“I wouldn’t be surprised to get there later and find Rebecca and the guys brought Kyle there, as well,” Robert said. “Nothing makes Mom and the Dads happier than to be knee-deep in grandchildren.”
“They have a knack with them,” Trace said.
Someone turned the music on, providing them with a nice layer of George Strait, Travis Tritt, and some Little Big Town thrown in for good measure. There really wasn’t a lot of room for dancing, but that didn’t even seem to be a consideration.
One thing that constantly astounded Rachel. These people—cousins by blood or by tradition—saw each other all the time, often daily. Yet there was always such friendship, such pleasure at simply being together and talking. Those who became a part of the group, as she had done by being with Brandon and Trace, were immediately included in that wonderful tent called family.
When she thought of the times in the last few years that had been the darkest and the scariest, when she remembered being alone and frightened, her heart beating down that terror with the sword of prayer, the sense of wonder that this place existed, that these people were, simply astounded her.
That’s a hell of a bonus on top of the miracle of these two men wanting and needing me. Because I want and need them, too, more than anything.
Trace, on her right, picked up her hand and kissed it. Brandon, on her left, nuzzled her ear.
“Baby, what do you say we head on home and have a little party of our own?”
Rachel was having a really good time, here, with the family, many of whom she considered friends. Laughter, good food, and cold beer were welcome. The celebration of new life was more than welcome. But not as much as the offer implicit in Brandon’s question.
“Yes, please.”
All that she was enjoying in that moment was certainly welcome. But it would pale in comparison to what the three of them, alone and together, could create behind closed doors.
“Yes,” she said again. “Let’s go home.”
* * * *
Buck had just about given up on waiting. When he’d gotten back into Felix’s car, prepared to leave, he thought that he’d been seeing things. But no, that had been his wife, Rachel, who’d walked into that bar with those two young guys—the very bar he’d just left. His first thought had been that she was probably clocking in to work a shift. But something about the way the dark-haired man had a hold of her hand suggested a different possibility. Pretty boy was likely trying to ingratiate himself with her, hoping for a piece of the lottery pie. Why the fuck else would he have kissed her hand before leading her into the bar?
So he waited. If they had gone inside to have a drink, they wouldn’t be there long. He counted himself lucky to have found her already. The goal for tonight had just been to familiarize himself with the area. Finding a place to grab a couple beers had been bonus. And as he’d sat there, drinking, he’d come to the conclusion that, likely, the best way to figure out where his wife lived would be if he could spot her and then follow her home. If he could drive around the Podunk town that didn’t even show up on the map, he might spot her. Well, he’d no sooner thought that than he had spotted her—going into the bar. So that was what he planned to do, but he’d been sitting here in this dark car for more than an hour and a half.
And then, just as he was reaching to turn the key, ready to leave, they came out. Rachel and her date and that other guy, the same one who’d gone in with them, left the roadhouse and headed to an SUV.
The other guy’s date probably stood him up. Bitches are always doing shit like that.
He waited until they got into the truck before he started Felix’s car. Fortunately, this rust bucket was an older model, and he was able to keep the headlights off as he left the lot. They headed south, took a jog in the country road, and then continued in that direction.
The truck slowed as it drove into a town. Buck caught the name, Lusty, as he passed the sign. Yeah, just show me where she lives, morons. Within a couple of blocks, the truck turned right. He slowed his car on the main street, because he could see the truck turn into a driveway about a block down. He waited, headlights still off, figuring pretty boy and his college buddy were dropping Rachel off.
“What the fuck?” The truck’s headlights went dark, an indication they’d turned the thing off. Then both men emerged from the vehicle, and so did his wife. As he watched, the boyfriend grabbed her and hauled her in for what looked like a real wet one. She didn’t seem to be fighting him at all. He released her, and as Buck watched, the other guy did the exact same thing!
Buck fumbled for his cell phone, needing to take a picture. He didn’t know how he managed it, but he got them both, because the first guy took another turn locking lips with her. His mind racing, he waited until they went inside. He waited another moment, and then he put the car into gear and drove down the street. He stopped and snapped a shot of the vehicle and the house, and then he moved on.
As soon as he drove out of town, he put the headlights on and headed back toward the state highway. He passed the bar that seemed to be doing a rocking business. Maybe folks there can tell me about my wife and those two guys. All sorts of ideas and plans were running through his head.
But he was definitely in the catbird seat. He not only
