One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(35)

So he thought she was gorgeous, did he? “On the ferry going out to Ellis Island. You must be in a tractor with the radio playing, right?” she asked.

“First part, yes. Second part, no. That would be George Strait on CD.”

“No MP3 player?”

“Tried that and didn’t like it. Guess I’m gettin’ old. I like plain old CDs turned down low so I can hear the words,” he answered.

“Then you wouldn’t be much for a real loud concert?” Leah asked.

“No, ma’am. I prefer listenin’ to the music on a quilt under a shade tree with a beautiful woman beside me and the stars and moon above,” he drawled. “Where are Honey and Kinsey?”

“Honey is flirting with some fellow she met last night in a bar, and Kinsey is in the corner with a bottle of wine, whispering to some guy she met last night while she and Honey were out partying.”

“Are the men in that state all blind?” Rhett asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then they’re stupid.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because if I were on a ferry with you, I damn sure wouldn’t be drinking wine with Kinsey or flirting with Honey. They wouldn’t even be dots in the rearview mirror with you in the picture,” he answered. “Where would you be if I were there?”

She blushed and be damned if Honey didn’t look back over her shoulder and start in her direction. Kinsey did the same thing, both of them leaving their fellers behind.

“Well, you can damn sure bet I wouldn’t be on this boat, with my two cousins coming to see why my face is so red,” she answered. “Got to go so I can think up a plausible lie.”

“Sunburn.” He chuckled.

“I don’t think that one will fly. Talk to you later,” she said and hit the end button.

Honey flipped her dark hair back over a shoulder that only had a thin strap holding up her flowing, floral top. It barely reached the top of her white shorts that looked like she’d been melted down and poured into. “Are you okay? Was that Granny on the phone, telling you that you can’t even talk to Rhett while we’re away?”

Kinsey patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t pay any attention to her.”

“It wasn’t Granny. It was Rhett,” Leah said.

“Oh, then we interrupted phone sex. Forgive us.” Honey laughed.

“Only phone foreplay. Y’all don’t have to babysit me.” Leah smiled.

Honey leaned forward and whispered, “Tell him thank you. I decided that guy I was talking to isn’t worth even a day of my vacation and taking care of you was a perfect excuse to get away from him.”

Kinsey nodded. “Me too. After a couple of strong drinks last night, I thought that guy was Mr. Right. But now that I’m sober, he’s gone from a nine and a half to a zero. I really have to stick close to you because you might faint. You are the delicate cousin.”

“Crap! I’m the designated driver all over again,” Leah said.

Honey and Kinsey sat down on either side of Leah and let the breeze blow their hair back away from their faces.

“Do you ever wish this damn feud would be done with?” Leah asked.

“Hell yes,” Kinsey said.

Honey nodded. “Only before it ends, I want to knock Betsy Gallagher on her ass one time. What do you think Granny is planning? She called a meeting with Uncle Russell and two of the cousins.”

“Which two?” Leah asked.

“I heard it was Declan and Quaid,” Kinsey answered. “They’re the heavy lifters when it comes to the feud, so I know she’s got something up her sleeve.”

Leah shook her head slowly. “When the older generation is gone, I hope we can start to tear down the whole feud.”

“It’ll take two generations, and we’ll be old as dirt by then. Uncle Russell is as solidly into the feud as Granny.”

Leah flicked a bug off her khaki shorts. “Do either of you remember my mama?”

“Wow, that was an abrupt topic change,” Kinsey said.

“I know, but she’s been on my mind. I asked Granny about her the day before we left, and she said that they threw her out because she was cheating on Daddy. I found her on the Internet last night. Do you think I should reach out?” Leah’s voice sounded hollow and unsure in her own ears.

“I remember Aunt Eden playing with us out on the lawn. She was always smiling and laughing from what I remember. I asked my mama about her when I was a teenager, and she said that she and Uncle Russell never were meant to be together. That they got caught up in a rebellion and wound up married to the wrong people,” Kinsey said.

Honey took a ponytail holder from her pocket and whipped it around her hair, pulling it to the side in a messy ponytail. “My mama told me that you look like her and Granny has always been scared that you’ll go huntin’ for her.”

“Was she scared Declan would too?” Leah asked.

“He did, but don’t tell anyone I told you. He was about sixteen when he found her. I walked in on him sitting in a horse stall, and he was crying so hard I thought you or Granny had died,” Honey whispered.

Leah had never seen her big, strong brother cry before, not once in her whole life, and the picture in her mind brought tears that hung on her long lashes.