Kendra was still smiling about Quinn’s comeback as she took a seat between Quinn and Ryker at one of the round tables that had recently been added to the mix. Badger claimed the seat on the other side of Quinn and Roxanne sat next to Ryker. The tables could accommodate six, so pushing two four-tops together wasn’t necessary anymore unless all the round tables were taken.

Subtle adjustments like that were one of Michael Murphy’s strengths. After they’d settled in, he came out from behind the bar and crossed the room to their table. “So, Quinn, what do you think of our…” He paused. “Didn’t you have a mustache last night?”

“That’s what I just heard, too,” Ryker said, “but now it’s AWOL. He said—”

“Hey.” Kendra held up both hands. “Enough on this topic, okay? He had one yesterday but he doesn’t have one today. End of story. Let’s drop the subject of mustaches.”

“Let’s not.” Trevor appeared behind Michael.

Badger grinned. “I had no idea this party would get so entertainin’. Have a seat, Trev.”

“Thanks, but I can’t stay. My lunch break isn’t long enough. I—”

“Trevor, I’m so glad you’re here.” Kendra pushed back her chair. “I’m having a little issue with the supports for the chicken coop. But I don’t want to bore everyone with it. Let’s go talk over by the bar so I can fill you in.”

“Uh, sure.” Trevor followed her to the bar. Once they were out of range of the table, he started in. “If that guy grew a mustache just so he could fit the—”

“He didn’t, so cool it, son. He doesn’t know anything about that. I told Ingrid the story a couple of months ago and she took it upon herself to suggest the mustache to Quinn. He grew one for the heck of it. Nothing to do with me. I promise.”

Trevor searched her expression. “So he’s on the up-and-up?”

“Very much so. He likes me, but he didn’t show up riding a Harley and wearing a mustache because he thought that I’d fall at his feet. He’s had the bike for fifteen years and the mustache was Ingrid’s idea.”

Trevor blew out a breath. “Okay, then.”

“Will you please tell your brothers that?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thanks, Trevor.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

He gave her a quick hug. “Listen, I’d better go, but…do you like him?”

“I do.”

He smiled. “Then maybe I got it right.”

“Yeah, maybe you did.”

After lunch, Kendra made a quick stop at the Crafty Corner so Quinn could pick up a sketchpad. Ryker tagged along because she was his ride back to the ranch, but Badger came because he wanted pointers on what to buy as he launched into scratchboarding.

She would have loved a video of those three broad-shouldered cowboys huddled around the art supplies.

Ryker gazed at Badger in obvious fascination. “All this time and I didn’t know this about you, buddy.”

“I have hidden depths.”

“Apparently.”

“But if I hadn’t seen Quinn’s art, I might not have thought about divin’ in to see what’s down there. Could be a bunch of old tires and beer cans in those depths.”

Quinn laughed. “Or hidden treasure. You won’t know until you give it a try.”

“I’m gonna do that.” Badger gathered up the items Quinn had suggested and started toward the counter. “Reckon Hayley will be surprised.”

Kendra fell into step beside him. “I didn’t get a chance to ask during lunch. How’s her job going?”

“It’s goin’ well. She’s glad the weather’s warmin’ up, though. Makes the commute to Bozeman easier.” He got in the line that had formed at the register. Then he turned back to Quinn, who’d come up behind him. “I don’t reckon you’ve met Hayley.”

“I don’t think I have. Your girlfriend, I take it?”

“Yes, sir. She’s in eldercare, helpin’ folks connect with the services they need.”

“Nice.”

“It is. I look for her to start her own consultin’ business soon, so she can expand to underserved areas around the state.”

Quinn nodded. “That sounds like a worthy goal.”

“She’s excited about it. That’s where Badger Air comes in. I can fly her wherever she needs to go. And while she’s takin’ care of business, I’ll have this to do.” He held up the supplies Quinn had recommended.

Kendra was impressed. “I didn’t realize it was part of a whole game plan. You do have hidden depths.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Badger gave her a quick grin. Then he looked around. “Where’d Cowboy get to?”

“I don’t know. I thought he was with us, but…oh, there he is.”

Ryker came toward them. He’d taken off his hat, turned it upside down, and loaded the crown with little bags full of something that sparkled.

“Whatcha got there, Cowboy?” Badger called out.

“Beads.”

“What for?”

“April keeps saying she wants to make herself some new earrings but she doesn’t have time to buy the beads.” He walked up to where they stood in line and held out his hat. “Do you think she’ll like these?”

Kendra’s heart squeezed. “She’ll love them.” Even if they weren’t exactly what she wanted, she’d love Ryker’s impulsive decision to buy them for her.

“I don’t see how she could help likin’ ‘em,” Badger said. “You’ve got every color in the rainbow there.”

“That was my thinking. Better to have too many choices than not enough.” He glanced at Kendra. “What’s that smile for?”

“You don’t want me to say.”

“Why not?”

“It’ll embarrass you.”

His eyes narrowed. “You think this is sweet, don’t you?”

“Yes, and adorable.”

He grimaced.

“April will think so, too. It’s a very loving gesture and it makes me happy that you’re the kind of guy who would fill his hat with sparkly beads for the woman he loves.”

“Thanks, Mom. Now I’m really embarrassed.”

“Told you.” She waved a hand toward the register. “Go ahead and get in line. We need to vamoose. I have a lesson in twenty-five minutes.”

Outside the Crafty Corner, Quinn gave Badger the names of several videos he could watch to get started. Badger entered the info into his phone, thanked Quinn for all the help and left.

“Who knew?” Ryker asked on the drive back to the ranch. “I never would have guessed ol’ Badger wanted to make art.”

“I didn’t know,” Kendra said, “but I’m not totally surprised. He does have hidden depths. Like a lot of people, I guess.”

“Well, Mom, I may have hidden depths, but I won’t suddenly decide to sculpt or dabble in oils. Just so you know.”

“Okay.” She flashed him a smile.

“I surprised a lot of people, including myself, when I started,” Quinn said. “I was even later to the party than Badger.”

“So you just decided one day you were going to get into scratchboarding?”

“Pretty much.”

“Had you ever done anything like that before?”

“I took an art class in high school, mostly because the girl I liked was taking it. I’d always doodled and it wasn’t a big leap to go from that to seriously trying to draw a realistic picture. I had fun.”

“That was it? One class in high school?”

“I took a correspondence course in drawing after I got out of the army, but never did anything with it. Then about ten years ago, I saw my first scratchboard art and knew I had to try it.”

“Just like Badger. He told me he’d never seen anything like it until one of your pictures appeared on the wall at the GG. But I thought he just wanted a chance to tell you how much he admired your talent. I had no idea he wanted to do it himself.”

“Like I said to him, he’s welcome to call me or text if he needs help or advice. I mean it, but he might hesitate to ask. If he talks to you about it, please encourage him to contact me.”

“I will. Thanks.”

Kendra pulled into the parking area. “Hate to be abrupt, guys, but I gotta run.”

“Me, too.” Ryker climbed out of the van, his bag of beads in his hand. “I’m doing a maintenance check on the Beechcraft this afternoon. Cody said something about a family dinner Sunday night. Is that a go?”

“It is. Bryce and Nicole aren’t performing that night.”

“Then I’ll make sure April doesn’t have anything going on. See you two later.” His long strides took him over to his truck.

She reached for the door handle but Quinn was already there, opening her door and offering his hand.

She took it. “Thank you.” The pleasure of his firm grip traveled up her arm and spread throughout her body. She stepped down and expected him to move back.

Instead he held his ground. “Interacting with your family has been a kick.”

She looked up. Those gray eyes held a special glow again, the one that made her stomach tingle. “I’m glad.”

“I’d sure love to kiss you right now.”

She allowed her gaze to drift to his mouth. She didn’t dare encourage him. He might not blot out the world and lose all track of time when they kissed but she did. “I have a student arriving soon and another is scheduled after that. I have to—”

“I know.” He sighed and took a step back. “So I won’t. But let the record show that it took a superhuman effort not to.”

She nodded.

“See you soon.” He turned and started toward the barn.

“Do you have everything you need?”

He turned back. “Not by a long shot.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Later, Kendra.”