Page 58 of High Side

“What happened?”

“I spilled the tea and slipped. I’m going to go die now.”

“That would be a shame, babe.” Brittany brought a big wad of paper towels to clean up the tea. “Come help me unload groceries instead. Mom, this is Kylie Brockhurst. Ky, my mom, Lana.”

“Very pleased to meet you.” Kylie tried not to go up in flames.

“Oh, don’t. I am the woman who set Brit’s father on fire. Literally. Accidentally, but still…”

“No kidding? Wow.” That was a story she would have to hear. “Thanks. Both of you. Let me run the Swiffer mop over this. Artificial sweetener. Then I’ll come help unload.”

“No worries. I got stuff for barbecue chicken tonight. That work?”

“Totally. We’ll throw potatoes in too.”

“Mmm. Buttery potatoes.” Lana grinned. “You guys live well.”

“We have a hot tub, Mom,” Brittany said. “You have no idea.”

“Oh my God.” Lana’s eyes lit up. “I brought my suit.”

“We’ll go in tonight. I’ll mop up.” Wash her face. Check that her jean shorts weren’t ripped at the crotch.

“Yay!” Lana laughed. “Can I pour more tea?”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s in the fridge, and the glasses are in the cabinet next to the fridge on the right.” Kylie pulled out the little mop and put a new mop pad on it, then cleaned up. She made her way out with Brittany, shaking her head. “God, how embarrassing. Sorry, baby.”

“It was an accident. No sorries necessary. I am worried about your ligaments, though, becausedamn.”

“Surprising, I know, but they seem okay. The way I started down, I was pretty solid on that foot.” She grinned. “I might just need a massage on the thigh tonight.”

“I can do that once mom goes to bed, for sure.” Brittany grabbed groceries out of the Jeep, her mom’s little Honda SUV parked behind it. Cute.

“You’re my hero.”

“Good. I hope so.” For a second, Brit looked so young, that Kylie had to hold her for a second.

“Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, Mom just grilled me a little at the store. Not in a bad way, but you know how it makes you question everything.”

“Every time I have a long talk with Liz. My mom is more the gentle support type.”

“Yeah?”

“She can’t wait to meet you. I thought we could drive up at the end of the season, spend the weekend. Dad says he’ll grill.”

“Mmm. Meat or veg?”

“My folks are omnivores. So name your poison.”

“Yay. We can buy the stuff on the way up. If they’re cow country types, we’ll get steaks.”

“Dad is, yeah,” Kylie said. “Wranglers and all.”

“That’s awesome. I love Cattleman’s Days.”

“Me too.” The annual event in Gunnison had been running since, like, 1900, and had a rodeo and a parade and all.