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“From when they burned down Austen’s clinic. We were inside, and I still smell that shit in my hair.”
“Those ranch hands did so much damage,” Wynonna says, replacing her swagger with worry. “A bunch of fucking nobodies nearly ended the Steel Berserkers. I just can’t wrap my head around it.”
“They’re dead now,” I say when I feel the mood dropping in the room. “Walla Walla said he believes the Backcountry Kings, and I trust his judgment.”
Wynonna’s face flips, brightening with a smile. “I heard he’s crazy about you. I can’t believe it took him so long to find his forever gal. Of all the guys, I thought he’d get hitched long ago.”
“Why him and not them?” Coco asks.
“Oh, you know how men will get all weird from a bad childhood. Terrible women can also twist them up. They’re bound to hide from the world and turn nearly feral. It makes sense for those guys to struggle to find someone, but Walla Walla is so normal next to the rest of them. But no one caught his eye.”
“I’m special,” I tell Coco who smiles. “I don’t know if you heard but—”
“Oh, I’m sure I have.”
“Well, then, you know how I’m planning to move here permanently. I want to get to know McMurdo Valley. As the leader of my girl club, I figure you can point us in the right direction.”
Wynonna chuckles. “Never in a million years did I think I’d become pals with both Fiona Rogers and now a Halvorson. The world really is an odd place. But McMurdo Valley is fantastic, and I’ll give you all the gossip about every damn thing. Just leave it to me. In a few months, you’ll feel like you’ve always lived here.”
Her words inspire a flash of my future. I see Walla Walla and me riding around town. I’ll know every road, the best places to eat, and which people to avoid. I won’t need to work at my confidence anymore. I’ll be the best me every damn day.
MARTIN
Goose decides to sit in the back with Smokey. She’s pissed at me. I’m a little annoyed with her. She’s too old to be so weird about a possible girlfriend. Either she likes Coco, or she doesn’t. Just saying she isn’t interested would be fine, but she’s blowing both hot and cold.
Before I can give her shit, Smokey asks Goose, “Are you dating Coco?”
“Why, are you looking to make a move?”
“Sure. If you aren’t interested and she also dates guys, why shouldn’t I get friendly with her?” he says, frowning at her scowling face. “Coco’s a good-looking woman. Besides, I’ve been thinking about dating a more age-appropriate woman.”
“Well, do what you want.”
Smokey studies her as she glares out the window. “You seem pissed. I’m not looking to start shit.”
“You love her, so go get her.”
As Smokey looks to me for help, I catch his gaze in the rearview.
“I wouldn’t make a move,” I tell him. “Coco likes Goose. Until that situation changes, you’ll get yourself tangled up in drama.”
“Gotcha.”
After Goose sulks for a few silent minutes, she mutters, “Coco doesn’t know what she wants.”
“I think she’s looking to start over somewhere fresh. Get a new career, home, and lover. I don’t think she misses Banta City much.”
Goose refuses to hear reason. If she were ten years younger when she met Coco, none of this drama would be happening.
Lately, though, Goose has gotten herself set on spending the rest of her life as a single woman. Her biggest goal is to get a dog, and she hasn’t even rushed to do that much.
I think something changed in Goose when Armor fell for Yazmin. She probably always figured her brother was too ruined for family life. They’d be alone together until the end.
Now, Armor’s settled down. Goose has got to wonder if she’s capable of doing the same. That’s why she can’t just date Coco. I probably don’t help her thinking by racing toward the finish line with Austen.
“I haven’t seen Yagger since that first day,” I state rather than stick to talking about Goose’s love life. “I don’t know what to expect.”
Smokey replies, “Tomcat said Yagger’s more alert now but still heavily sedated. His intestines got all fucked up. Nicked several ribs. He’ll need a long time to recover, so just expect him to barely react to you.”
