Luck Be a Lady - Cathie Linz [33]
“Tell me about the ghost and the treasure,” Megan said.
“See? It’s working already,” Chuck said. “Our first interested customer.”
“Your first strandedcustomer,” Logan said. He eyed them suspiciously. “Unless this has happened before?”
“Unless what has happened before?” Rowdy said. “That someone drove into town in a 1957 Chevy that needs work? Not lately, no.”
“Who do you know at the Butterfly Ranch?” Logan said abruptly.
Pepper blinked, then whispered, “Do you mean the brothel?”
Rowdy glared at Logan. “What kind of question is that to ask in front of a lady? Two ladies,” he amended. “I don’t know what they do in Chicago, but out here, we treat our women with more respect. I think you owe them both an apology.”
Logan didn’t back down. “And you owe me an explanation.”
“Of manners?”
“No, of how we ended up stuck here.”
Rowdy shrugged. “I can’t explain fate.”
“Was it fate?” Logan said. “Or was it sabotage?”
Now Rowdy was the one narrowing his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“It wouldn’t take much for a buddy of yours working as a bouncer at the ranch to tamper with the car so it would break down and force us to stop here. There was nothing wrong with the car until now. I can’t help be suspicious as to why we’d suddenly run into trouble right outside your town. Maybe that’s how you get people to stop here. Maybe you’re running a con.”
“Why would we want someone who visits brothels with his girlfriend to visit our fair town?” Rowdy folded his arms across his broad chest. “Doesn’t sound to me like you’re exactly a good example of an upright citizen.”
“I’m not his girlfriend,” Megan said.
“That’s all you’ve got to say?” Logan stared at her. “How about coming to my defense?”
“I just wanted to clarify the girlfriend thing first,” Megan explained. “We were only visiting the ranch to speak to the owner. We never actually entered the brothel part of the establishment. The owner knew my mom when they were both teenagers.”
“Does your mom run a brothel too?” Pepper asked.
Megan quickly shook her head. “No, she’s a mathematician.”
“I believe you still owe these two ladies an apology,” Rowdy reminded Logan.
“I’m sorry if I said anything to offend you,” Logan said stiffly before glaring at Rowdy. “It’s just frustrating when I can’t get a straight answer.”
Rowdy glared right back at him. “Are you accusing us of tossing cow paddies in your direction?”
“We’ve tried to be as truthful as we can,” Pepper said.
Logan immediately latched on that. “As truthful as you can?”
“Right. I don’t know when the phone service will be working again, so I can’t give you the answer you want.”
“I just want a straight answer.”
“She just gave you one.” Rowdy’s expression changed to that of genial host . . . or circus ringmaster. “Now, let’s get back to that burger. How do you want yours? Our credit card machine is out what with the phone lines being down, so you’ll have to pay in cash. We don’t take checks.” He pointed to the sign next to the cash register. It was right next to the one that read NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE.
“Things could be worse,” Pepper said. “The electricity could be out as well.” She turned to Rowdy and Chuck. “Remember that time a rattlesnake got into one of the transformers and the lights went out? In that case, we’d be eating fried rattlesnake by candlelight. And that’s not as romantic as it sounds.”
Megan didn’t think it sounded romantic at all.
“Rattlesnake isn’t on the menu tonight,” Rowdy said. “So just tell me how you want your burger, Logan.”
Logan sighed, apparently realizing this was one battle he wasn’t going to be winning for now. “Medium-rare.”
“How about you?” Rowdy asked Megan.
“Do you have any salad?” she said.
He looked at her as if she’d just asked him if he’d seen aliens. “Never mind,” she quickly said. “I’ll have my burger medium.”
She’d never eaten in a place where the cook and others stood around and watched every bite you took. “How is it?” Rowdy asked.
“No one makes better burgers,” Chuck said.
“Even Sinatra would love them. Dean Martin too,” Pepper added.
“Aren’t you guys