Page 59 of Country Music Cowboy

“Well, I love him,” Emmy Lou sniffed.

“That doesn’t mean you have to marry him,” Krystal said, again. “I love Jace but you don’t see the two of us getting hitched, do you?”

Emmy Lou sighed. “I hope you do, someday.”

Krystal murmured something that sounded like, “Whatever,” then tightened her hold on them both.

They stayed that way for a while, until Emmy Lou stopped sniffing and Krystal didn’t sound like she was hyperventilating anymore.

“I love you both.” He pressed a kiss against each of their cheeks. “Now, we all good?” he asked, looking them over.

Krystal shrugged. “I’ll be better with pie.”

Emmy Lou gave them both a final hug and stepped back. “Me too.”

“Ice cream?” he asked, opening the freezer. “If there’s any left.”

The three of them settled around the kitchen table with their warm apple pie and melting vanilla ice cream, enjoying a companionable silence—save the scraping of spoons on the bottom of a bowl.

“It’s the first time we’ve been alone in a while,” Emmy Lou said, an odd look on her face.

“It’s the first time we’ve been alone since we learned about Ruby, is what you mean.” Krystal smiled.

“How did you get there?” Travis asked, looking back and forth between them.

“Twins,” they said in unison.

“Whatever.” He laughed. “Why are we worrying about this Ruby person?” His sisters exchanged another odd look—one that made him pause mid-bite to ask, “What now?”

“Not worrying.” Krystal shrugged. “Curious.”

“I can see that.” Travis shook his head. “A little too curious, if you ask me.”

“I’m not asking.” Krystal smiled sweetly.

Travis chuckled.

“What’s wrong with wanting to know more about Ruby?” Krystal asked. “I got the feeling things were left…unfinished.”

“Didn’t you see Daddy’s face?” Emmy Lou asked, scooping some ice cream up with her spoon. “It was some look.”

He’d seen it—mostly. Granted, he’d been distracted by Loretta but, unless something more than a look had transpired, he didn’t get why they were hung up on this. “A look? You mean nostalgia?” Travis asked. “He was a guy long before he was our father. Let him have his memories without you two poking around in his past. He’s an adult and, contrary to what you both seem to think, he can take care of himself. Why does this have to be a big deal?” He watched them, both of them. “I know that look.” It wasn’t a good look. “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to this?”

The fact that they were both struggling to come up with an answer didn’t help ease his sudden twinge of anxiety. He thought they’d stopped keeping secrets from each other, but now he wasn’t so sure.

The kitchen door opened, breaking the loaded silence. Travis glanced at the door, irritated. He wanted to get to the bottom of this and, unless it was Loretta, he’d rather not be interrupted. But it was Sawyer. Since Sawyer already knew everything, there wasn’t any point in keeping things from him.

But Sawyer seemed more interested in the pie and ice cream than the awkward silence.

“There’s none left,” Travis said.

“Ignore him.” Emmy Lou smiled. “Come in. Have some pie.” She was up, playing hostess.

“There’s another one in the oven,” Krystal said, pointing at the oven with her spoon. “I hid it from Travis.”

Travis chuckled. It made sense that his sisters had a soft spot for Sawyer—he’d proven himself to them time and time again.

“Since you’re here, help me set these two straight.” Travis sat back in his chair, holding his bowl close.