Throughout all of this, Red is quiet. I turn to him and tilt my head, catching him looking at the two of us. "You know what you two sound like, don't ya?"
"Quit it, old man," Toby mutters.
Now I'm the one looking between him and Red. "What am I missin'?"
"Dinner. That's what we're missin'. Let's go, Skippy." Before I can protest, Toby opens the front door and gently pushes me out, effectively ending whateverthatconversation was.
The drive into Spring Haven is quiet but comfortable. This time Toby lets me pick the music so it’s Bon Jovi filling the cab of the truck this time with my off-key but no-less enthusiastic singing doing the rest. Soon enough, Toby pulls his truck into a parking space across the street from the Loaded Hog Diner and cuts the engine.
"Just you wait,” he tells me after helping me out of the passenger side and leading me toward the dinner. “There ain't nothin' on Mag's menu that'll leave you disappointed. There's a reason we all come here for dinner before drinkin'."
"Well, I'd hope so. The signdoessay 'world famous hash'.”
"I promise you, it's so good you'll wanna get down on one knee and–" He stills, his wide eyes looking over my shoulder.
"Proposin' already, Tobes? Jeez, give the girl a chance to get the lay of the land and at least taste Mags's food first," Austin says, coming up next to me. "Hope his singin' wasn't too bad tonight."
"Thanks a lot,brother," Toby retorts, earning a chuckle from everyone as we gather on the sidewalk. “It’s notmysingin’ that’s the problem.”
“Hey! What happens on the roadstayson the road. Isn’t that the rule?” I say, arching a brow Toby’s way.
Austin rubs his hands together. “NowthisI wanna hear.”
"We goin' inside or we just standin' twiddlin' our thumbs while everyone else eats. It smells so good my stomach's rumblin' already," Landry says, leading Star toward the front door.
Austin looks around the group and shrugs. "Guess we're eatin.” Then we follow him, Red, Rhett, and Cora inside.
The comforting aroma of home-cooked food wafting through the air has me missing home. The place is buzzing with chatter and laughter, clinking silverware, and orders being called out from the front back to the kitchen. All of it makes the place feel like the quintessential American diner and it's just what the doctor–or ranch hand–ordered after a long hard working week that was everything I'd hoped it would be and then some.
We find a large empty booth in the far corner and all slide in, Toby sitting across from me. Then I have Star on one side and Cora on the other, with Landry sliding in last next to Star. It's a tight fit, but comfortably cozy nonetheless.
"Was this females this side, males that side scenario planned or just a natural separation of the sexes?" I ask, thinking out loud.
“Hey, hi,” Landry says with a grin, poking his head out from his spot next to Star. “Last time I checked I was one hundred percent cowboy andI’msittin’ over this side with y’all,” Landry says from beside Star.
We all snort and I wave down at him. “Sorry, Lan. You can be an honorary woman with us today if you’d like.”
Everyone laughs, Landry included. That’s when a middle-aged woman with a warm smile and knowing eyes appears next to our table. "Evenin' ranchers. How are we all tonight?" she says as she looks around the group, coming to a stop on me. "You, you're new. You must be Dee, am I right?"
"Yes, ma'am. Delilah, or Dee–"
"Or Skippy," Toby helpfully offers up. “But don’t call Mags ma’am. The last time we did, she threatened to ban us from the establishment and once you taste her cookin’, you’ll realize what a crime that would be.”
I snort and slide my eyes toward the woman in question. “I solemnly swearnotto call you ma’am.”
“Good. You’re a quick learner. I like it,” she replies with a hearty laugh. “You make sure you come back in here one day with Cora, Star and Lee when she’s back. We’ll have ourselves a good ol’ girly catch up.” She leans in close, dropping her voice to a stage whisper. “It’s a lot more fun without these men folk around, anyway.”
“Heard that,” Red rumbles, his eyes crinkling on the sides as he grins up at Mags. “I’ll remember that next time you invite me here to try your new creations.”
“Naw, don’t be like that. You know what I mean,” she replies.
“Mmm hmm,” he hums. “Gonna take our order so we can fill our bellies?”
She snorts. “Yeah yeah, bossy boots. Why’d you think I’m over here?”
While this is going on, I turn my head on Cora's way. "I might be seein’ things that aren’t there. But are Red and Mags togeth–”
“Shh,” she says with a snicker, shaking her head with it. “Star and I think there’s somethin’ there, but Rhett and Landry both said to keep it to ourselves and not try to play matchmaker.
