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I shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s what it’s always been called. I guess because it’s a small area.”
“You said this will take all day?” Mallory asked, boredom evident in her voice.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to stay. Or you could head up to the house. They’re making a feast for after all this is over.”
She looked around and brushed off her jeans. “I may do that, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” I said, climbing down.
“Um…no kiss?” she asked.
I paused. “I just figured I was too dirty to kiss you.”
Her forced grin spoke volumes.
“I’ll see ya in a bit,” I said.
“Okay, see ya.”
I headed around to my horse and made my way over to Trevor.
“You want a break?” I asked coming up alongside him.
“Nah. I’m good.”
I glanced over to the oak tree where Scarlett was sitting next to Waylynn. Liberty was in her arms.
“Who is that next to Waylynn?” I asked, knowing damn well it was Scarlett. Somehow my mother and Scartlett’s mother had gotten her into Cord’s Place the other night. It was my job to point her out to Trevor. I knew the moment he saw her, he’d go to her like a moth to a flame.
Trevor looked to where I was pointing. I couldn’t help but notice he sat up a little taller.
“That’s Scarlett, you idiot.”
With a look of pretend recognition, I replied, “Oh yeah. Mom’s friend’s daughter. Isn’t she the one Mom was getting on you about dating?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes. I asked her to the dinner tomorrow night.”
“No fucking way. What did Mom bribe you with to do that?”
Trevor laughed. “Nothing. I hadn’t seen Scarlett since she got back home from Boston and she mentioned she was at the bar looking for Joey Meed. I guess her friend from work set her up on a blind date with the idiot. He was planning on asking her to Mom’s dinner tomorrow night, so I decided to save her from his endless talking about Star Wars and I asked her myself.”
“You’re bringing a date?”
“I figured I could do something nice for both Mom and Scarlett. Get our mother off my back by taking Scarlett out, and save Scarlett from the most boring man in Oak Springs.”
Laughing, I asked, “And the fact that the woman is hot as hell and has a body to die for had no bearing on your decision?”
He turned and gave me a shit-eating grin. “Oh, it did. I’m neither stupid nor blind. I did it just as much for me.”
“Trevor, don’t screw her.”
Glancing toward Scarlett, I saw her look over and smile.
“Yeah, sorry, big brother. If she gives me the green light, I’m proceeding.”
“Christ, Trevor. You better be careful. It’s Mom’s friend’s daughter.”
He motioned his horse to turn and face me. “Dude, I’m always careful. The stick is always wrapped, and the ladies are always smiling.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well I have a feeling one of these days your whoring ways are going to catch up with you.”
A whistle from behind made us turn to Jonathon. “Next batch coming in!” he shouted.
“Open it up!” I called out and went to work alongside my brother. Best damn place to be.
Two large tents covered my parents’ back yard. Some of the folks from around the neighboring ranches had helped set everything up while we did the branding. Rows of tables were lined up with chairs on each side. Another table had coolers filled with drinks, and small bags of every kind of chips and pretzels you could think of.
It was always the same meal each year. Barbecue catered from one of the local restaurants, while my mother and her friends spent most of the day baking desserts and sides. My mom’s baked beans were one of the favorite items on the menu, along with her grandmother’s famous potato salad.
“Tripp! Grab this before I drop it!” Waylynn called out.
I ran up and took one of the large plastic bowls out of her hands. “Damn, that smells good.”
She nodded. “Tell me about it. I’ve been smelling barbecue and beans the last two hours while Liberty napped. Look at my hand!”
Shoving the back of her hand in my face, I laughed. It was red.
“That’s from mom slapping my hand every time I went for a brownie, or a rib.”
My mouth watered at the thought of Johnny G’s dry-rubbed ribs.
“Fuck. I’m going for the ribs first.”
Waylynn chuckled. “Well, they will be placed on the far right. I heard Mom telling some of the girls how she wanted the food table set up.”
We set the two bowls of potato salad in the middle of the sides table. Even with Saran wrap over them you could smell the heavenly dishes.
“Hey, what are you doing up here anyway? Dad’s not making you clean up?” Waylynn asked.
“We’re done. They’re all down there drinking beer before heading up. I wanted to check on Mallory. Has she been having fun?”
