Julián frowned and joined him at the sink to look out the window. It was too dark to make out what type of vehicle it was until it pulled up near the ranch house. “Wilbur told me that everyone who needed to know he was out of town already knows. That’s somebody for Gwen or one of us. I think those are Colorado license plates.”
“Shit.”
Julián sipped his coffee as he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest, looking more confident than Chris felt. “It’s okay. With her up in the shower it gives us a chance to get to know him, and maybe figure him out.”
Two truck doors slammed and Chris heard a couple of men talking as they walked to the side door and knocked. Chris wished now that he’d put on a shirt. Maybe they shouldn’t even be here. He had a bad feeling about this meeting.
Julián halted Chris as he was about to head to the door. “I can read your mind in your eyes, Chris. They’ve shown up on our home turf at five fucking thirty in the morning. Gwen wanted you here, and that’s that. You have nothing to apologize for.” Chris nodded, a little freaked that Julián could read him so well.
The knock came at the door again and this time it was a little louder. Chris unlocked the door and opened it. Two men stood on the porch. One was in his late sixties, looking tired and harried. The other one was taller and looked to be in his late fifties or early sixties. By his eagle-eyed expression, he was the leader of the two.
He looked Chris up and down, taking note of his bare chest. Julián made a noise in the kitchen and the man looked beyond Chris and frowned.
“Can we help you gentlemen?”
“This is the Wilson Ranch. We’re supposed to be meeting Gwen Henderson here. This is her father,” the man added, gesturing over his shoulder with a thumb. “And I’m Roger Bedford. Where’s Gwen?” His face appeared to be a shade darker than it had been.
Julián walked up beside Chris and crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s in the shower. I’m in the middle of fixing her breakfast.” He flicked a glance at the porch light and the pitch black beyond. “Would you mind coming in so we don’t let in any more moths?”
Both men wiped their feet and took off their hats as they came in the door.
“Smells good,” Gwen’s father said as he took a seat in the chair when Chris directed them to the table. “By the way, I’m Harold.”
He offered his hand and Chris shook it with a nod. “Chris Potter.”
Julián used a dish towel to put the skillet back on the burner and then reached out to shake Harold’s hand. “Julián Alvarez.”
Chris wasn’t surprised when Bedford didn’t offer his hand to shake, but he didn’t let that stop him from being polite. “Can we offer you a cup of coffee?”
“Sure, I’d like that. It’s been a long drive,” Harold said.
Bedford sighed, still standing near the door where he’d been staring at both of them silently. “How long before Gwen will be down?”
With a sigh, Julián finished turning the bacon and leaned against the counter, flipping the dish towel over his shoulder in a casual manner. “We just woke up. Gwen is in the shower. I reckon she’ll be down soon. She didn’t know you’d be arriving today, or at this hour.”
There was no question this was turning into a tense situation. Gwen needed to be warned. “I’ll go upstairs and let her know we have company.”
Roger cleared his throat and said, “Put a shirt on while you’re at it.”
Julián stopped Chris before he walked out of the kitchen. Chris thought it would be better if he put some space between him and this man. Gwen probably wouldn’t take it too kindly if he put his fist in her benefactor’s face. Julián must’ve thought otherwise.
Looking particularly uncomfortable, Harold rose from his chair and said, “Almost forgot. I have Gwen’s mail from her post office box. I’ll just run out to the truck and get it.”
Julián nodded at him and then turned to Roger Bedford. “It’s plain you’re unhappy about our presence here and that can’t be helped. We’re here because Gwen wants us here.”
“Are you hired hands?” Roger asked, finally pouring a cup of coffee from the pot.
“We work next door, for the Cooks.”
Bedford sat down at the table and spooned sugar into his coffee. “Shouldn’t you be over there then, starting your workday?” His tone was condescending and Chris wanted to punch him.
Julián let out a slow sigh and Chris was amazed that he kept his cool. “Our day starts soon enough. Not that it’s your business. You show up out of the blue before the sun is even up and knock on our door. We show you hospitality and you presume to dictate to us what time our work day starts or whether we have shirts on?”