“I’d like to try,” Martin told her.

Even the temporary foster parents looked less apprehensive than they had.

Zane knew when he’d been bested, and he didn’t try to argue. He’d given it his best shot.

“We’ll meet again after supper, and Frank will explain what you should bring and what should be left behind at the house. Then you can turn in early. We’ll head out just after dawn.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“YOU DON’T MIND SHARING?” Phoebe asked when she and Maya retreated to their room after dinner.

“Of course not.” Maya sank down on the bed by the window, then looked around the room. “It’s so weird to be back. Maybe that’s why I don’t come home very often. It’s too strange.”

Phoebe thought about her own lack of roots and how she would love to have a home to go back to. She settled on her bed. “If it were me, I’d come back every chance I got.”

“I believe that.” Maya flopped down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “Looking back, I was so young. I thought I was mature and together, but I was a kid.” She looked at Phoebe. “This was the first house where I felt safe.”

Phoebe knew her friend had grown up in Las Vegas. Maya’s mother had been a stripper who had constantly been on the lookout for a man to rescue her. Then Zane’s father had come along. After a whirlwind courtship, they’d married, and Maya and her mother had moved to Fool’s Gold and the Nicholson Ranch.

“Safe is nice,” Phoebe said.

“It is.” Maya sighed. “I liked seeing Elaine. She’s the lady who drove us in today. Elaine Mitchell. I knew her when I lived here before. I worked for her the summer before college. We’ve always kept in touch.”

“Mitchell Adventure Tours,” Phoebe said, then tilted her head. “Wait a minute. Mitchell, as in Del Mitchell?”

Maya groaned. “Don’t say that name. Yes, Del. My one true love.” She wrinkled her nose. “At least that’s what I thought back then. The first time I saw him, I swear I heard sound-track music. We were convinced it was going to last forever.”

It hadn’t, Phoebe knew. And these days Maya rarely got involved with a guy for very long. Giving her heart wasn’t an option. Phoebe knew most of the reasons. While they made sense, she still felt badly for her friend. At least one of them should be feeling the buzz on falling in love.

“When was the last time you saw Del?” she asked.

Maya sat up. “It’s been close to ten years. He travels all the time. Elaine rarely mentions him in her emails. I make sure I see her when I visit, but I’ve never run into him.”

“Maybe he’s not hot anymore.”

Maya laughed. “That would be nice, but I suspect he’s still just as attractive. Not for me, of course.”

“Of course,” Phoebe murmured, wondering if any of those sound-track feelings were still lingering for her friend. Not that Maya would ever admit it.

Phoebe glanced at the clock and groaned. “We have to pack.”

Maya picked up the small duffels and saddlebags that had been left on the foot of the bed and tossed one of each over.

Phoebe shook her head. “I brought way too much stuff.”

Maya pointed to her open suitcase and the pile of makeup bags, jeans and shirts next to it. “You and me both. Looks like I’m going to have to settle on sunscreen and mascara. And eye makeup remover, or I’ll look like a raccoon.” She glanced at Phoebe. “You, of course, don’t have to worry about your eyelashes fading into nothing. They’re thick and dark all on their own. If you weren’t such a good friend, I’d have to hate you.”

As Phoebe collected her own clothes and toiletries, she didn’t bother pointing out that she would gladly give up her eyelashes for about two inches in height, along with blond hair. Or big boobs. They would be nice, too.

“Poor Zane,” Maya said as she folded a T-shirt. “I almost feel sorry for him. Eddie and Gladys are a handful at the best of times, and what’s with those kids?”

Phoebe stacked the clothes she knew she had to take in one pile and the ones she would leave behind in another. The problem was all the things she wasn’t sure she would need. They made up the largest pile.

“What about the kids?” she asked. “I thought they were cute.”

“Agreed, but out of their element.”

“Count me in with them.”

Phoebe felt as unsure as little Tommy had looked at the prospect of six days in the great outdoors. She already liked the ranch and had enjoyed looking out at the expansive view, but she had a feeling she was wildly unprepared to ride the range.

“Why are those people with them?” Maya asked. “C.J. and Thad seemed the most unlikely parents.”

“I don’t get it, either,” Phoebe admitted. “They’re not their regular foster parents. C.J. said that the people who were supposed to accompany the kids had a family emergency. C.J. and Thad were called in for backup.” She thought about the time she’d spent going from foster family to foster family. “I hope Lucy and Tommy have a good time.”

“They will. Eddie and Gladys seem ready to adopt them, if only for the week. But enough about munchkins. I’m surprised Zane gave in so graciously about the cattle drive. His last-minute attempt to get the thing canceled was impressive. I guess he decided the pain wasn’t worth whatever lesson Chase might learn.”