“Well, I’ll be! You’re not a stranger, then, at all. Did you know you have kin here? Some of the Mendez’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren married into the Benedict and Jessop branches of the family. Then, of course there’s the Sanchez family, over on Warren Drive. They’re descendants of Rita and José, too.”
Peter knew his shock showed. “No one told me that! I had no idea there’d be family still in the area.”
“We take special care, here in Lusty, recording our genealogies and family trees. If you come back another day when I’ve more time, I’ll get the old journals out for you to peruse.”
“Thanks, I’d like that.” Since he’d hoped to stay in the area until things broke, it sounded like an item to go on his “to do” list, something to give him a reason to stay around longer.
“Are you staying at one of the motels out by the highway?” Mrs. Jessop asked.
“Yes, I am. I’m at the Mesquite Lodge.”
“Well, good then. Maybe you can come back tomorrow if you don’t have to rush off.”
“Actually, I’m kind of footloose at the moment. My job got downsized last month.”
“Oh, my, that is a shame! And it’s happening everywhere! Well, we close up here in just a few minutes. I’d give you longer, but I’m expected home, and I like to be on time. You’re welcome to spend the time remaining looking around. It was so nice to meet you, Mr. Alvarez.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Jessop.”
The woman trundled off, and Peter was left with the sensation of having been grilled by a professional interviewer. He knew of a few government agencies that could do worse than to hire Anna Jessop.
Peter made a mental note to hold his cards a little closer to the vest and be wary of spritely middle-aged women.
He duly walked the rest of the aisle he was in, looking at the pictures, reading the captions. He saw Benedicts and Kendalls and Jessops. He saw Parkers and Joneses and Parker-Joneses. Holy hell, he saw Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp! No doubt those were actually the western legends looking relaxed and among friends as he’d taken history in college and was familiar with their images.
Peter kept an eye on the time, and when it was just a few minutes to closing, he waved at Mrs. Jessop and left the museum.
His instincts were alive and well. He stretched, looking up and down Main Street. Then he directed his feet toward the restaurant, just a block and a bit away that he’d passed earlier.
“Lusty Appetites. Cute name.”
Peter opened the door and stepped into a whole lot of very tempting aromas. His stomach rumbled again, louder this time, and just as a red-haired waitress approached.
“Sounds like you got here just in time. Are you expecting someone to join you?”
“No, I’m solo.”
“Then right this way.” She led him to a table for two in the front corner of the restaurant beside the plate glass window.
“Perfect,” he said. He took a seat facing the door and gave the waitress his best smile.
“I’m Carla, and I’ll be serving you today. Our dinner special is available as of 4:00 p.m., and it’s spicy pulled pork with Tex-Mex rice and your choice of green beans or fried okra. The special also includes your choice of a mixed greens salad, or slaw, and a piece of pie for dessert.”
She had handed him the menu, but he gave it right back to her. “I like the sound of your special. I’ll have that, with green beans and the mixed greens salad, with honey mustard dressing if you have it.”
“We do. Would you care for something to drink?”
“Is your coffee fresh?”
“Yes, sir, I just made it a few minutes ago myself.”
“Then I’ll have some of that, thank you.”
“I’ll be right back with your coffee.”
Peter relaxed in the comfortable chair and let his mind wander. He’d been on the go nonstop since early yesterday morning. As it looked like he might be in the area for a few days, at least, maybe he would get some time to decompress.
The door to the restaurant opened, and Peter’s attention was snagged by the appearance of the khaki-brown uniform with a badge pinned to the front of it. The man looked ripcord lean. His gaze narrowed as he scanned the dining room. Then his gaze landed on Peter, and he directed his steps toward him.
Despite the fact that he’d obviously come to the restaurant specifically to see him, Peter had the feeling he hadn’t been the first person the lawman had looked for.
“Afternoon. You’re new in town, aren’t you?” The sheriff’s expression seemed friendly enough. But Peter saw the intelligence in his eyes. Here is a man one should never underestimate.
“I am. Been meaning to come here since I was a boy. But I imagine Mrs. Jessop told you all that, already.”
“She did.”
Adam pulled out the chair opposite him and sat. Just then the waitress came over with two cups of coffee. She set one in front of the sheriff, serving him first. Her smile, apologetic, eased the sting some. She left without saying a word.
“You’ll have to excuse our caution,” the sheriff said. “Six months ago a stranger came to town and ended up damn near killing one of our women.”
“I hope you caught the bastard.” Peter was a twenty-first century man, but nothing irked him more than men who victimized women.
“Yep, we did. And we learned a hard lesson.”
“So you question every stranger who comes to town?”
“Nope. Just the ones who seem lean, mean, and dangerous to know.” The sheriff did smile then, just a little. “Those were Aunt Anna’s words, exactly. I’m afraid Kelsey’s near miss frightened her very badly.”
Yes, the
