Hey," Chase said as he approached. "The rain sucks."
"Agreed."
His younger brother settled on a log. "I checked on the cattle. They're fine. The clouds don't look like there's going to be any lightning or thunder, but they look plenty wet."
Zane nodded. "Storm's supposed to last two days. I was hoping it would hold off until Saturday."
Chase sipped his coffee. "Everybody okay?"
There was something about the question. Zane stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Just checking."
Had Chase heard something in the night? Zane shook his head. Not possible. His tent had been some distance from the others, and the rain had blocked out a lot of noise. Nothing about his brother's expression told what he was thinking.
"We're heading back today, right?" Chase said.
"That's the plan. I wish it wasn't a two-day ride."
"There's--"
Chase stopped speaking and stared at his coffee. Zane knew what he'd been about to say. Reilly's place. It was only about an hour's ride. The old man would give them shelter until the worst of the storm passed, and even send out a few of his men to watch over the cattle until then.
But Zane wasn't about to impose on his neighbor. Not now and not ever.
He glanced at the sky and wondered how long he could take a stand in weather like this. Whatever his issues with Reilly, his guests' safety came first.
"I better see how everyone's doing," he said as he tossed the rest of his coffee into the fire.
"Before you go," Chase said and held out something in his hand. "I wasn't sure if you had enough with you."
Zane stared at the three condoms resting on his brother's palm. Then he glanced at Chase, who was grinning.
"Way to go, big brother."
Not knowing what to say, Zane rose and stalked off. But not before he took the condoms. He might be stubborn, but he wasn't a fool.
"Agreed."
His younger brother settled on a log. "I checked on the cattle. They're fine. The clouds don't look like there's going to be any lightning or thunder, but they look plenty wet."
Zane nodded. "Storm's supposed to last two days. I was hoping it would hold off until Saturday."
Chase sipped his coffee. "Everybody okay?"
There was something about the question. Zane stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Just checking."
Had Chase heard something in the night? Zane shook his head. Not possible. His tent had been some distance from the others, and the rain had blocked out a lot of noise. Nothing about his brother's expression told what he was thinking.
"We're heading back today, right?" Chase said.
"That's the plan. I wish it wasn't a two-day ride."
"There's--"
Chase stopped speaking and stared at his coffee. Zane knew what he'd been about to say. Reilly's place. It was only about an hour's ride. The old man would give them shelter until the worst of the storm passed, and even send out a few of his men to watch over the cattle until then.
But Zane wasn't about to impose on his neighbor. Not now and not ever.
He glanced at the sky and wondered how long he could take a stand in weather like this. Whatever his issues with Reilly, his guests' safety came first.
"I better see how everyone's doing," he said as he tossed the rest of his coffee into the fire.
"Before you go," Chase said and held out something in his hand. "I wasn't sure if you had enough with you."
Zane stared at the three condoms resting on his brother's palm. Then he glanced at Chase, who was grinning.
"Way to go, big brother."
Not knowing what to say, Zane rose and stalked off. But not before he took the condoms. He might be stubborn, but he wasn't a fool.
( Susan Mallery )
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