Ember’s lashes bounced up and down, blinking repeatedly, surprised by his curtness. “Oh, okay. I guess we’re done then?”
He turned back, eyes shadowed with dread, offering one further bit of information before disappearing out the door. “They also delivered a pony, a fancy antique pistol, and a might sparkly bracelet that I’m sure set ‘um back a pretty penny, but I sent every bit of it back. I guess, if you’d like to accept their hospitable offers of kindness, you can, but I’ll have no part of it. There’ll be no bribery, enticements, or weakmindedness in my presence.”
For a quick second, she was confused about his unexpected departure, but the distress in Bee’s eyes made his reaction crystal clear. The possibility of losing the ranch, a place he’d called home for decades, especially after losing a man who was as much a best friend as a boss, was too much to bear.
Ember called out to him sticking her head out the door, “Mr. Montgomery!”
He stopped in his tracks but refused to turn. She suspected his emotions got the best of him and Texas men weren’t known for their tears. Especially, a man like Mr. Montgomery. He was tough as nails and forged from iron.
“I’m not much for diamonds,” she assured. He bowed his head, relief easing the tension from his squished shoulders. She entered the hall and stood at his side, looping an arm through his. Sentiments rimmed her lashes. “Why would I want a pony when I already have Storm and I don’t even know how to shoot a gun.”
Laughter wobbled in his throat. He slipped her a sidelong glance. “I guess we need to fix that, don’t we?”
“Yes, sir. I think it’s a must.”
Chapter 6
Ember
If you stumble, make it part of the dance.
In typical Texas style, the parking lot at The Garage was littered with everything from luxurious sports cars to classic trucks covered in a layer of dirt. Loud music spilled out the door as she entered the trendy honky tonk.
Ember pushed through the crowd. The smell of stale cigarettes and countless spilled beers inundated her senses. Dark wood and neon signs covered the walls, and rows of low tables surrounding the dance floor were topped with longneck bottles and plates of barbeque. This was the kind of place that people who did real cowboy things for a living came to play.
Peering through a sea of hats, she spotted Reed’s dark hair and wide shoulders at the bar. JC sat beside him, swaying to an old George Jones melody.
“Hey,” Ember shouted over the music, greeting JC and Reed with open arms. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“We’re glad you could make it,” JC and Reed replied simultaneously. They showered each other with wide smiles laughing at their own expense.
Reed wrapped an arm around his wife pulling her beneath his wing, affectionately kissing the top of her head. “It’s nice to have a night out.”
Ember couldn’t wipe the silly grin from her face, watching as his hand dropped back and grabbed a handful of his wife’s ass, causing her to blush. JC and Reed oozed love and lust and everything in between. Their bond as a couple and family was unbreakable. There wasn’t anything they couldn’t tackle. She found the good energy they emitted to be nothing short of contagious. It could make any sensibly single person yearn for a love like theirs.
A stocky man grasped Reed roughly by the shoulder giving him a wobbly shake, orneriness shined brightly in his boyish smirk. His deep voice boomed, “Hey, now. Don’t be starting that lovey-dovey stuff already.”
“Jealous? You want me to squeeze your butt too?” Reed teased, gripping the man’s hand with a hard shake.
“Behave yourselves, you two,” JC advised playfully, exchanging hugs with the man and the petite blond woman at his side. They huddled together, heads bent, talking over the music. She turned, extending an arm toward Ember. “Sam and Jenny, I want you to meet a good friend of ours, Ember Thompson. Ember, this is Sam and Jenny Harris.”
Ember immediately recognized the name Harris.
Sam straightened to his full height. His eyes widened before narrowing into a smile. A web of lines pleated outward from the corners of his eyes raking a lazy inspection over her features.
“Well of course you are.” He reached for her hand, clasping it between both of his. “My goodness. You look a lot like your daddy.”
A strange sense of pride flushed her face. “I guess I don’t really see the similarities yet. Are you his neighbor?”
“Yes, ma’am. Or at least I used to be. My daddy owns a nice little patch of land that runs alongside yours.” His gaze remained fixed. “I hear you’re causing quite a stir around here.”
Pleasantries drained from her features souring her smile. “I haven’t done anything but—”
“No, no sweetheart, don’t take that the wrong way.” Sam’s loud laughter carried over all the white noise. “All the old timers, they thought they had things all figured out and then a young woman gets tossed into the mix. You’d think half of Fort Worth lost their damn minds.”
The bartender appeared in a flash. “What’ll you have, Mr. Harris?”
Ember could barely contain the list of questions sifting through her brain faster than the credits of a movie. She attempted to prioritize by importance, but it was impossible.
Sam glanced down the bar at the drinks in front of his friends. He twirled his finger in a circle indicating another round before ordering a beer for himself, and a glass of cabernet for his wife. He turned to Ember and asked, “What are you drinking?”
She drew a deep breath in through her nose calming the urgency growing inside. “I’ll have a Panty Dropper.”
Sam tilted his head toward his wife, sliding her a sultry grin. He whispered something in her ear, turning Jenny’s face a nice shade of pink, before calling out to the bartender, “Make that two Panty Droppers.”
JC raised her hand and wiggled her fingers. “Yes, please.”
Ember rested her palm on his forearm. “Why do you say that? You know, the part about half of Fort Worth losing their minds.”
“Sweetheart, you’re the one holding all the cards.” He leaned in closer. “Surely Monty has explained how special Walker Ranch is.”
A cold unpleasant feeling of trepidation tumbled through her gut like a child rolling down a grassy hill on a summer’s day.
Ember wanted to grab Sam by the arm, haul him outside, and ask a hundred questions. She struggled to swallow the angst clawing up her throat like a cat trying to get out of a well full of water.
“Monty? You mean Mr. Montgomery?”
He nodded. A hint of apprehension wedged between his brows.
“There’s so much for me to learn. I’m sure he’s probably trying not to overwhelm me. Or maybe he already mentioned it and I just haven’t grasped the magnitude of the situation.”
JC wagged a finger. “You’re here to go dancing and have some fun tonight.”
Ember opened her mouth to disagree but paused watching Sam pull his business card from his wallet. “You can call me anytime. I’ll fill in any blanks I can. Monty’s a good man, but I’m sure he’s got a full plate, running the ranch and protecting you.”