Red's Hot Cowboy (41 page)

“Want a beer? I swear I’m spittin’ dust and hot summer is long since past,” Dewar said.

“I’d drink a beer with you,” Raylen said.

Dewar disappeared into the house and brought out two longneck bottles of Coors, and he handed one to Raylen. “So you got the chores done around here or am I going to have to do those too?”

“All finished. Everything with four legs has been fed and watered. Horses are all exercised, and even Haskell’s dog and cat are fed. His niece is over there now. She can take care of Hooter and Blister.” He turned up the bottle and downed a fourth of it before coming up for air and a burp.

Dewar plopped down on the porch step beside Raylen. “Is she going to keep the place or do you have a chance at buying it?”

“Says she is going to keep it. I asked her what she was going to do to make a living in Ringgold, Texas, and she said she was going to feed the dog and pet the cat. Hell, if Haskell gives her his money as well as that twenty acres, she won’t have to do nothing but feed a dog and pet a cat.”

“What’s she look like?”

“Damn fine. Not a thing like old Haskell. She’s got jet-black hair and the blackest eyes you’ve ever seen, and her skin is this light toast color that says she’s got some kind of exotic blood in her. Build like a red brick outhouse without a single brick out of place.”

“You took with her?”

“Hell, no!” Raylen said too quickly.