The Maverick - By Jan Hudson Page 0,39
he is. It’s one of Wes’s boys. He’s the spitting image of your father.”
“It’s Sam,” Cass said. “Do you want to meet him?”
“I suppose I must.”
“Not if it’s going to upset you, Mom.”
“Well, I want to meet him,” Min said. “It’s like seeing a ghost.”
Cass rose and met Sam as he waited by the bar. “Am I welcome?” he asked. “Is that your mother?”
“It is. Mom and my aunt. If Mom looks a little stunned, it’s because she says you’re the spitting image of my father.”
“That’s what I’ve been told. I barely remember him. I can go sit in a corner—or leave if it’s an awkward time. Have you told her about us yet?”
“Yes, we had to fess up. It’s okay. Come join us.”
Cass led Sam to the table and introduced him to Gloria and Min.
“Ladies, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Belle said you were lovely, and I can see she wasn’t exaggerating.”
Gloria chuckled. No, she giggled. “Oh, go on with you, Sam. I can tell you’re an Outlaw for sure.”
Sam grinned. “That I am, ma’am, and I’m delighted to meet you. My mama and daddy are having a fit to meet you, too. In fact the whole family is chomping at the bit to get to know you ladies. We’re all crazy about Sunny and Cass.”
“May I get you something to eat, Sam?” Min asked.
“Why, yes ma’am, thank you. I’d love a bowl of that fine chili and a big glass of iced tea.”
Min and Gloria both smiled, and Cass bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Sam was turning it on full blast.
Gloria asked about the rest of the Outlaw family, and Sam whipped out his wallet and began pulling out pictures, first of his wife, Skye, then of the other families. “And this,” he said, “is my oldest brother, Colt, and his wife and little girl.”
He had group pictures of everybody, and he proudly displayed them and told a little about each one. Cass wondered if he carried all those photos in his wallet as a rule. It made his billfold very fat.
Sam continued to charm the ladies while he ate his chili and drank his tea, then topped them off with a big bowl of peach cobbler and ice cream. “I love this cobbler,” he said as he shoveled it in.
“Would you like another?” Min asked.
“Oh, no, ma’am. I gotta keep fit to catch crooks.”
“What are you doing in Austin today, Sam?” Cass asked.
“Talking to the sheriff about a cold case we’re working.” To Gloria and Min he said, “I’m a Texas Ranger based in San Antonio and part of a team that focuses on old cases that were never solved.”
Gloria nodded. “I noticed your badge.”
“Well, I hate to eat and run,” Sam said, “but duty calls.”
He pulled out his wallet again, but Gloria waved it away. “Our treat.”
“Why, thank you, ma’am. I’m honored.” He stood. “I’m looking forward to meeting you again soon.”
Cass walked him to the door. “I thought I was going to have to get out the shovel for a minute.”
Sam grinned. “Did I do good?”
“You were superb.”
He kissed her cheek, grabbed his hat and left.
When Cass returned to the table, Gloria sighed. “Such a nice young man. Wes must be very proud of him. Too bad he’s married and your cousin.”
“Well, he’s not available,” Cass said, “and I really like Griff. Don’t you?”
“Not particularly,” her mother said. “Min, are you ready to go get those geraniums?”
“Wait a minute,” Cass said. “Why don’t you like Griff?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I think it’s something in his eyes.”
“But, Mom, his eyes are gorgeous. You said so yourself.”
“I’m not talking about their appearance. It’s more about—oh, I don’t know, maybe the expression. He’s a bit too…”
“Slick,” Min finished.
Exasperated at the two of them, Cass clenched her teeth. “You’ve said that before. If you’re talking slick, Sam Outlaw is slicker than goose grease.”
“Oh, not like Sam,” Gloria said. “He’s just a good old Texas boy with a knack for charming bull doo-doo. I’m talking about a different kind of slick. An underhanded kind of slick. Mark my word, Cass, Griffin Mitchell will break your heart.”
“That man is just not copacetic,” Min said. “Is he married?”
Cass’s heart almost stopped, and a strange feeling came over her. “Of course not! Whatever gave you such an idea?”
Married? Surely not. The thought had never occurred to her. If he was married, if he’d been lying to her, she would die. She would just die.
Chapter Sixteen
Griff