Page 24 of The Cowboy's Cabaret

“He may have told me not to invite her, but I think Daphne’s fun and she’s your best friend, so he can get over it.”

“Mom, where are the boys? They need to wash up. I’m sure they look like they’ve been rolling in shit.” The shout is followed by a woman carrying a laundry basket, her golden hair piled high on her head with glasses perched on her nose. “Why doesn’t anyone tell me when people are coming over? I’m over here hollering and we have guests.” She drops the laundry basketand reaches to shake my hand. “I’m Amber. Sorry for the chaos, we’re kind of a loud bunch.”

Wes introduces us. “Amber, this is Dahlia. She’s here with her friend Daphne, who’s around here somewhere. Dahlia’s working on a big paper for grad school and wanted to see if she could use the farm for research.”

Amber eyes me suspiciously. “Are you researching failing farms? Not really shit going on here.”

“Oh no. I study social work, like therapy. I wanted to see more about a farm space to write about outdoor therapy and Wes offered to show me around.” I already feel myself preparing to over-explain since everyone always has an opinion on mental health. Thankfully, Amber is already grabbing the laundry basket and moving on.

She must realize her abrupt end to the conversation when she turns back to say, “Nice to meet you, Dahlia.” Wes mentioned Amber’s husband a while back, but he’s noticeably absent today.

Daphne reappears with her two new best friends, who I’ve since learned are Liam and Emmett, born back to back at four and five years old.

We’re sitting at the kitchen table when a small, sturdy woman appears with a tray of meat. “I smoked this all day, so should be nice and tender. But if it’s not, keep it to yourself.” Her eyes light as she spots Daphne and I. “Girls, welcome to our home. I’m Lorraine. We’re glad to have you here.” She deposits the tray of well-smoked meat on the counter and rounds to hug Daphne and I. “Come, come. Grab the rolls and corn from the microwave and we’ll sit out back.”

The back porchis lit with warm string lights, casting a glow on the worn wooden table at the center of the deck. At the head of the table sits an older man, casting a massive smile at us. “Finally, I meet the mysterious Dahlia. Wes is quite the fan. And a friend! You must be, Daphne? Jasper has mentioned a demonic woman a few times, he didn’t mention such a pretty demon!”

“Stone,” Wes warns, but it lacks any real heat.

Stone’s chuckle is hearty, before reaching his hand out to shake Daphne’s. She must decide his teasing warrants a hug because she leans in and hugs him instead.

We sit around the table and I find myself across from Wes. He leans back to stretch and I’m no better than a man because the sight of his shirt revealing the trail of dark hair leading below his belt has me ready to risk it all.

We’re literally at dinner with his family and I might as well be in heat. I know when we go to bed later I’ll need to take care of the arousal dampening my panties. It seems my earlier concerns about bringing my vibrator were warranted, since I’m absolutely unhinged for Wes and indeed going to flick the bean later,acoustic style.

Conversation flows so easilythrough the meal, it’s a little eerie to me. Family meals growing up were lonely at best and drenched in alcoholic anger at worst. Seeing this display of togetherness is throwing me for a loop. I’m sureDaphne feels the same, considering dinners at her family home rivaled mine. I’m taking it all in and trying to be present, but I can’t help the tendril of anxiety I feel curling around my heart. It only intensifies when Lorraine asks why I study social work and I give my sanitized answer of I love to help people. And it’s true, I do love to help people. It’s definitely a lot deeper than simply loving to help, but that story isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

I’m not necessarily ashamed of my experience motivating me to pursue this career, but I know not everyone wants to have biscuits and trauma for dinner.

She directs her questioning to Daphne next, who shrugs noncommittally about working at Cunting Season and Purple Rage. I know her work aspirations are a sore subject for her, so I offer to grab the pie Lorraine made from the kitchen in an effort to divert the conversation.

Thankfully, it works because Lorraine launches into the story of how this pie made Stone fall in love with her. He looks at her all moon-eyed and I can definitely see it.

In the kitchen, I look in the pantry for extra napkins when I feel Wes come up behind me. He reaches to the top shelf and brings down the napkins I couldn’t see at my height.

“Thank you, giant.” I smile. “It’s nice here.”

“It is. Peaceful. I’m glad you like it.” He looks like he wants to say more as his gaze sweeps my face. Emmett or maybe it’s Liam—I can’t tell them apart when I can’t see the missing tooth—runs through the kitchen and stops at the pie.

“Why are you two hogging the pie? Let’s gooooooo.” Wes knocks a fist on the counter, before picking up the pie and napkins, heading back outside.

EIGHTEEN

folding like a lawn chair in the name of love

Wesley

It’sweird having Dahlia here, but I love it. We haven’t talked much about our families, but I know enough about Dahlia to know she doesn’t have much now, and her dad is a problem. She seemed comfortable enough at dinner, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to check in with her. We eat and Jasper skulks off to get the fire going and Aunt Lorraine turns her attention to Dahlia.

“So, Dahlia, Wes says you have ideas to run by us. The farm itself isn’t doing all too great, so it’d be nice to turn things around.” Stone nods his agreement. I try to mask my surprise when they know about the financial issues, but I suppose they’re not oblivious, even if Jasper is trying to keep it quiet. Dahlia looks to me and shifts nervously in her seat, her physical tells always giving her away before she even speaks.

“Well, there are a lot of grants out there to start new programs and one of my professors suggested an organization that’s helped fund programs similar to my idea in the past. Therewould still be a lot to figure out, but Wes offered to show me around. Between the bunch of us, maybe we can get something going? Plus, the research for a proposal like this would help my thesis a ton.”

It all sounds well and good in theory, the problem is going to be convincing Jasper. Even if he knows it’s a good idea, anything coming from Dahlia will be met with resistance. Speaking of the devil, Jasper appears below the deck to let everyone know the fire’s going.

As we sit around the growing fire, Aunt Lorraine passes out blankets, handing one to Dahlia and I and one to Daphne and Jasper, who sit side by side. Jasper shoves the blanket to Daphne and moves to leave, nearly knocking his plastic chair over, before Daphne grabs his hand and yanks him back down. Surprisingly, he yields and stays angrily seated beside her.

I spread the blanket around Dahlia’s shoulders and she lifts the right corner to motion me to share. Amber reappears alone, having put Liam and Emmett to sleep, ready to take off her mom hat for a while. I noticed fuckhead Dale wasn’t here and while I’m happy he’s gone, it leaves Amber alone like she always is.