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“You made your point,” she conceded

In the dining room, each took their customary places at the table; Chase sat at the head of the table with Trey on his right and Sloan next to him while Cat occupied the chair at the foot of the table The two chairs on Chase’s left were empty but only momentarily as Jessy and Laredo made their tardy appearance in the room

Chase offered the blessing after they were seated Upon its conclusion, he raised his head and cast a sideways glance at the tawny-haired woman on his left “Glad to see I wasn’t the last to arrive Cat infor to be my fault” He removed the lid from the small, individual soup crock on his plate and inhaled the stealance to Cat at the opposite end of the table “The soup is not only hot, but it smells delicious”

“Heaping coood side” Her response had a definite cool edge to it

A breath he released “You’re getting more like your mother every day Never could sweet talk my way around her either”

“I should hope not” Cat dipped a spoon into her soup

Choosing not to bait her further, Chase directed his attention to the late arrivals “So what kept you two? No problems, I hope”

“None I was on the phone with Quint going over a few things at the Cee Bar” Jessy paused a beat “That drought in Texas will drastically reduce the nuraze just isn’t enough and the pencil can’t h cost of hay work”

“Quint knows that if he takes care of the land, the land will take care of hiht take a year or two,” Chase stated, unconcerned by the news

“He learned that frolanced at Cat “By the way, he wanted me to tell you ‘hi’ for him, and to remind you that it isn’t too late for you to fly down and spend Thanksgiving with them”

“I’ve thought about it,” Cat ado there for just one day”

“Who said it had to be for one day?” Chase challenged

“I’er so I wouldn’t be here nagging you, wouldn’t you?” The sweetness in her voice was all saccharine

Chase raised one eyebrow, but chose not to reply Before the silence could become aard, Sloan filled the void “Is there some reason you can’t stay with Quint for a few days?”

“Not really It’s just that I kno busy he is right now Quint has had very little free tie estate last year As you well know, that s,” Cat reht now And even though the Slash R adjoins the Cee Bar, access to it is difficult”