“No, it isn’t. Listen to me now. Buddy Overstreet will never make a dime more than the state of Texas pays him. He’s not a money man. I made more last year than he’ll make in his whole fuckin’ life. And look at you. A beautiful woman like you wearing a Walmart dress—”
“My dress did not come from Walmart, for your information. But so what if it did?”
She had bought her dress at Target. But Quint wasn’t wrong about her life, she couldn’t keep from thinking. She and Buddy would never be rich. They still lived in an old house that had belonged to her grandparents and they didn’t even talk about living somewhere else.
Quint continued as if she hadn’t interrupted him. “Standing on your feet all day in a chickenshit beauty shop in a shithole of a town. I’m a rich man, Debbie Sue. I’d dress you in beautiful clothes. Shower you with diamonds and rubies. A fine house, fine horses and fine wine. Anything your heart desires.”
“You don’t get it, Quint. You never did. I wouldn’t care if Buddy were dead broke. I love him. And furthermore, he loves me. He’ll always fight for me. And he’s loyal. You cheated on me too many times.”
“I’ve changed, Debbie Sue. Like you said, maybe I’ve grown up.”
His tone had a ring of sincerity to it, which made this encounter even more frightening. If she could believe him, she didn’t know what she might or might not do. Quint had always had an uncanny ability to reach the deepest part of her and talk her into doing things no one else would ever be able to talk her into. She had to stop this. She pushed herself to her feet. “I’ve got to find Ed and get going. We’ve got customers tomorrow.”
He sighed and stood with her, held her elbow as she stepped over the bench seat. She picked up her purse, hooked it on her shoulder gave him a lingering look. “Take care of yourself, Quint.”
She turned away from him and walked toward the front of the restaurant, hoping like hell that Edwina was waiting for her there.
“It’s good to see you, pretty girl,” he said behind her. “I’ll be seeing you again.”
Debbie Sue didn’t look back. She did not want Quint to think she was affected by his sudden appearance or any of the things he had said. And the absolute, very last thing she wanted was for him to show up in Salt Lick.
She found Edwina almost hidden at one end of the bar near the mechanical bull. “Let’s get out of here, Ed.”
They rode in silence until they cleared the Midland city limits.
Finally, Edwina said, “Well, are you gonna tell me what that was all about?”
“It wasn’t about anything. Just Quint being Quint.”
“I always figured you two were hot together. I can see both of you now. Ride ’em, cowgirl. Now, I ask you. Could he really go all night?”
Debbie Sue’s whole head heated all the way to her hair follicles. Her hair might fall out completely. “I don’t remember.”
“Hah. Pardon me if I think you’re lying.”
“I just hope Buddy doesn’t find out he’s living in Midland.”
“Oh, he’ll find out. Quint never was able to stay away from you if he was within shouting distance. If he’s been living back here up for two months, I’m surprised he hasn’t put in an appearance in Salt Lick already. My crystal ball tells me it’s just a matter of time before a whole new chapter will start up with him and you and Buddy.”
Debbie Sue clenched her teeth and growled. “Really, Obi Wan?”
“Really, Scarlett. I swear, girl, this is the stuff soap operas are made of. My God, half the women in Texas would crawl from here to Dallas to have the likes of Quint Matthews or Buddy Overstreet in love with them. But to have both of those guys chasing you around? Hm-hm-hm.”
“Bite your tongue, Ed.”
Edwina had the nerve to chuckle. “Hell, that long-legged cop might end up shooting the cheeky little fart after all. I can see the headlines now. Texas Ranger murders—”
“Shut-up, Ed.”
“He’s still a pretty bastard, I have to say. Not as pretty as Buddy, but not too many women would kick him outta bed. And he’s in great shape. That body of his does a pair of Cinch jeans and those custom-made shirts proud. He must still work out, huh.”
“Edwina Perkins-Martin, if you don’t shut your mouth, I’m gonna get out of this car.”
Chapter 18
A week passed. The end of October and cooler weather rolled around. Fall had definitely arrived. Sandi missed Waffle terribly. She missed him coming to wake her every morning with slobbery doggy kisses, missed his happy grin and wagging tail as she prepared his breakfast, missed his presence in LaBarkery. To compound her depressed feelings, almost every regular customer asked about him.
Still, she had stuck to her busy routine. She put out pet sweaters and warm booties for sale, updated the pet Halloween costume display and created Halloween treats for her customers to hand out. She worked with her web designer on her website, made bulk Atomic Energizer and dozens of Barkies, Little Fidos and Mousekins to sell in LaBarkery and in general distracted herself from her favorite dog’s absence by showering attention on her other animals.
On Tuesday, Juanita from We Love Animals called. “Betty Ann told me what happened in court. I can’t believe they let a cat come in. I’m so sorry, dear.”
“Thanks for your thoughts, Juanita. I wasn’t surprised at the outcome.”
“Got time to come by today? I’ve got a new little dog for you to look at.”
“Oh, Juanita, I don’t want another dog right now.”
“Oh, I understand. But she’s sure a pretty little thing. So white she looks like a snowball. And so much personality. Her name is Betsy. She looks like a Westie.”
“Betsy the Westie? That’s too cute. I think there was once a doll called Betsy Wetsy.”
Ignoring Sandi’s sarcasm, Juanita went on.
