One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(36)

Honey patted her on the leg. “That was years ago. Don’t get all misty-eyed about it now.”

“What did Declan say?”

“He said that he called her and she told him there were two sides to every story and that she’d given her word she wouldn’t talk to or see him again as long as he was living on River Bend Ranch. When he asked her why, she told him to ask his grandmother and hung up the phone,” Honey answered.

“Did he talk to Daddy?” Leah asked.

“I asked Declan about it a few days later, and he said that all he got out of his dad or Granny was that his momma was gone and it was best to let sleeping dogs lie.”

“So the Brennans have secrets,” Kinsey said. “I wonder if the feud figures into it and that’s why they don’t want anyone to know. It’d be a trick to keep gossip from spreading in Burnt Boot, so whatever it is must be buried real deep. So are you going to contact your mama?”

“Maybe I’ll talk to my dad first,” she said.

Kinsey raised an eyebrow. “You think he’ll tell you anything more than he did Declan?”

Leah shrugged. “Won’t know until I try. And I’m not sixteen. That could make a difference.”

“Girl, underneath that sweet little facade, you’ve got some nerve. I wouldn’t go askin’ Granny or Uncle Russell anything,” Honey said. “But we’re not here to worry about the past or the future. We’re here for the present and to have a good time.”

*

Rhett had baled hay until five thirty, parked the tractor in front of the bunkhouse, and made a mad dash for the bathroom to clean up for bar duty that Saturday night. He felt like he washed a bushel of dirt and sweat down the drain before he got out of the tub and stood, dripping on the bath mat.

“Hey, we’re going to go on and open up for business,” Sawyer yelled at the door. “I quit a little before you did, and business was slow at the store, so Jill closed ten minutes early.”

“Sure thing, but if you wait five minutes, I’ll ride with y’all and leave the old truck here,” Rhett hollered back.

He wrapped the towel around his waist, checked to be sure Jill wasn’t in the living area, and hurried into his room. The ringtone that he’d set up for Leah’s calls sounded out loud and clear from his dresser. He picked up the phone with one hand and deodorant with the other.

“Hey, are you finished with your tour?” he asked.

“We’re about to go out for supper. How are things in Burnt Boot? Never thought I’d think this, much less say it out loud, but I wish I’d stayed home,” she said.

“Me too. Do I hear water running? I’m picturing you in the shower.” He drawled seductively.

“I just got out of the shower and forgot to turn off the water.”

He groaned at the visual. “I wish I was there beside you right now.”

“Why don’t you run away from Burnt Boot? You could be here by morning if you grabbed a red-eye flight,” she said.

“Sounds tempting, but who would take care of the chores? I was hired on to do a job, so I guess I’d best stick around and make good on my word.”

“A woman can dream.” She sighed.

“Will you dream about me tonight?” he asked.

“I’d love it if I did.”

“Then I hope you have sweet dreams.”

“I’m sure they will be,” she whispered. “Good night, Rhett.”

He dressed in record time, throwing on the first T-shirt he dug out of a dresser drawer and a pair of jeans. He flipped his hair back into a ponytail and immediately the curls started working their way out. A fast look in the mirror showed that he should have shaved, but he hadn’t had time for that. Tonight he’d rock the scruffy look, but it didn’t matter. The only woman who had caught his eye in Burnt Boot was over a thousand miles away.





Chapter 11


Leah escaped out onto the patio at the restaurant while Honey and Kinsey were in the gift shop, buying souvenir T-shirts for their friends and some of the favorite cousins. She found a table in the corner, under the awning, and ordered a shot of Jack with a back of Coke and watched the people still out and about after eleven o’clock. Back in Burnt Boot, even the bar closed at eleven and then the whole town was totally dead. A couple sets of lovers walked past Leah, and two became one in silhouette in the distance as they hugged up close to each other.

She sipped the whiskey, letting the warmth slide down her throat as the taste took her back to the Burnt Boot Bar and Grill. Even without closing her eyes, she could see Rhett with that little soul patch below those lips that felt like pure, white-hot coals when he kissed her.

“I bet she’s dreaming about Rhett O’Donnell,” Honey said as she and Kinsey joined her at the table.

“Why on earth would you think that?” Leah asked.

Kinsey raised her hand to get the waiter’s attention. “There’s a look in your eyes when you think about him, something that I’ve never seen there before.”

“Oh, really? Maybe your vision is blurry from three margaritas and mine are twinkling from this Jack Daniel’s,” Leah said.

“I’m glad we’re only a block from the hotel, since I might have to carry both of you home,” Honey said.