“Thomas told me. He overheard it from Roscoe.”
“Then it’s true because Roscoe is my dad’s one decent friend.” She looked at him. “I thought all the bad blood was between your grandfather and mine.”
“It was. But it appears that’s not where the bad blood ends between the Wests and McKays.”
Carolyn set the pie on the dash and scooted closer, uncurling one of his hands from the steering wheel. Then she curled that hand around her face. “Maybe we’ll be the generation that ends it.”
Or maybe by being together they were starting a third-generation feud.
Carson didn’t give a damn about what’d happened in the past. When he looked in Carolyn’s eyes, he saw his future.
“That’s a pretty intense look you’re giving me, McKay.”
He smiled and gently kissed the inside of her wrist. “Better?”
“Sweeter, definitely. So where to now?”
“I’m supposed to be meetin’ my brothers at the Silver Spur.”
“You hang out in a bar on a Sunday?”
“Yep.” And just to be ornery, he said, “I’ve been to your church today, now it’s time for you to come to mine.”
Somehow he’d forgotten she could hit that hard.
Cal had taken their usual booth in the back. He stood when they approached.
“Cal, this is Carolyn West. Caro, this is my brother, Cal.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.
“Cal is short for…?”
“Calvin. Can I get you a drink?”
“I’ll take a Coke.”
Carson gestured for her to sit on the inside. “I’ll take a double shot.”
Cal raised both eyebrows in a silent “That bad?” and Carson nodded before he slid in next to Carolyn.
“Where are your other brothers?”
“They’ll be here soon.” She was looking at him strangely. “What?”
“You and Cal aren’t identical twins but you look an awful lot alike.”
“And?”
“And I’m just wondering if your other brothers look like you two.”
“Why such a curious kitty?”
“Because you’ve met my brothers. None of us look anything alike. My sister Kimi is blonde like me, and she’s the spitting image of our mother, but Harland is the only one who looks anything like our dad.”
“Huh. Same thing happens with cattle. Once in a while we get some weird color mixes.”
She laughed.
“What?”
“I think that’s the first time you’ve brought the conversation around to cows.”
“I can pretty much guarantee it won’t be the last time.”
Cal returned with the drinks.
It was hard for Carson to sip his double shot of whiskey and not slam it.
Cal and Carolyn hit it off right away. He relaxed a little.
“Well, who we got here?” Casper said, grabbing a chair and flipping it around before he straddled it. “Didja bring dates for all of us? ’Cause if we get to pick, I’m choosing her.” He offered his hand. “Casper McKay.”
Carson batted his brother’s hand away. “This is my girlfriend, Carolyn, so keep your paws off her.”
Casper lifted his in hands in surrender. “No harm in tryin’.”
Charlie slid into the booth next to Cal. “I told you they wouldn’t sell to me. Go up there and buy your own damn beer.”
“Fuckin’ little brat. What good are ya if ya can’t keep the booze flowin’?”
“I drive your drunken ass home, remember?”
“Right. Guess you are good for something.” Casper stood and headed to the bar.
“He is pissin’ me off today,” Charlie said. “Ever since we fought them guys last night, he’s been talkin’ about knockin’ fool heads together.” He snorted. “Big f**kin’ talker. He’s usually passed out in the truck when the real fightin’ starts.”
Carson didn’t want to dissect last night’s dust up, or anything about last night. “Carolyn, this is my youngest brother Charlie. He’s usually more polite than this. Charlie, my girlfriend, Carolyn.”
“Shit. Sorry. Sorry for sayin’ shit.” He rubbed his hand on his jeans before offering it to Carolyn. “Nice to meet you. What’d you say your last name was?”
“It’s West.”
Charlie’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “West? As in…”
“Yeah, that West,” Carson finished.
“Now I know why Dad was bein’ such an ass when we stopped at home to get some money before we came here.” His gaze slid to Carolyn. “No offense.”
Cal rubbed his hands together. “Who wants to play pool?”
“What’s the bet?”
“Same as usual. Buck a game.”
“I’ll play ya,” Carson said. He tugged on a hank of Carolyn’s hair. “You can be my good luck charm.”
Carolyn didn’t say much as they played pool. She seemed more amused than bored.
Cal beat Carson. Then Cal lost to Charlie. Charlie then lost to Casper. Carson challenged Casper and Casper beat him.
Normally Casper would’ve been impossible to sit with after winning. He wasn’t acting the least bit cocky, which threw Carson off. Then Casper offered to teach Carolyn how to play and she surprised them all by accepting.