The Rancher and His Unexpected Daughter by Sherryl Woods Page A

again?” Jenny greeted him irritably. “This is my day off. I thought I’d get a break. Shouldn’t you be mucking out stalls or something? I hope you’re not planning to leave `em untouched all weekend and expect me to clean up the mess on Monday.”
    He grinned. “It’s nice to see you, too,” he commented, and winked at her mother. “Even nicer to see you. Care to join us?”
    Janet glanced at her daughter’s sour expression, then back at him. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. The company might ruin your appetite.”
    â€œI’ll take my chances,” Harlan said. “By the way, this is Mule Masters.”
    â€œThe vacationing mechanic,” Janet said, smiling at him.
    â€œNot anymore,” Mule grumbled, ignoring the hand she held out. Apparently he had more resistance than Harlan did to Janet’s dazzling smile.
    â€œHe’ll be back on the job on Monday,” Harlan explained. “Hopefully his manners will improve by then, as well.”
    â€œWhen a car’s as old as mine, it pays to know a good mechanic and I hear you’re the best around,” she said.
    Harlan was impressed that she apparently had not taken offense at Mule’s deliberate slight. Maybe she’d been able to judge for herself that it wasn’t personal. Mule was just a cantankerous old man. Could be, too, that she’d just weighed his manners against her need for a decent mechanic and decided to ignore his grumpiness.
    At her praise for his skill, Mule shot Harlan a triumphant look. “Cody couldn’t be that danged good, after all, if she’s still on the lookout for somebody who knows his business.”
    â€œCody was just doing me a favor,” she acknowledged.
    â€œYou get what you pay for,” Mule noted in a dire tone as Janet and Jenny sat down in the chairs Harlan pulled out for them.
    â€œAs you can see, Jenny’s not the only one at the table with an attitude,” Harlan commented. “I’ve been putting up with Mule for years, partly because he keeps my cars running, but mostly because he loses regularly at poker.”
    â€œI can play poker,” Jenny chimed in. “You guys play for money?”
    â€œIs there any other way to play?” Mule retorted. “Don’t play with girls, though.”
    â€œWhy not?” Jenny demanded. “That sounds like a sexist policy to me. Either open your game to girls or I’ll have Mama see that it’s closed down.”
    Mule stared at her in open-mouthed astonishment. Harlan chuckled at the reaction. Jenny had been throwing him off stride the same way all week long.
    â€œDon’t play with girls,” Mule repeated irritably.
    Jenny pulled ten dollars out of her pocket and slapped it on the table. “My money’s good.”
    Janet sighed. “Jenny, that’s your allowance for the entire week. If you lose it playing poker, you’re out of luck.”
    Jenny’s chin rose a notch. “I don’t intend to lose,” she declared, leveling a challenging look straight at Mule. “You scared to play me?”
    â€œDang, but you’ve got a mouth on you,” Mule commented. He glanced at Harlan. “Think we should bring her down a peg or two?”
    â€œNo,” Harlan said succinctly, his gaze fixed on Janet as he tried to gauge her reaction. “She’s already in debt up to her eyeballs.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” Janet said. “If she wants to risk her allowance, it’s up to her. Of course, I’m going to hate like crazy having to defend all three of you, if you get caught gambling illegally.”
    â€œWon’t happen,” Mule informed her. “Sheriff eats over at DiPasquali’s every day. He’s sweet on the daughter. Can’t budge him out of there for anything less than murder.”
    Jenny grinned. “All right. Where are the cards?”
    Harlan