One Last Sunset (The Long Ranch Series Book 1) (4 page)

“Not for at least thirty years,” Doc said as he entered the room.

Kendra’s face blanched before turning around in her chair to see the slightly pot bellied vet close to retirement.

“Although in my day I made more than one woman swoon.”

“Doc, this is my friend Kendra Brown, a cheap western store in El Paso threw up on her.”

“I see that. I’m assuming you’re a college buddy?” he asked as he shook her hand.

“Yes Sir, I’m at the medical school there. Just moved to El Paso to start actual medical training.”

“Oh, a wimp only focusing on one animal, well, we won’t hold it against you. Those boots on the other hand…” Doc shook his head, then peered into the microscope where Mel had prepared the slide. “It’s not the bull.”

“Nope. His number are high.”

“Damn, that would have been easier.” He sighed. “I’ve been impregnating their cattle for a decade with no problem.”

“Maybe they just need a little mood music or a different position…you know us girls get tired of missionary.” Kendra’s joke went over like a lead balloon.

“Let me talk to Winston’s and see if we can slaughter her and get a better idea of the problem.”

“You’re killing a cow because she can’t get pregnant?”

“Kendra,” Mel warned.

“What?” Kendra asked. “Look what’s going on, we’re all mammals right?”

Mel looked over at Doc who shrugged his shoulders.

“We’ve just had a batch of cattle that can’t get pregnant. One or two after insemination sure, but forty?”

“Before you slaughter the poor girl why not test the hair? In humans depending on the length it can hold a year’s worth of environmental factors.”

“She does have a brain,” Doc said.

“All my friends do,” Melody said with a smile. “Just no fashion sense.”

“Please Bitch, I’m fabulous.” Kendra tossed her braids back. “Now that I’ve saved a cow, how about I save a horse?” Her eyebrow arched.

Melody got the reference immediately. Thankfully, Doc didn’t listen to popular country music. Mel looked at the clock and was glad to see it was close enough to lunch that she could take off. “How about I take Kendra to lunch and I’ll run a gas spectrometer test on hair when I get back?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Doc said, then scanned Kendra one more time. “You might want to stop by the store before lunch. Last thing you need to do is blind people who are trying to eat.”

“I really went too far, huh?” Kendra asked.

“Look, I get we’re not steeple chasing debutants like you, but we’re not cartoon characters.”

“You mean she can ride a horse?” Doc asked.

“She’s quite skilled actually,” Mel replied. “She’s used to riding boots and a helmet.”

“A wimp and a snob.”

“Yep, what can I say, she’s the sister I never knew I had.”

A quick trip to Randall’s Boot and Hat Emporium down graded the sparkle factor by nine, but a girl still needed a bit of bling. Now Kendra sported cowboy boots with a stitched fleur de lis on the side. “How do you handle being in jeans all the time?” Kendra asked as she fanned herself while they entered the Hard Root. “Seriously, it’s hotter than Satan’s Jacuzzi in this town. No wonder you cut your hair down.”

“I’m in scrubs right now, but when I’m on the ranch I’d rather be a smidge warm than bit by some random animal or cut by equipment.”

“Well, I’m just glad you let the girls breathe,” Kendra said while dabbing her breasts with a tissue. “Now what dark hell are you dragging me to?”

The lights did stay low, even in the daytime since there was no natural light, but the food was off the chain. Normally, Mel got her lunch to go. Today may not be any different if Kendra was staying over night.

“So, how long are you planning to grace me with your presence?” she asked as they sat on stools at the end of the bar.

“About that…”

“Oh, Lord.” Melody rested her chin on her hand.

“I was hoping you’d be willing to take me in for the night.”

“Something I should know?”

“The roommate I picked didn’t work out. She’s moving out and I’d rather avoid the bullshit of it all.” She groaned a bit. “El Paso isn’t a terrible drive.”

“I’m sorry, did your black card get declined? Why did you even get a roommate?”

“It’s all because of you. I’m used to one now, plus I needed someone to help with Cuddles.”

“Are you serious? Get a dog walker or something.”

“I’m going to be at the hospital for days at a time.”

Mel had to admit she did miss the bratty spoiled puppy with his diamond color and yap that was as threatening as a ladybug.

“Hey Melody, you want your usual?” Darla Parker asked as she came up to the women from behind the bar. There was something off about her face today and it was hard for Mel not to stare.

“Sounds good, but my friend here will need a menu.”

“Menu?” Darla said as she fumbled to find one behind the bar. “It’s been weeks since I’ve been asked for one.”

“Not a lot of new customers?” Kendra asked.

“Yeah, we pretty much have the same people all the time. It’ll be good for Carlo to have a new order.”

“A challenge,” Kendra smiled. “Let me really have fun with this menu.”

“Why must you be a bother to people all the time?”

“I told you, I’m fucking fabulous.”

While Kendra figured out her order, Mel looked around at the regular lunch crowd. They were older than the nightly crowd. Mostly men who used to be part of the night crowd before they locked themselves into a relationship.

At the end of the bar, Sunny sat picking at a plate of nachos while scratching away at a notebook.

She must have stared too long at the way the light from behind the bar accented his strong jaw and full lips. Then again, she almost fell off her stool when he nibbled on the corner of his lip. When he looked up and smiled, she didn’t know if she should look away or wave.

“Oh sweet cowboy ass, please tell me you know that regular,” Kendra said as she curled her arms around Mel’s shoulders.

“That’s Sunshine,” she sighed and waved.

“Sunshine? I thought cowboys couldn’t be hippies.”

“Never name a child when high on painkillers,” Darla said as she placed two sodas in front of the girls.

Kendra laughed. “Wait, Sunshine? As in the—”

Melody jabbed Kendra in the stomach and her friend laughed louder.

“You’re lucky his mom’s here with access to my food or I’d make a fool of you,” Kendra whispered in her ear. “Damn, no wonder you nicknamed your dildo Sunny.”

“I did not,” Mel lied.

Sunshine slid off his stool and came toward them.

“Oh shit,” Kendra purred. “How have you not wrapped your legs around that waist?”

Mel’s eyes shot south and the way Sunny strode toward them wasn’t helping her stay dry. These were the times she wished she was more like Kendra and could just drag Sunny into the bathroom. Instead, Mel felt her fear taking over and her eyes stayed down.

“Hey Mel.”

Sunny’s Southern drawl had Kendra’s purr turning to growl.

“If you don’t fuck this man I will.”

“Not if you want to live to see Cuddles again,” Mel said out of the corner of her mouth.

“Blasphemy.”

“Where is he this weekend anyway?”

“The spa, he’s getting groomed and pampered. You said dogs have to stay outside at your house.”

“That is true.” Mel finally looked up at Sunny. “Come back for you clothes?”

“I need to find work. I was hoping to talk to Carolyn when she comes in, plus I figured I’d hang out with my mom.”

“Aren’t you just a Southern gentleman,” Kendra cooed.

“Sunny, this is my college roommate Kendra.” Mel rolled her shoulders so Kendra would finally get off her back.

Sadly, she only did so literally, not figuratively. “You work on Mel’s family ranch, don’t you?” Kendra asked. “No wait, you travel around with her cousin, TJ… BJ…”

“JT,” Sunny corrected with a broad smile. “He just hung up his saddle and I’m on a little break from the rodeo circuit.”

“Rodeo? Do you ride or rope?”

Mel reached back and pinched her friend to stop.

“I ride bareback broncos.”

“Bareback? That sounds dangerous.”

Jealousy surged through Melody like a wildfire on a can of gasoline. Heat mixed with anger and she couldn’t decide if it was because her friend had crossed a line or because she was too scared to cross it herself.

“That could be why I’m home with cracked ribs.”

“Those suck, you can’t breathe without pain and worse yet, they can’t cast them to keep ‘em together. We’ll drink milk to get those bones strong and nothing too strenuous, no matter what Mel wants to do with you.”

“Kendra,” Melody gasped as she hopped off her stool. “I’m sorry, her mouth needs to be registered as a weapon.”

“It’s fine. Mel, can I talk to you alone for a minute?”

“I’m sure she’d prefer more than a minute,” Kendra replied with the straw between her lips. She looked up and sucked down her soda.

“You realize you expect to sleep in my house and wake in the morning,” Melody growled before turning to walk to an empty table with Sunny. Nervousness had her flipping her phone in her fingers just to keep from stumbling and knocking over the condiments at the table.

“I need to ask you a favor,” Sunny began. “Actually a few of them.”

“Whatever I can do to help?” she said as the twelve year old inside her swooned looking at the strain the muscles in his shoulders had on his t-shirt.

“Do you know why my dad got fired?”

“I think he was gone before I came home from school. Walt really doesn’t involve me in the daily ranch activities like he should.” Mel bit back her annoyance with the fact the guys wouldn’t so much as tell her if they were repainting a sign, let alone the comings and goings of daily life. She was expected to take her cut of the profits and be happy they’d provided for her.

“So then you wouldn’t know if he’d have a job for me?”

She shook her head no.

“Well, I guess bunking there wouldn’t be your call either.”

“You want to stay with us?” She tried to keep the excited squeal of her voice to a minimum. “I mean, you wouldn’t want to stay with your folks?”

“My dad and I have never really been the type to toss a football around and have deep heart to hearts.”

Mel thought of the other times she’d caught Sunny in the hayloft and suddenly realized what was off with Darla’s face. She turned to see Sunny’s mom giving Kendra their to go boxes and it was unmistakable. “What about your mom?”

“She’s chosen to stay and I irritate him to the point he wants to take it out on someone. I’m not a scrawny kid anymore he can kick around.”

“When I see one of the guys I’ll ask them for you. I got to get my friend settled. Sorry I can’t be more help, but you know how the Long’s feel about womenfolk.”

“Bedroom and kitchen.” Sunny laughed. “And if I remember the way you make cornbread the kitchen is out for you.”

Mel knew what Kendra’s response would be. A long lingering stroke to Sunshine’s leg. The idea danced in her mind as she tried to analyze his look, the timber of his voice, and his words.

“Melody,” Kendra called.

Thankfully, her call broke the pro/con list checking off boxes in her mind. “I better go,” Mel apologized. “I wish I could be more help, but…well, I’ll do what I can on my end. It’s Friday. The guys may come into town.”

“That’s good because I don’t have a vehicle right now.”

“We outtie?” Kendra asked and the girls said their goodbyes.

On the ride out to the ranch, Mel ate her flautas while Kendra worked on her hamburger basket between grilling Mel about Sunny.

“Holy cowboys,” Kendra drooled as they turned into the ranch. “Why aren’t you stopping?”

“Because I don’t live there,” Mel said as she scanned the main house in her rearview mirror. Monty, Miles and Clay were jawing on the lawn with Walt who leaned against pillar on the porch.

“But there was sexiness in boots and hats. Why aren’t they wearing chaps? Aren’t they supposed to be wearing chaps?”

“Not on a normal day.”

“Again…Hot cowboys, let’s go back.”

“I only have so much time before my lunch hour is over,” Mel said as she sped down the road to her home. “Anyway, there weren’t any hot cowboys back there.”

“Yes there was. I thought I was about to see chocolate thunder perform their cowboy routine. Please? If you love me.”

Mel pulled up to her home and tossed the car into the park. “The only men you saw were a mixture of my brothers, cousins, my uncle, and probably my dad.” She got out of the car and headed into the house.

“Why did none of these men bring you to school?”

“They did freshman year, then I met you and I feared for their safety.”