Cowgirl Up (35 page)

“You certainly will. I think we all deserve a night out after the last few weeks.”

“Amen to that,” Gene said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’ll see you later then,” she said.

When she got Shadow settled in the barn, she walked to the house and stripped out of her dusty clothes. She was leaving the shower when she heard Mary Leah arrive home. “Hey, baby,” she called from the bathroom.

“Hey, darling, I’m glad to see you home already.”

“We finished up early. I think everybody is ready for a night on the town, including Harley.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a steak. I’m starving.”

“Melissa cooked a hearty meal for lunch, but I’ve already burned through that. I wish we could convince her to go with us.”

“I think she’d feel like a fifth wheel. I called her this afternoon and asked again, but she declined saying she just wanted a relaxing night at home.”

Coal wrapped the towel around her waist and took Mary Leah in her arms for a kiss. “Do you think Melissa will ever fall in love again?”

“I don’t think so. What she and Mitch had was so special. She told me she feels she’s had the love of her life. She seems content with her memories and life on the ranch.”

She felt the deep sigh escape her lover’s body and knew Mary Leah also wished happiness for her sister. “You better get a move on if you’re going to get a shower in. Del will be here any minute, and I bet Stormy is already pacing the floor.”

Mary Leah chuckled and headed for the bathroom as Coal started to dress.

Chapter Twenty-one

When Del arrived, Coal carried her overnight bag inside into the guest room. She offered her a beer and they sat in the den chatting while Mary Leah got dressed.

“We’ll swing by and collect Stormy on our way out,” she was telling Del when Mary Leah entered the room.

“You look fantastic, my dear,” Coal said when she looked up to Mary Leah.

“Thanks, sweetheart. Good to see you, Del, are you ready for a relaxing weekend?”

“I am beyond ready,” Del said as she walked over to hug Mary Leah and kiss her cheek.

“Let’s roll, ladies,” Coal said. She grabbed the keys to Mary Leah’s car and ushered the others out the door.

†

Stormy heard the rumbling of Del’s car as she drove up the driveway to Coal and Mary Leah’s home and she began pacing again.

“Relax or you’re going to wear out my flooring,” Melissa teased.

She dried her sweaty hands on the legs of her black jeans. “Should I change?” she implored of Melissa.

“Heaven’s no, you look good enough to eat,” Melissa said, causing Stormy to turn scarlet. “You clean up very nicely, and I’m sure Del will be impressed.”

She kept pacing despite Melissa’s pleas. The black jeans and form-fitting shirt accented her body nicely, but she worried she was too casual for Del.

“Do I need to pour you a shot of something to get you to relax?”

Stormy smiled and was about to say yes, but reconsidered when she thought of smelling like alcohol.

“Come, have a shot of Jack with me. You can go brush your teeth again,” Melissa said, apparently reading the concern on her face. “At least you’ll give this carpet a few minutes of rest.”

She compliantly followed Melissa into the den and accepted a shot of the strong whiskey.

“To tonight,” Melissa said, touching her glass to Stormy’s. “Now bottoms up, for heaven’s sake.”

Stormy downed the shot, wincing as she swallowed the fiery liquid. “Damn, that’s good stuff.”

“Only the best in this house,” Melissa said. “Now go brush your teeth and check your hair one more time. The girls will be here soon.”

Stormy handed the shot glass to Melissa and spun on her heel to cross over to her bedroom. She looked into the mirror and smiled. “I do clean up good,” she said and reached for the toothbrush as the strong whiskey performed its magic and calmed her nerves.

When she walked into the living room, the sun had set and she could see the glow of headlights as Mary Leah’s car turned into the drive.

“I was wondering if you would do me a favor,” Melissa said.

“Sure, boss, what can I do?”

Melissa handed her a fifty-dollar bill. “Buy a round of drinks for the crew for me tonight and give them my thanks for a hard week.”

“Consider it done,” Stormy said, tucking the bill in her pocket. “Are you certain you won’t join us for dinner?”

“I’m positive, but thanks for asking.”

The car arrived and she looked back at Melissa with a smile. “Here we go.”

“Have fun,” Melissa called after her as she pushed through the screened door.

†

“Wow,” Del said as Stormy stepped beneath the porch light.

“Are you sure you can handle Stormy?” Coal teased.

“Well, I’m sure going to die trying,” she answered as Mary Leah punched Coal’s shoulder.

“Be nice, Coal,” Mary Leah warned.

“I was being nice,” Coal said with a wink to her lover.

They watched as Stormy walked across the yard, opened the door, and climbed inside the car.

“Good evening, ladies,” she said as they all looked at her.

“You clean up good, girl,” Coal said, then put the car in gear.

“Thanks,” she said, the heat rising slowly up her neck.

“You look very handsome,” Del said.

“So do you,” Stormy answered. “I hope I’m not underdressed.”

“Not at all, you look really great,” Mary Leah added. “I hope you’re hungry because the rest of us are starving.”

“I feel like I could eat a steer by myself,” Stormy said.

“Now we’re talking,” Coal said as she drove to the paved road and turned toward town.

†

The restaurant turned out better than Stormy had anticipated. Once they had finished their meals, the group decided to walk over to the club. Coal’s eyes searched the parking lot and she smiled when she saw Harley’s truck.

“The boys have already made it. Hopefully they have gotten us a table,” she said.

“The place looks packed already,” Mary Leah said.

“Well, it is Friday night ladies,” Del said as she led the way to the club’s entrance.

“That it is,” Coal said. She walked through the door and pulled out her wallet to pay the cover charge.

“Come on in, ladies,” the bouncer said.

Coal lifted her hand to pass him a twenty-dollar bill and he waved her off. “Your cover has already been paid by a group of thirsty-looking cowboys.” He grinned. “Harley and the boys are at a table on the right of the dance floor, by the pool tables. Have a great night.”

“Thanks,” she said and led the others inside.

Gene was the first to see them enter and he let out a loud whoop, waving his hat in the air for Coal to see. “What are we drinking\?”

“Coors Light all around?” she asked.

“Sounds great,” Del, answered.

“What do the boys drink?” Stormy asked.

“Three Bud Lights and a PBR,” Coal answered.

“Would you help me for a second?” she asked Del.

“Sure.”

“We’ll join you in a minute,” Stormy told Coal.

She and Del walked to the bar and ordered the drinks. Del carried the Coors Light while she delivered the boys’ drinks. “Compliments of the boss lady for a hard week’s work,” she said as she placed the cold bottles on the table.

“Welcome, Doc,” Harley said. “Glad you could join us tonight.”

“Thanks, Harley, I’m glad to be here.”

“So what’s shaking tonight? Is there anything special going on?” Coal asked Gene.

“Do you mean is there anyone you can fleece out of their money at the pool tables?” Gene teased.

“Well, yeah, that too.” She grinned.

“I already have us signed up. I hope you don’t mind being my partner again,” Harley said.

“I couldn’t ask for a better partner,” Coal answered. “We are behaving tonight aren’t we?” she asked, shooting a look to Lucas.

“We always behave well,” Lucas said.

“You know what I mean,” Coal chided him.

“Billy Ray’s no longer here to mistreat women,” Lucas reminded her.

“No he’s not, but there seems to always be plenty of others just as mean.”

“I’m here to get a good buzz on while I watch you and Harley kick some ass on the pool tables,” Lucas said and crossed his heart.

“What are we missing here?” Stormy asked.

“Lucas and I got into a scrape with a couple of ornery cowboys the first time we were here.”

“That was a long time ago,” Gene said. “They kicked some redneck ass that night though.”

“Coal did at least. I remember getting my ass kicked pretty well,” Lucas admitted.

“You survived,” she said and slapped him on the back. “Let’s not have a repeat performance tonight, though.”

She looked at Harley. “What’s the competition look like?”

“We got this,” he said with a wink. “We start playing in fifteen minutes. Just a few teams so it shouldn’t take all night.”

Gene took a long drink of his beer and returned it to the table. “Who’s going to be the first lucky lady to dance with me tonight?”

Stormy surprised them by volunteering. “Come on, big boy, and I’ll show you how to two-step,” she teased.

Gene laughed and followed her onto the dance floor as the group looked on.

“I hope she can keep up with him. He’s pumped up tonight,” Lucas said.

“I have a feeling Stormy will hang right with him,” she said.

†

After watching them dance two songs, Harley and Coal walked over to the pool tables to take on their first opponents. As they selected their cues, Harley leaned into Coal’s shoulder and whispered, “Those two at the next table will probably be our biggest competition. Ronnie and his sidekick Don ride for Big Bob. Not as mean as Billy Ray, but too close for my taste.”

Coal whispered back to him, “Let’s kick their butts on the pool table, and hopefully that will be enough for them.” She winked and picked out a cue.

The first pair they faced turned out to be mediocre players and it didn’t take long for Coal and Harley to defeat them. Ronnie and Don played on the table next to them, which gave her an opportunity to watch while they waited for their next opponents. Don was the better of the pair, with a soft touch for the delicate shots. Ronnie was a brute, who thought his power should sink every ball on the table. She felt a smirk growing on her face as she watched him blast a ball down the table, easily missing the pocket.

“Great game,” Stormy said as she brought her a fresh beer. She stood beside her as they watched the game in progress.

“Thanks,” she said and turned back to see Ronnie glaring at them.

“He’s a mean one,” Stormy said and blew him a kiss.

“Don’t agitate him then. I don’t wish to have to fight my way out of here again.”

“Relax, he’s a blowhard. He thinks his size intimidates everyone else.”

“Well, he is a big boy,” Coal said as she turned her back to him to look for Mary Leah and Del. “How are things going with Del?”

“She’s an incredible woman. I’d love to ask her to dance, but I don’t think that would go over well in here.”

“Probably not. Maybe we can find a gay bar in Austin next weekend, so you can ask her to dance,” she teased.

“That could be fun,” Stormy said. “So she’s going for sure?”

“Del said she wouldn’t miss it for anything. I think she’s now a rodeo junkie.” Coal chuckled.

“We’re up again,” Harley said.

“Good luck,” Stormy said and returned to the table.

“Your turn to break,” Coal said as she handed Harley his cue.

†

They next round passed quickly. She and Harley were playing well and finished them off easily. As Harley had predicted, they would play Ronnie and Don in the final match. Harley and Don rolled to see who would break first and Don won the roll.

Coal caught a glimpse of Gene dancing with a gorgeous Latina woman and then turned back to watch the break with a smile.

Don broke well and then proceeded to miss his second. “Go get them, tiger,” Coal said, as Harley took his cue and walked to the table.