Page 7 of The Wounded Warrior

“I want you to stay. If your son changes his mind and decides to come back, I’ll offer it to him before I do anything else, okay?” He clapped Mr. Lyons on the shoulder.

“You’re a good ’un. One of our own.”

“That I am.” The McConnells had been landowners here since before Texas had bowed to statehood. Rory intended to keep that going for generations, even if he had to adopt or something. Hopefully, his sisters would produce heirs at some point. They really needed to graduate from college and high school first.

Teenage girls were evil incarnate.

He waved at Mr. Lyons, then hopped into his truck. He had three messages. Mom. His cousin Dooley. One from Lori. Hers just said, “Check in.”

“Mmm. Czech Inn. I should go to West soon.” He dialed the office. Maybe he’d run down to Austin this weekend and get laid. “Hola,Chiquita banana, what’s up?”

“Hey, boss. Two things. Your mom called and says to stop avoiding her, and Harris just tried to put a lien on Lilly McAllen. Did you get the contract signed yesterday?”

“Yep. Her check should fund today and she can pay off his loan.”Ha! Score. Looked like Lilly’s Café would be staying right where it was.

“Excellent.” Lori was having almost as much fun as he was. “How did it go with Mr. Lyons?”

“We’re in like Flynn.”

“Harris is going to shoot you in the face with a bazooka.”

“He’s gonna try.” Rory wasn’t stupid. He knew he’d lose some in this game, but it was a numbers thing and he intended to show Harris how a McConnell played hardball.

He would never forget the man slapping him in the face with his dick, calling him a whore. He’d taken Fred Miller down, Chris Baker, too. There was only the big dog left now.

“He sure does hate you,” Lori said, sounding fiendishly pleased. “Don’t forget you have that charity dinner tonight.”

“Right. Suit or formal cowboy attire?”

“Cowboy. This is rodeo relief fund stuff.”

“Got it.” He made a mental note. Not that Lori wouldn’t put a reminder on his electronic calendar. “Tell me we got my white shirts to the cleaners.”

He counted on her to remember for him.

“Starched and pressed. Here at the office. Call your mother.” She hung up without letting him growl.

He rolled his eyes. Just what he wanted, another session of the ‘I’m going to kill your sisters’ club meeting. Still, he supposed he could fake a dead spot when she got going.

The idea left him with a smile on his face when he dialed and when Mom answered. “You rang?” Rory said.

“Actually, that was you. Did Lori finally bully you into calling?”

“Yup!” he answered, just as cheery as could be. “I saw you texted, too. How’s your very own personal episode ofCruel Little Girl Liarsor whatever it is?”

“I’m fairly sure she’s a vampire. Possibly an extra from Salem.”

“That’s witches, or is it teen smoking?” He chuckled. “I can take her to the mall Sunday.”

“Oh, would you? Your dad is on the ‘Rowenna’s never leaving the house again without supervision’ thing and I have to run to Austin to help Aislin buy her spring formal dress.”

“Yeah.” So much for his own trip to Austin. “As long as you bring back kolaches and pecan rolls.”

“I can do that. How are you? Keeping busy?”

“You have no idea.” He grinned, thinking how Harris really might try to shoot him over this Lyons deal. No more strip mall plans, thank you. “I have some charity thing tonight. Pray for me.”

“Oh, poor baby. You have my sympathies.”

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