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Only Laredo remained, and Donovan’s attention shifted expectantly to him. But it was the searching probe of the man’s gaze, trying to size him up, that prompted Laredo to step forward without waiting for Chase.
“The name’s Laredo Smith. I work for the Calders.” He stuck out a hand, his smile all friendly and lazy.
Donovan briefly gripped his band. “From Texas, are you?”
“Nope. That’s just what they call me. But people always figure the same thing you did.” Laredo never lost his smile. “How about you? Where do you hail from?”
“You name it and I’ve probably been there, though I grew up in Wyoming.”
“Then you enlisted. Am I right?” Laredo grinned with certainty while maintaining a nosy, folksy air.
“Yes sir. U.S. Marine Corps, and proud of it,” Donovan stated. “What gave me away?”
Laredo could have named any number of things, from the buzz haircut to his ramrod-straight posture. “Those knife-sharp creases in your pants. We don’t see much of that around here except when one of our boys is home on leave.”
“Old habits are hard to break, I guess,” Donovan admitted without apology.
“So, how’d an ex-Marine end up in Blue Moon?” Laredo asked, and added quickly, “Don’t get me wrong, now. We’re glad to have you here. It’s just that we’re miles from anywhere.”
Donovan never blinked an eye at the question. “For me, that was a selling point. I liked the elbow room and lack of competition. Naturally, the price was right, too.”
“You sure have spruced the place up,” Laredo declared. “Even added a little excitement with the slot machines.”
As before, the new owner had an answer at the ready. “I don’t want people to have a reason to drive somewhere el
se.”
“Makes sense,” Laredo acknowledged.
Chase spoke up. “I see you took out the pool table. The boys are going to miss it.”
“It’s only temporary,” Donovan assured him. “I plan on turning that back-office area into a separate pool room.” The door opened and another couple walked in. Seeing the new arrivals, Donovan made a ninety-degree pivot. “Your table is right over here, Mr. Calder.”
With his square-shouldered shape leading the way, Jessy no longer had to contain her curiosity at Laredo’s strange behavior. She couldn’t recall a single time in the past when he had drawn attention to himself that way or been so chatty with someone he didn’t know. He had always kept in the background, content to watch and listen—until tonight.
“What was that all about?” She kept her voice low and slid him a puzzled look.
“He was trying to put a label on me, so I tried to make sure he tagged me with the wrong one.”
His reply raised more questions than it answered, but they had arrived at the table, and Jessy had to put her curiosity on hold while they took a seat. She was quick to use the brief confusion to make a visual reassessment of the new owner, trying to figure out why Laredo hadn’t taken the man at face value.
Donovan distributed the menus. “We don’t have a large selection, but you’ll find everything on the menu is good. If you have any questions, Mary Ann will be your server. Enjoy,” he said with an all-inclusive nod and moved away.
Chase opened the menu, then drew his head back with a frown. “Print’s awful small.” Reluctantly, he took out his glasses case and slipped on his magnifiers. “That’s better.”
“I don’t know why you’re even bothering to look. You know you’re going to order a steak,” Cat chided.
“I just wanted to see what he’s got. Might be something new,” Chase said defensively.
“One thing that’s new is his help,” Trey remarked. “Looks like most of them aren’t from around here.”
“Well, somebody needs to tell those girls at the bar that they need a few more clothes.”
Cat’s comment drew a throaty chuckle from Trey. “Somehow I don’t think that’s the idea, Aunt Cat.”
“What are you talking about?” Chase tipped his head down to peer over the top of his half-glasses. His attention instantly centered on a blonde in shorts and a low-cut knit top, balancing a tray laden with beer. “Looks like this place has come full circle.”
“What do you mean?” Sloan turned curious eyes to him.
