The Strawberry Hearts Diner(74)

They were almost to the truck when the brunette dragged poor old Ryder’s lips to hers and ground against them as if she was trying to eat him alive right there before God and all the people pouring out of the church.

Emily peeled her away from Ryder like removing bubblegum from a shoe, set her on the ground, and leaned down until she was nose to nose with the woman. “I don’t know who you are, who you think you are, or what you think you are doing, but I’m engaged to Ryder Jensen. And you are in the church parking lot. Have some kind of respect.”

“Bullshit!” the hussy said as she looped her arm into Ryder’s. “This big old guy is my favorite booty call. When I’m in Texas, I don’t even have to call anymore. I saw his truck here, so this is where I’m meeting him. I don’t give a damn where it is. You don’t tell me what to do.”

“And when was the last time you had one of these booty calls?” Emily asked.

Ryder pushed her back. “It was way before we started dating, Emily. I’m so sorry about this.”

“Halloween, last year.” She glared at Emily. “He’d never ask someone like you to marry him! He’s not the marryin’ type. Wake up, girl. He’s a player.”

Jancy took a step forward. “And why wouldn’t he ask Emily to marry him?”

“He likes short brunettes with a lot of fire, not dowdy Sunday-school teachers.”

“Whoa!” Ryder said.

“What did you say?” Jancy’s hands knotted into fists.

“You heard me. Who are you? The piano player?” The woman took a step forward.

That was her first mistake.

The second was when she reached out and pushed Jancy.

Jancy came back with a right hook straight into the woman’s eye. She squealed and grabbed Jancy’s hair, pulling her to the ground with her as she fell. That was her third mistake, because Jancy was a scrapper. She didn’t pull hair or mouth off useless words. She slapped the woman twice and then doubled up her fists to really do some damage to that smug face.

She took a couple of hits, but she was giving as good as she got right up until Shane and Vicky pulled them apart. She hadn’t said a word from the time that she landed that first hit. The brunette jumped up and started to swing at her, but Jancy pulled up both legs and kicked her back into the dirt.

“I’ll file assault charges on you,” the woman said as she got up and ran to her little red convertible.

“I’ve got no problem with a few days in jail,” Jancy said through clenched teeth. “Put me down, Shane. I don’t think she’s had enough.”

Emily marched up to Ryder, pointed her finger under his nose, and said, “We’ll discuss this later. You better let me cool off an hour or two before you even call and I’ll be going home with Mama.”

“And you can put me down, Shane.” Jancy wiggled free of his embrace. “And next time I’m teachin’ someone a lesson, you better stand back and leave me alone until I get finished. And I’m going home with Vicky, too.”

“Let me explain,” Ryder said.

“After I get through bein’ mad. I don’t care if it wasn’t your fault. You are a big man. You could have thrown her off into the dirt instead of just standin’ there like a statue,” Emily said.

Vicky pulled up in the van, and both girls crawled inside. “Jancy, you’re going to have a shiner tomorrow.”

“Won’t be the first one.”

“Holy smoke, Jancy!” Emily said. “You didn’t give her a warnin’ or nothing.”

“Found out a long time ago that you land the first punch and every one after that if you’re goin’ to win a fight. She shouldn’t have pushed me.” Jancy touched her eye and flinched. “She had no business insultin’ you.”

Nettie giggled, then laughter bubbled out of her, echoing off the walls of the van as she wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. “I ain’t seen so many people with gaping mouths in years. Lord, that was fun. Can we go back and do it again?”

“The wedding is off,” Emily said. “I can’t do this.”

Vicky glanced up in the rearview mirror. “You knew what Ryder was when you started dating him. Behind my back, I might add. And you could see very well that he wasn’t holding her on his body. She sure was hangin’ on like a monkey, though, wasn’t she?”

“All she needed was a long tail to wrap around him,” Jancy said. “And she did have a face like a monkey. Why would he have ever let her use him for booty calls? Maybe that’s why there’s so many paper bags at Shane’s house.”

Vicky frowned. “What?”

A faint giggle escaped Emily’s mouth. “Thank you, Jancy.”

“Paper bags?” Vicky asked.

“Got to have something to cover up a face like that,” Jancy told her.

Nettie got tickled all over again. “I can’t believe that you are takin’ up for Ryder, Vicky. This is your chance to talk her out of the wedding.”

“Not for this reason. She should have been the one to beat the crap out of that bimbo,” Vicky said. “But I do appreciate you takin’ care of it, Jancy.”

“That foolish woman knew better than to push Emily. She’d have gotten her butt handed to the devil on a silver platter. She thought that she had a chance with me. She learned different.” Jancy’s pulse was still racing. “And you are welcome. Friends take care of friends. Emily would do the same for me if I got crossways with a six-foot woman.”