The waitress came and took their order. Rachel enjoyed playing with the babies while she and Lily argued over which one was the cutest.
“They’re identical,” Cash’s voice interrupted their good-natured argument. “Only a few people seem to be able to tell them apart.”
“I don’t know why.” Rachel wasn’t aware the large table had quieted as everyone listened. “Noah is larger than Chance.” There was only a slight difference in the weight, Rachel thought, but Noah’s cheeks were fuller as well as his chubby little thighs. “Chance’s hair is slightly darker, and he looks a little bit more like Razer.” Chance wasn’t as loud or playful as Noah, either. His beautiful eyes stared back at her solemnly as he sucked on the teething giraffe he had nabbed from his brother. “Besides that, Beth brushes their hair in opposite directions,” Rachel finished.
“I do?” Beth studied her children. “I didn’t even realize it. Noah’s hair is thicker and lies better that way.”
The waitress brought their food.
“I’ve been trying to figure out which was which for the last month. They look more and more alike every day. You’re very observant,” Cash stated.
“Yes, I am,” Rachel said. “That’s why I’m so concerned for Willa.”
Cash nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
“You better, or I will,” she promised.
“I get the message,” Cash said ruefully, studying her stubborn expression.
She was determined to take up for a friend, and she had noticed something about Razer’s kids he hadn’t. His parents would never have stuck up for another person, nor would they have paid attention to someone else’s children enough to notice the smallest detail of where their mother parted their hair. His little vixen had a heart. She might be a prude, but she didn’t place herself on a moral shelf that no one could reach.
The door to the restaurant opened, and two teenage boys and an older man came into the restaurant. Rachel observed them coming in, trying to decide if she wanted to make her presence known to her cousin. The decision was taken out of her hands when he was about to sit down and noticed her at the table with The Last Riders. He said something to the two boys.
Rachel set down her orange juice glass as she saw him approach, preparing herself for his disdain at sitting with the group. Although, Drake was much more laid back than her brothers. He didn’t share the same enmity for Cash since he was older and had never, to her knowledge, come into conflict with him over women. She was closer to Drake than he was to her brothers because of their refusal to get a regular job. Drake had tried to convince them, to no avail, to quit dealing their weed.
“Rachel, I’m glad to see you’re back in town.”
“Thank you. It’s good to see you, too. How are you and Jace doing?”
“Fine, other than I had to bail him and his sidekick out of jail just now for joyriding in one of Lyle’s vehicles.”
Rachel looked at Cash in surprise that he hadn’t mentioned it was her cousin he had tracked down.
“Jace’s taking after my side of the family?” Rachel couldn’t help the small dig at her wealthy cousin. He owned a large chunk of the properties in and around Treepoint. He was the one who had sold the property of The Last Riders to Viper’s brother Gavin. When it came out that Phillip Langley was behind his murder, Rachel had worried Drake had been involved. However, the subsequent investigation had cleared him of any wrongdoing. He had sold the property to the investment group, and that had been the end of his part.
“Seems so.” Rachel noticed he kept looking toward Bliss, who was ignoring the conversation and talking to Train. “I’ve been letting Jace go hunting with your brothers so much I think they’re starting to rub off on him. He looks up to them, so when he hears about their exploits, it puts ideas in his head.”
Rachel blushed, remembering Dustin’s own joy rides he had gotten in trouble for.
“I’ll talk to them,” Rachel offered.
“Me and you both,” he said grimly, turning his gaze to Cash.
“Hello, Cash.” Drake reached out to shake hands. “I appreciate you driving the boys into town instead of calling Knox. Knox told me you talked Lyle into not pressing charges. I owe you one.”
“I hope my getting them off won’t lead to them trying it again.”
“It won’t. I plan to sell his favorite rifle to pay for the damages to Lyle’s truck.”
Rachel winced. To a country boy, guns were prized possessions. Given a choice, Jace would have probably picked jail time versus having his gun sold.
Cash’s lips twitched. “A fate worse than death.”
“He’ll survive,” Drake said without remorse.
“Would you like to join us?”
Rachel saw his eyes go to Bliss again before answering Cash’s question. “No, thanks. It would make those boys’ day to sit here. They were admiring all the motorcycles when we came in. It will hurt like hell when I tell them you invited us to sit with you.”