Page 15 of Cowboy Wolf's Secret Baby

“You guys seemed like you were having a good conversation. Whywere you talking to him?”

“Like you, he stopped by to compliment Taryn.”

“Do you know him?”

“No. Evenif I did, what difference would that make?” Beth asked, starting to get annoyed. Shefigured out what this conversation was about. Kellyhad come over to piss on her bush, so to speak, like the way that dogs pee on things to mark their territory.

“He’s bad news. You should stay away from him,” Kelly warned.

“Is that right?” Beth said, caustically.

“If you know what’s good for you.”

Kelly stuck her nose in the air and brushed her hair over her shoulders. Shegave Beth what she perceived to be her sweet smile and walked away, shaking her ass about as hard as it would shake.

Bethhad to resistthe sudden urge to trip her as she glided awaydoingthe princess wave to the fans.

Taryn was back. “You were talking to the rodeo queen.”

“I was. Youmade an impression on everyone.Shecame over to compliment you on your barrel racing. Shesaidthat youwere as good as she was when she was younger.”

“She really came over here just to talk about that?” Taryn asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Yeah. What else wouldshecome over to talk about?”

Taryn shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s watch The Conjuring.”

“We’ve watched that movie a hundred times,” Beth protested.

“It’s still scary,” Taryn said. “I still jump when the girl jumps off the top of the wardrobe.”

“As you wish,” Beth said.

“And popcorn. Maybe a soda, too.” Taryn grinned.

“Popcorn,yes. Soda,no. Heavenknows you don’t need the caffeine. Justthe sugar from Kool-Aid.”

“What do you think about inviting Aunt Savvie over?”

“Awesome,” Taryn said.

Savannah Winters, or Savvie as she was affectionately called by her friends and family, was Beth’s best friend.

“The Conjuring again?” Savvie asked when she got to the house and found out what they were watching.

“Yep,” Taryn said.

“How about the original Poltergeist?” Savvie said. “I don’t think you’ve seen that. I’lldo one of the online rental things.”

“I suppose, but I get caramel corn instead ofjustregular popcorn,” Taryn said.

“I brought kettle corn,” Savvie said, waving a bag.

“Deal.”

Beth laughed as they settled down to watch the cult classic horror flick.Tarynsat between her and Savvieand happilymunched popcorn and drank the black cherry-flavored Kool-Aid.

Her mind wasn’t on the movie,though. Shestared at the television screen blankly. Touchingher hand that Conner had shaken made her remember how he always sent bolts of electricity through her when they made love.

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