Rather than try to convince someone else, I hustle the ranch hands’ food out to the barn. They’re nowhere in sight, so I leave it on the desks and return to the kitchen. In between entrées and dessert the girls discuss their plans for the evening: returning to O’Malley’s.“Are you coming?” Hailey asks.I notice Sous Chef Mark listening in.“No,” I say. “Not tonight.”“Why? Too tired?”“Ah…” I am definitely not too tired. Like most of the staff, I slept all afternoon, waking only at the insistence of my alarm clock. I have plenty of energy and even want to return to O’Malley’s, but I don’t want to keep reminding people of Eight-Shot Kate’s previous antics. Plus I really want to swim, and the pool will be empty if they’re all out partying.“Tomorrow?” Lisa asks.“Yeah, maybe,” I hedge. “Drink responsibly tonight, okay? You’re opening tomorrow.”Lisa grins. “Definitely,” she vows. “Whatever you say.”It’s nearly ten by the time the staff clears out and I have most of the ranch to myself.
