“Well,” he said slowly. “Strange things happen here, you can bet your mother.”
“And that’s why we’re here,” I said.
He smiled warily. He really was quite a handsome guy.
“Just…be careful while you’re here. Especially when I’m not here.”
I frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
He shrugged, dust flying off his plaid-clad shoulders. “You’re just going to want someone capable on your side in this crazy land. If you have any doubts, just talk to Bird. I trust him.”
“I trust Dex,” I said stubbornly.
He scratched at his sideburn and looked wistful, “I know you do. I reckon that might be a problem.”
How was that a problem? I opened my mouth to say something in his defense when Bird and Dex came out of the barn.
“There you are,” said Bird. “I was afraid you wandered off somewhere.”
Bird peered at me. On the surface he played the concerned grandfather type but deep in his eyes I sensed an even deeper worry. Sometimes I saw that same thing in my mother’s eyes.
“Feeling better?”
Well, no, not after what Maximus had just told me but I said yes anyway.
Dex was eyeing us suspiciously. He probably knew we were just talking about him. I glanced between the two ex-friends and knew that a phantom choking incident and a volatile rancher were going to be the least of my problems. Something obviously happened between these two guys and the past wasn’t having an easy time being buried. I had a feeling I’d find out by the time the weekend was over, and it wasn’t going to come from Dex’s mouth.
Bird sensed something too. Or he had good timing.
“So, what say we introduce you to Lancasters and get the ball rolling?”
We agreed and walked back to the house. Bird stayed a few feet ahead; I had the boys on either side of me.
“Hey, just remember,” Maximus whispered to us and pointed at his ring finger.
Right, the married thing. Though Sarah was blind, she’d still probably see right through us.
“Play it cool,” he continued. “And don’t take anything she says personally.”
We walked up on to the porch and waited while Bird knocked a few times and waited with baited breath for this mysterious Sarah woman. The door opened and revealed a tiny, tawny-skinned woman in her mid-life, with sunglasses and a cane. She was wearing a very pretty green floral dress that complimented her black, bunned hair. I might have been expecting her to look like a witch.
“Sarah, m’am. I thought you were napping. Where’s Will?” Bird asked apologetically.
She snorted. “How can I nap when I know strangers are snooping around my ranch.”
She looked at us…well, at least in our direction. It felt accusatory.
“Sarah, these are strangers no more. You know Maximus-”
“Unfortunately,” she sniped.
“And the other two people here are Dex and Perry Foray. They’ve come on behalf of your husband.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass why they are here,” she muttered contemptuously, still looking straight at us. “My husband should know better.”
Bird cleared his throat. “Well, they’ve come an awful long way to come meet with Will…”
She dismissed us with a faint wave of her hand. “I don’t care. Send them back.”
I know Maximus had just said to not take it personally but it was too late. I felt extremely uncomfortable. What if we came here for nothing?
“Mrs. Lancaster, please,” Dex spoke up. “My wife and I have not come here to do any harm. We are here to help you. We implore your Christian hospitality to help us fight the good fight.”
I looked up at Dex. He looked the part, brow softened, eyes pleading, voice rich and sincere. For good measure, even though she couldn’t see it, he put his arm around me and squeezed.
She frowned. I wished I could have seen underneath the oversized shades.
“Christian hospitality, you say?” A dusting of amusement came across her face.
“Sarah! What are you doing up?” a voice said from behind her. A stocky man of medium height and a double-chin came out from the house. Will, I presumed.
“I was about to turn these vagrants away but it was brought to my attention that it might be very ‘un-Christian’ of me.” She laughed and headed back inside, as able-bodied as anyone.
Will looked away sheepishly and took an awkward step towards us, hand extended. His handshake was clammy and quick.
“I’m sorry, she’s supposed to be napping. She hasn’t been too happy with this whole experience that’s been going on.”
He looked at Maximus, who nodded knowingly, then at us.
“You must be Dex and Perry. I’ve heard a lot about you two. Really, I am very glad that you are here. You must forgive Sarah, she’s been dealt a few rough hands with life.”
Hadn’t we all?
I smiled anyway. Will seemed like a decent person.
“Thanks for showing them around, Bird,” Will said to him respectfully.
Bird showed his palm as if to say it was no bother. He tipped his cowboy hat at us,.“I’ll be seeing you all soon.”
He walked back to the barn, leaving us alone with Will.
“Ok then,” he clapped his hands together. “How about we get your stuff and show you to your rooms? Maximus, are you staying too?”
Dex and I both looked at him. He gave Will a quick smile, “No, I’m booked in at the hotel. Wanted to give the happy couple some privacy.”
He locked eyes with me for a second. Suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t let him go.
But he looked away, walked over to his truck and gave us a wave.
“Give me a call in the morning Dex,” he drawled before popping in the driver’s seat and leaving us in the heat. Even with Dex beside me, I now felt dangerously alone.