Love Under Two Wildcatters (12 page)

Her smile faded, chased away by a shiver. “That was horrible. Every time I think of Kelsey running down the road away from that bastard…it all could have ended so, so differently.”

“Hey.” Colt slipped his arm around her and gave her a hug. “Evans and Magee’s number one rule of survival is to never dwell on what might have been.”

“Damn straight,” Ryder said. “Things more or less work out the way they’re meant to be, to my way of thinking. As scary as that was for y’all, things ended up right in the end. Now let’s go eat.”

“Ryder Magee, you’ve got the soul of a poet!”

Colt grinned because Susan Benedict wasn’t the first woman to say words to that effect to his best friend. She was, however, the first one to say them and make the big man blush.

“Nah, I’m just a Texan boy, bred and born.” Ryder opened the door and exited the truck, repositioning his Stetson on his head and adjusting his sunglasses—actions Colt knew he used as a personal sort of time-out.

Colt checked his side mirror for traffic then opened his door and pressed the lock button before closing it again.

“This is Lusty. You don’t have to lock your truck.” Susan’s faith in her town carried the ring of truth.

Colt could have pointed out to her that Lusty wasn’t a gated community. Hell, they currently had a couple of down and dirty wildcatters in their midst, proving the place was open to all kinds of unsavory types. But Susan’s selective naïveté was refreshing. A part of him hoped she never lost it.

Ryder reached the door of the restaurant first and held it open for them.

Inside the eatery, the aroma of fresh baked bread and spicy barbeque sauce teased his nose and made his tummy rumble. Susan hadn’t been kidding about skipping the evening meals over the last few days. Now, the smell of good food reminded his stomach how empty it had been of late.

“Smells good in here,” Ryder said.

“Kelsey is a fabulous cook.” Susan led them toward an empty table in the corner. A waitress made a beeline for them, and Susan stopped to greet her.

“Hi, Ginny. How are you? And how’s Benny doing?”

At first glance, the waitress—Ginny—didn’t look to be much older than a teenager. Her long brown hair had been caught up in a ponytail, and when she’d jogged over to meet them, it had swung behind her, reinforcing the young image.

Then Colt looked into her eyes. The woman flinched away from his direct gaze, but he’d glimpsed an old soul before she did.

“I’m great, thanks. And Benny got two A’s on his last report card!”

“Wow, good for him! You must be so proud.”

“I sure am. We came straight here so he could show Kelsey and Matt, and then we had apple pie and ice cream to celebrate.”

Susan looked toward the table she’d been leading them to. Ginny reached out and lightly touched her arm.

“Kelsey said to seat y’all at number eight and to tell you you’re having the lunch special today.”

Colt wondered at the expression that crossed Susan’s face for just a moment. Then his woman smiled, and he forgot his next thought.

“Reckon Colt had it right,” Ryder said as he held Susan’s chair for her.

Colt counted the place settings at the large round table. “Your sister-in-law, your brother the deputy, and one more person will be joining us, by the look of things.”

Susan shook her head. “Likely Steven, my other brother.” She kept her gaze on the table as if counting the number of places for herself. Then she looked up at him and Ryder. “I’m sorry about this. I thought it would be a good idea to just grab something to eat here before picking up my paint over at the hardware store.”

“I’ve got no problems being interrogated by a deputy sheriff,” Colt said.

“Unless he brings out the rubber hoses,” Ryder added.

Susan shot Ryder and him an annoyed look. “Nobody is going to interrogate you!” she said.

Some minutes later, Colt wondered if perhaps he should have bet her on that one.

First, they were greeted by Kelsey Benedict, who seemed too petite and dainty to run a full-service restaurant and balance two husbands. Looks, Colt reminded himself, were often deceiving.

From the moment the petite, green-eyed brunette joined them at the table, Colt felt as if he’d been very deftly “managed”.

Susan had, of course, gotten to her feet to give her sister-in-law, who also happened to be her best friend, a big hug. When she sat again, it was where Kelsey had maneuvered her to, in a seat away from both Colt and Ryder. Moments later the door opened wide to admit a strapping blond man dressed in a light brown sheriff’s department uniform. A lighter blond than his sister, his blue eyes focused on him and Ryder as if they were on the FBI’s ten most wanted list. Matthew Benedict kissed his wife, then his sister, and sat at the table, smack-dab in front of Colt, and beside Susan.

“Gentlemen,” was his only word of greeting.

“What a surprise.” Susan’s voice belied that statement, and Colt tried not to laugh when she scowled at her brother.

“If my arrival surprised you, you’re about to be absolutely astounded.”

Matthew had no sooner said that when the door to the street opened once more, admitting a man who, but for his dark hair and eyes, could have been Matthew’s twin.

Dressed in jeans and a tee, this man also kissed Kelsey, then Susan, and sat in the remaining chair, beside Kelsey.

Colt approved the tactic of the brothers Benedict sandwiching the two women between them.

“I had no idea we were going to be treated to a family luncheon,” Susan said. She glared at both brothers.

Because she’d not done the honors as she had with Kelsey, Colt introduced himself and Ryder.

“Josh and Alex sent them to me,” Susan said.

One look at her face and he knew she was ticked. “Susan.” Colt could appreciate her rancor, and knew it was in part fueled by embarrassment. “It’s all right, sweetheart. Your brothers have every right to insist on meeting us.”

Her response was to give him a smile that made him wish they were all three back at her place.

He switched his gaze from her to Matthew, only to find that man regarding his sister, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“So you know Alex and Josh,” Steven said.

Ginny brought over a tray of drinks—tea for everyone but Kelsey, who’d asked for water. Colt waited until the young woman had set down the glasses.

“We’ve known them for a couple of years, as we tend to bump elbows at the same gatherings in Houston. As of last week, however, we became business partners.”

Matthew tilted his head to one side. “You’re the wildcatters they were talking about taking on as partners in the Evercroft deal?” He half closed his eyes, and Colt knew he was searching his memory. “
Dos Hombres
? The small outfit started up from out of El Paso?”

Because he’d made the words “small outfit” sound like something he didn’t want to step in, Colt said, “Not that small, thank you very much. And yes, that’s us. After we shook on the deal, your brothers asked us if we could do them a favor and drill a new water well for your sister on her ranch. Since it had been a while since we’d had the opportunity to handle the equipment ourselves—our first love—we jumped at the chance.” Only after the words had escaped his lips did Colt realize they could be taken two ways. Fortunately, another matter claimed the Benedicts’ attention.

“Damn it, Susie, are you still living off in the middle of nowhere on that piece of scrub land laughingly called a ranch?” Steven seemed really aggrieved.

Before Susan could say anything, his wife did. “Susan likes that ranch, and she has a perfect right to be there if that’s where she wants to be.”

“I can speak for myself, Kels.” Susan reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.

“I know that. It’s just that your brothers are being particularly pigheaded all of a sudden, and I, for one, don’t like it. I’m not very happy with your attempted heavy-handedness, either one of you.”

“Uh-oh.” Matthew looked over at his brother, one eyebrow raised. “You remember what the dads always say.”

Steven nodded. “Yep. If the woman of the house isn’t happy, no one’s going to be happy.”

Colt thought it had to be a measure of comfort on their part that the brothers would talk so openly about family.

“It’s all right, Mrs. Benedict.” Ryder leaned forward and directed his comments to Kelsey. “Like Colt said, we’ve no problem being scrutinized by Susan’s family.”

Ginny returned with a tray that seemed bigger than she was. Loaded onto it were plates piled high with food that smelled heavenly.

“Looks good.” One of Colt’s personal favorites was chopped steak. This one came smothered with cooked onions and mushrooms and—he inhaled deeply—jack cheese. Steak cut fries had been heaped on the side with thick gravy, and Colt knew he was in for a treat.

Knowing it was rude not to wait, and not caring, he picked up his fork and cut into the meat.

“My God.” Ryder’s exclamation told him he wasn’t alone in his haste.

Colt chewed slowly to give his stomach a chance to prepare for the feast. “Damn, that’s good.”

“You look as if you’ve not seen a decent meal in ages. Isn’t Susie feeding you?” Matthew asked.

Colt froze, his gaze going directly to Susan. He had to strangle back a laugh because his woman’s face had gone totally red. He flicked a glance at Ryder and knew his friend wasn’t doing much better hanging on to his composure. Then he caught the incredulous stare Kelsey shot her husband.

“Um…why don’t we forget I just said that?”

“Do you think?” Susan asked.

Kelsey seemed determined to change the subject because she looked down at her plate. She speared a French fry with her fork. “Had some Canadian tourists in here the other day. Do you know they put
vinegar
on their fries?”

“I heard that,” Ryder said.

Everyone seemed fascinated with their lunch. Colt took another couple of bites and decided that Kelsey Benedict did have a talent in the kitchen.

“So, what have you been up to?” Steven asked of Susan, and Colt closed his eyes and shook his head. Was there any hope for this conversation?

“The roof line of her house, but that isn’t going to happen again anytime soon.” He knew Susan wouldn’t appreciate being put on the spot, but he thought the faster they steered away from double entendre hell, the better.

“Our sister does tend to want to try and do every damn thing herself,” Steven said. Colt thought he might always have that ruddy complexion.

“I’m right here, you moron. Why did I ever think the two of you were my favorite brothers?”

Colt wondered if all-out sibling war was imminent. The words “saved by the bell” came to mind when he heard the ringing of a cell phone. Until he realized the phone that was ringing was his.

He pulled the device out of his pocket and looked at the display. “Huh. Our office admin.” He and Ryder had both left instructions they were only to be called in the case of an emergency. His gut knotted. “Excuse me, please, while I take this.” He flipped open the phone. “Evans.”

“Colt? We have a problem.” His usually unflappable admin, Nancy, sounded scared. He shot a look at Ryder, who set down his fork, immediately alert.

“What kind of problem?”

“There’s been an explosion at the site of the number two rig. Colt, Murphy’s hurt. He’s hurt bad.”

Chapter 10

Susan hated the smell of hospitals. She didn’t know why, but there it was. Usually she only set foot in one under the most dire of circumstances.

One look at both Colt and Ryder’s expressions when they’d heard about the explosion and she knew there was no place she’d rather be than with them.

“Have you known him a long time?” She sat beside Ryder in the waiting room as they awaited news. Their friend and employee, Michael Murphy, was in surgery and had been since they’d arrived at the hospital in San Angelo. The men handled anxiety differently. Colt paced, Ryder hunkered down.
Funny, I’d have thought they’d do the opposite
.

“Yeah. As an employee, he’s been with us since the beginning.” Ryder huffed out a breath and sat back against the chair. She’d kept her hand on his leg, and now, he picked it up, threaded his fingers through hers. “I should say our
second
beginning. Actually, he’s the father neither of us ever had.”