Zane’s eyes narrowed. “Like foot fungus.”
She laughed and turned to Phoebe. “You’re still alive. I see Zane didn’t bore you to death.”
“Not even close.” Phoebe hugged her friend.
Maya waved forward the bus driver, a pretty woman in her fifties. “Phoebe, this is Elaine Mitchell.”
“You’re the one Maya worked for in high school?” Phoebe asked.
“I am.”
Maya put her arm around Phoebe’s shoulders. “And this is my BFF, Phoebe.”
“Welcome to Fool’s Gold,” Elaine said with a smile.
Instead of her usual suit and high heels, Maya wore jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and boots. Her blond hair was pulled back in a braid.
“You look like a local,” Phoebe said.
“Speaking of locals,” Maya began, a note of warning in her voice.
“Oh, shit,” Zane said before she could continue.
Phoebe looked toward the bus and immediately saw why Zane’s face had gone a little ashen. The two crazy old women who had cornered her at his truck in town had just gotten off the bus. Eddie and Gladys, if she remembered right. The skinny one was wearing stiff, dark blue jeans and a plaid Western shirt with pearly snaps along the front. The plump one, who still looked as if she had asked for one of everything at the cosmetic counter, was wearing jeans, too, and leather chaps with fringe along the sides. They both had cowboy hats perched atop their white curls.
Beside her Zane muttered under his breath. She caught a handful of words. Something about being old, broken bones and a reference to hanging Chase from the lightning rod in the middle of a storm.
“Ladies,” he said as he stepped forward. “I’m afraid we don’t have enough tents or saddles to add you to the group.”
“I already tried to stop them,” Elaine said, “but they insisted.” She turned to Phoebe. “Eddie and Gladys are known for being a little hardheaded.”
“Among other things,” Maya added wryly. “That one’s Eddie, and that one’s Gladys,” she said, pointing.
“We’re not additions,” Eddie said, “we’re replacements.”
Gladys dug through the large black purse strapped over her forearm and pulled out a checkbook. “We met a nice couple at Ronan’s last night, and they couldn’t say yes fast enough when we offered to buy their spots on the cattle drive.”
“They said they’re gonna stay in town and get a hot stone massage every day instead.”
“But—”
“We already paid,” Eddie said. “Five hundred bucks a pop. Figured it would be worth it if we could see some sexy cowboys. We’ve taken riding lessons from Shane Stryker, but he refuses to take off his shirt for us. I hope you’re not going to be so stubborn.”
Phoebe thought Zane might call off the whole thing, after all, but all he did was mutter, “Fine. Head inside, I’ll bring your things.”
She supposed that novices were a bit of a challenge and senior novices would be even more of one, but to her mind, the older women were quirky and delightful.
“We’re mighty excited about this trip,” Gladys said. “Eddie here has wanted to go on a cattle drive since she first saw City Slickers.” She winked. “Not that either of us have a hankering to help with a birthing, mind you. It looked a tad messy.”
Phoebe was charmed.
Eddie reached into her purse and pulled out her video camera. “You never did introduce yourself, little lady. A real cowgirl type?”
Gladys smiled at her friend. “A pretty cowgirl.”
Phoebe ducked her head at the compliment. “Thanks, but I’m as much a newbie at this as everyone else.”
“We’ll watch out for you,” Eddie said.
The two women headed into the house.
“Where’s Chase?” Maya said. “I want to guilt him into getting my bags for me.”
Zane gave a sigh of the long-suffering. “How many?”
“Four, but two of them are small.”
“You’re going on a cattle drive, not touring the capitals of Europe.”
Maya leaned toward Phoebe. “He’s always crabby when people invade his precious ranch. Hmm. Actually he’s crabby most of the time.”
Zane’s scowl didn’t seem to affect Maya, who linked arms with Phoebe, then used her free hand to blow Zane a kiss. Just then, Chase stepped outside. With a whoop, he ran to Maya. She opened her arms wide and pulled him close.
“Hey, sis,” Chase said, lifting her off her feet and swinging her around. “You look good.”
“You’ve grown some,” Maya said in obvious delight. “You’re taller.”
Chase set her down and kissed her cheek. “You forgot better-looking.”
Maya grinned at Zane. “You must take after your mom.”
Their teasing seemed to bother him. Phoebe saw his jaw clench as they continued to banter back and forth. Maya had always said that Zane didn’t appreciate her special relationship with Chase, but Phoebe wasn’t sure that was true. Watching Zane stand by himself made her wonder if instead of being annoyed by their closeness, he felt left out and lonely. She knew she would if she were him.
She shoved her hands into her back pockets and considered the possibility. Honestly, it was tough to imagine someone like Zane feeling lonely or inadequate or any of those emotions experienced by lesser mortals. Maybe she was assuming a tender heart where one didn’t exist.