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Mark chuckled and offered her a hand, helping her stand. “We haven’t even started. That was just the preliminary stuff.”

Matt rose as well and dusted off the back of his jeans. “Don’t worry, Bridget. We won’t think less of you if you go inside and warm up with Jacob and Rodney. Ranching life isn’t for everyone.”

Why didn’t he just double-dog dare her to keep working?

“What’s next?” she asked, ignoring her sore fingers, the twinge in her back and the three dozen itches begging to be scratched. Fucking hay.

Mark grasped her hand and led her to a stall. “Now we do the fun work.”

For the next few hours, they worked the horses, taking the animals through their paces. Matt explained the learned routine to her, educating her on training techniques and reining patterns. Bridget was put in charge of walking the horses during their cooldowns, then brushing them before they were put back in their stalls. She spent most of the afternoon in quiet contemplation, simply enjoying the company of the horses and the view of Matt and Mark as they worked. She was surprised to discover how late it had gotten when Mark declared they were finished for the day. Her days of work at the newspaper never flew by so quickly.

Mark wrapped a friendly arm around her shoulder. “Damn. Sure was nice having some help. We finished up almost an hour earlier than usual thanks to you.”

She glanced at her watch. It was nearly five p.m. and they’d told her that they typically started at five a.m. “Really? Wow. That’s a damn long day for you guys. You do that every day?”

Mark nodded as they walked toward the house. “We do an abbreviated routine on Sundays. Day of rest and all that.”

They walked into the house together.

“Hey, Bridge,” Rodney said as they entered the living room. He and Jacob were watching TV. Bridget noticed Rodney was sitting in his usual chair by the front window—the one that gave him a bird’s-eye view of her and the stable. “I was starting to worry these guys were going to keep you out there all night.”

She grinned. Her whole body ached, but it was a good pain. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she’d actually accomplished something with her day. “Ranching work is tough.”

“Why don’t you two stay for dinner?” Matt asked.

Jacob pulled his feet off the coffee table in front of him and sat up. “Actually, I’ve been trying to convince Rodney to go bowling with me tonight.”

“I told you,” Rodney said, “I suck at bowling.”

Bridget knew the words for a lie, not because she’d ever been bowling with Rodney before, but because she could tell when he wasn’t telling the truth. There was a definite gleam of longing in his eyes. She wished they were here for a different reason. Wished both of them could take a chance on what they desired.

Matt tossed his hat on a table by the wall and ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s not the bowling you need to go for. It’s the root beer floats. Ellie Parker makes the best floats…” He paused and glanced at Bridget.

“In the universe?” she supplied.

He nodded. “Yep. Universe.”

She laughed, then noticed a strange look on Rodney’s face.

“Ellie Parker?” he asked, cueing her in to the vital comment she’d missed. Ellie? Ellen?

“You should go,” she said quickly. “You’ve been sitting around here for three days while I was having all the fun. Why not take some time for yourself?” She tried to act light and casual, but this was their first break on the Ellen clue. She knew Rodney would never take her into town, never expose her to so many people. It wouldn’t be a big deal, however, for him. He’d gone to town several times already.

“Well,” Rodney hedged. She could see he was torn between his duty to protect her and his desire to find the flash drive.

“If the guys don’t mind, I’ll just hang out here with them until you and Jacob return.” She knew Rodney would feel safer if she was in the care of the twins. Over the past few days, Rodney admitted he’d loosened his guard a bit because of how closely Matt and Mark watched her—even without knowing the danger she was in.

“We can all eat dinner together. Then you guys can hit the bowling alley and we’ll hang around here and watch a movie until you get back,” Matt offered. “There are a couple new ones on Netflix that look pretty good. Luckily, Jake won’t be here. He picks crap movies.”

Jake threw a punch at his older brother’s arm. “I guarantee you Bridget would rather watch a movie I picked than one of your stupid horror flicks.”

“Horror?” Bridget asked. Back in New York, horror had been her favorite genre. However, since Lyle’s death, she’s lost her enthusiasm for it. She had enough fodder for her nightmares without adding someone else’s fictional fears to the pile.

Mark grinned. “Don’t worry. They remade True Grit a while back and it was pretty good. Nothing like a good old-fashioned western.”

She laughed. “Great. More examples of why the country beats the city. Can’t wait.” She looked at Rodney, hoping she’d convinced him to go. “Sounds like a fun night. What do you say, Rodney?”

He was quiet for a moment, then he sighed. “I say what’s for dinner? I’m going to need some nourishment before I make an ass of myself at the lanes.”