“Heather!” Cody boomed again.

“He wants me to leave you alone,” Heather translated with a grimace. “But we’ll have a chance to talk later, okay?”

“Uh…sure.” Sherry was beginning to feel dizzy, as if she’d been caught up in a whirlwind and didn’t know when she’d land—or where.

It was impossible not to like Cody’s daughter. She was vibrant and refreshing and fun. And not the least bit timid.

“Great. I’ll talk to you soon, then.”

“Right.”

Fifteen minutes later, Sherry walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Cody and Heather were sitting at the table and a middle-aged woman with thick gray braids looped on top of her head smiled a warm welcome.

“Hello,” Sherry said to the small gathering.

“Sherry, this is Janey,” Cody said. “She does the cooking and housekeeping around here.”

“Hi, Janey.” Sherry nodded and noticed the eager look exchanged between Heather and the cook. Heather, it seemed, hadn’t stopped smiling from the moment she’d discovered Sherry sleeping in her father’s bed. The housekeeper looked equally pleased.

“Janey’s been around forever,” Heather said as she stretched one arm across the table to spear a hot pancake with her fork.

Janey chuckled in a good-natured way. “I’m a bit younger than Heather believes, but not by much. Now sit down and I’ll bring you some cakes hot off the griddle.”

Breakfast was delicious. Cody didn’t contribute much to the conversation, not that Sherry blamed him. Anything he said would be open to speculation. A comment on the weather would no doubt send Heather into a soliloquy about summer being the perfect time of year for a wedding. The girl seemed determined to do whatever she could to arrange a marriage for her father. Sherry’s presence only worsened the situation.

After they’d finished eating, Cody said he needed a few minutes to check with his men. Sherry took the opportunity to phone the Johnson ranch and see how Ellie and the baby were doing. She spoke to Luke, who said that everything was well in hand, especially since Ellie’s mother had arrived that morning. Once again, he thanked Sherry for her help.

“You ready?” Cody asked when she hung up the phone.

“All set. Just let me say goodbye to Janey.”

When Sherry walked into the yard a few minutes later, Cody was waiting for her. Heather had come with her, and the girl paused when she saw her father standing outside the pickup. “You aren’t driving her back in that old thing, are you? Dad, that truck’s disgusting.”

“Yes, I am,” Cody said in a voice that defied argument. It didn’t stop Heather, however.

“But Sherry’s special. Don’t you want to take her in the Caddie?”

“It’s fine, Heather,” Sherry insisted, opening the door of the truck herself. Unfortunately she was six inches too short to boost herself into the cab. Cody’s aid seemed to come grudgingly. Maybe he regretted not accepting Heather’s advice about which car to drive, she thought.

Sherry waved to the girl as they pulled out of the yard. Heather, with a good deal of drama, crossed her hands over her heart and collapsed, as if struck by how very sweet romance could be. With some effort, Sherry controlled her amusement.