“Mama says that she’s put food in the oven at the bunkhouse, and that she’s pretty sure Stevie would like food and a bath before she comes up to the ranch house.” Jesse put his phone back into his pocket. “Mia has plowed a path from the ranch house to the bunkhouse and out to here. You can either use the work truck or walk, but be careful. It’s still pretty slick.”

“And?” Cody asked. “I can see by that grin you can’t wipe off your face you’re hiding something.”

“Y’all just go get cleaned up, have some food, take a nap, watch television or whatever you want to do. Supper is at five so be there for that,” Jesse chuckled.

“I’m heading straight to the bunkhouse,” Stevie said. “I’m going to eat and then take a long, hot bath. Tell Pearl and Addy I love them both for everything.”

As soon as she was gone, Jesse chuckled again.

“What’s so funny?” Cody asked.

“You and Stevie O’Dell stranded together,” Jesse laughed, “and now you’re going to have to live with her for another week. That’s funny, I don’t care who you are.”

“I may be moving up to the house and sleeping on the sofa,” Cody said, “but even that would beat the hard floor of that tack room.”

“Good God, brother!” Jesse gasped. “You could have both slept on the sofa.”

“Yep, and it even made out into a bed—with a bare mattress that was lumpy—but…” Cody shrugged. “We were like a couple of banty roosters, ready to spar most of the time. I wasn’t about to suggest that we share the sofa bed, and she didn’t offer.”

Jesse shook his head. “Missed your chance, brother. Has it been so long that you need one of those how-to books to learn how to flirt?”

Cody clamped a hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “If you’ve got your book still hiding up in the house, I might borrow it. Seems like you sure needed it when you came home and found Addy living here. Ever think that maybe I preserved my life by not suggesting we share that bare mattress?”

“You going to give Stevie your room and king-sized bed?” Jesse asked.

“Yep, but after the past three nights, one of those bottom bunk beds sounds like heaven right now.” Cody got his doctor bag and Stevie’s go bag from the van and followed Jesse outside. “Thanks for the rescue. See you at suppertime.”

“You’d do the same for me. If me and Addy ever get stranded, don’t come get me for at least a week.” Jesse closed the barn door and took off in half a jog toward the ranch house.