One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(93)

Marty threw one long leg over the other and let the bright red three-inch high-heeled shoe dangle on her toe. They could frown all they wanted. She was wearing a dress, even if it only reached midthigh, and had black spandex leggings under it. If they wanted her to wear panty hose, they’d better put a second amendment on that charter and make it in big print.

God Almighty, but she’d be glad when her great-aunt died and she could quit the club. But it looked like Agnes was going to last forever, which was no surprise. God sure didn’t want her in heaven, and the devil wouldn’t have her in hell.

“One vote for Agnes,” Violet said aloud.

Beulah marked that down on the minutes and waited.

Violet enjoyed her role as president of the club and took her own sweet time with each ballot. Too bad she hadn’t dropped dead or at least moved to California so Cathy could be president. Marty would bet her sister would get those votes counted a hell of a lot faster.

There was one piece of paper in the candy dish when Beulah held up a hand. “We’ve got six each for Agnes, Trixie, Anna Ruth, and two for Gloria. Unless this last vote is for Agnes, Trixie, or Anna Ruth, we have a tie, and we’ll have to have a runoff election.”

“Shit!” Marty mumbled.

Cathy shot her a dirty look.

“Anna Ruth,” Violet said and let out a whoosh of air.

A smile tickled the corner of Marty’s mouth.

Saved, by damn!

Agnes was saved from prison.

Violet was saved from attending her own funeral.

The speeding ticket was worth every penny.

*

Trixie poked the black button beside the nursing home door and kicked yellow and orange leaves away as she reached for the handle. She heard the familiar click as the lock let go and then heard someone yell her name.

“Hey, Trixie. Don’t shut it. We are here,” Cathy called out.

Trixie waved at her two best friends: Cathy and Marty Andrews. Attitude and hair color kept them from being identical. They were five feet ten inches tall and slim built, but Cathy kept blond highlights in her brown hair and Marty’s was natural. In attitude, they were as different as vanilla and chocolate. Cathy was the sweet twin who loved everyone and had trouble speaking her mind. Marty was the extrovert who called the shots like she saw them. Cathy was engaged, and Marty said there were too many cowboys she hadn’t taken to bed to get herself tied down to one man.

Marty threw an arm around Trixie’s shoulder as they marched down the wide hall. Trixie’s mother, Janie Matthews, had checked herself into the nursing home four years before when her Alzheimer’s had gotten so bad that she didn’t know Trixie one day. Trixie had tried to talk her mother into living with her, but Janie was lucid enough to declare that she couldn’t live alone and her daughter had to work.

“Congratulations, darlin’, you did not make it into the club tonight. Your life has been spared until someone dies or moves away and Cathy nominates you again,” Marty said.

“Well, praise the Lord,” Trixie said.

“I know. Let’s string Cathy up by her toenails and force-feed her fried potatoes until her wedding dress won’t fit for even putting your name in the pot.” Marty laughed.

“Trixie would be a wonderful addition to the club. She wouldn’t let Violet run her around like a windup toy. That’s why I keep nominating her every chance I get,” Cathy said. “Anna Ruth is going to be a brand new puppet in Violet’s hands. Every bit as bad as Gloria would have been.”

Trixie stopped so fast that Marty’s hand slipped off her shoulder. “Anna Ruth?”

“Sorry.” Cathy shrugged. “I’m surprised that she won and she only did by one vote.”

Trixie did a head wiggle. “Don’t the world turn around? My mamma wasn’t fit for the club because she had me out of wedlock. And now Anna Ruth is living with my husband without a marriage certificate and she gets inducted. If she has a baby before they marry, do they have a big divorce ceremony and kick her out?”

“I never thought she’d get it,” Cathy said. “I don’t know how in the world I’m going to put up with her in club, knowing that she’s the one that broke up your marriage.”

Trixie paled. “Who’s going to tell Agnes that she didn’t get it again? Lord, she’s going to be an old bear all week.”

“That’s Beulah’s job. She nominated her. I’m just damn glad I have a class tonight. Maybe the storm will be over before I get home,” Marty said.

Cathy smiled weakly. “And I’ve got dinner with Ethan back at Violet’s in an hour.”

“I’m not even turning on the lights when I get home. Maybe she’ll think I’ve died.” Trixie started walking again.

“You okay with the Anna Ruth thing?” Marty asked.

Trixie nodded. “Can’t think of a better thing to happen to y’all’s club.”

“It’s not my club,” Marty said. “I’m just there so Cathy can be in it. I’m not sure Violet would let her precious son marry a woman who wasn’t in the al-damn-mighty Blue-Ribbon Jalape?o Society. I still can’t believe that Violet is okay with her precious son marrying one of the Andrews twins.”

Cathy pointed a long slender finger at her sister. “Don’t you start with me! And I’m not the feisty twin. You are. I can’t see Violet letting Ethan marry you for sure.”