Rock Chick Reckoning(165)

“Been off for awhile, Betty,” Lee replied.

“My heart’s breakin’,” she told him and looked around.

“You boys’re droppin’ like flies.” Her eyes moved from Hector to Darius to Wil ie to Mace. “Least there’s four of you left.”

“Three,” Mace said.

“Oh, honey, now you just went and ruined my day.” She grinned. “Saw the papers. ‘Bout time you got your head out of your ass about Stel a.”

The Nightingale Men, Hank, Eddie, Malcolm, Tom, Roxie’s Dad Herb, Jules’s Uncle Nick, Wil ie and Duke were at Lincoln’s Road House waiting for their lunch to be served. Tex had not yet arrived.

At Betty’s comment, some heads dropped to look at the table, a few eyes slid to the side and there were a couple of chuckles.

Mace made no reply. Betty had been serving Mace food and beer for years and didn’t expect one. She winked at Mace and went to get their beer.

“You comfortable with the arrangements?” Malcolm asked Lee.

Lee’s eyes moved to his father. “Yeah, Dad. I’m pretty comfortable with personal security in the form of half the Denver fuckin’ Police Department off-duty, eatin’ Indy’s catering and carryin’ concealed.”

“Indy isn’t payin’ for that catering, I am,” Tom cut in. “And what it costs, you boys better eat it and enjoy every scrap.”

“Please tel me its steak and potatoes,” Bobby muttered.

“Not even close,” Tom told him. “Don’t remember much but something’s wrapped in filo pastry.”

“What in the sam hil is that?” Herb exploded.

Tom shrugged.

Herb looked at Lee. “You have a hand in the menu?” Lee shook his head.

“You have a hand in anything? ” Herb asked.

“I have to be in a tux and at Red Rocks at five and get Indy to Cherry Hil s Country Club by seven. Indy put her foot down that we have to stay until eleven before we can get the fuck out of there and we got a suite at the Brown Palace,” Lee responded. “That’s al I know about today.



That’s al I want to know about today.”

Herb’s eyes moved to Hank. “Listen to me now, son, you better get involved. You asked Roxie to marry you, you gotta remember, she’s draggin’ us al along with her. I ain’t payin’ for no fuckin’ pastry. Good old roast beef carved right on the spot, potatoes, maybe some of them fancy green beans and fuckin’ weddin’ cake. Got me?”

“Roxie told me Tod’s already started her wedding book,” Hank replied.

“What’s a wedding book?” Eddie asked.

Hank shrugged. “Hel if I know but Roxie says Tod’s got one for Jet too,” Eddie closed his eyes and Hank’s gaze moved to Herb. “If Tod’s involved, I’m out. Roxie knows that and she’s good with it.”

“Sounds like you did the right thing,” Luke said to Vance.

“What’d you do?” Herb asked Vance.

“Justice of the Peace.” Vance replied.

Herb nodded. “Problem is, you knocked up your girl.

That’s the only way women’l al ow you to get away with a Justice of the Peace.” Herb looked back to Hank as many of the men coughed to hide their laughter. “That’s the ticket, son, only way to save us al . Start workin’ on makin’ a baby.”

Hank was taking a drag off his beer. He choked on it and his eyes slid to Herb.

Herb kept talking. “Don’t worry. You have my permission.”

Hank looked at Lee and muttered, “Fucking hel .” Lee was too busy laughing to reply.



So was everyone else.

Tex arrived at the table and boomed, “What’d I miss?”



* * * * *

Stella

The Rock Chicks, Tod, Stevie and Kitty Sue were al in Daisy’s massive master suite.

The stylists and makeup artists had come and gone.

Indy’s bridesmaids, Al y, Roxie, Ava, Jet, Daisy, Jules and two of her other friends, Marianne and Andrea were al done up in subtle rosy-cheeked makeup, shimmer powder and beautiful, pale pink, wispy, chiffon dresses with short trains and graceful drapes of material at their arms that looked like they’d slid down from their shoulders but actual y were meant to be like that. Their hair was al in soft updos with tendrils hanging down. They al had brand new pearl studs with a single diamond at the bottom in their ears, bridesmaids gifts from Indy.

Their dresses and hair made them look like they were drifting around caught in a romantic modern day fairytale.

Who would have thought India Savage, Rock Chick, would be into romantic weddings?

Then again, Indy hooking up with Lee after loving him since he held her hand during her mother’s memorial service when she was five years old was a modern day fairytale.