Page 79

“Isn’t that a beautiful sound?” he asked.

Mav scowled at him. “Fuck off!”

Cash just laughed. “Get over it! You’ve been a miserable bastard for so long that you can’t complain when people are surprised to hear you laugh.”

To Tanner’s surprise, Mav simply shrugged. “I hope your weekend goes well,” he told Tanner.

“Thanks. You too.” Tanner was curious why Mav was here, but he knew better than to ask.

Cash winked at him. “We’re going to head on down to the ranch. Bear’s getting the plane refueled; it shouldn’t be too long before you’re on your way. Let me know how you’re doing?”

“Will do, and thanks again.”

“Not a problem – it’s my pleasure.”

“What time do I need to be back on Sunday?”

Cash cocked an eyebrow at Mav, and Mav made a face. “I’d rather you send the plane back tonight; that way, Bear can come pick you up before we leave on Sunday.”

“That’s a lot of extra fuel to pay for just so that you can feel like you have an escape hatch,” said Cash.

Mav shrugged. “It’s not like we can’t afford it, is it?”

“That’s up to you, then. Although…” Cash turned to Tanner. “If Mr. Moneybags here isn’t worried about the fuel cost, instead of going to visit, you could pick your girl and her son up and bring them back here for the weekend. Then, take them home on Sunday afternoon. As long as you’re back here by the time we need to leave, that would work.”

Tanner crammed his hat back onto his head as he considered it. “I don’t know … I …”

“See how you go,” Mav told him. “I don’t want you or your girl to feel like you’re under any pressure. If she wants to come back with you, great. If not, send the plane back. We’ll figure out what needs to happen on Sunday on Sunday.”

Tanner grinned at him. “Thanks.”

Mav nodded. “Sure thing.”

Kolby shook his head as they watched Cash and Mav walk out to the parking lot where they climbed into a black Suburban that was waiting.

“What the hell do you think’s going on there?”

“I have no idea, but I’m curious as hell. Tell you what, if you figure it out while I’m gone, let me know, would you? In fact, keep me in the loop? I feel like something’s about to go down.”

“Me too. And you know, if you don’t want to miss whatever it is, you could do what Cash suggested and see if Everly wants to come here for the weekend.”

Tanner nodded slowly. “Maybe. I could ask her. I…” He smiled. “Ashton already said that he wants to come visit. I’m going there instead because it didn’t seem feasible to get them up here.”

Kolby grinned. “Looks pretty feasible from where I’m standing.”

“I’ll see how it goes. Although…”

“What? What’s up?”

“How would it work? If I bring them, where will they stay?”

“Ah. I didn’t even think about that. Are you and Everly… I mean, does Ashton know…?”

Tanner chuckled. “I think that boy knows more than he lets on about a lot of things. But if you’re talking about me and Everly sharing a bed, I’m no wiser than you are. Now that you come to mention it, I don’t even know what the plan is if I stay there. For all I know, she might have me set up in a guestroom while Ashton gets used to the idea of me being with his mom.”

Kolby smirked at him. “Even if that’s the case, I don’t see it stopping you.”

Tanner grinned. “You know me.” His smile faded. “Then again, maybe I need to be careful.”