“But not ’til late. And he might not be back ’til tomorrow.” He lifted off his hat and set it on Edwina’s station.
“How do you know anything about Buddy’s schedule?”
“A friend in the Rangers told me, darlin’. He said Buddy is way down south.”
The Texas Rangers was one of the most elite and professional law enforcement agencies in the world, its members bound by brotherhood. A Ranger wouldn’t reveal the whereabouts of one of its own to someone outside the organization. “I don’t believe you.”
Quint gave her a smirk. “I guess you don’t have to. You got an extra cup of that coffee?”
“You know where the pot is. We haven’t moved it.”
He walked into the back room and a minute later, returned carrying a mug of steaming coffee. He took a seat beside her in Edwina’s styling chair. “Where’s your partner in crime-fighting this morning?”
“She’ll be here any minute. You’d better go before she gets here.”
“Why? She and I always got along fine.” He looked around. “Place looks good, darlin’. You and Ed are still busy making a fortune, huh? The experts on beauty in Salt Lick, Texas.”
“Don’t be a smart-alec. We do okay.”
His gaze landed on the corner of the room and Jake’s cage. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s an aviary. Ed’s adopted a parrot.”
“And it lives in that?”
“Part of the time when he’s here at the shop. He isn’t an it, by the way. He’s a he. He doesn’t like being called an it.”
Quint laughed and shook his head. “One of the reasons I always liked hanging out with you, Debbie Sue, is it was always entertaining. A man never knew what might happen next.”
A commotion came from the back room, along with the sound of the back door slamming. “Ed’s here now. And her niece is with her, so don’t say anything stupid.”
Quint’s mouth tipped up in a mischievous grin. “Darlin’, I never say anything stupid.”
“Humph. That’s a matter of opinion. You were pretty stupid at Tag’s place the other day.”
Debbie Sue rose from her seat as Edwina and Sandi came into the salon. Quint, too, got to his feet.
Sandi carted a box of cleaning supplies. Edwina staggered under the weight and awkwardness of Jake’s travel cage.
“Aarwrk,” Jake screeched. Lemme outta here!...Toast!...Jake wants toast.”
Edwina ignored Jake and set his cage on a footstool in front of a hairdryer. “Quint! What the hell are you doing here?”
“Quint. What the hell are you doing here?” Jake repeated, cocking his head. “Hello,” he added and twisted his head 180 degrees.
Quint chuckled, “You got an echo in here. Debbie Sue just asked me the same question and now some damn bird wants to know why I’m here?”
Like a laser, his focus landed on Sandi. “And who might you be, pretty lady?”
Debbie Sue sighed inwardly. He hadn’t changed one bit.
He took hold of the box Sandi carried. “Here, darlin’, let me take care of that load for you. Pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be carrying a heavy box.” He set the box of cleaning supplies on the seat of Debbie Sue’s styling chair.
Empty-armed, Sandi opened her palms. “Well, I—” She gave a silly titter. She sounded like a teenager.
Quint had that effect on women. He was so damn good-looking and he had a way of making you think you were the only one in the world who was important. Still, Debbie Sue looked on in horror. If he harassed Edwina’s niece, Vic might tear him limb from limb.
“Uh...” Sandi stood there blinking. Finally, she stuck out her right hand. “Sandi Walker. I’m Edwina’s niece.”
“What the fuck!” Jake screeched and turned all the way around on his swing. “What!...The!...Fuck!”
Quint stared at Jake, obviously more than curious. “Did he say what I think I heard?”
Sandi rushed to Jake’s cage. “Jake! Stop that. Bad word. Bad word.” She turned to Quint. “Seeing someone new, he thinks he’s performing. I think he might have been part of the entertainment in a sports bar.”
The parrot paced back and forth on his swing, hung a foot on the side of the cage and turned upside down. He squawked a loud jungle call, followed by, “Dickhead. Dickhead.”
Quint’s expression turned from fascination to wide-eyed amazement. “Did he just say dickhead? Is he calling me a dickhead?”
“Well, if the shoe fits,” Edwina said and blew a large gum bubble.
“What the hell? He doesn’t even know me.”
A hooting laugh burst from Debbie Sue. She couldn’t hold it back. Quint’s ego was so fragile he couldn’t stand hearing even a parrot criticize him.
Quint walked over to Jake’s travel cage, bent down and looked inside.
“I repeat my earlier question,” Edwina said. “What are you doing here, Quint?”
Quint straightened and planted his fists on his hips. “Jesus Christ. You women act like I’m Satan or something. You’ve known me a long time, Ed. Now stop and think. Why would I be here?”
“Honey-chile, it’s not for me to stop and think. If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, and Buddy Overstreet walks through that door, which could be any minute, what you’re thinking won’t mean a damn thing. He’ll toss your ass all the way back to the Alamo. Then you’ll be thinking a ride on one of your mad bulls feels like a cake walk.”
“I’m not afraid of Buddy. Besides, I know exactly where he is and I know what he’s doing. He won’t be here for hours.”
Debbie Sue thought about that. Even she didn’t know exactly where her husband was. But before she could thoroughly analyze that fact, Jake began to squawk and flap his wings. “What the fuck? Lemme outta here! Lemme outta here!”
Rummaging through the box of cleaning supplies, Edwina shook her head. “He’s on a tear this morning. He called me Q-Tip again and he upset Gus, howling like a coyote. Poor cat was so terrified he clawed his way to the top of the refrigerator and broke all my magnets.” She glared at the parrot. “Then, naughty Jake refused
