“You’ve heard of it?”
“Who hasn’t?” The West family were among the biggest landowners in the state and ran cattle on their ranch. They also bred champion quarter horses. “What are you doing up there?”
“Nate West and I are partnering for the skijoring race.”
Of course, they were, because if there was some crazy way to get killed, Jesse was in. “I don’t want to watch you break your neck.”
“I’m not going to break my neck. I promise. I bet the kids would like to see the horses.”
“I’m sure they would.” She took hold of the front of his parka. “Please be careful up on the mountain today.”
“You know it.” He slipped an arm around her, kissed her.
Then she remembered.
“I have something for you.” She pulled away, retrieved her extra key from the drawer, and held it out for him. “In case you need it.”
He took it from her then tucked it in his pocket. “Thanks. See you tonight.”
Then he turned, opened the back door, and disappeared into the darkness.
* * *
“Let me get this straight. You want me and Cedar to come sleep at your house Tuesday night so that you can stay over at Jesse’s place?”
Keeping her voice down, Ellie told Claire how Daisy had come into the bedroom, waking them up and making Jesse uncomfortable. “I just want an uninterrupted night with him. You can come over at nine after the kids are asleep, watch TV, have some wine, and then just sleep in my bed. I’ll be only a few minutes away if you need anything. I’ll come back early in the morning so you can get home and get to work.”
She’d been assigned to the ER again today. The only patient was down the hallway getting X-rays for a possible wrist fracture, giving her just a few free minutes.
“You do remember that I’m on crutches, right?”
“Yes, but you won’t have to chase the twins around.” Ellie lowered her voice to a whisper. “You can be on crutches at your house, or you can be on crutches at my house so that I can get laid.”
“But you’ve gotten laid. You’ve gotten laid more than I have this week.”
“Please, Claire.”
“Let me talk to Cedar. It’s a long commute down the canyon. I don’t want to make problems for him at work. And you’ll have to put clean sheets on your bed. I’m not sleeping in your sex funk.”
“Of course I’ll put clean sheets on the bed.” Ellie glanced up from the nurse’s station and saw Pauline walking her way. “I really appreciate your volunteering to help unload the supplies. It would be a big job without you.”
“What? Ellie—”
“Thanks for calling.” Ellie ended the call. “Hey, Pauline.”
“I saw the supplies for the first-aid tent have arrived.”
“I hope to get time this afternoon to do an inventory.” She wanted to make sure everything she’d ordered was there.
“If you can’t get it done today, you can always come in on one of your days off.”
Thatcrossed a line.
Outside of emergencies, Ellie refused to let the hospital chip away at her time with her kids. She was their only parent, and she wouldn’t let them grow up without her. “I’m happy to volunteer free time from home, but I will not bring the twins to the hospital.”
Pauline’s smile went tight. “I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
Damned straight she would.