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when the dishes were done and the kitchen cleaned cassie turned to margarita" i think i better get home if zane is ready to drive me. its been a pure pleasure meeting you" margarita stood there without much to say then she extended her hand" its been a pleasure for me as well. i hope we see some of you." cassie nodded then turned to the door. zane was standing just out side twisting his hat in his hands. when cassie suggested they head back to her home zane didnt eve speak , but turned and trotted to his truck and fired it up. cassie went to emily" its been fun you need to come to our out fit for a day or so" the two girls hugged and cassie smilled back at margarita" that goes for you too!" zane rolled his truck up to the front gate and sat there idyling. cassie bounced down the steps and jumped in the passenger side she stayed sitting next to the door. zane pulled away from the house and started to the hiway. when the house was behind them cassie slid over next to zane. " i was afraid mom killed our deal the way you stayed over there" zane said without looking at cassie. "your mom is rough and tough but i think we will get along. she s waitting for some one to take her boy off away from the ranch. i assured her that wasnt the case. its plain to see she is trying to hang on to what little she has and she needs you to help. i told her if i stayed in the deal she would have a extra hand. that seemed to placate he. but ill be careful around her." cassie explained what had transpired in the kitchen. zane visibly relaxed. " mom scares a lot of people. poor em i dont know if she will ever have a chance at a boy friend. she s home schooled and mom dont let her out of her sight." " yeah that can be bad for emily. maybe if i keep comming around i can help her a little. i am going to keep comming around arnt i?" ' for the time being, until i find some one better." zane grinned. " mr. you wont find anyone better , not in this life time." cassie was firm. both started laughing

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as they stepped into the house zane and margarita saw emily and cassie had the table set and were putting dishes of food on the table. margarita turned to zane,"well you wont starve to death thats for sure". zane introduced cassie to margarita.who was friendly but kept a reserve attitude. margarita went to the kitchen sink and began washing her hands, cassie turned to emily" just like at home."she giggleed. the four of them sat down to a hot meal. twice dureing the meal zane had asked his mother the condition of the cow herd. she had brushed him off in order to keep up small talk with cassie. cassie had kept a jovial attitude while margarita was solom. zane was sitting on pins and needles waitting for his mother to say something or do something to turn cassie away. when the meal was over emily started cleaning the table and preparing to wash the dishhes.margarita stepped up " em, you and zane sit out side, go do the chores. cassie and i will wash the dishes" zane almost wanted to grab cassie and run out the door. emily didnt say any thing but just walked out side. zane stood there a moment until his mother motioned him out. as they were cleaning the table cassie started washing the dirty dishes. when rinsed they went into a drying rake. soon mararita stepped up and said "whats your plan for zane?" cassie stopped washing the dish in her hand, she looked at margarita" i have no plan. we just barely started seeing each other. all the time he was working for my dad he kept to himself. he told my dad he had you and emily to take care of. i suppose that still holds. after he takes me home tonite i dont know if we will even see each other again. its his call. i hope to see more of him. " margarita was in shock about cassie being so straight forward but she didnt show it" its not just em and me, its this ranch. its all we have and we need zane to help. when he isnt working off some place else." " look at it this way, if he keeps seeing me you will have a extra free hand. but its his call."cassie didnt back down a inch. margarita started drying the dishes in the rack. she was stumped. this little blonde haired peice of fluff wasnt what she seemed. as she dryed the dished she watched cassie out the corner of her eye. she had to think on this a while.