Cowboy Logic - B.A. Tortuga Page 0,6
feel like it.” She shoved her frizzy hair back off her face. “Come have a Coke.”
He shook his head and opened his arms. “Come here, you.”
She came right to him, hugging him hard. She didn’t have on a bit of makeup, her hair was all flyaway, and she’d been crying, her eyes swollen. “Thank you, Bubba.”
“Anything for you, Sister.” He held her tight, feeling a little like he’d done something right. She didn’t seem bruised.
“You really woulda shot him.” She chuckled, and it was only a few seconds before they were clinging together, hooting like big owls.
When they could stop giggling and snuffling, they wandered inside to the kitchen, where he had another of those moments. The cabinets were in the same places, but the color was different, the walnut stain now a light pine. The little white fridge with the pull was a huge stainless monstrosity. The yellow Formica was a pale granite. Damn.
“One of the Morrows? Seriously? How did that happen?” Logic asked.
“We had a beer one night. He seemed nice. Charming.” She sighed. “Not a cowboy, you know?”
“I do. Those guys are bad for you.” He’d been avoiding them his whole life, at least until he wrote a best-selling book about them. Then he only dealt with the guys who played them on TV.
“I know.” Bailey pulled out two Dr Peppers. “Want a sandwich?”
“God yes. Please.” He sat on a barstool. “I just shot at your boyfriend.”
“He’s not even my boyfriend.” She got out fixings and started slapping together roast beef sandwiches as if she was feeding ten people. “We dated, like, three times. When he started showing up unannounced here, I told him we had to not see each other. The kids, huh? So he comes over one night when Kylie Gunter is babysitting. You remember James? That’s his girl. She’s fifteen. The bastard told Kylie I said it was okay to watch a movie with the kids. And he wouldn’t leave!”
“I—I don’t get it. How does a guy not leave?” That blew his mind. Totally blew it. “What kind of crazy bastard does that?”
“Right?” She flung up her hands, and a piece of mustardy bread went flying. “Shit!”
He tried for it, catching the bread on one finger, the damn thing swinging around and around.
“Look at you with your gamer reflexes.” She snorted. “I couldn’t call anyone without him breathing down my neck. He threatened the kids every time I tried to leave the ranch.”
“I’m glad you called. How are the babies?” He handed her the bread before sucking mustard off his finger. Oh, yellow!
“Good. Worried.” She grinned. “But I can go get them now.”
“After you call the sheriff.” Logic wasn’t dealing with this again, dammit.
“I can’t. My kids go to school here. I have to make a living. He owns this town.”
He really didn’t give a shit. “Either you call the sheriff’s office and get someone out here, or I do. I’m easy.”
“Brother…”
“God damn it, Bailey! What if I hadn’t been able to get a flight? What if he’d hurt you, the kids? Stop being so fucking scared and call them!” He hated to yell, honestly he did, but… Oh, what the hell. He’d given up quiet-and-head-down years ago.
“Bubba… I’m ashamed. I feel like an idiot.”
That Logic understood, down to the bone. “That’s what assholes like him count on. Don’t let him win. Call the sheriff. I’ll finish the sandwiches. I want a record of this bullshit so we can get y’all a restraining order.”
“Okay.” She straightened her shoulders and firmed her chin, slapping her tears away. “Eat. I’m okay.”
“I love you, dorkfish. Seriously. I’m here.” He felt a glow of love and pride for her.
“I know.” She smiled, and her lip only quivered a moment. Then she grabbed a pink-cased iPhone to call the sheriff.
Logic devoured two sandwiches, then made her a couple before finding chips to munch on. If he was eating the kids’ lunch food, he would buy more tomorrow.
He was hoping to con Sister into making chili while he was here. Chili. Nachos. The good stuff.
Doritos were pretty good, though. Really. He hadn’t had them since San Diego two years ago.
He tried to be super paleo boy. It even worked sometimes.
This was like a vacation. He’d worked off a dozen sandwiches with his stress just a few minutes ago…
“Okay. Thanks, Laney. I’ll keep an eye out for Dave.” She clicked the hang-up button. “A deputy is on his way.”
“Excellent. I have my ID on me. You think he’ll recognize me?”
“No.” She