeing his friend happy.

"What about you, Trip?"Deacon asked."I mean, apart from you and Shelley.Anything else going on in your world?"

"It's just business as usual for me," said Trip."The clinic's running smoothly now, thanks to Shelley."

"What about the ranch?"asked Ace.

"Everything's great there, thanks to Brody."

"I heard he's not working behind the bar at Chico anymore," said Deacon.

"Yeah, he took me by surprise with that one, but I can kind of understand it.I think it was as much a part of his social life as it was a job.Now that Tanner and some of the others aren't working there anymore, it's not the same."

"Hey," said Ace, "talking about Tanner.Did I hear right that old man MacFarland took a turn for the worst the other night?"

"Yeah," said Trip."I was there until the early hours trying to get him stabilized."

Deacon scowled, but didn't comment.He didn't need to.Trip knew exactly what he was thinking.

Of course, Travis was the one to voice it."I don't think there's a one of them who would thank you for keeping him alive, you know."

Trip shrugged."Of course I know.We all know that.But..."

Connor MacFarland had been resident in the hospital for years.Trip had never known a person to hang in there for as long as he had.

"Did you talk to Cash about him?"asked Ace.

"I did," said Trip."I keep him updated."

"Did he say anything more about coming home?"asked Deacon.

"We didn't get around to it.I updated him about Connor, but he was busy on a job.He said he'll come visit as soon as he can."

"I think he's more than ready to come home," said Travis."He's just waiting to see if Mav will come too."

They all stared at each other.Trip knew that every single one of them would love to have their two friends back in the valley.And over the last year or so, it had started to look as though they might come.He looked at Ace.He was the closest to Mav since he managed Mav's ranch.But Ace just shrugged.If he knew any more than the rest of them, he wasn't telling.

Travis chuckled."I have hopes, but I'm not saying anything and I'm not holding my breath."

~ ~ ~

When they were all seated, Shelley was glad that the server was right there to take their drinks order.She'd expected the interrogation to begin as soon as they sat down.

After the server left, Ari, who was seated across the table from her, gave her an evil grin.

"I think we all know the first order of business tonight, don't we?"

The others laughed, and Shelley tucked her hair behind her ear."Go on, then.Let's get it over with."

Retta, who was sitting beside her, touched her arm."You don't have to tell us anything if you don't want to."

Libby laughed."You don'thaveto.But..."

"I don't mind sharing, but there's not much to tell," said Shelley.

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