The Last Outlaw(151)
“Let’s just say you and Dixie have a lot in common,” Lloyd answered with a grin. “She’s from our lawman days back in Guthrie. You know Pa. He has a natural gravitation.”
Gretta let out one of her loud guffaws. “I think it’s the other way around,” she joked. “The women gravitate toward your father.”
Jake limped to the buggy, and in the next moment, a buxom, blond woman in a pink dress was in his arms.
“Dixie! My God, you came all the way from Guthrie?”
“They do have trains now, love.” She laughed as Jake whirled her around. “I wanted to see for myself that Jake Harkner really did still live and breathe,” she told him. “Besides that, I always wanted to see this ranch I’ve heard so much about and see my favorite outlaw and that gorgeous son of yours.”
Jake set her on her feet. “You’re as beautiful as ever.”
“Me? How about you? My God, don’t you ever age?” Dixie asked. “It’s been years. Hell, I thought I’d come here and find a crippled old man.”
“I am a crippled old man!”
“Not from what I’m looking at.” Dixie ran her hands over his chest and arms. “You haven’t changed one bit. And here I was feeling sorry for you.”
“Don’t be feeling sorry for the likes of me,” Jake laughed. “I have a bad right hip and a bum left leg, but I’m alive and here with my family and friends.” Jake grabbed her close to plant a kiss smack on her lips. “Come and meet Gretta MacBain. You two have a lot in common.”
“I’ll bet we do!” Dixie kept an arm around his waist and let Jake lean on her shoulders a little as they walked to the tables, where some just stared and shook their heads as Jake introduced Dixie and Gretta.
“Good God, Dixie’s damn right,” Lloyd said, shaking his head. “He hasn’t changed one bit. Not even a little.”
Randy stood up with Sadie Mae in her arms. “The man hasn’t changed, Lloyd,” she answered, smiling as Jake introduced Dixie to the men. “It’s the boy inside that has changed. That boy is happier now. That dark place down deep inside is gone.”
They all enjoyed a long afternoon of eating and visiting and celebrating.
Inside the house, Jake’s guns again hung where they always had—over the front door…just in case.