Page 49 of Taming the Wild Cowboy

“You know where to find me.”

She did. The man was living rent-free in her head.

*

Estelle was on her way out of the house when Trev opened the front yard gate. She smiled as they met on the walkway, but it was strained. Sometimes Wade had that effect on her and sometimes she had that effect on Wade.

“We discussed some household issues,” she said, answering Trev’s unspoken question.

“The washer again?”

Her expression became animated. “I told him not to wash the horse blanket, but he did and now the machine is clogged, and the linens will go unwashed.” She made a face. “Even if it didn’t clog the filter, who wants to wash linens in a machine that’s had horse sweat in it?”

Trev knew for a fact that Estelle always did a bleach cycle after one of Wade’s laundry adventures.

“I’ll talk to him.”

She brushed salt-and-pepper curls away from the side of her face. “He’s worried about you.”

“I know.”

“I worry when he worries.”

Which was what kept her coming back. Trev’s uncle could be stubborn and a touch cantankerous, but Estelle was able to see past the rough exterior to the guy who’d adopted three orphan boys.

“He’s got a good heart,” she concluded. “Even if he clogs the washing machine every now and then.” She pushed her hair back again. “I called a plumber who will get here when he gets here. Until then, the laundry will stack up.”

Not a great time of year for that, but there was always the small washer at the foreman’s house if they got desperate.

“Thanks, Estelle. See you on Wednesday.”

Wade was in the mudroom staring at the washing machine when Trev let himself into the house.

“I heard.”

“You’d think the filter would take care of this kind of stuff.”

“You’d think,” Trev agreed.

Wade shot him a look. “Estelle seem okay?”

“Ready to strangle you, but otherwise fine.”

Wade made a noise that may or may not have been a laugh. “Good. She really lit into me.”

“You had it coming. Isn’t this the second time in two months?”

This time the noise was a laugh, but Wade’s expression sobered a second later.

“I want you to put the Help Wanted ads back up.”

“Are you firing Maclyn?” If so, he had something to say about that.

“I’m going to fire you.”

“Funny.”

“I’m serious, Trev.”