Chapter 9
“That’s when we heard the hooves of Emily’s, Mack’s, and Michael’s horses pounding back toward us.” Lauren was enjoying herself far too much, but Patrick didn’t know how to stop the story. So he decided it was the better part of valor, or at least avoiding total humiliation, to join in the telling.
Everyone was around the big Doug fir table in the back kitchen. They’d just finished wolfing down one of Nathan’s bountiful Tex-Mex, build-your-own-taco meals. For the ranch operation, it was one of those quiet turnover nights. The last of the guests had left this afternoon and the ranch had taken no reservations this weekend because of the upcoming wedding. Only Mack had remained, but he was practically family. That and the storm currently lashing rain against the big darkened windo
