Temporarily Texan. Victoria Chancellor

in some pie and you have a deal,” Rodney added.

      “Tuesday, then? Around four o’clock?”

      “Sounds good to me.”

      “See you then.”

      The two men smiled and went back to another booth. They didn’t join Bud Hammer, Raven noticed.

      “Nice guys,” she commented.

      “Good neighbors, too. Maybe I’ll get some ideas from them, just in case the ranching expert doesn’t show.”

      “That might be a better option anyway, since they know the area.”

      “You’d think that, but it’s not what Cal wanted.”

      “Do you have to do it Cal’s way?”

      “Cal’s way or the highway,” Troy scoffed. “I shouldn’t be mean-spirited about this, but Cal is hell-bent on keeping our father’s traditions, down to the last, ill-conceived detail. The ranch is struggling, but all he cares about is having things the same as they’ve always been.”

      “It must be frustrating for you.”

      “Believe me, it’s beyond frustrating. Do I upset my brother while he’s dodging land mines and snipers in Afghanistan, or do I contribute to the failure of our family ranch?”

      “You have to do what you feel is right.”

      “Easy to say, not so easy to do.”

      “If it were easy, he would have done it already.”

      “Nothing is simple when it comes to my family.” He opened the menu, cutting off the conversation. “I think you’ll find something here to eat. They have some pretty good vegetables and a decent salad.”

      “I’m sure I’ll be fine.” But as she looked at her menu, she wondered if Troy would find some solution he could swallow when it came to the ranch.