Benny came charging into the kitchen, his black Stetson in his hand.He shoved it at Quinn.“Here.”
“Benny, I couldn’t take this.It’s your best hat.”
“It looked good on you today.Well, until Hyper started running and it fell off.Wear it in New York.Go on.Take it.”
Quinn recognized the gift as a gesture of friendship that meant as much to Benny as it did to him.“Thank you.I’ll wear it with pride.”God, it would be tough leaving these people.He put on the hat and adjusted the brim while Benny beamed at him.Another couple of minutes and Quinn was afraid he’d be bawling.“Well, folks, I’d better get on the road.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Hastings said, pushing back his chair.
Uh-oh.Quinn wondered if Hastings was as laid-back as he’d seemed about the impersonation thing.Maybe he wanted Quinn to sign an affidavit promising never to repeat the stunt.Or maybe he was planning to press charges after all.“Okay.”
After a last round of goodbyes, handshakes and hugs from Emmy Lou, Quinn walked to his rental car with Hastings, his eyes moist.It took him a few seconds before he trusted himself to speak.“So, what’s on your mind?”he asked as they reached the car.
“The more appropriate question is, what’s on yours?”
Quinn stood by the driver’s side of the sedan and turned to Hastings.“What do you mean?”
“Are you really as stupid as you’re acting right now, or do you have some master plan you’re not telling anyone?”
Quinn stared at him.
Hastings sighed and shook his head.“So you’re stupid.So stupid you’re going to leave that woman, even though she loves you to pieces.”
“Jo?”
“No, Meg Ryan.”Hastings snorted.“Yes, Jo!Lord love a duck, but you’re dense.I was thinking of hiring you for a couple of financial deals I’m working on, but if this is how you are, forget it.Jo is crazy about you.Genuine crazy, not the starstruck stuff I get most of the time.She loves you deep down to the bone.A guy finds that maybe once in a lifetime, if he’s lucky, and you’re walking away from it.You’re an idiot, Monroe.”
“She wants a cowboy.She said so.”
“Oh, my God.So be a cowboy.”
“I’m no good at it.”
“Trust me, she won’t care.All you really need to pull it off is a Stetson and a smile.Benny just gave you the Stetson, and according to Jo, and I quote—” Hastings slipped into falsetto “—when he smiles, one of his eyeteeth is slightly crooked, which gives him a rakish air.”Hastings rolled his eyes.“That’s love talking, sport.L-U-V, love.She looks at you as if you’re the most expensive thing on the menu, something she’d give anything to have, but she’s afraid she doesn’t have the money to pay for.”
Quinn’s brain whirled as he wondered if he dared believe what Hastings was saying.“But if she really wants me?—”
“She’s scared to say, because of your big important job.Are you married to that hotshot position in New York, or could you see yourself moving to Montana?Montana’s not so far from California, and if you can convince me you have at least a few brain cells working, I could probably scare you up some Hollywood clients.They’re flaky, but they’re rich.But then, you’re flaky.It should work out.”
“I’m not flaky.”
“Oh, sure.I’ve heard enough to think otherwise.You hop on a plane to bring the lady horse sperm, and then you parade around here pretending to be a big star when you’re clueless about the film industry, and then you climb on some spoiled-rotten horse and go tearing around a rodeo arena in front of the good people of Ugly Bug when you can’t even ride, let alone ride and carry a flag.I’m gonna hook you up with Steve Martin.You two are soul mates.”
“You’ve got me pegged wrong.”Maybe he used to be like that when he was growing up in the Bronx with Murray, but he’d changed.
Hastings grinned at him.“Have it your way.I’ve spent years studying how character is revealed, and I know this cold.You’re a wild man.I’m not even going to ask what went on in that tree, but news flash, Quinn, baby—tight-assed guys don’t make love in trees.”
“I was just trying to stay away from snakes!”
“Are you kidding?Snakes can climb trees!”
Quinn could have lived without that factoid.“Okay, okay.What do you think I should do?”
“I have to tell you?Put away your car keys and go upstairs!”
“But everybody’s in the house.It’s an old house.I don’t want?—”
“I see your point.Okay.Especially considering your wild streak.Sid and I will take everybody for a moonlit limo ride.I can give you an hour, maybe an hour and a half.But if you can’t get your business done in under sixty minutes, you’re not the banker for me.”
