The Barefoot Summer(57)

She nodded. What in the hell could a fishing festival have to do with the case or anything else for that matter?

“Well, several years ago my mother bought an old stagecoach at an auction and the parade committee, plus the Bootleg citizen of the year, rides in it during the parade. I get it out of the barn where we store it and shine it all up for that day,” he said.

“And you’re going to chase down Conrad’s real killer in an antique stagecoach?” she asked.

He laughed. Dammit! Why did he have to be so sexy when he brought out the charm?

“No, but while all the spiders are chased out of it and it’s still clean, Victor and Hattie want to have a picnic at the ranch so the girls can have a ride in it,” he said.

“As in more than just Gracie? As in Lisa?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“When is all this supposed to happen?” she asked.

“Festival is next Saturday. The stagecoach would still be clean on Monday evening,” he answered. “Hattie says that she’ll bring a picnic lunch for us to have beside the creek on the back side of the ranch and the kids can play in the water.”

“Why are you asking instead of Hattie?”

“She and Victor thought if it was my idea, it might not look so much like they were pushing Paul and Jamie together,” he answered. “So if you aren’t too mad at me for being the messenger of bad news about the case, then I’d ask you not to tell Jamie who really thought up the whole plan.”

“Well, I expect I can keep that secret.” She smiled. “Truth is, I’ve wanted to ask you if I could bring Gracie to the ranch for an afternoon or morning.”

“Anytime.” He grinned.



Waylon had let emotions get in the way of his job for the first time in his career. He liked Amanda and Jamie, and he’d hate to see them prosecuted. But Kate was a different story. He believed her, and he damn sure did not want to see her behind bars. He shouldn’t even be taking her out for a hamburger or hiring her to work on his ranch, but dammit, there was something there between them that he couldn’t ignore.

He’d sworn off women after his second divorce and he’d stayed pretty faithful to his vow of bachelorhood until he met Kate. God or fate or karma damn sure had a wicked sense of humor.

“Gracie told me she wanted to come to your ranch and ride a horse someday so I know she’ll be delighted, but I feel like I should ask Jamie first,” Kate said. “Now, let’s put all that on the back burner and you can tell me about this burger joint. Is it a chain? Do we have them in Dallas and Fort Worth?”

“It’s not a chain. It’s one of a kind and it’s called Bobby Jo’s. They only make burgers and hot dogs. None of this diversifying business. And they peel their own potatoes for their fries and make their own chili for the burgers and hot dogs.”

“Chili for burgers?” She frowned.

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,” he said. “A chili burger is two pieces of meat, two pieces of cheese, and a scoop of hot chili that melts the cheese. You usually have to eat it with a spoon, but it’s pretty damned good.”

“Sounds like it. Do they do chili cheese fries?”

“Yep, and they are amazing,” he said.

“How’d you find out about this place?” she asked.

“My daddy was a big fan of hamburgers and hot dogs, so when we drove up here for a load of feed or to go to the stockyards, we always went to Bobby Joe’s. The original owner died some years ago and they changed up the sign a little bit to be Bobby Jo’s, as in a girl’s name. She’s his granddaughter.”

Kate’s stomach growled.

“That’s a good sign,” Waylon said. “You want to go in there hungry.”

He drove past a mall and several other places to eat, made a few turns that had her completely lost as to how she’d ever find her way back out of the maze without him, and then parked in a lot crowded with trucks and cars.

“We’re lucky,” he said. “We got here before the church crowd. Welcome to the best-kept secret in North Texas.”

She stepped out to the smell of grilled onions and burgers. “It smells heavenly.”

“Tastes even better.”

With his hand on the small of her back, he ushered her inside, and a cute little red-haired woman left her place from behind the hostess counter and hugged him tightly. “Waylon Kramer, where have you been keeping yourself? This gorgeous woman is too good for the likes of an old cop like you.”

“Kate, meet Bobby Jo. Bobby Jo, this is Kate Steele, and I agree with what you said, which makes me the luckiest man in the place today.”

Kate blushed scarlet but did remember to hold out her hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Bobby Jo. I hear you make an awesome burger.”

Her handshake was firm, and her blue eyes twinkled. She had kinky red hair that she’d pulled up in a messy bun, and she wore a T-shirt that advertised the business. “My cooks do, and I’ll fire their asses the day they don’t. Y’all come on back here. You can have the VIP table today.” She dropped Kate’s hand and motioned for them to follow her, leading them through a maze of tables filled with people who had already been served.

“First class,” Waylon said as he seated Kate. “Thanks, Bobby Jo.”