Hotter than Texas (Pecan Creek) - By Tina Leonard Page 0,104

a garden-variety cardiac arrest.”

Sugar smiled at Jake. “We like to tell people the poor man had a heart attack because of all the good sex going on.”

The reporter sniffed. “I don’t know about sex. But can I make a reservation? The wife would love staying in this house.”

“No reservations,” Jake said, smiling at Sugar, melting her heart. “This is a family home. But thanks for coming to Pecan Creek, the Most Honest, Proper Town in Texas.”

“There’s no story here,” the reporter said.

“Oh, there’s a story,” Jake said, “we’re just not telling.”

“No, we’re not,” Sugar agreed, laughing, and they walked outside to the pecan grove, with Paris waving her plumy tail beside them, enjoying the very good life in a small, honest town in Texas.

Epilogue

Dear Journal,

It wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t tell you how everything turned out.

Maggie married Lassiter at the old church in town. She was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen her. She deserves Lassiter. He is a prince among men, and their happiness is inspiring. They live out at his horse ranch, but sometimes, they stay in the cabin on his property. Maggie says it’s peaceful there. They sip whiskey and listen to the wind blow and watch the moon hang in the sky surrounded by stars. Lassiter never goes off anymore; his “ways” changed. He says Maggie makes him happy.

Lucy and Bobby are deliriously in love. Bobby says my sister drives him mad, and he’s never been happier. I can tell he means it from the bottom of his heart. Bobby surprised Lucy with a trip to Tiffany’s and bought her a ring, and Bobby said Lucy screamed so loud that the manager threw in a discount. He said she’d given good word of mouth, which Bobby said was appropriate, given the recent circumstances in Pecan Creek.

Of course you know that Cat and Evert got married. They’re expecting a baby now, which has everybody dropping all kinds of hints to Jake and me. Evert never mentions his messed-up kick anymore, but he says he can’t wait to teach his son or daughter how to kick footballs and soccer balls.

Averie’s dating the new high school football coach. It’s a match made in Texas. Gossip in town has it that Averie and the coach christened the fifty-yard line of the new football field, but I couldn’t tell you if that’s true or not. You know how gossip is—a good story just seems to take on a life of its own.

As for Kel, well, Debbie happened to see the billboard on the day of the parade as she was driving into town. People said she shrieked like mad and practically ran Kel over in her excitement. They say it’s like the old days now. Let’s just say Kel can’t keep chickens. He says they’re afraid of his wife, and for some reason, that makes him grin.

Jake knows why it’s so funny, but he says it’s buddy talk, and he’ll never tell any of the really good stuff on his military brothers. I’m just glad Kel and Debbie are happy again. She really is a nice woman, and her kids aren’t ugly at all. I don’t understand why Jake says they’re ugly, but it seems to be something Kel gets, so that’s all that matters. Men have a weird sense of humor at times. I can tell you that Kel’s oldest daughter recently was voted Princess Pecan Creek for the Snowball Dance, and that Facebook pictures of her in her gown caught the eye of a New York modeling agency.

The Pillars’ businesses have gone wild. I had no idea those women were such amazing raconteurs and entrepreneurs. I’ve learned a lot from them. They love Maggie and recently installed her as Jake’s assistant mayor. Maggie says she doesn’t do anything but greet the people who are thinking about moving to Pecan Creek, but the Pillars say Maggie’s a born charmer, and they respect that. Everyone loves Maggie.

The parade was such a success that Jake moved us all into Pecan Fanny’s. The kitchen is large enough for all of us—Dodie, Minda, Charlotte, Vivian, Lucy, Maggie and me—to work in comfort. Lucy runs the order data base, and Maggie takes the orders by phone. Lucy’s just about too busy to help anymore. After the reporters swarmed the town and discovered Pecan Creek, and everybody heard about the family life here, we’ve been swamped with newcomers. Thanks to the Breakfast at Tiffany’s tour of the Sex Shack, Lucy’s in huge demand for interior