“Where is she?”
“He wouldn’t say, but he’s coming to get her.”
“How does he know for sure she’s okay?”
“Jace!” Renie stamped her foot and put her hands on her hips. “Stop it. I told you what I know. Her father said she’s okay, but that’s all he’d say. Now quit barking at me.”
“Yep, this little lady right here, she’s all mine,” Billy bragged. “Spitfire, that’s what she is. Damn that makes me hot, Renie. Let’s get outta here.”
Jace wanted to smack the smile off Billy Patterson’s face. God damn smug bastard. He was worried sick about Blythe, and all Billy cared about was getting laid.
Renie slugged Billy for him but not as hard as he would’ve liked. Then she ruined it by smiling at him. She gave Jace a completely different look, one that would never be misconstrued as a smile.
“And you,” she pointed at Tucker. “You started this. She was fine until you showed up.”
Tucker raised his head and looked straight at her, but didn’t say a word.
“Where’s Lyric?” asked Jace.
“I have no idea,” answered Renie. “Wasn’t she here a minute ago?”
“Did they see you?” Blythe asked.
“I don’t think so. They were too busy arguin’,” Lyric answered.
“Thanks for rescuing me.”
“No problem, girlfriend. Let’s get outta here before they realize I’m gone and come lookin’ for us.”
Lyric was taking Blythe to meet up with some of her friends, ropers mainly. They weren’t competing tonight and were hanging out at the Grizzly Rose bar, not far from the stock show.
“What about Renie, do you think you should at least let her know you’re okay?”
“I did. She called and said she was pretending she was talking to my dad. She said she’d tell everybody I was okay and that’s all she’d say.”
“Shoulda figured.”
“What?”
“You two. You don’t even have to talk half the time, do ya? You’re both so in sync with each other.”
“It isn’t always that way, or it hasn’t been in the last year anyway.”
“Let’s go, girlfriend. Where we’re headed the cowboys are gonna outnumber us ten to one. We’ll be doin’ a lot of dancin’ tonight. Drinking too.”
“I like you, Lyric. You’re a good friend.”
“Right back at ya, girl.”
Jace stopped at the front desk to see if he could change his room from a king to one with two queens. It wasn’t a problem.
He’d reserved a room near the National Western instead of staying with Billy and Renie, hoping Blythe would be sharing sheets with him. Now that Tuck was in town, that definitely wouldn’t be happening.
He was stretched out on one of the beds when Tucker came in with a bottle of Crown Royal and a six-pack of cokes.
“Cups by the sink,” Jace pointed.
“You get the ice?”