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“The tequila? No. Not my first rodeo, ‘Bama boy. This is Texas. The land of tin stars, tacos, and tequila.”
He snorted. “Well said for a woman who’s probably more used to Mercedes, martinis, and Monte Carlo.”
“I’m a Texas girl, born and bred. Don’t underestimate me.”
“Never.”
Juan reappeared with two heavily laden plates and set them on the table. “Enjoy.”
They dug in, and Grady moaned around his mouthful.
“Good, right?” Tinsley asked.
“Why isn’t there a line out the door?”
She laughed. “We probably missed the lunch rush.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Grady broke the quiet.
“This has been nice.”
“What? The food?”
“No. The ride out here with you. We got to talk. It was nice,” he said.
“It was nice.”
After they finished eating, Juan came over with a paper bag. “This is for Señor JD. His favorite. You give it to him, yes?”
“That’s kind of you, Juan. Tamales? He’ll be thrilled.”
He gestured to Grady. “You bring him back. I like him. He cleaned his plate.”
Grady chuckled. “It was the best I’ve ever had.”
“Gracias.”
They pushed their chairs back and stood. Grady shook Juan’s hand. “Thank you for a wonderful meal.”
“You’re welcome.”
Grady held the door for Tinsley, and they went out into the afternoon sun. “I liked him.”
Tinsley smiled. “He liked you, too. They were always good to me when I was a little girl coming out here with my dad. Juan used to give me lollipops after I ate my food.”
Grady pulled the passenger door open for her.
A huge boom vibrated through the air, and he instinctively covered her with his body, pushing her down on the seat. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a cloud of black smoke rising in the distance over the flat land toward the horizon. “I think that’s the #7 oil derrick.”
“Bodie!” Tinsley screamed her brother’s name.
Juan and Rosa came running out the door.
“Holy Moses,” Juan said.
Grady yelled back to him. “Call 911.”
Juan nodded and hustled back inside.
