Page 25 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

Rather than sitting around the inn on the off chance I’d see Juniper, her brother, or her mother, I went for a drive. I’d just pulled up to a restaurant on the banks of Lake Erie when my cell rang with a call from Pete.

“How’d it go with Hoss?” he asked.

“He told me to show up on Wednesday.”

“Gotcha. I’ve been thinking about something I want to run by you.”

“Shoot.”

“Does the name Rooker mean anything to do?”

The air left my lungs. “It does.”

“How?”

“It’s my mother’s maiden name.”

“Where are you now?” he asked.

I looked up at the sign. “Hoak’s.”

“Give me twenty minutes, and I’ll meet you there.”

After walking inside, I sat at a table by the window and ordered a beer. I had a feeling I was going to need it. I’d hold off on the shots, though, since I’d eventually have to drive back to East Aurora.

While I waited, I thought about Juniper, wishing she was with me today. That was hardly fair, though, considering she’d already spent a day with me. I wondered if she’d been to this place and sat where I was, looking out at the frigid lake. Since she’d lived close by all her life, chances were good she had.

“Can I bring you something to eat?” thewaitress asked.

“I’ll have a salad with grilled chicken, please.” I closed the menu and handed it to her.

“You aren’t from around here, are you?”

“No, ma’am,” I responded.

“We don’t get too many cowboys in here. At least not real ones.”

I chuckled as she walked away.

“Hey, Pete,” I heard her say a few minutes later. “You in for lunch?”

“Meeting someone.”

She motioned with her head. “That him?”

“Sure is. Thanks, Lori. Bring me whatever he’s having to drink.”

When he walked over and sat across from me, I noticed he was wearing street clothes.

“Funny place for you to pick for lunch in the dead of winter,” Pete commented.

“Went exploring.”

“Right.” He looked at the waitress when she delivered his beer, then over at me. “Did you order?”

I nodded.

“Order of wings, please,” he said, looking up at her.

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