A waitress whod taken his breakfast order earlier in the week greeted Colt warmly. Booth or table tonight? she asked, looking him up and down with an admiring glance that wasnt lost on him. She was an attractive woman. Long legs. Blond hair. Blue eyes. If he was in the market for female companionship, which he wasnt, hed have little trouble returning her interest.
Booth, if you have one. Colt wagged a leather portfolio hed been holding at his side. Itll be another working dinner, he said, hoping to discourage her from getting too friendly.
Oh? What kind of work brings you to Callanton? she queried lightly. I couldnt help noticing you in town this past week. On Tuesday I met some friends for happy hour at Whites and we saw you sitting at the bar. Gina, one of my girlfriends, said I should invite you to join us. Another girl said not to, that you were part of Frank Marshs group.
Colt frowned. He thought hed been more discreet in his observation of Marsh. Usually he wasnt so careless. But then, he shouldve figured that any stranger would stand out in a town as small and tight-knit as Callanton.
I wasnt with anyone at Whites, he said, sliding into the booth the waitress, whose name tag identified her as Megan, had directed him to. It probably only seemed as if everyone at the bar was one of Marshs pals.
Megans blue eyes widened perceptibly.
Colt accepted the menu she held out, wondering whether or not Megan represented another view of the warring couple. Is Frank related to a woman named Summer? I bumped into her this morning at the veterinary clinic. I needed my horse checked out. She brought in a wild bird. An injured eagle.
Doc Holder came in for coffee. He told us about the eagle. Summer used to be married to Frank Marsh. Theyre divorced, so I guess technically they arent related anymore. Why dont I give you a minute to look over the menu? Tonights specials are listed on the yellow sheet inside.
Uh, thanks. Say, Colt called as Megan turned away, did Holder happen to say how the birds getting along?
The blonde flashed Colt another of her perfect smiles. Oh, yeah. He said with the proper care shell heal and fly again. Whichll happen, once Summer gets her out to the ranch. Summers pure genius when it comes to fixing wild animals.
Because Megan seemed to expect further comment, he nodded as if he already knew this was true. Good. Thats good. He bent over the menu, conjuring up a vivid memory of Summer Marshs strange golden eyes. Hed thought about her eyes several times since theyd parted. In the short time theyd been together, after hed taken note of their unusual color, Colt had observed how they changed to reflect feelings of anger, wariness and hope.
Unsettled though hed been by the chance encounter, he had little problem believing that Summer Marsh possessed an uncanny ability to connect with both humans and animals.
Wishing he hadnt broached the subject of Summer Marsh with the waitress, he turned his full attention to the menu. Hed been right about the roast beef. Old-fashioned pot roast was the evenings special. Colt had no more than given Megan his order, than his eyes were drawn to a flurry of activity at the cafés entrance.
For a moment he thought his mind was playing tricks. Summer Marsh had suddenly appeared, standing next to the sign that said patrons should wait to be seated. Was he hallucinating, creating an image of the woman hed been thinking about?
Colt deliberately shut his eyes, then opened them again. She hadnt gone away. And she wasnt alone. A child, a boy Colt guessed to be six or seven years of age, stood with her. The kid wore a too-big cowboy hat that rested on slightly jug ears. Colt grinned. Otherwise, the boy was pretty ordinary. Towheaded and freckle-faced. But the kids body language suggested he wasnt happy to be going out to dinner with his mother.
Colt couldnt help recalling himself at the same age. Also an only child, hed loved eating out. Which fortunately the Quinn family did a lot. His dad followed big-money rodeos, and his mom played jazz piano in night clubs. For tip money, she said. Colt wasnt very old before he guessed the real reason. If a dinner crowd was especially receptive to her tunes, the establishment threw in a meal for the family. Not only did the food beat rodeo hot dogs as a steady diet, but the various club dining rooms meals were far superior to those prepared and eaten in the cramped quarters of the cab-over camper in which the three Quinns lived.
That was probably why Colt identified, just a little, with Summer Marshs son. A boy whose once-stable world had to be in turmoil. Lord, as an adult Colt knew how it felt to have a well-ordered life thrown into disarray; itd be doubly hard on a kid.
Mrs. Marsh hadnt seen him yet. Colt had no idea if shed recognize him even if they bumped squarely into each other.
An older waitress, not Megan, greeted Summers party, grabbing a pair of menus and offering them a table. Colt strained to hear what was being said. Summer, hi! Sorry to keep you waiting. Theres a wheat-growers meeting going on in the back room. You and Rory attending it tonight?
Summer slid a steadying hand onto the shoulder of her fidgety son. I probably should, Helen, especially if theyre discussing winter feed prices. I hadnt intended to go, though. I wasnt sure how late the hearing would run. I arrived home from Burns to discover that Rorys teacher had requested an after-school visit. Weve just come from there. Since Ive spent virtually my entire day on the road, I decided we might as well eat in town before heading home.
How did the hearing go? Helen asked as she directed them to the booth right behind Colt.
Oh, fine, I guess, Summer murmured absently. Larkin Crosley is representing me, bless his heart. If the judge hadnt been pro-ranch and anti-development, who knows how Id have fared. Even now, the best that can be said is the court gave me a reprieve.
Oh? How so?
Ive got six months to come up with money to buy Frank out.
Isnt that good?
Summer looked dejected. Theres always a catch, Helen. The buyouts based on an inflated price set by Ed Adams and his land-rustlers. Hes willing to pay a little over seven and a half million dollars. To keep the Forked Lightning, Id have to pay Frank 3.8 million, she said, her voice cracking at the end.
Thats awful, Helen commiserated. What on earth are you going to do?
Summer didnt answer. Shed drawn abreast of Colts booth, and obviously recognized him, because she stopped abruptly. Mr., ahQuinn, isnt it? She extended a hand, then stumbled back as Colt rose politely, which crowded her. Thats correct. And youre Summer Marsh?
Colt knew her name perfectly well, but hed been thrown off guard when she spoke, as hed been eavesdropping on her conversation with Helen. What hed overheard concerning the results of the hearing interested him a great deal.
Summer met Colts unwavering gaze and felt heat stinging her neck and cheekswhich she found surprising. Shed dealt with men in a mans world almost all her life. Men twice as tough and imposing as the one standing before her now, taking in every tiny detail from her head to her toes
You two know each other? Helen exclaimed, glancing from one to the other. Well, isnt that nice. I hate seeing anyone eat alone. Without fanfare, the older waitress plunked Summers two menus on the table opposite Colts coffee mug.