The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop (Cadillac, Texas #3)(24)

Everett chuckled. “I sure will, but you got to be bigger than ol’ Roy. He’s the biggest, meanest old catfish in the Red River and if you was to fall over the edge of the boat, why, he might get a hold of the seat of your britches and haul you all the way to the ocean before he let go of you.”

Luke’s eyes were so big that the pupils were completely outlined in white. He brushed back a lock of light-brown hair from his sweaty forehead. “I heard about ol’ Roy. My grandpa told me that he’s older than God.”

“That’s pretty old,” Jed said.

Tanner nodded seriously. “Grandpa—he knows them things.”

Charlotte bumped Stella with her knee. “See, the boys like Jed. It’s one of those made-in-heaven matches. We’ll focus on Piper rather than finding you a husband and you can just keep having sex with your truck driver. We can tell Heather that her prayers landed on Piper instead of you. After all, we do own the Yellow Rose all together. It’s not just your beauty shop.”

“Hey, guys, I’d love to see your train set,” Rhett said.

“Really?” Luke asked.

“You any good at baseball?” Tanner asked.

“Well, I played when I went to college and they let me pitch.”

“Well, we don’t go to Grandma’s tomorrow and Mama don’t have to work, so I reckon you could come see us about six o’clock,” Tanner said.

Charlotte poked Stella and whispered, “Did you hear that?”

“I did but I’m not believing it.”

“Mama, can Rhett come over and teach us about baseball tomorrow evening?” Luke asked.

Piper smiled at Stella before she nodded at Rhett. “Sure, he can. Don’t eat supper before you come, Rhett. We’ll grill some hot dogs and make it a real baseball game.”



Agnes dropped Stella at her house and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll fix it up so that this will be the last year they have a barbecue ball. It does sound like a Duck Dynasty thing. Got to admit, I do watch that show. I love it when Si gets the best of them younger boys. And when Mama Kay starts cookin’, my mouth just waters.”

“I hope that it’s a big flop and no one but us four shows up,” Stella said.

“Oh, I want a lot of people there so they can see Heather and this damn silly idea of hers bite the dust. What do you think of Rhett going over to Piper’s place tomorrow night? That upset you or do you think he’s just going because she’s your best friend and he wants some advice about how to handle a red-haired spitfire?”

“Agnes Flynn, you are nosy. I think Rhett gets a bad rap because he dates so many women, but there’s nothing wrong with that, is there? But between us, I’m not seeing him or interested in him.”

“Well, shit! I just knew he was the one. You been as jittery as a worm in hot ashes all night. Still, you might forewarn Piper, because she’s of the opinion that he’s coming over to get on your good side. I still think it would be downright hilarious if you went out with the preacher, if it was only one time. Heather would shit her pants without a bit of my dosed-up fudge to help her along.”

Stella’s laughter set Agnes off and before long they were both wiping at their eyes.

“I’d forgotten that you dosed up some fudge with laxative and gave it to Violet last year,” Stella said between hiccups.

Agnes nodded. “And I’ll do it again if she gets out of hand. You want me to sit here until you get inside?”

“No. I’m a big girl and I’m so mad about all this barbecue ball stuff and prayin’ shit that I just dare anyone to cross me,” Stella said.

“That’s my girl. Us redheads, we do have a temper. See you later.”

Stella waved as she got out of the truck. “Thanks for the tea and the ride.”

“Thanks for a fun evening. It was fun to get out with a bunch of young kids like y’all,” Agnes yelled out the open window as she backed out of the driveway.

Stella pulled her keys from the pocket of her shorts and reached around the door to flip the light switch. A big hand covered hers and a deep voice said, “We don’t need the lights, darlin’. Just take my hand and let me lead you to the bathroom. I’m thinkin’ that we could both use a nice long bath in that claw-footed tub of yours.”

“But Charlotte and Piper have keys . . .” she argued as she followed Jed down the short hall.

“They are both too busy to come here tonight,” Jed whispered. “Charlotte and Boone could hardly keep their hands off each other all evening. And Piper will be home planning a ball game tomorrow night.”

He swung the door open to the cool bathroom. Two jar candles, one on the back of the potty and one on the floor beside the tub, provided enough light that she could see the sparkle in his blue eyes and also that he was stark naked. Rose petals floated on the bathwater. The steam carried the scent of vanilla along with the faint aroma of roses to her nose.

He pulled the tank top out of the top of her shorts and slowly brought it over her head, stopping to kiss her before he unzipped her shorts and tugged them down to her ankles.

Underpants, bra, and shoes all went into a pile with the rest of her clothing. And then he picked her up and slowly submerged her up to her breasts in the deep tub. He slipped in behind her and picked up a sponge, squeezing water down over her back.