Lincoln snorted. “That’s putting it mildly. I caught her giving herself a facial and painting her toes today when I stopped by.”
Logan McCord laughed. “Well, it’s a good thing Simple doesn’t have a lot of crime or we would be in trouble.” He leaned on his saddle horn and grinned at Lincoln. “So did you pull the tough Texas Ranger card and read her the riot act?”
“I probably should have. But I figured after being Willaby’s deputy for the last few months she deserved a spa day. The arrogant asshole has no business being a sheriff—or any law enforcement officer, for that matter.”
“Willaby is an asshole.” Cru Cassidy nudged his horse forward. “But that’s not the main reason you didn’t get onto Deputy Meriwether. You let her off easy because she’s good-looking. Every man in town falls all over himself when she’s around just to open a door for her and get one of her megawatt smiles.”
Deputy Meriwether was good-looking. Even with a layer of blue goop on her face, there was no denying the woman was beautiful. But after going through a painful divorce from a manipulative beauty, he was now immune to them. He had little doubt that Deputy Meriwether used her beauty to manipulate people.
“What Deputy Meriwether does or doesn’t do isn’t my problem,” he said. “I have no desire to become a rookie’s babysitter.” Although she certainly needed one. She was too much of a greenhorn to run the sheriff’s office on her own and Lincoln intended to see if he couldn’t get another county sheriff to help her out.
As the five men rode over the ridge and the Double Diamond came into view, Lincoln forgot about the deputy as memories came flooding back. The summer he’d spent there had been the best summer of his life. He’d worked hard, but he’d also played hard. Skinny-dipping at Mesquite Springs, drinking frosty coke-floats at the pharmacy soda fountain, telling ghost stories around a blazing campfire, sitting at the scarred oak table in the kitchen and filling up on all of Lucas’s good cooking.
The scarred table was gone now—as was the entire house. A brand-new house sat in the same place as the old one. Lincoln and the rest of the boys had chipped in to have it built after the old house had burnt to the ground when Lucas had forgotten to turn off his ancient gas stove.
“Y’all did a good job of replicating the ranch house,” Lincoln said.
“That was Penny’s doing,” Cru said. “She wanted everything to be as close to the same as possible.”
“Well, she did a good job. And the new paint on the barn looks great as well. Although I wish you’d left me something to do while I’m here.”
“Believe me, Chester and Lucas can always find you something to do,” Holden said. “I loved living with the two old cowboys, but I won’t miss all the chores or being woken up at the crack of dawn by Lucas clattering pans in the kitchen. Not to mention that I love having Devlin all to myself.”
“I hear you,” Logan said. “I love Clint, but I wouldn’t mind having a few nights alone with Evie. Having a teenage son in the house can sure put a damper on your sex life.”
Cru snorted. “Try having your father-in-law living in the same house. I’m thinking about renting us a room at the boardinghouse just so we can get a little wild and crazy.”
“I’m afraid you’re out of luck,” Val said. “Since I published the story about Granny Dovey’s ghost, we’re booked until the end of April. Besides, I thought you and Penny were going to build a house on the land Chester and Lucas gave you.”
Chester and Lucas had given all six of the boys a piece of the Double Diamond ranch for helping them rebuild their house. Logan and Holden had already built homes on theirs. Val intended to put a summer camp for kids who didn’t quite fit in on his. Lincoln had no plans for his. Maybe he’d build a house on it and retire one day.
“I don’t think Penny will ever leave her family home,” Cru said. “She loves it too much. And whatever makes her happy is fine with me.” He glanced at all the boys and grinned an impish grin before he shouted. “Last one to the barn is a steaming cow patty!” He took off on his horse.
The other boys urged their horses into a gallop, their laughter ringing out as they tried to catch up. But with his head start, Cru made it to the barn first. Logan and Lincoln were neck and neck for second place, but Lincoln drew rein and ended up last when he saw the sheriff’s SUV parked in front of the house.
Damn.
“Lincoln’s the steaming cow—” Cru cut off when he finally noticed the deputy’s vehicle. He glanced at Lincoln. “I thought you said the deputy wasn’t going to be a problem.”
“I’m sure she’s just making her rounds.” He swung down from the saddle. “Y’all go on home to your wives and let me handle this.”
Since Val was the only one besides Lincoln who rode a Double Diamond horse, he dismounted as well. “I’ll take care of the horses before I leave.” He took Lincoln’s reins and led the horses to the barn.
“Call us if there’s a problem, Linc,” Holden said.
“I would hope a big bad Texas Ranger can handle one little ol’ deputy,” Cru said, teasingly.
Lincoln flipped him the bird as he headed for the house. He heard Deputy Meriwether’s lyrical southern twang as soon as he stepped in the door.
“Why this has to be the best chili I’ve eaten in my life—although our family cook would be devastated if she heard me. Juanita has been with us ever since I was born and
