Small Town Rumors(17)

“I’m going to shoot you.” Cricket kicked him in the shin under the table.

“I hid your rifle,” he said.

“Don’t mind if we do, and thank you,” Nadine said. “Lettie, you know what I want. Jennie Sue can help carry it back here to us.” She scooted in beside Cricket and waited until Lettie and Jennie Sue had reached the counter before she whispered, “So I hear that the Bloomin’ Flower Shop sent a bunch of flowers out to Charlotte today.”

“Six different bouquets, says one of the girls that works there.” Cricket lowered her voice. “Mostly roses, but the last one was a big basket of gladiolas. The Sweetwater Belles sent that one. Guess everyone thinks that Jennie Sue’s decision to work for y’all is going to cause Charlotte to die.”

“Well, I did wonder when I heard the ambulance goin’ through town, but it was just one of Elaine’s boys that stuck a bean up his nose and couldn’t breathe. They had to take him to the emergency room and sedate him to get it out,” Nadine said.

Rick shook his head. “Poor little guy. I remember when Cricket did that. She couldn’t get air, and Mama was in a panic.”

“Don’t you dare tell that story in front of Jennie Sue,” Cricket hissed. “They’re on the way with the orders.”

Nadine patted her on the arm. “Your secret is safe with us, but Jennie Sue seems to be a really nice person. Y’all could be friends.”

“You ever goin’ to be friends with Charlotte?” Cricket asked.

Nadine sent a dirty look her way. “Maybe when they let Lucifer back in heaven for a visit.”

“There’s your answer,” Cricket said.

“Burger basket with everything for Nadine and one with no onions for me,” Lettie said as she set a tray down. “Jennie Sue, you go on and slide in there beside Rick, honey. These old knees like the outside better than havin’ to work their way out of the booth after I eat.”

Rick wasn’t ready for the jolt that shot through him when Jennie Sue’s entire side plastered up against his. His tongue knotted up, especially when he thought of the talk that would be flying around the next day.

“I love big old greasy burgers,” Jennie Sue said. “This is such a treat.”

“It’s the one thing I missed the most when I was deployed,” he said.

“Where were you?” Jennie Sue asked.

“I could tell you, but then . . . Well, you know the rest.” Rick grinned.

“He won’t even tell me where he was on that last mission,” Cricket said. “You’d think he could tell his sister.”

Jennie Sue nudged him with her shoulder. “I always wanted a sister.”

“Oh, honey, trust me when I say that you didn’t really.” Lettie shook her head slowly in disagreement. “They’re nothing but a pain in the ass most of the time.”

“Especially if you get an older sister who stays in so much trouble that she ruins your name right along with hers,” Nadine said.

“So how much older was the other sister?” Jennie Sue asked.

“Flora was two years older than me. If she was alive, she’d be ninety-two, and I’m two years older than Lettie, who is older than dirt,” Nadine said.

“What does that make you, smarty-pants?” Lettie shot a dirty look her way. “If she wasn’t old and worn-out, I’d give her to you, Jennie Sue. But you deserve a younger sister.”

“If you still want one, I’ll give you mine,” Rick offered.

Cricket shot a dirty look his way. “Better yet, I’ll give you a brother. They’re twice the pain in the ass.”

“For real?” Jennie Sue asked.

“Oh, yeah.” Cricket nodded seriously.

“A brother couldn’t be as bad as Flora was,” Nadine laughed.

“I really love bein’ around young folks. Makes me feel young all over again,” Lettie said.

Makes me feel like a king, just sitting here with Jennie Sue Baker beside me, even if it does create more rumors, Rick thought, but he didn’t say a word.





Chapter Four

The blazes of hell could never compete with Texas in July. Jennie Sue arose even earlier than usual the morning of the Fourth. She took a glass of iced coffee to the balcony, where she propped her long legs up on the banister and watched the sunrise. There wasn’t a city, state, or country in the world that could lay claim to a prettier sunrise or sunset than West Texas. That was one of the many things she’d missed when she moved to New York.

Her cell phone rang, and her father’s picture popped up on the screen. “Good mornin’, Daddy. Are you on your third cup of coffee?”

“Fourth, baby girl. What’s all this talk I’m hearing?” Like always, his deep drawl made her homesick to see him. He might disappoint her horribly with his lifestyle, but there was no doubt that he loved her.

“It’s the truth, Daddy. I’m cleaning house for the Clifford sisters two days a week and chauffeuring them around when they need it. The other three days I’m working for Amos in the bookshop, and I’m living in Lettie Clifford’s garage apartment,” she said.

“Your mama is pitching a hissy,” he said.

“I don’t doubt it.”