Home Is Where Hank Is (Cowboys To The Rescue 1) by Martha Shields

that!”
    Hank’s voice came down a notch, so Alex had to strain to hear.
    “If you don’t go to your senior prom, you’ll regret it. Surely there’s a dress here in Dubois that will fit you. If not here, then Riverton or Lander.”
    “Haven’t you heard a single word I’ve said? There aren’t any suitable dresses anyplace I’ve been. That’s why I want to go to Laramie with Mallory. The university is there, and they are bound to have decent dresses with all the parties that go on.”
    “I’m sorry, Claire.”
    “I can’t believe this! I’ll be living in Laramie next year when I start college.”
    “That’s next year. You’re not going to Laramie alone with Mallory. That’s final. Now get downstairs and help with the dishes. Alex does all your work around the house, so it’s the least you can do.”
    The slam of a door reverberated through the house, startling Alex back into action. She felt color rise to her cheeks as she realized she’d been eavesdropping like a common snoop.
    As she began loading glasses into the dishwasher, she heard Claire’s angry footsteps descending the stairs. A minute later the teenager shoved the swinging door so hard it rammed the counter.
    “I hate him!” she cried.
    “No, you don’t,” Alex said softly. “He’s your brother.”
    “You heard?”
    She shrugged. “You were so loud I couldn’t help it.”
    Claire threw her hands in the air as she paced from the stove to the door of the walk-in freezer. “Can you believe how mean he is? I’m almost eighteen! I’m old enough to go a few miles down the road by myself.”
    “Laramie is three hundred miles away. That qualifies for more than just a few. That’s a good day’s drive.”
    “It’s less than four hours,” Claire exclaimed.
    “Not if you’re going the speed limit.”
    “All right, five hours, then. What’s the big deal?”
    “That’s ten hours going and coming. When were you going to shop?”
    “If we left at five, we’d get there before noon. We could shop until six and still be home by midnight. We had it all planned, but Hank has to ruin it.”
    Alex shook her head. “I’m afraid I agree with Hank. You’re far too young to be—”
    “You’re only eight years older than I am,” Claire pointed out. “And you came all the way from Alabama by yourself.”
    Alex’s chin rose at the reminder of the differences between them. “That’s different. I didn’t have anyone at home worrying about me.”
    Claire’s face softened and she gave Alex a hug. “Well, you do now. I wish you didn’t have to leave. I know you’ve only been here a few days, but I feel like you’re my sister.”
    The words touched Alex deeply. “Thanks. But I didn’t mean to get sappy. I was just wondering...”
    “What?” Claire prompted when she didn’t continue.
    “My day off is Saturday, right?”
    “Well, I thought so. I mean, that’s when all the other housekeepers’ days off were, but you cooked last Saturday, so I—”
    “I’d only .been here two days then,” Alex explained. “It didn’t seem right to take a day off when I’d only worked one full day. But that doesn’t matter. Are you and Mallory planning to go to Laramie on Saturday?”
    “Yes, this Saturday.”
    “Do you think Hank might let you go if I went along to chaperone?”
    Claire’s face lit up as if someone plugged in a Christmas tree. “Would you?”
    “Sure, I don’t mind. It might be fun.”
    Claire gave her an exuberant hug. “Thank you!”
    “This dress must mean a lot to you.”
    “Dress? Heck, no. Mallory’s the one who’s hot to go there for a dress. I want to see the campus of the university. I haven’t seen it in several years and since I’ll be going there this fall, I want to look around.”
    “Why didn’t you tell your brother that?”
    Claire wrinkled her nose in disgust. “He wouldn’t let me go just for that.”
    “Well, he still might not. Better go ask if that will suit him.”
    “Okay!” Claire