Kade walked over and rested a hand on Alejandro’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s go inside where it’s warm. We can talk about it after supper.”

Ramirez just nodded. By the time they got to the house, Ellie had dinner laid out. Kade cast her a grateful glance. The men were still washing up, but they’d be arriving any minute. Seemed she was always there when he needed her.

“You’d better put some ice on that eye,” Kade said, but Ellie was already walking toward them, a plastic bag in her hand. One step ahead of him, as usual.

“Here, this ought to help.” She handed Alejandro the bag of ice, which he pressed against the side of his face.

He glanced around the kitchen. “Where’s Maria?”

“She wasn’t feeling well. She went home early. She’ll be back in the morning.”

Alejandro handed back the ice bag. “This can’t wait until morning. I need to see her now, tell her the way I feel.” Turning, he strode toward the door.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday,” Kade called after him. “Why don’t you take the day off? This may take more time than you think.”

Ramirez tossed him a look of thanks and kept walking. The door closed firmly behind him. Quieter than usual, the men served themselves, ate, and headed back to the bunkhouse. As Ellie cleaned up the kitchen, Kade pitched in to help her, shortening the task considerably.

Ellie wiped her hands on a dish towel and hung it on the handle of the stove. “From the bruise on Alejandro’s face, I guess you didn’t take my advice.”

Kade figured Ellie would get around to the subject sooner or later. “Ramirez got what he deserves, and he knows it.”

“So what happens now?” she asked.

“With any luck, we’re about to have a wedding—if the groom can figure out how to get his future bride to forgive him.”

Ellie smiled broadly. “That shouldn’t be a problem. The man just has to look at her, and Maria will forgive him anything.”

Kade bent his head and softly kissed her. “How about me? That the way you feel about me?”

Ellie laughed. “You? You have to work a little harder.”

Kade chuckled. His gaze went to the door. “He’s worried he can’t give her the things she deserves.”

“I don’t think Maria requires all that much,” Ellie said.

Kade nodded. “Mabel has her own place. Now that Maria’s head cook, seems only fair for her to have a place of her own too. There’s an old cabin just off the road. Ramirez can fix it up, make it a decent place to live. Be doing both of us a favor.”

Ellie tipped her head back and kissed his jaw. “That’s very sweet of you.”

Kade glanced away. “Just a good business decision. Important to keep the head cook happy.”