Page 54 of Outlawed

The guy—whom I now know as Brett—jolts, but a smile plays on his lips.

“Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to find Brett, and you’re going to tell him how you feel and give him a chance to prove to you he’s the good guy you think he is, no matter the outcome.”

“You’re right. I’m going to march right up to him. I’m going to tell him I love him and then I’m going to kiss him.”

“Atta girl.”

“Right. I’ve got this.” She straightens her shoulders. “I just need to find him.”

“Hmm…maybe you should look behind you.”

“Huh?” She turns around, but before she can say anything, Brett beats her to it.

“Thank fuck. I’m in love with you, too.” And then he kisses her, and I don’t even pretend to hide the dopey grin on my face.

Sensing someone approaching from behind, I look over my shoulder and spot Jen. She takes the now-empty seat beside me, offering me a veggie burrito, which I happily take.

The teens break their kiss so the girl can look at me. “Thanks, Calliope.”

“Anytime.” I wink as they walk off hand in hand.

“Ah, young love.”

“You remember that far back?”

She elbows me in the boob, making me laugh.

“That hurt.”

“Good, you deserved it.”

“You ever feel sad you missed all that?” She nods to the retreating couple.

“Sometimes, but then I look at who I have now and my cauldron runneth over.”

She cackles at that, clinking her burrito to mine like it’s champagne.

“How they doing up there anyway?”

“Busy as hell, but that’s hardly surprising. I might be getting older, but there is nothing wrong with my eyesight, and those boys are fine.”

“I’m well aware, thank you. I’m more surprised that they’re all working together and there has been no bloodshed.”

“Well, they’ve managed to maneuver you around the bedroom without punching each other, so I’m guessing they’re taking the same approach.”

I shake my head and laugh before taking a bite of my food.

“Besides, they’ve not really had the chance to take swipes at each other. As I said, they’re busy, and it hasn’t let up all day. I give them another twenty minutes, and they’ll be out of stock. Everyone is raving about those burgers of yours. Whatever it is you’re feeding your cattle, long may it continue. I heard a guy talking to Riggs about supplying a local restaurant chain, but he told them to talk to his boss. Smart man, that one. Think that would be something you’d be interested in? There’s good money to be made in it.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I’m happy with what I have going on now, plus we have the shops opening soon. To keep up with demand, I’d have to bring in more cattle, which defeats the object of selling some off.”

“Well, if you change your mind later down the line, let me know. And regardless, I’ll take the recipe you used.”

“It was just something I found in a cookbook from the library. Nothing fancy.”

Before she can say anything else, I spot a man walking up the road. He’s nowhere near me or my stall, and yet somehow, I know he’s heading my way. I straighten in my seat and narrow my eyes as I take this guy in. Tall, tan, wearing a dark shirt with dark jeans and a cowboy hat in white, a stark contrast to the rest of his outfit. He’d fit in easily around here if it weren’t for the star on his belt declaring him a US marshal.

“You know that guy?” I ask Jen, who looks up from her food.