Free Deadly Desperados by Lily Harper Hart Page B

crossroads to be covered. That means we’re going to be out and about for the better part of the afternoon.”
    Mandy scowled. “And you think Ally and I are incapable of taking care of ourselves if you and Jake aren’t around to monitor us. That’s what you’re saying, right?”
    “I’m saying that you’re my whole heart and I don’t want anything to happen to you,” James countered. “If you want to turn this into some women’s lib thing, you’re going to have to wait until I get back to fight. We want this all set up by dinner, and it’s a lot of work to pile into one afternoon.”
    “We could help you,” Ally offered.
    “Yeah, you and Mandy are extremely … talented … women in many ways,” James argued. “Electronics seem to baffle both of you, though.”
    “Jake!” Ally swiveled quickly, fixing her boyfriend with a dark look. “Tell him that’s not true. I could totally help.”
    “I think that … I’m going to let you guys argue this one out as brother and sister and stay out of it,” Jake said, causing Mary and Ben to chuckle as they watched the display.
    “Wimp,” Ally hissed before turning back to James. “I’ll have you know that I DVR things all the time and I never miss a show.”
    “And that’s the same thing as putting security cameras on a fence and logging them into our computer system how?” James challenged.
    “I hate you,” Ally muttered.
    “You’ll live,” James said, sidling over to Mandy and rubbing her back. “How mad are you?”
    “I’m not mad at all.”
    Mandy’s clipped tone told James exactly the opposite. “Baby, you said it yourself, this is a big place,” James said, his tone soothing. “I would feel better if you were here. I promise to take you out on a horse … or to see the chickens … or even to run through a meadow tomorrow. It’s just … .”
    Ben furrowed his brow. “Run through a meadow?”
    “They’re infatuated with Little House on the Prairie ,” Jake explained.
    “Oh, that’s why you didn’t want them to know that we have neighbors with the last name of Ingalls,” Ben mused.
    Mandy and Ally exchanged excited glances.
    “Are they related to the real Ingalls?” Ally asked.
    “Thank you for that ,” Jake said, rolling his neck until it cracked. “No. Ingalls is actually a common name.”
    Ally was disappointed. “Well, that sucks.”
    “I have an idea,” Mary interjected. “Ally mentioned wanting to learn how to cook some of Jake’s favorite meals. Now would be a good time to give her a few lessons. We can make a nice dinner for you guys for when you get back. How does that sound?”
    Ally considered the suggestion. “Okay, but I don’t want to kill any animals,” she said. “I draw the line at chopping a chicken’s head off.”
    “Duly noted,” Mary said, smirking before turning to Mandy. “What about you, dear?”
    “Um … .” Mandy looked conflicted.
    “You wanted to learn how to cook, baby,” James prodded. “Mary will be a better instructor and hopefully she won’t want to kill you when she’s done. I … please?”
    Mandy sighed, resigned. “Fine. I want to learn to make something cool, though.”
    “I think I can manage that,” Mary said, smiling.
    James cupped Mandy’s chin and smacked his lips against hers, holding her there until she relaxed in his arms. When he pulled back, he shot her a wry grin. “Is it wrong that I’m excited to do a full day of manly work while my woman stays home and fixes me supper?”
    Mandy’s blue eyes shifted into dangerous slits. “Do you really want to say things like that when I have the opportunity to spit in your food?”
    James shrugged and kissed his wife a second time. “I love you. Be good.”
    He paused at Mary’s side before leaving, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “You’re going to need to watch her. She can burn boiling water … and she’s accident prone.”
    “She can’t possibly be that bad,” Mary chided.
    “Keep a