them as they resumed their path to the Homestead.
Sloan broke it when they reached the columned front porch. âDo you know what would be good now?â
âSomething tells me itâs not going to be what Iâm thinking,â Trey guessed.
âA hot cup of cocoa.â
âNope, that isnât what I had in mind.â
Well aware of that, Sloan laughed, and Trey responded with a wide smile of his own. âMy turn will come later.â
âYou sound awfully confident of that,â Sloan teased as they entered the house.
âDamn straight I am âcause I know you love me.â He shrugged out of his sheepskin-lined parka and draped it on a wall hook.
âAnd you love me,â Sloan countered, unbuttoning her own parka. âWhich is why youâre going to help me fix that cocoa.â
âI think thatâs called wifely blackmail,â Trey chided with affection, then flicked a glance toward the living room where the sound of the television could be heard. âFirst weâd better see if anyone else would like some cocoa.â
But when they crossed to the living room, Trey was surprised to find his mother was the roomâs sole occupant. âWhere is everybody?â
Jessy pulled her attention away from the program she was watching. âIâm not sure but I think Catâs in the kitchen, and Laredo left shortly after you went to the barn.â
âSo early?â Trey said with some surprise.
âHe claimed he wanted to figure out where to install the hot tub Iâm getting him for Christmas,â she replied with a disbelieving smile.
âYouâre getting a hot tub to put at the Boarâs Nest?â Trey grinned at the thought.
âAccording to Laredo, I am.â
For the life of him, Trey couldnât imagine his mother lounging in a hot tub, but if anyone could coax her into one, it was Laredo. âGramps called it a night, did he?â
âNo, heâs in the den. Wade Rogers phoned and he took the call in there where the television wouldnât bother him.â
âThat name sounds familiar.â Trey frowned, trying to recall where heâd heard it. âI canât place it, though.â
It was Sloan who answered. âHeâs the son of someone Chase knowsâthe one who stopped by on Monday when you were at South Camp.â
âYou mean the one Jake decided was going to be Catâs new husband.â His smile widened into a grin as he made the connection to Wade Rogers.
âThatâs the one.â Sloan nodded, then directed her attention to Jessy. âWeâre going to make some cocoa. Would you like a cup?â
âIâll pass.â
Sloan glanced at the closed doors to the den. âShould we check with Chase?â
Jessy waved aside the question. âJust make him a cup. If itâs fixed, heâll drink it.â
âWill do.â He tucked a steering hand under Sloanâs arm and turned her toward the kitchen. âCome on, little miss cocoa maker, letâs get this show on the road.â
Jessy had been right when she guessed that Cat was in the kitchen. She was standing at the counter, pouring a dark liquid into an over-sized plastic bag containing a large roast. She spared the pair a glance when they walked in.
âHowâs the filly?â she asked Trey.
âSheâll be fine. Whatâs that youâre fixing?â He bobbed his head, indicating the plastic bag.
âI ran across a new marinade recipe that I decided I wanted to try on tomorrowâs roast. It recommends letting it set overnight.â Cat zipped the bag shut. âSo what are you two up to?â
âSloan decided she wanted some hot cocoa.â Trey removed the jug of milk from the refrigerator and held the door open for Cat while she placed the pan with the marinating roast in its bag on a cleared shelf. âSo far we have orders for three cups. Care to make it