Читать книгу The Swinging R Ranch - Debbi Rawlins - Страница 14

“WHAT IS THAT?” Max asked, relieved his voice hadn’t cracked.

“An iguana,” the short blonde said, her artfully made-up face scowling at Max’s abruptness. “Who wants to know?”

“Okay, Candy, don’t go getting your knickers in a twist.” Mona stepped between him and the other woman. Not that Max had any intention of getting closer. Especially not as long as the overgrown lizard’s tongue kept swiping the air. “This here is Maxwell Bennett, Lily’s nephew.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Candy looked him up and down. “You came all the way out here yourself, did you? Figured you’d send some fancy lawyer to take care of things all neat and tidy.”

God, Max wished he had. “Nice to meet you, Candy. Now about this thing…” He gestured to the iguana, then took a hasty step back when it moved. “Tell me it isn’t some sort of pet.”

Candy narrowed her gaze. “She’s a she, not an it, and I already explained her name is Tami.”

Mona sighed loudly. “You haven’t met Estelle yet, Max.” She inclined her head toward the other woman with short silver hair, much more conservative in her blue shirtwaist dress next to Candy’s tight jeans. “Estelle?”

She was smiling at Herbert and paying them no attention.

Mona looked from Herbert to the silver-haired woman, and she planted both hands on her hips and started tapping one foot. “Estelle?” Her tone was sharper this time.

“Hmm?” Estelle turned an absent gaze toward them.

“I am trying to introduce you to Mr. Bennett.” Mona’s hands remained on her hips, and with her fiery blue eyes she issued Herbert a brief warning before forcing a smile for Max.

He checked out the position of the iguana before stepping forward to offer his hand, and caught Abby’s smirk out of the corner of his eye. She’d been so quiet he’d almost forgotten about her. She was obviously aware of his discomfort and enjoying it far too much.

Trying to ignore her, he smiled at Estelle. “Pleased to meet you. How long have you been, uh…” to his annoyance, he stumbled for a suitable word “…working here?”

A shriek coming from Abby startled them all, drawing their attention. Even Mona stopped scowling at Estelle and frowned at Abby. “What in the hell has gotten into you?”

But Abby’s anger was clearly reserved for Max alone. She marched up to him, stopping only inches away, then tilted her head back and glared. “That is my grandmother you are speaking to,” she said through gritted teeth. “She does not work here.”

“Oh, get off your high horse, Abigail.” Mona huffed. “You saying she’s too good to work here?”

Abby blinked, but she kept her attention on Max. “I’m just saying she doesn’t. And she has no business staying here.”

The tension in the room raised the temperature by ten degrees. And Max had no intention of fanning the flames. He looked away from Abby and stared at the iguana. It stared back. “I’ll tell you who has no business here. It’s that disgusting tongue-wielding reptile.”

Candy gasped. “Disgusting? Tami is not disgusting. She’s my new pet.” Her face softened as she looked at the creature. “Aren’t you, sugar baby?”

“You think you’re keeping her here?”

“Why not?” Candy’s overly plucked eyebrows arched in challenge. “Where do you usually keep a pet?”

“One like that?” Max snorted. “In a zoo.”

“Over my dead body.” The blonde folded her arms across her chest, the movement giving the iguana’s leash more slack, and the animal took two steps toward Max.

Hell, it was his dead body he was worried about. He backed up, and stepped on Abby’s foot.

“Ouch!” She gave him a light jab to the ribs.

He grunted, more in surprise than anything else. “For crying out loud, I didn’t do that on purpose.” When their eyes met, she tried to signal something he didn’t understand.

“I don’t get it,” Candy said. “What’s it to you if I keep Tami here? None of you girls mind, do you?”

Mona shook her head. “She’s gotta be better than that tarantula you had last year.”

“Or that monkey who kept hiding our garters,” Rosie added.

“He was a mean-spirited little thing.”

Were they putting him on? Max looked at Herbert who had sat down, pretty much ignoring everything, and picked candies out of a blue glass dish.

“What about you?” Candy turned to Estelle. “You helped me pick Tami out so I assume you vote she stays.”

“Uh, excuse me.” Abby cleared her throat. “Gramms is coming home with me.”

At this point, Max didn’t give a damn what anyone did. Maybe it was time to cut his losses. He was a minute away from telling Herbert to take him back to the airstrip. These people were all nuts. He eyed the iguana who stood between him and the door.

And then he caught the look on Estelle’s face. Of course he didn’t know her, so perhaps he was wrong, but she looked awfully close to tears. He glanced at Abby. Fear clouded her eyes.

Oh, hell, it was probably his imagination. He didn’t know her either. Nor was this domestic dispute his problem. His gaze reluctantly shifted to Abby again. He hated seeing her beautiful brown eyes so panicked.

“What’s wrong with your grandmother staying here a while?” he asked, knowing he would regret it.

Disappointment spread across Abby’s face. “She has a perfectly fine home she shares with me. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“What I’d like to know,” Candy cut in, “is why keeping Tami is such a big hairy deal.”

“Because I don’t like reptiles,” Max said, his patience gone.

“What difference does that make? You’re not living—” Candy stopped, her gaze narrowing in suspicion. “You’re not moving in here.”

Max reacted with a short bark of laughter. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He shook his head. He was still packed. If he had half a brain he’d head back to the plane right now. But then he briefly caught a glimpse of Abby’s shiny brown hair. “Look, I’ll only be here a couple of days to take care of business. I’m thinking about staying here instead of the motel. But that—” he stared pointedly at the iguana “—has to stay outside until I’m gone.”

Candy opened her mouth to protest, but Rosie stuck an oatmeal raisin cookie in it.

“That seems reasonable,” Mona said, “now how about you tell us what kind of business you’ll be doing?”

He gave her a censuring look. “My business.”

Mona chuckled. “You remind me of Lily. Stubborn as an old mule.”

“If Mr. Bennett will be staying here, obviously there isn’t enough room for you, Gramms.” Abby locked gazes with Estelle. “I’ll help you get your things.”

“Now, hold on there.” Candy’s voice was a little garbled until she swallowed her bite of cookie. “We have three extra rooms since Misty got married and Ginger went back east. And, of course, since Lily, God rest her soul, headed for the great beyond.”

“Don’t forget the sewing room,” Herbert chimed in. “You gals never use it. I could even fix it up some if you like.” Mona’s suspicious gaze swung from Herbert to Estelle. “How come you never offered to help us fix things up before?”

Herbert rubbed the side of his chin, looking slightly sheepish. “Now, that’s not true. I repaired the back steps twice. Plus you know I’m pretty busy most days.”

“Yeah, running down to the Vegas strip and betting on those damn fool Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.” Mona sniffed and cast another piqued look at Estelle. “At least that’s what you been telling me.”

Max was about to put an end to this ridiculous conversation when Abby’s expression caught his interest. She had an unusually expressive face, and it wasn’t difficult to see how her thoughts had unraveled. She was just as worried about anything going on between her grandmother and Herbert as Mona seemed to be. He wondered what that was about, and his interest surprised him. God knew he had many faults, but curiosity wasn’t one of them.

Abby’s gaze slowly swung his way, as if she’d felt him watching her. An unexpected pink tinted her cheeks and she looked really cute. Not his type, but cute.

“I could use some help in the kitchen,” Rosie said, breaking the brief silence as she headed down the short hall, “especially if everyone is staying for supper.”

“I’ll go change my clothes and be right in,” Estelle called to her, carefully avoiding Abby’s gaze.

“I need to talk to you, Gramms.”

“In a minute.” The older woman waved a hand and hurried down the opposite hall.

“And you,” Mona said, pointing a scarlet-tipped finger at Herbert. “Outside. I have a thing or two to say, and I don’t think you want anyone hearing it.”

Worry puckered the man’s brows. “Gee, I’d really like to Mona, but I told you, I’m working.” He turned a pleading look to Max. “Maybe we should go see if Southby is back from fishing.”

“No rush.” Max’s slow grin met with Herbert’s squinty-eyed threat. “Go visit with Mona. And take your time.”

“Come on, Tami.” Candy tugged the leash but the iguana seemed preoccupied with Max. It stuck its long tongue out again as if trying to see if it could reach him. It couldn’t but Max inched back anyway.

“Go. Scat.” He tried to shoo it, but it kept staring at him like he was dinner.

Behind him, Abby giggled.

He growled in exasperation.

“We’re going already.” Candy jerked on the leash and this time Tami obeyed, and they started down the same hall Estelle had taken.

“I hope there’s a back door through there,” Max called after them.

Candy didn’t so much as look back, and Max pretty much figured she planned on sneaking the little beast into her room. The motel was beginning to sound awfully good.

He turned to Abby. “What are you grinning at?”

Lifting a shoulder, she pressed her lips together and slowly shook her head.

She hadn’t smiled much but when she did her entire face changed. It lit up like sunshine on crystal-clear water. Her bow-shaped lips were a natural pink. Perfect. Tempting.

“Didn’t your parents ever take you to the zoo when you were a kid?” she asked, letting her mouth curve again.

“Yes, they did. In fact, I like zoos. They have bars and cages.”

She shook her head at him.

He snorted. “I didn’t see you running up to give it a scratch behind the ears.”

“Touché.”

Max’s curiosity stirred again. Her response surprised him. What he’d expected was a more down-home word or phrase, but not something Taylor or one of his other friends would say. “Tell me the truth. You don’t think it’s weird that Candy has pets like tarantulas and iguanas?”

“You want the truth? I think it’s weird that any state would legally sanction brothels in this day and age.”

“Oh, brother.” Max scrubbed at his eyes. He’d gotten up too damn early. “So, back to lecturing.”

“Wrong.” She shook her head. “I’m not, really.” She studied him for a moment. “Truth time again. If you hadn’t inherited this place, would you have bought it?”

“What kind of question is that?”

“It’s my devious way of trying to find out what you really think of a place like this.”

He smiled. “I think it needs a couple more cushioned rockers.”

She smiled back, a truly terrific smile. “You’re dodging the subject.”

“Damn right I am. You already told me that if you become mayor you’re shutting us down.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “Sounds like you’re considering reopening the place.”

“I might.”

“Really?” Her expression didn’t waver. “It would take an awful lot of money.”

“Hell, it’ll take a lot just to keep it standing.” And that was no joke. He’d obviously wasted his time flying out here.

“Probably. But you have to do something.”

He shrugged. “I could just walk away. Leave the place as is.”

Shock registered in her eyes. “No, you can’t. The house isn’t safe.”

“Then they should move out.”

“And where do you suggest they go? These women live on social security, not fat pensions.”

“Not my problem.”

She stared in disbelief, then in disgust. “You own the place. It’s your responsibility.”

“Excuse me, but I didn’t sign up for this headache.”

“Too bad. You’ve got it.”

He shrugged again. “Like I said, I could walk away.”

Abby growled—literally, and convincingly enough that he glanced over his shoulder to see if the iguana was back.

“I can’t believe you could be this…this heartless.” Abby went to the plate of cookies Rosie had left, picked out a ginger snap, sat on the couch, then took an enormous bite.

Most women he knew took small nibbles. Not Abby. Obviously this was a woman not afraid to tackle anything. She started to say something else but her mouth was full.

Max jumped in while he had the chance. “I’m not heartless. This is business. Maybe I should reopen it.” Sighing, he raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with it. Last week it was bad enough when I thought I’d inherited a brothel. Today I find out it’s a retirement home.”

“I heard that.”

They both started and turned to meet Rosie’s disapproving frown. “Better not let Mona hear you spewing that stuff. Me, I know better. And I like things just the way they are, but you heard her earlier, she and Candy have this idea that Viagra is gonna change things around here.”

At the mention of Viagra again, Max almost lost his cookies. Except he hadn’t had any. Surely Mona had been joking earlier.

Rosie picked up the plate. “I don’t want you two spoiling your supper.”

Wordlessly, he watched her carry the cookies back to the kitchen. Abby hadn’t said anything either. She probably blamed the whole idea on him. He reluctantly looked her way and realized she was trying to keep from laughing.

He relaxed a little. Abby wouldn’t think this was funny if it were for real. “She’s joking, right? About Mona and the Viagra?”

“I doubt it. Mona is always talking about the good old days.”

“And you think that’s funny?”

Her eyebrows drew together in a thoughtful frown, all traces of amusement gone. And then her lips tilted slightly. “Good for you, Max.”

“What?” Something was wrong. She called him Max.

“You have no intention of reopening the Swinging R.”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to.” Her smile grew more triumphant. “The expression on your face just said it all. You looked traumatized by the thought Rosie isn’t kidding.”

“Traumatized?” He snorted. “What are you smoking? There is nothing in this little hick town that could traumatize or surprise me.”

Abby’s expression fell, then it tightened. He’d hurt her feelings, and ticked her off, too. “I’m sorry our hick town doesn’t meet with your approval. Amazing, you’ve been here all of one day and you’re able to pass judgment already.”

“I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“We already settled that fallacy. In order for me to be insulted, I’d have to value your opinion.”

“I believe you’re right. Let’s see…Oh, yeah, you don’t give a hoot about what I think.”

“Exactly.” She folded her arms across her chest. It wasn’t a big chest, but nicely proportioned, well-rounded.

Apparently he’d taken too long to make that determination because when he raised his gaze to hers, she seemed ready to bite his head off. He cleared his throat, loosened his collar, checked his watch.

“Are you staying for dinner?” he asked, trying to change the subject and hoping a chunk of his hide wasn’t on her menu.

She stared at him in thoughtful silence for nearly a minute. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“What?”

“I can get rid of the iguana while you’re here, if you tell my grandmother she can’t stay.”

That was unexpected. He rubbed his jaw, noting he needed a shave. “What’s wrong with her staying here?”

Abby let out a low exasperated groan. “She doesn’t belong here. She belongs at home with me.”

“She lives with you?”

“Yes.”

“Anyone else? Husband, kids, boyfriend?” He shrugged when he saw the storm clouds gathering in her face. “Cats? Dogs?”

“None of your business. But no. It’s just Gramms and me.”

“So how come she ran away from home? You ground her or something?”

Sighing, she rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Why do I bother?” She got up from the couch, dusted the cookie crumbs from her hands over an ashtray, then faced him with a phony smile. “Wish I could say it was nice meeting you, Mr. Bennett.”

“What are you getting all bent out of shape for? I can’t agree to throw an old lady—” he grimaced “—your grandmother out without understanding why.”

She stared at him again, in that measuring way, as if trying to come to a decision. “Apparently I’m just not enough fun for her. She thinks I’m a fuddy-duddy.”

“Well, you probably could loosen up a bit.”

“Here we go again.” She threw up her hands. “Did I ask for your opinion?”

Max grunted in disbelief. What happened to the old Bennett charm? Women didn’t treat him like this. They smiled and giggled and asked his opinion all the time. “Wouldn’t matter if you had. You’re obviously too stubborn to listen to anyone.”

“Ooh, I’m all Jell-O inside you have me so rattled with that snippy tone.”

Damn independent career women. This is why he stayed clear of them. They were too mouthy, too…immune. “Guess you know my answer. Estelle stays.”

Her smug expression wavered. “I’d hoped you could put our personality conflict aside and see reason.”

“Present me some reason to see. You haven’t told me a thing.”

She blinked, and visibly swallowed. “It’s sort of complicated. Part of it has to do with my involvement in the town, running for mayor…” she shrugged, shifted from one foot to the other, reluctance showing in her every movement “…even being a Cunningham.”

“She doesn’t agree with your running for mayor?”

“Gramms didn’t think I should come back to Bingo after college at all.”

Uneasiness crawled down his spine. This was personal stuff, none of his business. He should stop her. “Why are you here?”

“Do you still live in the place you grew up?”

“Well, yeah, but that’s Boston.”

“And you think Bingo is inferior, so why would anyone stay?”

He winced at the way she made it sound. “Guilty.”

“At least you’re honest.” Her smile was wry. “And at times I may even agree, but if we all, the townspeople here, felt that way, the town would just shrivel up and die.”

Max didn’t see what would be so bad about that but he decided to keep that gem of honesty to himself.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said without censure. “But Bingo isn’t a bad place to grow up. In fact, it’s a pretty damn good place to raise kids. And if anyone feels the need for bright lights and partying until dawn, Las Vegas is less than two and a half hours away.”

“But Estelle feels differently?” he asked, not sure how this information all fit together.

“No, of course not. She just wants someone else other than her granddaughter to carry the banner.”

“Or be the town martyr.”

Abby’s lips thinned. Anger glittered in her eyes. “No one is twisting my arm. I chose to come back of my own free will. Bingo needs me, so does my grandmother.”

Max mentally cringed. That would be good enough reason for him to get the hell out of town. He looked into Abby’s earnest eyes. Not her. She seized responsibility with eager arms. It finally hit him. Only twenty-six and she wanted to be mayor.

He took an uneven breath. Estelle was probably right. Abby needed to get a little selfish, go out and have fun, trudge through a couple of hangovers, get a life.

“Now,” she said with a weary sigh, as if she’d just spilled her guts, which to some degree she had. “Do you understand why I want my wonderful but misguided grandmother to come home? Why she needs to come home?”

Max rubbed the back of his cramped neck. He did not intend on getting in the middle of the women’s personal squabble. Nor could he kick the older woman out against her will. Which meant Abby was about to hate him forever.