I Love This Bar (27 page)

   
Now why in devil did I think of that song right now?
I should be listening to vows, not playing a song about
getting lucky. What is wrong with me?

   She tried. She really did but Jones's song about getting lucky kept running through her mind. Would she get lucky with Jarod? Or would she never hear from him again when he moved back to Oklahoma? Did she even want to hear from him or would a clean break be the best thing?

   She jumped like she'd stuck her finger in the light socket when the judge pronounced Jim Bob and Chigger man and wife. She watched Jim Bob wrap Chigger protectively up into his arms for the wedding kiss. She stepped back and waited to embrace Chigger until the Walkers and Jarod had their turn.

   "Be happy," Daisy said when she finally hugged Chigger.

   "I am happy. You could be too. Jarod has had your panties on fire for weeks. Do something about it before he's gone forever," she whispered.

   "Chigger!" Daisy exclaimed.

   Chigger giggled. "Truth is truth. Wrap it in chocolate or cow shit, it's still the truth."

   Jim Bob claimed her again with another kiss. "I can't believe it but she's really my wife."

   "You take care of her," Daisy said.

   "You got my word on that, but we got to get going if

we're going to make it to the airport on time," he said. "Everyone come on outside," Thelma Walker said. "Y'all wait right here for a couple of minutes and then come on out. There might not be many of us but we can give you a sendoff."

   They trooped out and down the courthouse steps, across the lawn to the curb where Jim Bob had parked his truck. Thelma handed each of them a handful of bird seed and a white balloon with JUST MARRIED written in pink letters and pink streamers.

   "Throw the seed and we'll let the balloons go soon as they are in the truck," she said.

   Jim Bob stopped on the steps and removed a blue garter from Chigger's leg. Billy Bob shouted from a few feet away to throw it toward him, but Chigger wrapped it around the stem of the bouquet.

   "That's not tradition," Billy Bob said. "And I need that thing or else Daisy ain't never goin' to marry me."

   "That garter won't make a bit of difference," Daisy said.

   Instead of throwing the bouquet she dropped it in Daisy's hands as she passed her and said, "You give that garter to the cowboy you want to have it. The bouquet is yours and you are next."

   Jim Bob picked Chigger up as if she were a piece of fine China and set her inside the cab of the truck and Daisy tried to shove the bouquet back at her through the window. Chigger just laughed and refused to take it.

   "Give it to me." Jarod picked it out of Daisy's hand. He unwrapped the garter and slipped it on his left arm and handed the roses back to Daisy.

   "But what if I wanted Joe Bob to have it?" she asked.

   He popped the elastic out with the forefinger on his right hand. "You want one of the remaining Walker triplets to have it, then take it off and give it to him."

   "Hell, Daisy, I don't want that thing. You can't play pool good enough to beat me. If Billy Bob wants it, give it to him," Joe Bob said.

   Billy Bob kicked at the dirt in mock embarrassment. "Ahhh, shucks, I don't need that thing to woo Miss Daisy. I can steal her heart with my good looks and pretty eyes. You go ahead and keep it, Jarod, so the playing field will be even."

   "Thank you both," Jarod beamed.

   "Y'all be careful now and call us the minute you get settled in," Thelma said.

   "Momma, them kids ain't going to be interested in talking to you when they get there. Y'all call us if you need anything. We'll see you in a few days," Harlin Walker said.

   Jim Bob honked the truck horn as he backed out of the parking lot. The crew on the courthouse steps waved at them until they turned the corner and disappeared.

   "That was nice." Thelma Walker wiped at her eyes.

   Joe Bob patted her shoulder. "Ah, Momma, don't cry. Me and Billy Bob will stay with you forever."

   Harlin grinned. "That's why she's cryin', son."

   "I want you two to be as happy as Jim Bob," Thelma said.

   Harlin slipped an arm around her waist. "Come on, honey. Let's go on home."

   The Walkers had driven to Palo Pinto in one truck so they left together. Daisy looked from the roses to the garter on Jarod's arm and back again. Cathy should have been there to catch the bouquet. Hell, Merle would have been a better candidate than Daisy. Was it bad luck for Chigger if Daisy wasn't the next bride? If it was then Chigger was in for a world of hurt because Daisy was most definitely not going to get married.

   "Go to dinner with me over in Mineral Wells?" Jarod asked.

   "Too early for dinner, isn't it?"

   "What time did you eat breakfast?" he asked.

   "Didn't. I was in a rush to get dressed and make it here on time."

   "Then it's not too early. By the time we get there it will be past eleven, anyway. Most of the restaurants start serving lunch at that time."

   "My car?"

   "Will be fine sitting right where it is. Might have some drool marks on it by the time I bring you back, but it should be all right. Or we can take your car and leave my truck."

   She dug around in her purse and found the keys and tossed them at him.

   "You are letting me drive your baby again?"

   "Don't put a scratch on her or you'll never sit in that seat again."

   "Yes, ma'am."

   They listened to country music from Palo Pinto to Mineral Wells. Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Sara Evans sang and Daisy felt the words sink into her being like she'd never known before. She'd grown up on country music, cut her teeth on Alabama, Marty Stuart, and Travis Tritt. Her grandmother listened to the likes of George Jones, Patsy Cline, Don Williams,

and Loretta Lynn.

   Daisy started to say something but Jarod's expression said that he was deep in thought and she didn't want to interrupt. What could he be thinking about anyway? Was all that about the garter just a show? Did he really wish she'd given the damn thing to Billy Bob?

   Jarod didn't hear the words to the songs. His mother had called the night before. According to Frankie, he didn't need to take up with a bartender even if she did own her own beer joint and was a vet tech.

   He'd reminded her that he was thirty-five years old and would take care of his own love life. She'd gone silent and hung up on him.

   Mitch had called five minutes later and told Jarod that being on the Double M had turned him into an opinionated old fool like Uncle Emmett. Jarod thanked him for the compliment and hung up on him.

   Ten minutes after that, Stephen's call had come in. "Hear you done pissed off the family powwow."

   "Guess I did but the feeling is mutual."

   "I can't believe that you argued with Momma."

   "No arguing. She stated her opinion. I gave her mine. It's her problem if they don't agree," Jarod had said.

   "Congratulations, Jarod."

   "For what?"

   "You think about it." Stephen had hung up.

   He slapped the steering wheel and Daisy jerked her head around. "You don't like this song, change the station. I don't care what we listen to. This remind you of something painful? You look like you've been suckin' on a lemon."

   "Song is fine. I was thinking about something else,

not the song."

"What?"

"Something Stephen said," he answered.

"Oh?"

   "He thinks I'm finally growing up because I stood up to my family."

   "I think he's crazy," Daisy said.

   "Why's that?"

   "Just because you were the last child doesn't make you a baby. What's the matter with your family? My granny had more faith in my judgment when I was nine. And
I wa
s givin' Momma advice when I was fifteen. I'm sure you've been working at something since you were big enough to do a job. They're all too damn possessive," she said.

   When he didn't say anything she continued, "Don't go all quiet and mad at me. Like Cathy said, we call 'em like we see 'em. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You are a big boy."

   More quietness.

   "Okay, then let's change the subject," she said.

   "Keep on talking. My ego is getting so big it won't fit in this car."

   "You are rotten," she huffed.

   "You just said I was smart," he protested.

   "Attitude has nothing to do with ability," she said.

   "What does that mean?"

   "That you can be a smart rotten…" She stopped short of a bad word.

   He waggled a finger at her. "Be careful."

   She playfully slapped it away. "Keep both hands on the wheel or I'm driving. Where are we going for lunch?"

   "You just changed the subject. You like Mexican?"

   "Yes, I changed the subject. But it don't make you any more smart or any less rotten. And I love Mexican food," she said.

   "This all right?" He pulled into the Chili's parking lot.

   She unbuckled the seat belt, opened the door, and threw her long legs out in one fluid motion. "Mushroom jack fajitas and since you are driving, a margarita."

   "Thought you were a Coors girl," he said. He wished he'd been fast enough to see the sight of those legs when they came out of the car.

   "Most of the time I am. One a night after work to cool off is my limit. I damn sure don't have time to go to those AA meetings," she teased.

   A hostess greeted them inside the restaurant from a small podium. "Two?" she asked.

   "That's right," Jarod said.

   She led them to a booth and laid two menus on the table. "Your waitress will be right with you. Y'all must've been to a wedding."

   The lady had spiked burgundy hair and a Tweety bird tattoo peeking out from between her breasts. If she'd fastened one more button it wouldn't have shown, but then where was the fun in that?

   Jarod touched the garter. "Yes, we were. Friends of ours got married this morning."

   "So you are the next groom, are you? You got a bride picked out?"

   "Never know," Jarod sidestepped the question. Of course he had a bride picked out, but she was as skittish as an unbroken pony and he had to go slowly. Slow when time was short wasn't an easy thing, either.

   "Who caught the bouquet?"

"I did," Daisy said.

   The hostess nodded. "Day late and a dollar short. That's me. Enjoy your meal."

   "Thank you," Daisy said.

   The waitress appeared before the hostess took two steps. "Appetizers or drinks while you think about what you want?"

   "Iced tea for me. A Grand Patron Margarita for the lady. Endless chips and salsa while we study the menu, please," Jarod said.

   "It'll be right out," she said. "So you caught the garter?"

   "More like I stole it," he said.

   "Does the magic work if you steal it?" she said.

   "Long as it's on my arm it's magic," Jarod said.

   "I'd think anything on you would be magic," the waitress said with a giggle before she carried their orders back to the kitchen.

   Daisy suddenly understood the real reason three women had given back their engagement rings. Dealing with women on a regular basis with Jarod for a boyfriend or a fiancé would certainly be taxing on the psyche. She'd have to remember that when she was pining for him after he went back to Oklahoma.

   "I want mushroom jack fajitas, beef and chicken mixed, with a side order of beans," she said to Jarod.

   The waitress set their drinks on paper coasters in front of them. "Y'all ready or do you want a few more minutes?"

   Jarod gave her Daisy's choice and then ordered a flame grilled rib-eye steak with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob for himself.

   Daisy took a sip of the margarita. It was almost as good as one of Cathy's. "Does everyone flirt with you? She checked your hand for a wedding ring."

   "I didn't notice. Did I tell you that you look lovely in that pink dress? Wear it on Sunday for the first part of our date."

   "Why? Where are we going?"

   "It's a surprise," he said.

   The waitress brought the appetizer and set it in the middle of the table. "Y'all enjoy."

   "I'm sure we will," Jarod said.

   Daisy dipped a chip into her bowl of salsa and popped it into her mouth.

   Jarod ate several chips loaded with salsa. "Ever been to Mexico and eaten the real Mexican food?"

   "No. I've been to Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and a trip when I was about nine to Cherokee, North Carolina."

   She ate more chips and had another gulp of the margarita. "Granny wanted to go to a family reunion so we drove. Momma was workin' and on number umpteen boyfriend so she couldn't get away. Granny drove that Ford Maverick, only it had no air conditioning. When I had it rebuilt, I had air put in it. It was in the middle of June so it wasn't too hot, at least not to a nine-year-old."

   "What was it like? The reunion?"

   "Lots of Indian folks. We ate in a park along the side of a river and I played with all the cousins in the water that day. The women sat around the tables and talked about who died and who had babies and who left the reservation. The men fished downstream from where we were splashing around. We stayed a few days. Slept at a different house every night then we came home." "No stomp dances?"