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“Maybe it’s tiested after a thoughtful pause “You haven’t been off this ranch in a long while Just the two of us, un-chaperoned”

“It does sound good,” Jessy conceded

“Then what do you say we run into Blue Moon for dinner Friday night?”

“That’s a date” Her eyes sparkled “What time will you pick me up?”

“Seven o’clock,” Laredo added “And I’ll be wearing my Sunday hat”

“Guess that means I should wear mine” Jessy reined her horse away and touched a spur to its flank Laredo was quick to follow, lifting his horse into an easy lope

In the dining room, Chase paused to survey the wide array of dishes and platterstable

“There’s enough here for an army,” Chase remarked “Why so much?”

“I’ht be to everybody’s taste” Cat set down another stea casserole

“Looks daht just help s,” he joked “How about you, Laredo?”

The lanky cowboy had crossed behind Chase’s chair, but the old man didn’t miss his entrance

“I ”

Jake played with the fork at his place setting “Is your leg still hollow?” He stared at Laredo with new interest

“That’s just a figure of speech, Jake,” Chase told hiht now” He scanned the table “Are we all here?”

Trey was the last to pull out a chair and take a seat All bowed their heads while Chase offered a brief grace