Kendra admired Quinn’s diplomacy. He’d given up the front seat to her son and zeroed in on Badger Air as a promising conversational topic. He’d correctly guessed that Ryker would enjoy talking about his beloved airline, his passion for flying and his close friendship with Badger. Her eldest had loosened up.

For the most part it was guy talk and she tuned out most of it. Having lunch with Badger today would be fun. She hadn’t crossed paths with that sweet guy in a week or more and she was eager to get her Badger fix. If he wanted to rave about Quinn’s art, so much the better.

Ryker’s primary motivation for going to lunch had nothing to do with Quinn’s art. His protective instincts were on alert. When she’d insisted that Quinn was only a friend and his visit wouldn’t lead to a major change in the status quo, Ryker hadn’t bought it.

He wasn’t a fan of change. Despite causing a seismic shift when he’d virtually abandoned the ranch ten years ago to serve in the Air Force, he’d expected both the ranch and Eagles Nest to be the same when he’d returned. Kendra had pointed out the contradiction several times, but Ryker wasn’t ready to acknowledge it.

Fortunately for him, the ranch itself hadn’t changed much other than the new barn. He and his brothers had altered their status from singlehood to committed relationships, but that was a logical progression.

Eagles Nest wasn’t given to rapid change, either. The residents worked hard to preserve the historic character and friendly atmosphere of the place.

As Kendra approached town, Main Street looked about the same as it had when she’d been a child here. Old-fashioned street lamps lined the thoroughfare as they had for more than a hundred years. Many of the original buildings and businesses remained, including the Guzzling Grizzly, although it had recently been enlarged to accommodate the GG Country Store.

Ryker wouldn’t dare complain about that change. Two of his brothers had been heavily involved—Bryce as co-owner of the GG and Trevor as an employee of the construction company that had built the addition.

But everyone connected with the project had focused on making the store blend with the existing structure so it didn’t look like an afterthought. Preserving the GG’s standing as a familiar Eagles Nest landmark had been a top priority.

Kendra was as much in favor of stability and familiarity as anyone. Ryker might be concerned that Quinn was a threat to the family dynamic they all cherished, but she wouldn’t allow that to be disrupted. Quinn didn’t seem like the type of person to do that, anyway.

Well, unless she counted the turmoil he’d created by kissing her. Or the havoc he’d played on her senses this morning at breakfast and again just recently with a few suggestive words.

But that was a private matter, something that didn’t have to touch her sons’ lives at all. Jo had told her she deserved this after all the years of putting her children first. Now that she was about to become a grandmother, she was inclined to go along with what Jo recommended.

A grandmother. The designation didn’t compute. Not that long ago she’d been a young bride, then a young mother. Sure, her boys had become men, but she hadn’t changed that much. And Quinn thought the silver in her hair looked like starlight.

The GG parking lot was crowded but she found a space. She never minded having to search for a spot because that meant the Guzzling Grizzly was prospering.

Ryker got her door for her and Quinn didn’t compete for the privilege. Clearly he wasn’t interested in making waves. Just making love.

With a spring in her step, flanked by Quinn and Ryker, she started toward the front door.

“The addition looks terrific,” Quinn said. “You’d think it had been here all along.”

“That’s what they were going for.” Ryker got to the door first and held it for them. “Are we heading for a table first or the store?”

“The store,” Kendra said. “My guess is that Bryce will be in there.”

“And I can drop off my artwork.”

“That, too. I can’t wait for you to see how the place turned out.” She led the way through an arched entrance to the right.

As usual whenever she walked in, the shop was busy. Bryce and Michael had hired one of Cody’s high school friends, Katie Greer, to work the register. After only a week, the store was making more than enough to pay her.

Kendra moved aside so Quinn could get a better look at the interior.

He glanced around and let out a low whistle. “This is incredible.”

“Isn’t it?” She beamed with pride. “Bryce, Michael and Trevor spent hours planning this. Rough paneled walls were a given, but they wanted the shelving to look old, too, so they searched for old barn wood. The oak barrels—”

“There you are.” Bryce walked up behind them. “I had to check something in the kitchen and didn’t see you come in. Hey, Quinn.”

Quinn turned and they shook hands. “Impressive setup.”

“Thanks.”

“If you’d told me this was here a hundred years ago, I’d believe you. Even the floor looks old.”

“It is, and it gave us fits. Zane located the planks. He was up in Helena checking on a new regulation that might affect his raptor rescue and spotted an old warehouse slated for demolition. We got the wood for a song, but—”

Quinn chuckled. “You performed for them?”

“No, but I would’ve if they’d asked. That’s how bad we wanted those planks. Except they’re slightly warped. Greg Paladin and his crew planed and sanded for hours to create a floor that wouldn’t trip the customers.”

“And looks like it’s been here forever,” Kendra said. “Show him the pot-bellied stove Badger and Ryker hauled from Kalispell in the Beechcraft.”

Quinn glanced over at Ryker. “That must have been a trick.”

“One of the heaviest, messiest passengers we’ve ever had. Quiet, though.”

“And it’s a beauty.” Bryce led them over to a far corner. A black cast iron stove sent out a cheerful glow. Two ladder-back chairs and a small table were positioned near it, along with a checkerboard.

Quinn walked closer to the stove and laid his hand on it. “If this is a replica, it’s a damned good one. They’ve even added nicks and scratches.”

“It came out of an abandoned line shack,” Ryker said. “April and I saw it in an antique shop when we were up there visiting her folks. Badger helped me wrestle it onto the plane.”

“Then Faith installed the electric heater.” Bryce crouched down and adjusted a control underneath the stove. “Much as I would have loved a real fire, it’s too much of a liability.”

“I sure do like what you’ve done here,” Quinn said. “Sounds like the whole family got involved in creating this place.”

Bryce nodded. “Pretty much. Nicole and Mandy decided on the traffic pattern for the aisles and added some decorative touches like the lariats and bandannas.”

“Even Cody did his part,” Kendra said. “He talked Katie into applying for this job instead of taking one in Bozeman. The only family member who didn’t contribute something was me.”

And that was the way it should be. She’d been a cheerleader for this project but she’d watched from the sidelines. They’d accomplished it completely on their own. She took great satisfaction in that.

“Wrong, Mom.” Bryce wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You made a huge contribution. Without you, we wouldn’t be here.”

“Well, there’s that, I suppose, but I wasn’t asking you to reassure me that I’m appreciated. I know I am, but I’m tickled pink that you were able to pull it off without me.”

Bryce looked confused. “You are?”

“I sure am. It’s a parent’s duty to work themselves out of a job.” And snip, snip, a couple of apron strings fell away. She turned to Quinn. “Don’t you agree?”

He was watching her with a gleam in his gray eyes. “Absolutely.”

“Um, yeah, that makes sense, I guess.” Bryce exchanged a glance with Ryker.

Kendra was fascinated by the effect of her little speech. Neither of her boys seemed particularly happy about it. Quinn was, though.

She would love to get his take on the dynamic. But that would require privacy and they wouldn’t be getting any of that soon. Maybe not until tonight, after the favor-making party broke up.

And then what? She was confident now, but would she hold onto her bold attitude once she was alone with Quinn? Or would she be all hat and no cattle?

Quinn silently cheered Kendra’s personal declaration of independence. Her boys weren’t crazy about it, though.

Bryce seemed eager to change the subject. He turned to Quinn. “Looks like you brought the artwork we talked about. How many prints do you have?”

“Six.” He handed over the parcel. “Thought that was plenty to start with until we see how they sell.”

“I guarantee they’ll sell.” Bryce started unwrapping the package. “Customers have been asking for these. Something they can tuck in a carry-on bag.”

“I hope they work out, but you don’t have to unwrap them now. I’m sure everyone’s hungry.”

Kendra moved closer to Bryce. “I’m not starving and I want to see them.”

“Me, too,” Ryker said. “Take them over to the counter where you can spread them out.”

“Sure. Good idea.”

A few customers caught on to what was happening and gathered around Bryce as he began laying out Quinn’s work.

Quinn edged away from the crowd. He’d rather go sit at the bar and order a drink, but that would be antisocial.

Although he thoroughly enjoyed making his art, he truly hated being there the first time anyone looked at it unless it was his kids. They could be counted on to react positively. Other folks, not so much.

Kendra put a hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

He kept his voice down. “I’m not fond of this part.”

“What part?”

“Having people comment on my art.”

“Even if they say good things?”

“Even then. And mostly they do. But it’s just…” He massaged the back of his neck.

“You put yourself into it, your private self.”

“I do.” The warm understanding in her eyes helped. “And I feel exposed when I show it to anyone except my kids. But Roxanne convinced me I need to share.”

“She’s right about that.”

“Making money’s not so bad, either. I never expected to do that and in the horse business you can always use a little extra. So I—”

“Hey, Quinn,” Bryce called over his shoulder. “These are perfect. Just what people are looking for. You have customers already.”

“Excellent.” He glanced at Kendra. “You wanted to see. Go ahead.”

“I do. I just didn’t realize what you go through.”

“It’s okay.” He smiled. “Go look.”

“All right.”

He followed her over to the counter. Yeah, he was nervous. She’d complimented his larger pieces hanging in the bar, but at the time he hadn’t known her well enough to tell the difference between courtesy and genuine appreciation.

His gut tightened as one of the customers moved aside to give her room. Her quick intake of breath was followed by a sigh of pleasure. She wasn’t capable of faking a reaction like that just to be polite. She liked his art. A lot. And that, he’d just discovered, mattered.

That hurdle behind him, Quinn was more than ready for a burger and a beer. As he left the store with Ryker and Kendra, Badger walked through the door of the GG.

After giving Kendra a hug and carrying on about the baby announcement, he turned to Quinn. “Hope you don’t mind me crashin’ the party, but after Cowboy said he was havin’ lunch with y’all, I invited myself.”

“Cowboy?”

“That’s the handle I got in the military,” Ryker said.

“And it stuck to him like Badger stuck to me.”

Quinn smiled. “Got it.”

“Anyway, I horned in on this gathering because I’m plum fascinated by your scratchboard art. I’d like to give it a try.”

“Do you draw?”

“Yes, sir, at least I used to. About the only class I enjoyed in college. Then I enlisted and let the drawin’ go by the wayside. The scratchboard concept appeals to me. I figured you could steer me in the right direction.”

“Glad to. I—”

“Hi, everybody!” Roxanne came through the door and fussed over Kendra before glancing at him. “Dad! You shaved off your mustache!”

“Sure did.” Damn, he should have mentioned it in his text earlier and asked her to soft-pedal her response.

Ryker frowned. “What mustache?”

“When he got to town yesterday afternoon he had one. I thought he looked really good, too. Wasn’t that your first ever, Dad?”

“Yes, but I—”

“I can’t believe you shaved it off already.” She glanced at Kendra. “You agreed it was dashing, right?”

“I did.”

Quinn didn’t have to look at Kendra to be positive she was blushing. Time to defuse the situation. “To tell the truth, honeybun, I’m so naturally handsome that the mustache was overkill, so I ditched it. Let’s go eat.”

Kendra’s little snort of laughter was music to his ears.