Page 106 of With Spite

“At least your new office worker is working out,” I pointed out.

“Thank God,” Bernice grumbled.

“Who is it?” Gentry asked.

His eyes were focused out the windows as he watched a couple of kids playing on the sidewalk building a snowman.

The seat to our left slid out, and then Denver was there looking concerned.

“What is it?” I asked, seeing the look of anger in his eyes.

“Y’all know a Randel Conway?”

Bernice’s swift inhale had me glancing her way. “That the other nurse that applied?”

She nodded.

Denver’s hands clenched. “That’s the prick that bought the land I’ve been trying to buy from the old man across the street. We’ve been working on this for over a decade.”

Bernice shuddered. “I wish he’d just move on. That sucks that he’s decided to stay.”

“Not for long if I can help it,” Denver grumbled. “My grandbaby was just born, and I wasn’t giving the old man the attention I should have. Fucker came in under my nose and snatched it up.”

“Is it a done deal?” I wondered.

“Not quite yet,” Denver growled, angry as hell. “He’s leasing it out for now. Old man is gone, though. Not coming back to town until the end of the month so he can sign the title paperwork.”

“Maybe he’ll die before he comes home,” Gentry mused.

Bernice popped him on the arm with the back of her hand. “Don’t talk like that. What if it comes true?”

Gentry grinned. “Then it’d be better for Denver seeing as he’s in the man’s will.”

Bernice rolled her eyes as Katana brought our food out.

As she set ours down, she said, “Deputy. Sheriff. Your food will be out shortly. Since it’s fried it takes longer.”

I took a huge bite of my sandwich, as did Bernice.

Denver said, “Maybe I should go order lunch, too.”

“Aren’t you having lunch with your wife?” Bernice asked.

“She’s inseminating racehorses today. She won’t be home until late.” Denver eyed her pickle. “Are you going to eat that pickle?”

She gestured for him to take it, and he did, eating it in two bites.

She pushed half of her sandwich over to him and said, “I’m not going to eat all of this.”

He reached for her sandwich.

“That was mine,” I whined.

Bernice grinned. “You’re not going to let your club president go hungry, are you, Hux?”

“I got a thousand pounds of elk meat for him in my deep freezer. The man won’t starve.”

“Speaking of,” Denver said. “I’ll come get that this weekend. Thanks for hanging onto it so long for me. Holly and I decided to do a kitchen remodel at the worst time.”