Chapter 6 #3
“I got married, but the wife didn’t care much for my trucker life. She took off for Vegas, and my mom and my sister are helping me take care of my two boys,” Will said. “I never saw you becoming a cop.”
“Likely comes from overcompensating for having a criminal for a mother. It wears on you, for sure, and it’s good to be home. Did either of you go to college?” Gunner asked.
“Nope. All I ever wanted was ranching. Granddad was there. I fell into working in the world I love,” Billy said.
Will shrugged. “I didn’t go, but I also won’t ever regret the mistakes I made, because my boys are all I live for.”
Gunner was listening without comment, and they were still talking about Gunner’s speed on the football field, and old times and football games won and lost, when Cheryl brought his food.
After that, the conversation shifted to the most recent tragedy of Crossroads—the deaths of Helen Dillon and Lee Peters.
That’s how Gunner learned of the upcoming funeral services, and he reminded himself again to call Holly as soon as he delivered his dad’s food.
A few minutes later, Pearl came out of the kitchen with Jacob’s food.
“For your daddy, and keep your money in your wallet,” she said and gave his shoulder a quick pat. A loud bang from the kitchen put a frown on her face. “Oh, for pity’s sake,” she muttered and went stomping back to the kitchen.
Billy grinned. “Reckon we might need to say a prayer for Davey’s ass?”
Gunner laughed. “Why not?”
Will took off his cap and bowed his head. “Lord, protect Davey from Miss Pearl’s wrath.”
“Amen,” Billy said, which elicited a round of chuckles from surrounding tables. Then he glanced at the time, picked up his ticket, and left Cheryl a tip. “Gotta go. Good seeing you, Gunner,” he said and headed to the front counter to pay.
Will also got up. “I need to hustle. Got a load to get to Amarillo, and back to Silverton before dark.”
“Is that where you live?” Gunner asked.
Will shrugged. “It’s where my mom and sister live, and I’m there so they can take care of my boys when I’m on the road.”
“Safe trip,” Gunner said and got up and left the Rose while Will was at the front counter, paying for his meal.
Gunner got home, left the bag on the kitchen table, and went into the bar.
“Dad, your food is on the table. Go eat. I’ve got the bar until you get back.”
Jacob looked surprised. “You don’t have to—”
“I know, but we both know I know how. Go. Eat. I can put a good head on a glass of beer with the best of them, and I can pop the top off a longneck, too.”
Jacob nodded. “Don’t forget the pretzels.”
“I won’t,” Gunner said.
Jacob came out from behind the bar with a big grin on his face and went into their house. Having the time to sit and eat was a treat. He turned on the little TV in the kitchen to catch the noon news, then washed up and started pulling food from the sack.
Customers were thinning out, which was business as usual at a bar around noon. Gunner spent the time sweeping up crumbs and wiping down tables until a truck pulled up and two men walked into the Tumbleweed and headed for the bar.
“What’ll it be, boys?” Gunner asked.
They both looked startled. “What happened to Jacob?”
“Nothing,” Gunner said. “He’s eating lunch, and I’m his son. On tap, can, or longneck?”
They grinned. “Two Lone Star longnecks,” they said and sat down at the bar.
Gunner grabbed two longnecks from the cooler, popped the tops, then filled a bowl of pretzels and set it down between them.
The short one slid a twenty-dollar bill on the counter.
Gunner put the twenty-dollar bill in the till, gave them back four dollars in change, and left them to their beer and pretzels, yet well aware that they were giving him the eye when they thought he wasn’t watching.
Finally, the short one spoke up. “You look like your old man,” he said.
Gunner shrugged. “All of us boys look like him, but I’m not nearly as kind or patient.”
They laughed. “Duly noted.” They toasted him with their beers. “To attitude,” they said and took a big swig.
At that point, Jacob returned. He gave Gunner a pat on the back. “You are officially relieved, and thank you, son.”
“You’re welcome, Dad. I’ve got some calls to make. Give me a shout if you need me.”
Jacob nodded, then saw the two men sitting at the bar and went to greet them as Gunner left.
“Your son’s a pistol, ain’t he?” the short one asked.
Jacob grinned. “Let’s just say he does not suffer fools gladly.”
* * *
Gunner got as far as the living room before he sat down to call Holly. His stomach was in a knot the whole time the phone was ringing, and he was wondering what message he would leave on voicemail when she finally picked up, obviously out of breath.
“Hello, Gunner.”
“Hey, lady… You sound out of breath. If I’ve called at a bad time, I can call you later,” he said.
Holly walked out to the back patio and took a seat on the porch swing to talk. “No, it’s fine. I’m glad to hear your voice again. It’s been pretty hectic here.”
“I just wanted you to know I am in Crossroads. I got here last night, and I’ll be here for a while.”
Holly closed her eyes, letting the deep, husky rasp of his voice wash through her.
“Mom’s services are at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday, at the church in town.”
“I heard them talking about it in the Rose when I went to pick up Dad’s lunch.”
“I didn’t know, but I’m not surprised. Word does get around in small towns, doesn’t it?”
Gunner had heard enough witnesses giving statements to hear that she was bordering on panic. There was a moment of silence, and then Gunner asked, “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
Holly didn’t hesitate. “I wouldn’t mind the sight of your face and a hug if you’re free, of course. The thought of Saturday looms.”
Gunner didn’t hesitate. “I’m about as free as a man can be. Is now okay?”
“Now is very okay,” Holly said.
“Then I’ll see you soon,” he said and disconnected. He went to get his hat—a black gambler-style Stetson with a thin leather hatband studded in small pieces of turquoise. It was his only bow to fashion.
There were only a few customers in the Weed when he walked into the bar. “Hey, Dad, I’m going out to the Dillon Ranch to see Holly.”
Jacob nodded. “Give them my best,” he said, but Gunner was already walking out. Jacob smiled to himself.
First time I’ve known Gunner to be in a hurry to get to a woman he wasn’t about to arrest.
* * *
The moment her call with Gunner ended, Holly made a run for her bedroom, changed out of the T-shirt she’d been working in to a pretty summer blouse, took the clip out of her hair and finger-combed it into place, and started to put on lipstick, then changed her mind.
She didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard.
Her grandmother was coming up the hall when she noticed Holly’s door was open and she had changed her clothes and her hair.
“What’s going on?” Trudy asked as she walked in.
There was no way to lie to Granny and get away with it, so Holly just spit it out.
“Gunner Kingston is in town. He called to let me know and asked if he could do anything for me. I said he could come talk to me about anything except the funeral. He’s on his way.”
Trudy gave her a hug. “Good for you, and say hello to him for me. I remember him as a child, and then when he was in high school, but he was always such a loner. However, Jacob did raise some fine men.”
“Yes, ma’am, that he did,” Holly said.
“I’m going to lie down for a while. One of the neighbors brought chicken and dumplings for our supper, and we still have pie from previous days, so no worries about cooking tonight,” Trudy said.
Holly paused. “Granny, is Dad going to be okay?”
Trudy sighed. “As okay as anyone can be who loses the love of their life. I lost my Jamie twenty years ago, and when I’m here, it still feels like he should walk into the house at any moment. It’s why I moved to Santa Fe. It was too hard to be here without him. But I’m okay, right?”
Holly wrapped her arms around her Granny’s neck and kissed her cheek. “I never thought of it that way. I’m sorry we mistook your strength of purpose. Thinking you were getting over it… Moving on, you know? We didn’t realize it was how you were dealing with your grief.”
“It’s all good,” Trudy said and gave Holly a light swat on her backside. “Go on with you. If you need me, you’ll know where I am.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Holly said and went to watch for Gunner’s arrival.