Page 52 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Rootless2: Can I?

Subroutine: Sure. What time?

Rootless2: I can probably get on here about 1.30pm again, but will you wait for me if I don't show up straight away?

Subroutine: What time is it now?

Rootless2: 2pm

Subroutine: Where are you?

Rootless2: Why?

Subroutine: Just curious.

Rootless2: Are you on the West Coast?

Subroutine: What makes you think that?

Rootless2: I gave away that I'm on Eastern time, and Danny grew up on the West Coast.

Subroutine: How old are you?

Rootless2: Shoot. I really have to go. Hope you're here next week.

Ford read through the whole exchange a couple of times while Amelia was fixing the coffee. By the time he'd reached the end the first time, he felt more relaxed, but that had only sent him back to the beginning to make sure he hadn't missed anything.

Just as he was getting to his feet to go and give her a hand with the coffee, she came back carrying two mugs. As she set them down on the coffee table, she asked, "Well, what do you think?"

He smiled. "I don't think there's much to worry about, is there?"

She shook her head slowly. "Do you mind telling me what you think? What makes you say that?"

He gave her a puzzled look. "You think there might be something to worry about?"

She shook her head rapidly. "It's not that. It's just... before I say anything, I'd like to hear your take, to see if it matches mine."

"Right. Well, at first, I wondered who this dude was going to be, but by the end, it's obvious, isn't it?"

She raised her eyebrows and waited.

"I mean, he's a kid. From the way he talks. He has to be a kid." He let out a short laugh. "Now you've got me second-guessing myself. Am I missing something?"

"No, I don't think so. I think he's a kid too. It's just..." She paused. "I don't know..."

"What is it?" he asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She gave him a sad smile. "I don't understand how a kid would have known Danny."

Ford tightened his grip on her shoulder. "I'm going to guess here, so forgive me if I'm wrong, but Danny was your brother, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, he was."

"And who was Crystal?" Ford asked.

She sighed. "Crystal was Danny's girlfriend." She inhaled deeply and then surprised him by leaning against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."