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population was close to ten million. He’d have to dig pretty deep to come up with any information on her from that answer.
    “So you grew up in L.A. before coming here. Were you a home health care provider there, too?” Austin took the rolls that Hannah handed him after snagging one for herself.
    “No.” She wouldn’t offer any extra information unless asked, and then she would try to keep it as close to the truth as possible. She didn’t want to be tripped up later with a contradictory statement. But whenever someone began asking too many questions, a headache throbbed behind her eyes.
    “Austin, quit the third degree. Say grace please.” Caroline bowed her head.
    Both Misty and Austin followed suit. Hannah stared for a few seconds at them then dropped her gaze to her plate as Austin’s deep, husky voice sounded in the stillness with a prayer of thanks for bringing Misty home safely.
     
    Even though this was her second night at the ranch, sleep evaded Hannah as it usually did in a strange place until she felt settled in. Flipping back the covers, she rose and slipped into her terry-cloth robe, belting it as she covered the distance to the door. Yesterday Caroline had made it very clear she was to make herself at home while she was here.
    And she intended to—if that were possible with Austin watching her every move. When she lived in a separate place from her patient, she had down time, which wouldn’t be possible here at the ranch. She felt as though she were an actress onstage 24/7. That was why she usually had her own place.
    Hannah headed for the kitchen. A hot cup of milk often helped her get to sleep. After putting a pan on the stove, she walked to the window to watch the snow continue to fall. She loved seeing that, and since she would soon begone from Montana, she would enjoy it as much as she could.
    “Can’t sleep?”
    Austin’s deep, husky voice startled her, spinning her around so fast she nearly lost her balance. She clutched the counter nearby and steadied herself. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
    “Sorry. I took my boots off.” He pointed to his feet clad in socks. “I was going upstairs to bed when I saw the light on in the kitchen. I thought the cook had left it on.”
    “Rene is a very good cook. The meal tonight was as delicious as last night’s.”
    His gaze shifted to the stove, a question in his eyes.
    “Couldn’t sleep so I’m heating some milk.”
    “That works?”
    “Yes—at least for me it does. I don’t like taking any pills to help me sleep.” They would make her too groggy if she had to get up fast and think of an escape plan. She still remembered the other night when she had awakened from the nightmare, and it had taken her a few moments to get her bearing. And that had been without any aids to help her sleep.
    “I’ll have to give it a try. I usually just work in the office until I can’t keep my eyes open. Tonight even that isn’t working.”
    “What’s on your mind?” Hannah walked to the refrigerator and grabbed the milk to pour some more into the pan.
    He shrugged. “Stuff. I don’t want to bore you with the running of the ranch.”
    After she added more milk, she put the carton back in the fridge. “I can’t imagine running a ranch being boring.”
    He smiled, the gesture encompassing his whole face. “It isn’t really. Not to me.”
    “But something must be bothering you.” Is it me?
    “I found a cigarette butt in the barn today, which means that one of my hired hands is smoking on the job. I’ve always insisted if you’re going to work at the Triple T that you don’t smoke on the job and especially in the barn. It’s a fire hazard with all the hay around.” He leaned against the counter near the sink, kneading his nape. “I’ve never had a problem with it until now.”
    “Have you hired anyone new?”
    “A couple. Rodney has been here since January and Cal I took on a few weeks ago. I got the impression from both men they didn’t