“It’s about Mom.”

“Brynnie?”

With a sharp nod, Jarrod settled back in the booth. “She’s in a pile of trouble because of her deal with you about her acres of the ranch. Old man Cawthorne is fit to be tied and he wants blood. Yours and Mom’s.”

“So I heard.”

“Yeah. He feels that she betrayed him.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

Jarrod rubbed his jaw. “I don’t know. Maybe sell the ranch back to her.” At the tightening of Mason’s jaw, Jarrod sighed and shook his head. “Hey, you know there’s no love lost between the man and me. I’d just as soon spit on Cawthorne as talk to him, but he’s gonna be my stepfather—like it or not. And for some unfathomable reason, he makes Mom happy. Or he did, until she up and sold out to you. Now he’s hot under the collar, furious with her, and she’s got her back up. They’re barely talking and they’re supposed to be tying the knot.”

“Sounds like a marriage made in heaven,” Mason observed.

“There is no such thing,” Jarrod replied, finishing his drink and reaching into the back pocket of his jeans for his wallet. “You, of all people, should know that. This one’s on me, Lafferty.” He tossed a few bills onto the table.

“I’ll buy next time.”

“Nope.” Jarrod climbed to his feet. “Just be straight with me.”

“Always am,” Mason said, inwardly cringing at the lie.

“Good.” They walked outside where a summer breeze was chasing down the dusty streets and a million stars were visible over the faint glow of the sparse streetlights. “So, are you going to give me a hint about where that sister of yours could be?”

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t have to hire you.”

One side of Jarrod’s mouth lifted. “But you’re holding back. I can feel it. Don’t you know that confession’s good for the soul?”

“Got nothing to confess.”

“That’ll be the day.” Jarrod opened the door of his pickup and paused. “By the way, I heard through the grapevine that you’ve been seeing Bliss again.”

The muscles in Mason’s shoulders bunched. “That grapevine’s all twisted the wrong way. She won’t have anything to do with me.”

Jarrod pulled on his chin and hesitated for a second before dispensing his advice. “Just tread softly. Old man Cawthorne’s already on the warpath.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Mason’s mouth. “So I’m supposed to back off?”

“Just be careful.” Jarrod slid into the seat and jammed his keys into the ignition. “And be smart. Bliss is a classy lady.”

“I noticed.”

“She deserves the best.”

“Don’t we all?”