She felt herself deflating. “You don’t like me much, do you?” she asked sadly.

She half expected Zane to stalk away, but instead he exhaled and shook his head.

“Sorry.”

She blinked. “What?”

“I said I’m sorry.”

Had the earth stopped turning, or had the taciturn, hunky cowboy standing in front of her just apologized?

“I—you—” She paused for breath. “That’s okay. I guess it was a stupid question.”

“No. It was a reasonable question under the circumstances.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I get a little sarcastic sometimes.”

“Let’s call it a dry sense of humor.”

He half nodded in acknowledgment. “You’ll never find them, and even if you did, your watch would probably be all broken up and rusty from them dunking it in the water. Don’t leave out anything they’ll take. Shiny jewelry, another watch.”

“I don’t have another watch. Not with me.”

“You need to know the time?”

“Just when the meals are.”

“Cookie rings a bell.”

“Really? Just like in the movies?”

“Yeah.” One corner of his mouth turned up as he spoke. It wasn’t exactly a smile, but it was close enough to get her breathing up to Mach 3.

“Come on,” he said. “It’s nearly time for lunch.”

He started back toward the camp. Phoebe followed him happily.

“You think the raccoons could ever learn to tell time?” she asked.

He glanced at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Maybe I have a dry sense of humor, too.”

“City girl.”

He was probably insulting her, but the way he said the word made her feel almost tall and, if not blonde, then certainly highlighted.

“I think Rocky likes me,” she confided.

“I’m sure he does.”

CHAPTER TEN

“THIS IS A HAMBURGER,” Andrea announced with all the enthusiasm of a schoolteacher discovering a student with head lice.

Cookie glared at her. Zane figured his annoyance at having someone question him about his food overrode his natural inclination to flirt with the ladies.

The old man used his spatula to lift up the meat patty and stare underneath it. “Yup. Looks like hamburger to me. Now if you like I could fry you up some bacon to go on it, but I don’t have nothing fancy. None of them designer cheeses or guacamole.”

Andrea pushed her plate at him. “I can’t eat this.”

Cookie’s thick eyebrows drew together. “Listen here, little lady. I’ve been making burgers since before you were spitting up on your mama’s shoulder.”

Andrea turned to her husband. “Martin, it’s a hamburger.”

Martin cleared his throat. “We’re vegetarians, Cookie.”

Cookie frowned and looked at Zane who could only shrug. The cook shook his head.

“I heard tell you don’t eat meat. Don’t make sense to me.”

Andrea shuddered. “Meat is unhealthy, inhumane, and if you knew all the wasted land spent growing food for livestock you’d understand why a non-animal-based diet is so much—”

“You crazy?” Cookie asked, interrupting her.

Andrea looked unamused by the question. “Absolutely not. I am concerned about my health and the state of the environment. Now, I’m requesting an alternative for my lunch.”

Cookie glanced at Zane who shrugged again, then the cook picked up a clean plate. He put a grilled burger bun on first, flipped it open and set lettuce, tomato and cheese on the bottom half. Next he slapped on a mound of potato salad on the plate along with a scoop of cut up fresh fruit, then handed the plate to Andrea.

“Next,” he bellowed, glaring at Martin.

Andrea opened her mouth, then closed it. “Fine,” she murmured from between clenched teeth.

Martin stepped up to Cookie and offered a tentative smile. “Is the beef hormone free?” he asked.

Andrea swung on him. “Martin, you wouldn’t consider actually eating that, would you?”

From where Zane was standing, Martin looked more than a little interested in the juicy burger his wife had refused.

“If it’s hormone free,” he said, not meeting her gaze.

Zane stepped forward. “I don’t use feed with antibiotics in it,” he told Martin. “The steers are healthy, prime beef.”

“Fresh, too,” Cookie said with a wink. “Just last week this one was on the hoof.”

Andrea thrust her plate at her husband and made a beeline for the bushes. Martin paled and said the meat-free burger would be fine. Cookie shrugged as if to say it was his choice, but Zane wasn’t fooled. He collected a plate and took the burger neither Andrea nor Martin had wanted.

“I don’t guess they’ll be asking any more questions,” the cook said with a cackle.

“Serves ’em right,” Chase said as he joined them.

Zane glared at them both. “They’re our guests. Paying guests. Cookie, I want you to figure out something those two can eat. Chase, finish up your lunch, then check on the cattle.”

“But, Zane, I’ve been working all morning.”

“So has everyone else. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, so I suggest you do your best to not cause more trouble.”

Chase grabbed his food and stalked off. Cookie watched him go.