“I’ll get that,” Paul said.
“Take that one around the house and to the stagecoach. We’re strapping it down on top,” Victor yelled as he came out of the house. “What we carried inside is a snack that Hattie is putting out on the screened porch. It’ll take a while to get back to the creek, and the kids will be too excited to eat the first hour.”
Jamie waited until Paul had gotten out of sight and headed straight for the porch, where Kate sat with a big, cheesy grin on her face. “Okay, spill it. Was this really Waylon’s idea?”
“Classified, but I can tell you that it wasn’t Paul’s, so you don’t have to worry about him stalking you or planning to con you out of something,” Kate answered. “You do look cute today. I haven’t seen that sundress and those sandals. Did you get all dressed up for someone special?”
“That classified thing can work both ways. We like being around each other, and we have some of the same interests. It would be real easy to be friends. But Kate, we both know this other thing should be settled before either of us even takes baby steps into a relationship, whether friendship or serious.”
“Hey.” Kate put up her palms. “You are preaching to the choir.”
“Just sayin’,” Jamie said.
Too bad saying didn’t always convince the person who was doing the talking.
Hattie poked her head out the door. “Y’all come on in here and call in the young’uns. I’ve got a little sack with a juice box and a cookie for them to eat in the stagecoach. That much won’t ruin their dinner.”
Kate’s heart hurt for Hattie. Her grandchildren and Victor’s lived so far away that they couldn’t have a day like this with them. Did Teresa ever look back and wish that Kate’s baby had survived so that they could pass the company on down to her?
I am the end of the line, Kate thought. There is no one past me. I’d never thought of that.
So what’s the difference if you sell it now or if it’s sold and the proceeds go to the charity of your choice when you are dead? her father’s voice inside her head asked.
“I’m glad that I planned this,” Waylon whispered behind her, close enough that she got a whiff of his shaving lotion and the warmth of his breath tickled the soft skin on her neck.
“Jamie is onto Victor and Hattie,” she said.
“Did I hear my name?” Jamie asked.
Paul’s grin deepened the few crow’s-feet around his eyes. “You did hear me mention your name. I was telling Victor that I’m glad you decided to stay in Bootleg.”
“Saved by the bell,” Waylon whispered.
“Thank goodness,” Kate said.
“They sure look like they’re having a good time out there.” Waylon tapped Kate on the shoulder and pointed toward the stage. “I’d thought about a make-believe stagecoach robbery, though I was afraid it would scare the girls. Instead I’ve got unloaded BB guns for them to do their own pretending.”
“Thank you for not loading them. They might . . .” Paul reached for a second sandwich.
“Shoot their eyes out?” Waylon laughed.
“You got it, partner.” Paul nodded.
Victor brought empty plates into the house to throw in the trash. “Are we about ready to get this show on the road?”
Paul nodded. “Do you think you can handle those wild cowgirls in the coach?”
“If I can’t, I bet Hattie can,” Victor answered. “She can blow the rattles off the tail of a diamondback at thirty paces with nothing but her little pistol.”
“Oh, hush!” Hattie beamed.
“You can shoot?” Kate asked.
“You can’t?” Jamie asked Kate.
“No, but I’d love to learn.”
“Then I’ll teach you if you stick around Bootleg,” Hattie said. “But for now, I think we’d better join those girls out there in the stagecoach. I bet they’re ready for them guns. Y’all did bring extra clothing for them, right? They’ll most likely get wet in the creek.”
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” Jamie nodded. “Let me help carry one of those food bins out to the coach so this big adventure can get underway.”
“We brought a lot. Kids go through a lot of food around the water,” Victor said.
Waylon gathered up a couple of BB guns that had seen lots of wear from the far corner of the porch and carried them out to the stage. Kate, Paul, and Jamie followed right behind him.
Lisa’s big blue eyes popped out. “We get guns?”
“Got to protect the land from varmints and outlaws,” Waylon said.
“You think you can shoot straight, Gracie?” Jamie asked.
Gracie narrowed her eyes until they were barely slits in her little round face. “Yes, Mama, and if one of them bad guys chases us, I’ll shoot him.”
Victor and Hattie came out with the packed bin between them. Two pink cowgirl hats rested on the top. Gracie’s eyes twinkled when Victor handed one to her.
“Hats and guns. We really are cowgirls.” Lisa settled hers on her blonde hair.
Gracie set her hat back on her head. “We are the baddest cowgirls in the whole state of Texas.”