“Thank you again for your time, Mrs. Hawthorn. We’ll see you in a few days.”
Mrs. Hawthorn allowed Gwen to kiss both her cheeks and waved as the two other women climbed into the car. “Have fun, girls.”
Carter stood beside Neil and Mrs. Hawthorn while Eliza and Gwen drove away.
Eliza didn’t even glance in her rearview mirror as she drove away.
“They were in a hurry to leave,” Neil announced.
“I noticed that, too.”
Mrs. Hawthorn placed a hand on one hip. “Wedding planning isn’t easy. They’ve been working hard. It’s a good thing they can get away for a night of fun before the festivities.”
“Night of fun?” Neil asked.
Carter followed the dust down the road.
“According to Billy, Eliza asked about a local watering hole where the two of them could kick back and relax for a few hours. Dance a little and blow off some steam.”
Carter rolled his eyes. “Watering hole?”
“I can’t see Miss Gwen in a Texas bar,” Neil exclaimed.
Eliza maybe, but Gwen? “Looks like you’re not flying home tonight,” Carter told Neil. Passing up the opportunity of spying on Eliza and Gwen was out of the question.
Chapter Two
The hotel gift shop provided the perfect pair of skin-tight jeans, cowboy boots, and cowgirl hats. Gwen wasn’t about to go into a Texas bar dressed as the daughter of a duke. Unlike shopping for the yellow bridesmaid dresses, Eliza actually enjoyed their brief walk on the country side of the store.
Loud music with just the right amount of twang, and lyrics about lost love filled the bar. Several couples crowded the dance floor. Their bodies were glued together and moved as if they were one unit.
Eliza took the lead and walked through the crowd to a couple of empty seats at the bar. The two of them turned a few heads and received a couple of smiles before they sat down.
“I can’t believe how crowded it is,” Gwen said over the noise.
“Makes it more interesting,” Eliza told her.
The bartender placed a couple of napkins in front of them. “Ladies,” he said, tipping his hat.
She lifted up two fingers. “Two beers.”
Gwen scoffed. “But—”
“You can’t drink wine in a beer bar, Gwen.” Eliza knew where her friend was going with her haughty but. Surprisingly Gwen didn’t argue.
Gwen folded her hands in her lap on top of her purse. She sat rod straight with her big doe eyes wide open. Her fingers tapped to the music and a smile played on her lips. What did Gwen see? For her, this night was about adventure and overcoming some of her social fears. Sure, there were people dancing and having a good time. From the looks of the crowd, there wasn’t anyone completely wasted, yet. Beer drinkers tended to get rowdy later in the evening.
“Here ya are, ma’am.” The bartender sat the bottles down. Eliza reached into her purse to pay. “Already taken care of,” he said nodding to the end of the bar. There sat two single men with button up western shirts and Stetsons. Eliza made eye contact with the one sitting closest to her. His dark hair and finely manicured mustache outlined a ruggedly attractive face. She lifted her bottle with a tiny nod.
“Did they buy the drinks?” Gwen asked.
“Seems so.”
“Should we go over and thank them?”
Eliza turned away from the men and brought the bottle to her lips. After a sip she said, “No need. They’ll be here in less than five minutes.”
Gwen held her bottle and smiled over the bar to the cowboys. “How do you know that?”
“Because you’re still staring at them which they’ll take as an invitation.”
Gwen dropped her glance to the floor and swiveled in her seat.
“My God, you really don’t get out much.”
Gwen’s cheeks turned red. “I’m pathetic.”
“You’ve been sheltered. Not completely your fault.”
Gwen sipped her beer. To her credit, she didn’t frown at the taste. “Sheltered and pathetic.”
Just how innocent are you? “Please tell me you’ve had boyfriends.”
Gwen’s jaw dropped. “I’ve had lovers. I’m not a virgin if that’s what you’re implying.”
“Why that’s a mighty fine piece of information, darlin’. I could swear you’re as innocent as a new born calf.”
Eliza and Gwen both shot their eyes to the rugged cowboy who had made it to their side in less than two minutes.
Gwen’s cheeks grew instantly red, and her eyes opened wide.
“Thanks for the drinks,” Eliza said, trying to remove the attention from Gwen’s outburst.
“My name is Rick. This here is Jimmy.” Jimmy was an inch or so shorter than Rick and a good twenty pounds thinner. Both were easy on the eyes.
“Eliza,” she said, “And my non-virginal friend Gwen.”
Gwen elbowed her in the side and Eliza laughed.
Rick and Jimmy were kind enough not to keep the joke going. “Mind if we join you?”
Eliza nodded to the empty seat on her right. Rick sat and Jimmy said, “I’ll keep an eye out for an open table.”
Gwen moved a little closer to Eliza when Jimmy stepped closer to her. This was going to get awkward in a heartbeat. “Why don’t I hold this,” Eliza reached for Gwen’s beer, removed it from her fingers. “And you two dance.”
Gwen leaned over and tried to whisper. “I don’t even know him.”
Eliza smiled and nudged her out of her chair. “Go. We’re here to have fun.”
Jimmy was already reaching for Gwen’s elbow.
“But I don’t know how to dance like that.”
Jimmy helped her to her feet. “Where are you from?”
“Outside of London.” Gwen sat her purse on the barstool.
Jimmy winked. “Well, English, I learned the two-step when I was five. I’m sure I can show you.”
“You sure?”
“C’mon.”
Eliza followed Gwen as she stepped on the dance floor. She stiffened when Jimmy wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his frame. After only a couple of missteps, Jimmy successfully had Gwen swinging to the music in what appeared to be complicated dance moves.
“Do you always watch your friend so closely?” Rick asked.
“It’s in the handbook of girls. We go to the bathroom in pairs, tuck each other’s tags in, and we watch out for each other.”