A Sweetheart for Jude Fortune

“Not on a ranch.” Jude kept his smile easy. Although he didn’t know Sawyer well, so far he liked what he’d seen. He appreciated the way Sawyer and his wife had looked out for Gabi’s father. How a boss treated those who worked for him said a lot.

“Past lunchtime. Have you eaten?”

Jude took off his Stetson and raked a hand through his hair. “Not yet. It’s been one of those days.”

“Me, either.” Sawyer gestured toward a family-style restaurant on the corner. “Got time to grab a quick burger?”

Though there was plenty of work waiting for him back at the ranch, Jude didn’t hesitate. A man had to eat, after all.

Because it was nearly two, the after-church crowd had cleared out long ago and the only people in the place were a couple of grizzled old cowboys playing checkers at a corner table.

The hostess led them to a table by the window.

“How’s Orlando?” he asked, after Arlene, a retired schoolteacher-turned-waitress, had taken their order and brought the drinks.

“You’d know better than me.” Sawyer leaned back and relaxed against the vinyl seat, downing a good portion of his iced tea in one gulp. “I was surprised to see you with Gabi last night.”

Jude smiled and changed the subject. “How’s the accident investigation coming? Is sabotage still on the table?”

Jude had heard all about the anonymous letters received at the post office. Letters alluding that what happened to Orlando could happen again if the Fortunes didn’t pull up stakes in Horseback Hollow. He was grateful neither his brothers nor the ranch hands had brought up the letters at the bar when he’d been with Gabi.

Sawyer waited to answer until the waitress had set the food in front of them and was out of earshot. “The NTSB is still investigating. Until they file their report we won’t know for sure.”