Long, Hot Texas Summer by Brown Carolyn

Author:Brown, Carolyn [Brown, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2014-08-26T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

HEATHER AND MARIA WERE STANDING in the knee-deep water waving at her as she parked the old work truck beside one that didn’t look a lot better. If rust was integrity and dents were personality, both vehicles were better than a brand-new Silverado right off the show floor.

Loretta’s bare thighs made a sucking noise as they came unglued from the fake-leather seats. She picked up the cooler of beer from the truck bed and smiled all the way to the edge of the water. The three of them had been ornery in their youth and they’d shared everything with each other. She wished they’d all worked harder at staying in touch.

“What are you grinnin’ about?” Heather asked.

“Is that the same old truck you used to drive when you and Jackson were together?” Maria asked.

Loretta plopped down on the sandbar, pulled off her boots, and joined them in the knee-deep water. “I don’t know if Jackson kept the truck for sentimental reasons or if the damn thing just refuses to give up the ghost, but yes, it’s the same one. I was grinnin’ because comin’ here brings back a whole shitload of memories, Heather. I stuck to the seats just like I used to when the truck was new and Jackson and I were dating.”

“It’s Texas in June, darlin’. Even with air-conditioning, you’d probably stick to the seats,” Heather said. “I brought a quilt.” She pointed toward the ancient, gnarly scrub oak tree. “Not much shade, but in this kind of heat it beats nothing. Is that beer?”

“Can’t have bologna sandwiches without beer,” Loretta said.

“Or cookies,” Maria laughed.

“Remember that night we got drunk right here and dipped chocolate cookies in our beer?” Heather waded through the water out onto the sand and headed toward the quilt.

Loretta followed her. “What I remember most is that beer spilled all over me and I just knew Mama would catch me sneaking in after hours smelling like beer.”

“I did a hell of a lot more stupid things than that up under that old oak tree, darlin’.” Maria blushed.

Loretta laughed. “If that tree could talk, we’d all be in a shitload of trouble.” She sat down on the quilt and opened the cooler. “Looks like I should’ve brought two six-packs with all the catchin’ up we’ve got to do.”

“Oh, honey, that’ll take more than one visit and cases, not six-packs.” Heather reached into the cooler and brought out an icy cold can of Coors. She popped the ring top off and handed it to Loretta, then did the same thing for Maria before opening her own.

“To us.” Maria held up her can.

The other two clinked their cans against hers.

Loretta nodded at Maria. “You go first. I know you’ve got a son. What’s happened since we talked last time? Did you move back to this area with your family?”

“Caught the husband cheating about a year ago and divorced him. Our son decided to live with his father. He hates anything that gets his hands dirty like farming and Claude, Texas, bores him to tears.

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