“If your practice was thriving there, why’d you come here?” Harlan asked.

“Good question,” Jenny chimed in in a sleepy, disgruntled tone.

“You know the answer to that,” she told her daughter quietly.

“But I don’t,” Harlan said. “If it’s none of my business, just tell me so.”

“Would that stop you from poking and prodding until you get an answer?”

“Probably not,” he conceded. “But I can be a patient man, when I have to be.”

Janet doubted that. It was easier just to come clean with the truth, or part of it at least. “My divorce wasn’t pleasant. New York’s getting more and more difficult to live in every day. I wanted a simpler way of life.”

She shot a look at Jenny, daring her to contradict the reply she’d given. Her daughter just rolled her eyes. Harlan appeared willing to accept the response at face value.

“Makes sense,” he said, studying her with that penetrating look that made it appear he could see straight through her. “As far as it goes.” He grinned. “But, like I said, I can wait for the rest.”

Before she could think of a thing to say to that, a tall, lanky cowboy strolled up. He looked exactly like Harlan must have twenty or so years before, including that flash of humor that sparkled in his eyes as he surveyed the gathering on the porch.

“Looks right cozy,” he commented, his amused gaze fixed on his father. “Anything going on here I should know about?”

“Watch your mouth,” Harlan ordered. “Janet and Jenny, this tactless scoundrel is my youngest, Cody. Son, this is Janet Runningbear and her daughter Jenny.”

Cody winked at Jenny, who was regarding him with blatant fascination. “Don’t tell Daddy, but just so you know, I’m the brains behind White Pines.”

“If that were true, you’d have better control over your manners,” Harlan retorted.

Janet chuckled listening to the two of them. Talk about a chip off the old block. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that any trait Cody possessed, he had learned it at his father’s knee. That included everything from charm to arrogance. Still, she couldn’t help responding to that infectious grin and the teasing glint in his eyes as he squared off against Harlan. The squabbles around here must have been doozies.

“Why don’t you make yourself useful?” Harlan suggested. “Janet says the air conditioner in her car has gone on the blink. Do you have time to take a look at it?”

“Sure thing,” Cody said readily. “Let me get a beer and I’ll get right on it.”

“I could get the beer,” Jenny piped up eagerly.

Cody tipped his hat. “Thanks.”

Janet speared her daughter with a warning look, then said to Cody, “If one single ounce of that beer is missing when it gets to you, I’d like to know about it.”