The Strawberry Hearts Diner(28)

Nettie shook her head. “Be a waste of time, since I don’t have any property to sell. You see that tall, dark, and handsome guy over there sitting with the short lady?”

“The one she was dancin’ with?” Rebecca fanned faster and faster.

“Well, honey, he couldn’t even talk me and my partner in business out of a recipe for strawberry tarts. We are pretty set in our ways here in Pick, and we don’t want to sell what we’ve got.”

“I’d give that guy whatever he wanted just to get to dance with him.” Rebecca giggled and leaned forward. “And honey”—she dragged out the last word—“I’d bet you that Hilton could sweet-talk a woman’s underpants down around her ankles, so don’t be so sure your neighbors won’t sell that property. That girl who’s been dancin’ with him all afternoon is about to spend a little time with him in our motel in Tyler. She might be the first one to put her name on the dotted line. What does she own?”

Nettie chose to ignore the last question. “The party is just getting into full swing, so you’ll be here for a while. You might as well get rid of those shoes, feel the grass under your feet, and dance a little, because no one is interested in those papers you are usin’ to cool down.”

“They will be.” Rebecca giggled again. Evidently, she couldn’t hold her strawberry wine too well. “Carlton has big plans, and he’s willin’ to do whatever it takes. Don’t push him.”

“And that means?”

“He’ll have his big score even if bodies start piling up. He doesn’t do so well with folks tellin’ him no.”

“Well, honey” —Nettie stood up and smiled—“I didn’t touch that cup of wine right there, so you enjoy it. And don’t hold your breath until Carlton has bought all the property in Pick. With your coloring, you’d look horrible in that shade of blue.”

Rebecca sipped the wine. “Tell that good-lookin’ Ryder that he can bring me another cup when he takes a break. The guitar player in a band always takes my eye.”

Nettie waved over her shoulder as she walked away. She hoped that Carlton did talk to Shane about the junkyard property. Shane might stutter, but he’d singe the hair right out of Carlton’s ears with the heated words he’d use.



Vicky caught Carlton glaring at her from near the limo and waved at him. If he thought he could intimidate her, he’d better bring his best game and a sack lunch.

Jancy put a cup of wine in her hands as she passed and whispered, “Carlton told Hilton that if he can make you and Leonard cave, then the rest of the town will go down like a row of dominoes.”

“Hilton thinks he’s got you eating out of his hand,” Vicky observed.

“Exactly what I want him to think. I’m going to dance some more with him. What did the woman tell Nettie?” Jancy asked.

“What?” Vicky frowned.

“My job is to flirt with Hilton. She took Rebecca and Carlton a cup of wine. I’m sure it was her way of finding out even more,” Jancy said. “Think I should go out on a date with him if he asks?”

“No.” Emily walked up and caught the last line of the conversation. “Not under any circumstance. Nettie just now told me that Rebecca said that Carlton would have what he wanted even if it meant dead bodies. I don’t want you to be the first one. And from what I hear, Hilton is trying to get you into a motel room and seduce you.”

“I can take care of myself.” Jancy smiled. “I’ve met his kind before. If we could buy all three of these folks for what they’re worth and sell them for what they think they’re worth, we’d be rich as Midas.”

Vicky laid a hand on her arm. “Please don’t go out with him. Today is enough.”

“Then I will make today count for all it’s worth. And he’s all talk and no walk, Vicky. Even if he did have some powerful juju, he ain’t never dealt with the four women of the diner before.” Jancy touched her cup of wine to Vicky’s.

A wide smile covered Vicky’s face. Jancy was putting down roots and clipping her own wings. Funny how living in Pick did that to a person.

“Now back to work,” Jancy said.

“And I’m going back over there with Waynette and Misty. I want a dozen babies,” Emily said.

“But not until you get through college,” Vicky said. “Until then you can enjoy Waynette’s kids.”

Vicky intended to help the ladies over at the tables, but when she reached the picnic benches, Andy touched her arm and motioned toward the seat beside him. “Come sit a spell. I’ve been getting acquainted with Leonard. He was telling me that his grandparents were some of the original folks here and they raised strawberries.”

She sat down, and Leonard put a cup of wine in her hands. “So did Vicky’s. Her grandpa had that acreage out to the north of the diner,” Leonard said. “Pick was called Strawberry Flats in the beginning. Lots of folks around here had acres and acres of strawberry fields, and folks came from miles away to pick them. They’d bring their own containers and pay by the quart. When they went to get a post office, the folks wouldn’t let them call it Strawberry Flats on account of another town, so Grandpa chose the name Pick. Granny said it didn’t have a thing to do with anything other than Pick was short and easy to spell.”