Laurel chuckled. “No offense taken. Speaking of saving, I saw another dividend was deposited into my account earlier. The holiday sales for your teas must’ve been better then we’d projected.” Laurel had assisted her mother in creating a tea company with a subscription service and owned twenty percent of the business.

“Yes, it was wonderful,” Deidre said happily. “We had a ten percent increase in new subscriptions for the new year. I think the monthly theme of interesting locations and their teas was a great idea. We’ve almost sold out of the extra supply for February, which is a warm turmeric-centered brew based on Zermatt, Switzerland and its excellent skiing mountains.”

Laurel ate more of the spicy chili. “I saw the Switzerland label for the apothecary jars. It’s beautiful.”

“I had Kate’s middle daughter create it. The girl is only fourteen but is incredibly talented.” Deidre finished off her wine. “March’s offering is based on love and Paris, and you should see her mockups.”

Laurel smiled as she remembered the drawings in Val’s notebooks when the kids had worked at the FBI office to help out during the Snowblood murders. “Val is very creative. I’m glad you hired her.”

“Me, too.” Deidre finished her chili. “Also, I’ve been waiting for a good time to talk to you about perhaps finding a permanent place for you to live here on the ranch.” She set her hands on her lap and her eyes sparkled. “I mean, where you could have some privacy but still be close to family. The ranch is a massive property, as you know.”

Laurel pushed her napkin onto the table. “I don’t understand.” She still hadn’t made a decision as to where she wanted to work, and neither had the FBI, so why make plans?

Hope brightened Deidre’s pixie-like face. “Just work with me on this. Remember the old barn over by Rascal Creek? I’ve been thinking of remodeling it and creating a barndominium.”

“A barndominium?”

“Yes. You can help design it, and if you end up not wanting the place, I can use it as a rental for people on retreat. You know. Authors, artists, burned-out lawyers.”

Laurel mulled it over. It was surely her mom’s way of getting her to stay in town, and that was sweet. Deidre suffered from extreme anxiety and worried too much over Laurel, but she’d been managing her condition with yoga and other coping mechanisms she’d learned through the years. “I don’t have concrete plans yet.”

Her mom smiled. “I know, but it’s a smart business decision either way. I do hope you’re not planning to move to Everett or Seattle, though. There’s no reason for you to live in a big city.”