Chapter Six #2
Emmett turned to Cash. "And you're just here hanging out because whenever there's a party, you have to be in the middle of it?"
Cash chuckled. "Yeah, something like that."
Emmett wanted to ask why Cash couldn't give Libby a ride himself. It wasn't that he minded doing it—it was just that he didn't understand the logic. But Cash always had a reason for his actions; he'd no doubt explain at some point.
He took a seat in the only empty armchair and hesitated when Deacon came back and handed him a beer.
"It's okay—you can have one," Trip told him. "That's all any of us have since we're driving."
"Okay, thanks."
Emmett usually stuck to soda when he was driving, but...
"You'll be fine," Deacon assured him, throwing a bag of chips at him. "Eat some of those if it makes you feel better."
Emmett smiled and opened the bag.
"You're eating those like a starving man. Didn't you have time for dinner before you came over?" Ace asked.
He laughed. "It's not that—I've eaten. It's just that I never get a bag of chips all to myself. The girls always want to share, which means I get about three before the bag's gone."
"How are they doing?" Trip asked. "I hate that I haven't had a chance to take my turn picking them up for the last couple of weeks. Things have been crazy at the hospital."
"They're doing great. They're loving getting to hang out with all of you guys. Although, Tanya was asking when they might see you again, Trip."
"I'll get myself back on the roster as soon as I can," said Trip.
Emmett held a hand up. "Hey, I'm not giving you a hard time—just wanted you to know that they enjoy seeing you." He looked around at them all. "None of you have to help out the way you do, you know. I know that, and I appreciate it."
Cash rolled his eyes at him. "I think it's the other way around, bud. We appreciate you finally letting us hang out with them."
Emmett tensed.
"Shit—I didn't mean that the way it came out." Cash frowned. "I mean—you finally accepting help. Is that any better or did I make it worse? Should I just quit while I'm behind?"
Travis laughed and threw a rolled up napkin at him. "Yeah, you should zip it. Emmett knows what you mean, don't you?"
"I do. Thanks, guys."
He dropped his gaze and focused on eating the chips, waiting for the conversation to move on. He'd never enjoyed being the center of it.
"So, what's going on with the criminal element around here lately, Chief?" Cash asked.
"Not much," said Deacon. "Things have been quiet lately, which suits me just fine."
"Are you ready to retire yet?" Ace asked.
Emmett was surprised to see Deacon look thoughtful—and even more so when he said, "I'm getting closer."
The thought of retirement hadn't even crossed Emmett's mind. They weren't that old.
Trip caught his gaze and smiled. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, I'm the same. I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retired."
"Yeah, but as a doctor, you're useful to people," said Deacon.
"And as the sheriff, you're not?" Travis asked.
Deacon laughed. "Not as useful as a doctor, no—and more likely to die in the line of duty. Now that I finally have a life I enjoy living, I want to stick around for it."
Emmett sat back and enjoyed the rest of the evening, mostly just listening to the others catch up on their lives and tease each other about getting old and settled.
Deacon's words stayed with him. He might never have thought about retiring before, but he already had a life he enjoyed with the girls.
He'd made decent money over the years. He didn't need to. ..
He looked up when Deacon's words cut through his thoughts. "Did you hear about that one, Emmett? The break-in at the veterinary clinic over in Three Forks?"
Emmett sat up a little straighter. "No—haven't heard anything about it. When was that?"
Ace winked at him. "If you'd been listening, you would have heard it was last week."
"Oh—shit. And Parker Johnson up in Great Falls was hit a couple of weeks ago."
"That's right," said Deacon. "My hackles are up because the break-ins are getting closer to our turf. Stay on the alert, okay?"
"Will do."
"How often is Janey at the clinic by herself these days?" Cash asked.
"I'll make sure she isn't," said Emmett.
"That's probably not necessary. But maybe we should make sure someone's with her if she's going to be there early mornings or late in the evening when you're not."
"We'll work it out," Emmett told him.
"That's okay, bud. You've got enough on your plate. I'll talk to her myself."
Emmett nodded. Cash was protective of all his siblings. Especially Janey. If he wanted to try to restrict her movements, he’d have to take it up with her himself.
Of course, Emmett looked out for her, too. But he knew that one of the things Janey valued most about their partnership was that he treated her as an equal.
Cash winked at him and said, "I know — you're welcome."
Deacon laughed when his cat, Clawson, jumped up onto Emmett's lap and head-butted his chest. "I never get why he loves you so much. If I have to give him pills, he gives me the evil eye for two weeks afterward. You removed his manhood and he's still your buddy."
They all laughed when Clawson turned to glare at Deacon before settling on Emmett's lap, purring loudly.
"Emmett's just such a likeable guy," Travis said with a grin. "Everyone loves him."
Deacon shrugged, looking slightly wounded. But Travis got to his feet, arms outstretched, saying, "Don’t worry, we love you too, Chief."
Emmett and the others laughed as Deacon dodged around the room with Travis hot on his heels trying to hug him.
Trip's phone beeped with a text, and all laughter and movement stopped as the other guys reached for their phones.
Cash rolled his eyes at Emmett. "See what they've come to?
One word from their women and they'll be off like a shot.
" He checked his watch. "And speaking of — I'd better get going, too. "
Emmett gave him a puzzled look as they joined the others making for the door. "Where are you headed?"
Cash just smiled. "I'll see you up there." He turned to the others. "Who wants to ride with me?"
Emmett understood why there weren’t more vehicles outside when the others piled into Deacon's truck and Cash's Suburban. Travis hung back, smiling at him. "Can I ride with you?"
"Sure. Jump in. We don't want to keep your Retta waiting. I take it you guys all left your vehicles at the restaurant?"
"Yeah, there’s no point in us all driving to Deacon’s and back again later in a convoy."
They'd only been on the road for five minutes when Emmett's phone rang, making him tense. He deliberately hadn't checked on the girls since he left the house because he knew Alana hated it — hated to feel like he didn't trust her. He relaxed when he saw Cash's name on the screen.
"What's up, Cash?" he answered.
"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to let you know that things have changed. When we get there, I'll take Libby."
Emmett frowned. "Why? Is everything okay? Is she all right?"
"Yeah, she's fine. I had a text from Mav, and if you're all right with it, I could do with taking her myself. I need to have a word with her."
"Yeah, sure, no problem. As long as everything's all right."
"Everything's fine, bud. We'll see you there."
"Okay." Emmett ended the call with a sigh.
"Are you okay?" Travis asked.
"Yeah, sure."
"It's not a problem, is it?"
"No, it's just... If Cash was going to give Libby a ride anyway, there was no need for me to come tonight. I didn't understand it from the beginning."
Travis chuckled. "That's Cash for you, huh? He has his reasons for the way he does things, but half the time the rest of us don't understand until it's too late. But it wasn't so bad, coming to hang out with us, was it?"
Emmett smiled. "No — and in fact, that’s probably why he did it, wasn't it? He knew damn well that if he asked me to come and hang out with the guys, I would have said no. So, he asked me about giving Lib a ride home. Because he knows I'll do whatever I can to help out."
He glanced over at Travis, who was giving him a strange smile. "Yeah, I guess that's it. But whatever the reason, don't get mad at him, will you?"
"Come on. Of all the stunts Cash has pulled over the years, this is hardly the worst — and have I ever once gotten mad at him?"
Travis laughed. "Nope, you haven't."
"If I wanted to be mad at anyone, I could be mad at you right now."
"Why’s that?"
"Because if I wasn't giving you a ride up there, I could have turned around and gone straight home."
"Well, damn. I'd say I'm sorry, but..." Travis grinned.
Emmett had to laugh. "But you're not sorry at all."
"Not even a little. Apart from anything else, I get you to myself for the next ten minutes or so. I've missed you."
Emmett couldn't help laughing. "I've missed you too, you big softy."
Travis chuckled. "And I love you."
Emmett rolled his eyes. "Okay, I'll say it. I love you, too."
"Aww, damn—you'll make me cry. You haven't told me you love me in years, you know."
"Yeah, I have." Emmett frowned when it hit him that he probably hadn't—he hadn't hung out with the guys like this in years.
He sucked in a big breath and blew it out slowly.
Tonight had been good. It'd done him good.
He'd have to call Cash and thank him—tell him that he'd been right to play puppet master. Cash always enjoyed hearing that.