“Oh. Did you expect that?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Barry was supposed to be here for the rest of the summer, at least. But Randy’s been here forever. I’m not sad about it. It does put a dent in the schedule though. A big one since he’s one of the more experienced.”
We reach our table. “You had no notice?”
“None. Both just told Dallas and me two days ago.”
“Any idea where they’re going?” Wesley asks.
Wilder doesn’t answer; his jaw ticks with something I recognize.
“They wouldn’t go work for the Callahans, would they?” Silas asks.
Wilder keeps his eyes on the crowd. “Only reason I showed up tonight. To find out.”
“So, why you two so late?” Silas asks, changing the subject. There’s a smirk on his lips that’s a little too suggestive.
He’s not wrong though. Wilder and I did get a little delayed tonight. We had dinner together at my place. Thendessert.?.?. and had a little trouble getting dressed after.
“I couldn’t figure out what to wear,” I say. That, and Wilder kept tossing aside anything I tried to put on.
Wes shakes his head. “I apologize for my sister. I don’t know how someone can bring one suitcase of clothes and not figure out what to wear.”
Wilder shakes his head, eyes glinting with amusement. “No, no, it’s my fault.”
I glare up at him.
“I was clearly picking her up too early.” He winks.
Silas conceals a chuckle and shakes his head at us. “If you say so.” His attention moves behind us. “What are we drinking?” he calls, just as Nelson and Jeff return with a few drinks, Dallas behind them, stuffing his wallet away.
“This a celebration?” I ask.
“It is for me,” Wilder mutters. “Good riddance.”
“You sure ’bout that?” Silas asks. “Where you going to find two more with their experience in the middle of summer?”
“We’ll be fine.”
For the second time since we got here, I catch Wesley searching the place again. And I can’t tell if he’s paranoid .?.?. or hopeful.
“They’re not here,” Wilder says, also catching Wes’s wandering eyes.
“The Callahans are definitely behind this,” Wesley insists. “Something fishy about them just up and leaving. You’re not curious where they’re going?”
“Not a question I typically ask people who’ve been a thorn in my side for years,” Wilder grumbles. “We’ll be all right,” he repeats, and I don’t believe him. I’m not sure anyone else does either.
Dallas seems to be keeping it together better than Wilder. But there’s no mistake—he’s pissed about something too. His steely expression doesn’t give much away, but I’m picking up an unsettling energy.
“Can I have your attention, please?” A voice cuts through the noise. I remember that voice, and it gives me chills.RickyCallahan.
“Y’all be sure to stop at Callahan’s bar Sunday night as we welcome a couple new members to our ranch. Randy Riles and Barry Duke.”
I look up at Wilder, who’s stiff next to me. “You know about this?” he asks Dallas.
“Had a guess.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
