Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys 5)

The woman who spoke was seventy if she was a day. She’d dressed in a one-piece romper, patterned with sunflowers, and black high-topped Converse sneakers.

“I’m Garnet. We’re shareholders in the Split Rock.”

Tanna masked her surprise. “Really?”

“Yep. We’re good friends of Harper. And Tierney. And Celia. We’ve heard that you’d fit right in with us, beings you’re a little wild. But you look kinda tame to me.”

“What Garnet meant to say,” a stylish redhead interjected, “is Celia mentioned you. We wanted to welcome you to Muddy Gap.” She smiled and offered her perfectly manicured hand. “I’m Vivien.”

“Nice to meet y’all.”

“Oh, isn’t her accent just the cutest thing?” a tiny, birdlike woman trilled. “I went steady with a guy from Oklahoma. And I just melted when he talked all soft and slow and sweet.”

A stout woman next to her harrumphed. “I swear, Tilda, your tall tales keep getting more outlandish. You got married when you were what? Seventeen? When did you date anyone but Robert?”

Tilda smoothed a hand over her thinning pure white hair. “I dated before Robert, smarty-pants. I met my Southern boy Ray at church camp.”

Tanna didn’t know which woman to pay attention to, since they all started talking and arguing at once. A shrill whistle rent the air.

They all looked at the fourth woman who hadn’t gotten a word in yet. Dressed in a mix of khaki and camouflage, including a slouch hat, she looked ready for a safari. Or war. “You all are cackling and pecking at each other worse than the hens in my henhouse.” She smiled at Tanna. “I’m Pearl. You met Garnet, Viv and Tilda. Maybelle, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

The stout woman held out her hand. “I’m Maybelle Linburg. Most the young folks call me Miz Maybelle. I’m the society reporter for the Muddy Gap Gazette. I’d love to do a feature on you.”

“Sure. I mean, yes, ma’am. That would be kind.”

“So, what did Celia tell you about us?” Garnet demanded. “Because she’s full of hooey if she blamed us for the raid by the fire department. We weren’t the only ones shooting tequila that night and we had the flames under control.”

Flames?

“And we sure wouldn’t have wasted empty bottles by throwing them into the fire,” Pearl added.

“We recycle our empty alcohol bottles properly,” Tilda sniffed. “We use them for target practice.”

“We’re all pretty good shots now,” Miz Maybelle admitted with pride.

Pearl pointed at Vivien. “Don’t ever piss her off when she’s carrying. The woman is a deadeye.”

Vivien blew on her nails and buffed them on her shirt.

Tanna laughed. “So, ladies, now that we’ve been properly introduced and I know who not to challenge to a gunfight at the Split Rock Corrals, what can I do for you today?”

“We’re having a shareholders meeting after regular bar hours Sunday night.” Miz Maybelle rested her forearms on the counter. “We pooled our money and bought shares in the resort. We call ourselves the Mud Lilies. We wear a piece of clothing or an article of jewelry to show solidarity at the meetings, but retain our individuality, so we want a theme.”

“A theme. For a meeting?”

“We need six pieces, including one for Bernice, who couldn’t come today. So wow us with your expertise, honey,” Vivien added. “Harper always comes up with something cool.”

No pressure.

Tanna stepped from behind the sales desk and wandered through the clothing racks. Too many unique pieces here. The first accessories rack had a bunch of different scarves, but nothing that could be pulled together as a theme. Except if they all wore hats, she could come up with a hat band for each one.

Nah.

As she headed toward a belt rack between the men’s and women’s departments, she remembered seeing a funky pair of suspenders. Pawing through the belts and ties, she found the stretchy wide strap, shot through with gold and silver thread. She unhooked it and spun around. Now she just had to sell her idea.

“Is that a bungee cord?” Garnet asked. “Looks like it came from a disco.”

“No, it’s a pair of suspenders. But it’s got a really cool pattern. And it’s stretchy.” Tanna pulled on each end. “See?”

“How were you thinking of using them?” Miz Maybelle asked skeptically.

“As bracelets. You could cut each one to fit and sew it up the backside. Then on the front, you could attach a little something that personalizes each one. Like Pearl’s could be pearl themed. Garnet’s could be garnet themed. Miz Maybelle’s could be bell themed. Tilda’s could be dance themed for—”

“Waltzing Matilda!” Tilda clapped her hands. “Those are great ideas, Tanna. What could we do for Vivien’s?”

Vivien tapped her fingers on the counter. “My middle name is Rose. So I could fit that in the name theme.”

“Perfect. Now did you ladies want to look around some more, or did you want me to wrap this up?”

Pearl said, “Oh, no, sweetheart. You’re not close to done. You have to help us fancy those bracelets up.”

“I sure hope you’re good with superglue, because they won’t let me work with it no more,” Garnet grumbled.

Tilda patted her hand. “It shouldn’t take more than five hours to get this finished. You’re not busy, are you?”