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“I’ll take the food in,” said Harlan. “Gotta run. We’re gonna get wet again.”

The dogs jumped out of the back seat and ran off, not caring if they got soaking wet.

With Billy at home, the house was toasty warm, and it gave me a good feeling to have him back. “Brought food for you, Billy. You hungry, or did a bunch of women come and cook for you?”

He laughed. “My mom came and made me lunch.”

“You big fuckin baby.”

Harlan laughed as he took the containers out of the bag.

I grabbed three beers out of the fridge and put them on the table, then I got Billy from the sofa and hauled his ass to the kitchen. He groaned as he landed his butt on a hard kitchen chair.

“I broke up with Brenda.”

“Yahoo. Another one bites the dust.” I raised my can of Miller. “I’ll drink to that.”

“You didn’t like Billy’s girlfriend?” asked Harlan.

“Didn’t mind her but I don’t like her twin sister. Glenda is stalking me.” I laughed. “I’ll get Billy to get rid of her for me.”

“She look the same as Brenda?” asked Harlan.

Billy nodded. “Carbon copy.”

“You can do better, Travis,” said Harlan. “Go for the barrel racer.”

Chapter Ten

Thursday, April 28th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

I was up early because I had tons to do with Tammy coming home. Clean up a room for her. Trip to the market. Make arrangements for the shipment of the horses, and on and on, plus my regular work.

I had been missing Tammy a lot, but I understood that she wanted to be with Annie too—Annie being her legit stepmom—and Tammy did love Texas.

I understood it, but in my head, I thought of Tammy as mine and I wanted her back. Yeah, I had to admit I had a selfish streak. All my life it had been all about me.

I heard Billy in the bathroom, so he was moving around a little better on his own this morning. Now that he was free of the Brenda stress, he might relax and start to feel better.

The dogs were out taking care of business and I was in the kitchen organizing breakfast when Harlan came down.

I had a glass of orange juice sitting on his placemat for him and pointed to it.

“What?”

“I think kids are supposed to drink orange juice. I make Tammy drink it.”

“I’m not a kid.”

“You’re a big kid. I didn’t want a little kid. No time for it.”

“That’s the truth.” He picked up the glass and drank half of it down. “Billy help you before he was hurt?”

“Yeah, we worked together for a long time. Then he took over as sheriff and I spent some time in Texas in the VA hospital. Now I’m back to help him out.”

“You a vet?”