When to Call a Cowboy by June Faver

Author:June Faver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2019-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Big Jim parked his truck and led the way into Tio’s Mexican Restaurant. Two of his sons followed behind. They were grim and silent.

Big Jim removed his Stetson and hung it on a peg beside the entry. Beau and Colton followed his example.

“Good to see you, Mr. Garrett.” Milita Rios, the owner’s daughter, greeted them with a smile. “You want a table or a booth?”

“A table would be best, Milita. We need a little shoulder room.” Big Jim trailed behind her to a round table and took a seat facing the entry. Beau and Colton took a chair on either side.

Milita laid a menu in front of each man and departed, only to return a few moments later with three glasses of ice water. She noted the untouched menus and raised an eyebrow. “I take it you gentlemen know what you want.”

Big Jim raked his fingers through his thick silver hair. “Sure do. Bring us three of the Monterrey Platters and some sweet tea.”

Beau wasn’t sure he had an appetite for that much food, but he hadn’t the appetite to argue about it either. He passed his unopened menu to Milita, who collected them all and retreated to the kitchen. She returned quickly with a bowl of salsa and a tray of warm corn tortilla chips.

Other diners wandered in and were seated. In a short time, Milita brought their tea. She set the tall glasses down on paper coasters and then leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s probably none of my business, but I’ve never, ever known three Garretts to be sitting around a table with glum faces and not talking to each other.” She gave each of them a searching look. “So, who’s going to tell me what’s going on? You know I’ll find out eventually.”

“Sit down,” Big Jim said, his voice gruff. When Milita slid into the chair across from him, he shook his head. “I’m not one to gossip, but you might be able to help.”

She leaned forward, gazing at him earnestly. “Of course, Mr. Garrett. I’ll help if I can.”

“You know the troubles at the feed store?”

She nodded. “I’ve heard about Mr. Moore getting killed and then some other guy who got shot there—and now Josh Miller is missing.” She glanced around. “People are saying he probably got killed too.”

A muscle near Big Jim’s mouth twitched, but he was silent.

Beau took a deep breath and jumped in. “We were at the store this morning, trying to help Pete, and we found three girls in the loft—three very young Hispanic girls who appear to speak no English.”

“In the shed behind the store?” Milita clasped her hands on the table. “You do know I speak fluent Spanish?”

Big Jim nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. Maybe you can help the sheriff out by having a chat with those young ladies.”

She looked around the restaurant. “Well, sure. After the lunch crowd is served, I can go over to the sheriff’s office. You can let him know.

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