“Me, too!”Benny said.“What do they have going, Jo?”
“Not a dad-blasted thing,” Fred said.He started out of the kitchen just as the doorbell rang.“I’ll get that.”
Jo walked to the sink and put her arm around Emmy Lou.“Em, I’m sorry.I didn’t even figure it out until this morning, and then—damn, I just opened my mouth and out it came.”
Emmy Lou squirted a large stream of dishwashing liquid in the sink and turned the faucet on full blast, creating mounds of foam.Then she began washing furiously.“If that man said anything to you I’m going to hang him by his… thumbs.”
“No!It was just the way he made a certain comment, and I asked if you two were sweethearts, and he got all red, like you’re doing now.Em, you and Fred are like parents to me.This feels perfect, the two of you in love.”
In her agitation Emmy Lou slopped water and soapsuds on the floor.“Who said anything about love?”
“It’s perfectly obvious, the way you two fight, that you’re in love.”
Quinn sipped his coffee and watched in fascination.For so many years he’d lived by himself in Manhattan.Sure, he had buddies, and twice he’d had a live-in girlfriend for a few months, but aside from occasional trips to Murray’s house, he hadn’t been in a family setting in a long time.That’s what this morning felt like, and he was loving the hell out of it.
Fred appeared in the kitchen doorway.“It’s that fool Doobie and his scrawny wife, Eloise.I parked them in the living room.I imagine they want to get a look at Brian Hastings.”
Quinn tensed.Last night’s performance with Dick had been a reflex action, and Dick hadn’t been inclined to be skeptical.Quinn remembered that Doobie was president of the local bank.In his experience, bankers were born skeptics.He glanced at Jo.
“It’s up to you,” she said.“You don’t have to see them.In fact, you don’t have to see anybody.You can be as reclusive as you want.”
“Yeah, but this is your banker.I’m supposed to offer him a part in the movie, remember?”
“You don’t have to.”Ever since they’d squirmed together in the mud this morning, she’d had a captivating shyness in her eyes whenever she looked at him.
Quinn smiled at her.Hell, didn’t she know he’d do just about anything for her?Only a guy who was wrapped around a woman’s little finger would voluntarily suggest that he move to the bunkhouse after she’d announced that they shouldn’t become sexually involved.
“I’m sure we can find a part for him somewhere,” he said.He’d never wished that he could be Brian Hastings, but at the moment he almost wanted to be, just so he’d have the power to shoot a movie here and help her cause.He set down his mug and pushed back his chair.“Come and introduce me.”He stood up, and the ice pack dropped to the floor.
Jo blushed as she glanced at the ice pack and at his crotch.“Um, are you better?”
Quinn leaned down and picked up the ice pack.“Good as new.”
“I’m glad.I mean, that’s good.I mean…”
Fred coughed.“Maybe you should drop that particular topic, Jo.”
“Good idea.”Jo swallowed.“Come on, Quinn.Let’s go meet my banker.”
“I’ll come in with some coffee and arsenic in a little bit.”Emmy Lou continued washing dishes without turning.
Fred snorted with laughter.Then he snuck a look at Emmy Lou and glanced quickly away again.“Benny, you and me got stuff to do.Let’s get a move on.”
Emmy Lou kept her back to Fred while she washed and rinsed dishes with a vengeance.“I was hoping you men would clear out of my kitchen and let me get my pot roast in the oven,” she said.“Can’t accomplish a dad-blasted thing when you’re underfoot.”
Jo winked at Quinn.
He winked back and followed her out of the kitchen.“How long do you think it’s been going on?”he said in a low voice.
“Probably years.I was just too wrapped up in my own problems to notice, but when Fred started talking this morning I got this flash, and all sorts of things began to click in my brain.”She walked into the living room, where a skinny man and his wife sat on a worn leather sofa.“Mr.and Mrs.Doobie!May I introduce you to Brian Hastings?”
Doobie popped up from the sofa and came forward, hand outstretched, but Mrs.Doobie looked as if she might pass out.Her mouth opened and closed several times, but she made no sound.
“Mr.Hastings,” Doobie said in an unfortunately high voice.The few strands of long hair he’d combed over his bald head quivered as he pumped Quinn’s hand vigorously.“This is quite an honor.”
Definitely not a speaking part.“I feel lucky to be here,” he said.“This is the perfect location to filmThe Brunette Wore Spurs.”Yeah, that was a good title.Amazing what he could come up with on short notice.
Jo stared at him in astonishment.“That’s a working title, right?”She gave him a slight nudge with her foot.
