“Yeah, yeah, I get it. So the court thing didn’t go very well for my niece, did it?”
“I’m not surprised. Ed, the dog belongs to Nick. It’s obvious to everyone. Sandi was fighting an uphill battle.”
“I know, I know.
“What will she do now?”
“Hell, I don’t know. It’s just a dog. She can get another one, although I don’t know why she would. It ain’t like she needs one. Listen, I just thought of something. Do you realize where we are and what time of day it is?”
“I wonder if I dare answer.”
“We are in Midland, Texas, and it’s damn near suppertime. I’m thinking we haven’t had real good barbecue in a long time. We should stop by Tag Freeman’s joint.” She laughed impishly. “You never know, girlfriend. We might run into Quint Matthews.”
“Hah. That’s all I need to wind up an insane day. The last person in the whole wide world I want to run into is Quint.”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.” Edwina made a U-turn in the middle of the street and headed for Tag Freeman’s Double-Kicker Barbecue & Beer. “You haven’t mentioned that horny little fucker lately. Do you know where he is?”
“Bandera, the last I heard.”
“That’s good. A helluva long way from here. How long has it been since you’ve heard from him?”
“Couple of years. An old rodeo friend told me he got married again. The daughter of some super-rich rancher from South Texas. But it only lasted for a little while.”
“That’s the way it is when a guy can’t have the one he wants. He’s like a honey bee, flitting from flower to flower. Never settles down. And all the money in Texas wouldn’t make a difference.”
“Don’t start, Ed. It wasn’t especially me that Quint wanted. He wanted what he couldn’t have.”
“Hello, Scarlett. You just keep telling yourself that, but don’t try to make me believe it.”
“Whatever. I hardly ever think of him anymore and his name hasn’t come up between Buddy and me in a long time. That’s the best way to keep it.”
“Oh, I know. But wasn’t it exciting when the little bastard was constantly trying to stick his nose under the tent and Buddy got madder than a peeled rattler every time he heard his name?”
“Ed, no. Those days were hard on Buddy and me both.”
“I thought for sure Buddy would end up shooting him. I even hoped for it.”
“I swear, Ed, where did this violent streak come from?”
They reached the barbecue restaurant and found a parking slot in front. Debbie Sue hadn’t been here in months, but nothing appeared to have changed. People still gathered around to watch and ride the mechanical bull near the front entrance. Food was still served on long picnic tables covered with red and white checked cloths. Loud country music still pounded from the sound system. At the moment, Carrie Underwood was belting out “Two Black Cadillacs.”
With the food served cafeteria-style, she and Edwina picked up trays and started through the line. They each ordered a rack of ribs, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and plenty of pickled jalapeno peppers on the side, topped off by peach cobbler. As they took their seats at one of the long tables, a server met them with little ceramic pots of honey and real butter and a basket of steaming yeast rolls as soft as pillows. They dug in.
“Far as I’m concerned, this is the best barbecue in Texas,” Edwina said, chomping on a rib.
“Austin says it has the best barbecue in Texas,” Debbie Sue said.
“What does Austin know? There’s so many Yankees and West Coasters down there, they wouldn’t know good barbecue if a rack of ribs smacked ’em upside the head.” She pushed a pile of rib bones to the side of her plate.
“Jesus, Ed. That plate looks like you ate a baby dinosaur.”
Just then, the thick hand of a man set a mug of beer on the table in front of the empty space beside Debbie Sue. A large diamond winked from a gold horseshoe on his ring finger. Debbie Sue looked up and nearly swallowed a rib. “Quint! Where did you come from?”
Three-time world champion professional bull rider and multi-millionaire stock contractor Quint Matthews, stepped over the wooden bench seat and sat down. He tipped his head toward Edwina. “Edwina. How’re you?”
“Why, I’m just fine, Quint. What a shock. I thought you might be dead.”
Quint gave a deep huh-huh-huh. “Not yet, darlin’. Not yet.”
Debbie Sue sat still as a mouse, but her heartbeat had zoomed into the stratosphere and she was having trouble breathing. She had no explanation for this rush of adrenaline. Her memories of her mercurial relationship with Quint had been filed away long ago.
He turned to her. “I was at the bar when you came in. I couldn’t believe it was you. It’s been so damn long.” He picked up a sheaf of her long hair and pushed it behind her shoulder. “That pretty hair I used to love to bury my nose in gave you away, darlin’.”
“Wha—what are you doing in Midland, Quint? I heard you were living down south.”
“I was. But I bought a little place up here a couple of months ago and moved back. Tag and I are still partnering on some bulls. Life in the rodeo business is easier when he and I live closer together.”
Debbie Sue gave a nervous titter. “Still making money off Double-Trouble, huh?”
“Nah. He’s getting old. After he bucked off every cowboy in the business, we put him out to pasture. All he does these days is graze and make new winners. Tag and I’ve got a couple of real good new ones right now.”
Debbie Sue returned to her food, stealing a glance at Edwina who was sitting as if she had turned to stone.
“You’re lookin’ awful pretty, darlin’. Never did see you in a dress much. You should wear one more often, show off those pretty legs and that perfect body. Looks to me like you haven’t
