“There’s worse things, luv. He’s a fine lad.”
“Yes, he is. But I know myself. If I left Square Glasses Press to move out here, there’s no comparable job for me. Eventually I’d become resentful.”
“Know somethin’ about that, I do. When my Fiona left for America, I was teachin’ school. Loved it. I quit ta care for little Kieran. By the time I could’ve gone back, everythin’ had changed and m’heart wasn’t in it. I held it against Fiona for years.”
“I’ll bet you were a great teacher.”
Her face lit up. “There were those that said so.” She motioned toward the kitchen. “Let’s get started. Ya can see for yerself. Got a spare apron, I do.”
Lani had never worn an apron in her life, but she put on the flowered one Granny offered her.
That competent lady had clearly taken charge of Rance’s kitchen. She moved around it with authority, assembling ingredients. “Rance thinks we’ll all be at a gatherin’ tonight. He said so before he left.”
“I think so, too. That’s why he wants to get copies made, so he can pass them out.”
“But yer plan’s banjaxed.” Taking two sticks of butter from the fridge, she laid them on the counter. “We hafta let these warm up. Eggs, too.”
“What’s banjaxed?”
She pulled out a carton of eggs and put six in a bowl. “Ya know, when everythin’ goes to shit.”
Lani snorted. “Then we’re banjaxed.”
Turning around, Granny gave her a bright-eyed glance. “Any ideas?”
“Not yet.”
“Then we’ll hafta come up with some, won’t we, now?”
“You and me?”
“Why not? I told him we would. That boy’s too busy and we’ve got all day.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
What a day. Rance drove home at a leisurely pace for a change, using the half-hour to decompress. The Buffalo had been wall-to-wall customers from the moment the doors opened. Most of them had wanted a table and ordered something to eat.
Not his family. They’d arrived intermittently throughout the afternoon just to order a drink at the bar. He hadn’t had much time to answer questions, but evidently they’d wanted a chance to study him like some recently discovered lifeform.
They weren’t surprised he’d written a book. They’d said as much. But his dogged determination and absolute secrecy while he’d labored over that project for months had blown their minds.
For years he’d been their court jester, patterning himself after Beau and then expanding on the concept. Everyone had thought they knew what made him tick. Clearly they hadn’t expected this — a disciplined solo effort that had produced something of value.
To be honest, he’d surprised himself. He hadn’t been convinced he could stick with a project for that long withoutfeedback. But the process had taken hold of him and become the most satisfying endeavor he’d ever known.
It had changed him, and clearly it had changed the way his family looked at him. The emotion shining in their eyes made his chest swell and his chin lift. At long last, they respected him.
And wow, were they itching to get their hands on his book. He’d made a deal with Lucky. In exchange for printing more copies, Lucky had taken the first one for himself.
The others were stacked on Thunder’s backseat for distribution tonight. Couples would have to share, with copies going to his siblings, plus Trent and Sara.
Buck and Marybeth would get a copy and so would Harry and Vanessa. The Wenches, except for Jess and his mom, would each get one. He had a replacement for the one Granny had tossed in the air. And since Lani had donated hers to the cause, she needed another one, too.
Had he forgotten anybody? He didn’t think so, but he could print out more if necessary. Lucky had handled the bulk of it, and with a glad heart, too. Once he’d gotten over the shock of not being in the know, he’d accepted the wisdom of Rance’s decisions regarding his first book.
The rush of support from his family had blunted his anger about his father’s arrival, a nice bonus. Like Andy had said, Irving Quick had nobody on his side. Rance had a small army.
Now if only he’d dreamed up some way he and Lani could sneak away and be together tonight, even if it was only for a few hours. He was excited about the party at Rowdy Roost but couldn’t find a plausible excuse for taking Lani home with him.
