“Allie, are you still there?” Fiona yelled.
Allie held the phone out from her ear. “I’m here. What if Blake is the one?”
“I hear he’s got a reputation for wild cowboy ways, so he’s definitely not the one for you, sister. After that crap with Riley, you’re too responsible for that kind of relationship,” Fiona said.
Well, that put the tally up to four who thought she was nothing but a plain old Jane who could never even get a wild cowboy to kiss her.
“Changing the subject. Remember when I told you when Riley left you that if Greta could break up a marriage, then she’d better watch out because someone could come along and Riley would leave her behind, too? Do you remember Denise Wilson who graduated with me?”
Allie didn’t want to hear about Riley. He was the old that she’d taken care of that morning. Strange as it was, she’d rather be at the table with the gossip trio than listen to stories about her ex, but Fiona was only trying to help.
“She had an older brother who was Riley’s friend, right?” Allie asked.
“That’s the one,” Fiona said. “She works at the dealership and rumor has it that Riley has been sneakin’ around with Denise’s younger sister, Suzanne. The kid won’t listen to a damn thing. She’s quit college and says that she’s ready to settle down and be a mama.”
“Holy shit! Is she pregnant?” Allie gasped.
“Not yet, according to Denise, but she and Riley have been going at it hot and heavy for more than a month. I’ve got to get to work now but tell me that even though he’s hot, you’re not interested in the cowboy and I’ll tell Mama and Lizzy. That way they’ll stop calling me,” Fiona said.
Allie propped her feet on the counter. Crap! She was even wearing work boots and all three of those women at the table had on cute cowboy boots with their fancy jeans. “He’s hot. I’m not interested.”
“That don’t sound like you mean it.”
Allie laughed. “Okay, he’s scorchin’ hot. But I’ve got better sense than to get tangled up with someone that close to home. He’s my friend and I like him.” No way in hell was she mentioning Frankie’s because her sister wouldn’t only tattle, she’d make arrangements to send Allie off to a convent.
“You are interested. I can hear it in your voice. Dammit, Allie!”
“Tell Mama and Lizzy that I’m not interested in him and they’ll leave you alone,” Allie said. “And now I’m hanging up.”
Allie hit the END button as Lucy Hudson walked into the store.
“Hey, Miz Allie, where’s your mama?” She made her way to the milk and soda pop case.
“She had to take Granny up to Wichita Falls for a doctor’s appointment.”
“Ain’t nothing else wrong with Irene, is there?” She carried two gallons of milk to the counter. “Don’t have to buy this often but my milk cow ain’t makin’ as much as she did a month ago and them grandboys who are stayin’ with me and Herman use a lot of milk. Might have to buy us another cow pretty soon.”
“Granny is going for a routine checkup. That all you need today?”
“That’s it. No, wait a minute. I’d better get a pound of bologna to make sandwiches for the boys tomorrow if the weather is fit.”
“Won’t take a minute. You sure a pound is enough?”
“Best make it two pounds. Them boys can put away the groceries,” Lucy said.
Allie sliced and wrapped the order in white butcher paper, wrote the items on a yellow sales pad, and Lucy scribbled Herman’s name on the bottom. Allie filed it under H with the rest of the Hudson bills for the month.
Lucy leaned over the counter and whispered. “I hear Sharlene is making a fool of herself with Blake and that Mary Jo ain’t far behind her. Them two ain’t cut out for ranchin’. It takes a strong woman to be a rancher’s wife and them two are all about themselves, not helpin’ a man make a livin’. You need to warn him or talk to Deke and get him to talk sense to that boy.”
Allie was about to say it wasn’t her place to warn Blake but Lucy inhaled and went on. “I like Blake and I hope he makes a go of it on the Lucky Penny. I’d hate to see him fail because he wound up getting roped by a woman with dollar signs in her eyes.”
Allie nodded.
“Tell your mama and granny hello for me. I hope they get home all right. It’s going to get slick out there,” Lucy said.
“I will.” Allie nodded.
Lucy winked, gathered up her bag of groceries, and hurried out to her truck.
“Well, that’s done,” Deke said, and looked up at the ceiling rafters. “All ready for her to start beddin’ and tapin’ come morning. Let’s go to the store and get a cold soda pop. I bet Allie is bored to death on a day like this and she’ll be glad for the company.”
“Sounds good to me. Do they let dirty old cowboys like us in the store?”