Page 28 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Yes,” she agreed.
When she went quiet, Jason changed the subject.“What did Wade say?”
Her smile faded.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
She grabbed a shawl and her teacup, then gestured for him to follow her outside.They resettled on the glider.The rain made a gentle pitter-patter against the rooftop.“He said that Billy would probably leave me alone if you left town.”
Jason found this hard to swallow.“Do you believe that?”
“Not really.”
“I’ll leave if you ask me to.”
“It’s raining,” she said, lifting her palm to the sky.
“I like the rain.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to stay,” he said simply.He hadn’t done what he’d come here to do.He might not be able to do it, no matter how much extra time he spent here.Even so, he wouldn’t leave her unprotected if given a choice.
She curled her legs underneath her and tucked the shawl around her slender body.“Veterans Day is tomorrow.I wouldn’t feel right about putting you out.”
“You haven’t really taken me in.”
“Haven’t I?”
He fell silent because playing on her sympathies worked in his favor.She’d allowed him to stay because she felt sorry for him.And perhaps because he’d known Mike.The idea gave him a stab of guilt that he pushed aside.
“There’s a dinner at the VFW tomorrow night,” she said.“We go every year.”
“Are you inviting me to come with you?”
“Yes.”
“I accept.”
She smiled, sipping her tea.
“Is there something between you and Wade?”
“Why do you ask?”
“He had a territorial vibe.”
“He was Mike’s best friend.He thinks it’s his duty to look after me.”
Jason suspected this wasn’t the whole story.“Is that all?”
She set her cup aside and nibbled her lower lip as if she were considering what else to say.Jason waited for her to continue.“He came over about six months ago.It would have been Mike’s birthday.We cracked open a bottle of his favorite tequila.We were drinking and reminiscing.One thing led to another, and we… you know.”
Jason stared at her in fascination.This revelation was juicier than he’d anticipated.“You slept together?”
She groaned with embarrassment.“Yes.”
“You regret it?”
