Drake followed.
“How long will you be in this area?” she asked.
“Depends on the work. We’ll be here as long as it takes to get the Lucky Lady Lodge put back together.”
“How long will that be?”
“At the least until fall. Longer, if the job takes longer.”
“And after that?” She was getting too personal, but she wanted to know and couldn’t help asking.
He shrugged. “I have other options.”
Most likely, those options would take him away from Eagle Rock.
Cassie wasn’t sure why that bothered her. She barely knew the man.
They followed the sound of voices. Before Cassie could enter what had once been the grand ballroom, Drake touched her arm.
“Cassie.”
She stopped and looked up into his shadowed face, the headlamp shining down into her eyes. She blinked.
“Sorry.” Drake pulled off the helmet. “I’m new in town and don’t know many people. Would you consider having dinner with me?” His brow wrinkled. “If that’s too much too soon, how about a cup of coffee or a beer?”
She stared up at him for a long moment. “I can’t do coffee, and I’ll likely be asleep through dinner, but I wouldn’t mind meeting you for a beer later tonight if you’re still up. I just pulled a graveyard shift, and I’ll be sleeping the rest of the day to catch up.”
He smiled. “That works. I’m working here the rest of the day and need time to locate lodging and get settled. How’s nine o’clock sound?”
Cassie nodded. “I can make nine. But this is not a date. I’ll buy my own beer. I can’t have anyone accusing me of favoritism.”
Drake grinned. “Just sharing a friendly beer and conversation. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Okay, then.” She gave a curt nod. “I’ll see you at nine at the Blue Moose Tavern.”
Her knees shook a little, and her heart raced as Cassie caught up with the sheriff outside the lodge. “I’m headed out. I’d like to be informed about our Jane Doe, should the ME come up with anything anytime soon.”
The sheriff nodded. “Will do. Now, go get some rest. You’re off for a couple of days, right? Then you’re on the day shift?”
She nodded. “I am. But I might come into the office to use the computers.”
Sheriff Barron shook his head. “Don’t you ever take a break?”
Cassie shrugged. “I do. You just don’t see it because I’m out at the ranch.”
“You used to run barrels when you were a kid,” the sheriff said. “What happened with that?”
Her lips pressed together. “I grew up.”
“Seems like ever since you went off to college, you haven’t been the same happy-go-lucky, freckle-faced kid.”
Cassie raised a hand to her nose and looked around for Drake. Thankfully, he’d followed Molly into another room. “I still have the freckles.”
“Sure miss your folks. Your mama always made a point to stop by the office with zucchini bread or cookies. I was sad to hear of their accident down in Lake Tahoe.” He stopped beside Cassie’s service vehicle. “I’m glad you have your brother to help on the ranch. You two managing all right?”
Cassie nodded, swallowing hard on the lump in her throat. The loss of her parents in a multi-car pileup on the way through Salt Lake City on their first vacation in years had been a blow she didn’t think she’d ever overcome.
She’d been in law school when the news of her parents’ deaths had reached her. Her brother had driven all the way from their ranch near Eagle Rock to Missoula, where Cassie had been studying for end-of-semester exams in her apartment. When her brother had knocked on the door, she’d seen the grief in his red-rimmed eyes and the lines etched beside his eyes and mouth.