“Thank you.”
Over the course of their conversation, Presley Ann discovered that Jesse and Barry were born in Montana, same as Veronica, but now lived in Lusty, Texas, a town in Central Texas she’d been hearing more and more about lately.
She turned to Veronica and said, “Wait, didn’t you already have brothers in Lusty?”
Veronica nodded. “Cord and Jackson. My oldest brothers. Jesse and Barry are my youngest brothers, even though they’re a year older than me.”
“Two sets of twins? That’s so nice. It was only Leah and me, growing up. Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like to be a part of a big family.”
Jesse said, “Twins actually run in the Benedict family, going all the way back to the late 1800s, and the first Benedicts to settle in Lusty, Caleb and Joshua.”
They were discussing all the family connections, which quickly grew confusing for Presley Ann, until Travis changed the subject. “I haven’t heard from Deke in a while. Any news on the Maxwell boys?”
A sour look crossed Veronica’s face, making Presley Ann curious. “The Maxwell boys?” The name sounded familiar and Presley Ann recalled the conversation at the store. She caught Veronica’s eye and her friend nodded in verification.
Looking disgruntled, Jesse said, “Two losers from back home that Barry and I had the poor judgment to be friends with.”
Travis said, “Phil and Gord Maxwell decided to help themselves to what wasn’t theirs. Jesse and Barry had set aside a parcel of their own land as a donation to the Bureau of Land Management for their wild horse and burro program—to serve as a temporary sanctuary for the animals. The Maxwell’s stole some of those horses and sold them for profit—some of them went to a slaughterhouse.”
Presley Ann’s jaw dropped. “That’s horrible!”
“So, with Jesse and Barry’s help, the BLM investigator arrested them. They were charged, tried, and sent to prison.”
“Good!” she said with a nod.
Barry shrugged. “Except they escaped on Thanksgiving and haven’t been recaptured yet.”
The conversation moved on to other topics and Presley Ann asked Charlotta if she was in ranching, too. Charlotta explained that she was a psychologist working with emotionally disturbed kids at a wellness center and an equine therapy program, in Waco. That was how she’d met Jesse and Barry.
Travis was talking about adding an equine therapy program at the Hill Country Boys Ranch, where he was a supervisor and counselor, when the waitress brought Presley Ann’s order to her in a large plastic bag.
The waitress whispered to her that Rudy had heard of the near-disaster out front and had included complimentary desserts in the bag, hoping that she was all right.
Rising from her seat, she thanked them for letting her sit with them for a while. She reached out to take hold of the bag but Hank beat her to it. “I’ll just walk you to your car.” She huffed when she saw the implacable look in his eyes. As if to confirm it, he said, “Don’t argue, Presley Ann.”
“All right, I won’t. Thank you,” she added almost begrudgingly. She had two feet, she could walk her own self out to the parking lot. She turned to Jesse and Barry with a heart full of gratitude. “You might not think you’re heroes, but I think you are.”
Having stood with Travis as she’d risen, they nodded, still looking uncomfortable, and tipped their heads at her before sitting back down. She turned to Veronica, hoping she wasn’t interfering, and said, “You must be very proud of your brothers.” Veronica smiled at her but didn’t confirm or deny the fact, or even look at them. Presley Ann said good-bye to Charlotta and the others, and walked away with Hank, hoping it all worked out between them.
As Hank held the front door open for her, Presley Ann turned to him and said, “I never took you for the pushy, overbearing, pit bull type, Hank.”
Hank snorted. “You’ll get to know me better, Presley Ann, and learn that what you just said describes me to a T. I get that a lot from the women of Divine, Texas.”
Presley Ann chuckled as she cradled the sleeping baby’s head. “And I can see by your big grin that you enjoy that reputation.”
“Can’t deny it. And it helps to dispel the growing rumor that I’m a marshmallow on the inside. Keeping you ladies safe is worth taking a little grousing because I’m overprotective. Still carrying your pepper spray?”
Presley Ann patted her purse. “Everywhere I go.”
“Good girl.”
He opened the rear passenger door and she carefully eased Whit out of the sling and buckled him securely in his car seat, then happened to catch Hank as he took his phone out of his pocket.