Colt pulled away with a wince and patted Toby on the stomach. “Can’t call you scrawny, can we? Matter of fact, you’re getting downright plump. So you’re the sheriff now, huh? How’d a clown like you manage that one?”
“My stunning good looks and charming personality,” Toby answered with a shrug and a grin. “Becca told me you got in last night.”
“I figured I couldn’t be in town for fifteen minutes before some busybody alerted the law.”
“Becca’s not a busybody. Hell, I wish there were more people like her in this county. She just got into the habit of looking out for the place, that’s all. She kept an eye on your dad, before…before—”
“Before he died,” Colt said flatly.
“Yeah,” Toby said quietly with a nod. “She brought him groceries, made sure his electricity didn’t get cut off, made sure he didn’t burn the house down.”
“Or drink himself to death,” Colt muttered. “Doff needed someone to look after him. He sure didn’t do it for himself— How about something to drink? It’s hot out here.”
The men crossed the cracked linoleum floor into the kitchen. Colt looked around. “I forgot, all Doff had on hand was coffee. And Wild Turkey.” He held up the coffeepot and cocked an eyebrow.
Toby nodded and picked up a cup from the counter. He eyed it, then turned on the faucet and rinsed the inside. “Times like these, I’m glad I’m not a bachelor anymore.” He held the cup out, and Colt poured. “That was Becca who was just leaving, right? She’s changed a lot, huh? She’s gorgeous now.”
“She was always pretty.”
“How could you tell? She always wore those thick glasses, always had her head ducked down so you couldn’t even see her face. But the past few years…she’s changed a lot. Come out of her shell, I guess.” He shook his head. “If I weren’t such a happily married man…”
“Bull,” Colt scoffed. “You never had eyes for anyone except Corinne, since we were seven years old. I heard you two finally got married. Congratulations.”
Toby grinned. “Thanks. Took us ten years, but we finally did it. How about you? I know you’re still riding the bulls, but did you ever find anyone who would settle for you, anyway?”
Colt ducked his head and decided to change the subject. “Nah,” he said simply. “What about Luke? He still hanging around?”
“Hell, he’s my deputy now.”
“You’re kidding.” Colt laughed. “You and Luke Tanner in charge of the law and order around here? I guess he’s probably settled down, too.”
“Nah, he’s still hounddogging all the ladies. Teases me about getting old and fat, too. Man, it’s good to see you, Hoss.”
Colt took a step back and frowned. “You’re not going to hug me again, are you?”
“I’m not that glad to see you. I’m real proud of you, man. One more win and you take Doff’s record. The whole town’s kept up with your career, you know, watching the bull riding competitions on television. But it’s not the same as having you here. I’m sorry it had to be under these circumstances.” He nodded vaguely at the filthy, broken-down house around them.
“Yeah” was all Colt said. “I got the message. I just, uh, I just couldn’t really turn loose of my schedule right then. You want some more coffee?”
“Hell, no, not this sludge. So,” Toby said, slapping his hands together and rubbing his palms, “how long are you staying?”
Colt shrugged. “A few weeks. I plan on selling the place, so I have a few things to fix before I can put it on the market.” He looked around the kitchen, at the torn linoleum, the cabinet door hanging on one hinge, the bare lightbulb sagging from the stained ceiling. “A few weeks. Maybe a month.”
“Great. The longer it takes, the longer you’ll be around. Right now, I have to get back to the station. Corinne made a coffee cake this morning, and Tanner is liable to eat the whole thing before I get back.”
“Yeah, if you don’t have your afternoon snack, you might dry up and blow away.” Colt eyed Toby’s belly as he walked by.
“Say what you like. Corinne thinks I’m sexy. And she’s a hell of a lot prettier than you are.”
“And more diplomatic. Tell her I said hi.” He followed Toby back to the Jeep.
“Tell her yourself. Come by the house and have dinner with us.”
“Sure,” Colt said, looking down the road.
“If I have to hog-tie you to get you there, I will,” Toby promised, pulling on his hat.
“I’ll be there. Just give me a few days to get things going around here.”
“Tanner and I are already planning our first poker game.”
Colt grinned. “Good. I can pick up a few extra bucks.”
“We don’t play for money anymore, being the responsible pillars of the community that we are now.”
“Corinne put a stop to it, huh?”
Toby shrugged. “She said it was ‘morally reprehensible’ of me to be engaging in illegal acts while I was the elected sheriff. Corruption of power and all that. So now we play for Tootsie Rolls.”
Colt laughed and shook his head. For the first time he was actually a little glad he was back in Aloma. Friendship…he’d forgotten what it tasted like. “Okay, whatever. I’ll still win.”
Toby opened the door to his Jeep and shrugged. “Probably. Of the three of us, you’re the only one with a poker face. Listen, go over and see Becca while you’re here, okay?”
“She already asked me over for dinner tonight. I told her no.”
“Then, change your mind.”
“Why?”
Toby turned the key. “No reason, except she looked after your old man and you owe her. She cared about Doff, even though he was an ass to her.”
“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to be around Doff for more than five minutes.”
“Becca likes to take care of people.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” Colt said, looking pointedly at Toby.
Toby grinned. “So let her take care of you a little. It’ll make her happy.”
“I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of socializing while I was here.”
“You never planned on socializing, Hoss. If you ever went to a party, it was because I dragged you. And I’ll do it again if I have to. Go have dinner with Becca.” He put the Jeep into reverse and tugged his hat low. “It’s your duty. A home-cooked meal with a pretty woman.
