Page 34 of Redemption

I stood up and flung open the bedroom door and went out into the hall. “Leo!” I bellowed over the banister.

“Kat!” he called back, not missing a beat.

“You had anything to drink?”

“Not a drop, Katarina.”

“Good, can you take me to town?”

His face appeared at the bottom of the stairs, peering up at me, confused. Because I never wanted to go out. “To town?”

I nodded. “To The Lonely Bison?”

“You wanna godrinking?”

“Yes.”

“Well shit, I ain’t saying no to that!” he replied, gleefully.

“Me either!” Daisy shouted back.

“Or me!” Maddy added.

I heard a softer reply which I assumed was August.

“We can’t all go!” I spluttered, annoyed at my family for crashing my party time. “Someone needs to watch Tilly.”

“She’s at a friend’s house.”

I frowned as all four faces peered up at me. “Oh.”

“So, let’s party!” Daisy yelled and then the girls stampeded up the stairs. I assumed they were going to run off into their rooms to get ready, but they hustled me into mine instead and pushed me onto the bed and attacked me with straighteners and make-up and clothes. I hadn’t needed their help, but I was grateful nonetheless.

An hour later, Leo parked up outside the bar. The scent of our various perfumes hung heavy in the air and Daisy’s bony ass was digging into my thighs as she wiggled with excitement. There weren’t enough seats in the truck for all of us so we doubled up. She reached forward, pushing more bone into my soft thigh and unclicked the seatbelt around us both.

“We’re here, let’s tear this place up!” Daisy got out, tottering in her black heels with straps twisting up her calves, her little gold shimmery dress catching the moonlight. She looked stunning, especially with her redhair flying around like wild flames. I looked down at my strapless white top, denim short shorts and pink cowgirl boots. I looked casual in comparison but I didn’t want to get fancy, I just wanted something comfortable.

We entered the packed bar which stank of alcohol, perfume and sweat. The loud music blared and giggles abounded from the women crowded in the corner with the mechanical bull. The moment they spotted Leo their shrieks escalated.

“You better go and join your buckle bunnies over there,” Maddy said tartly, smoothing a hand down her white jumpsuit.

“Well they’re more fun to be around right now than you,” Leo teased but Maddy just pursed her lips. His smile waned slightly when he realized she wasn’t kidding. “I guess I’ll see you later alligator,” he said. Maddy turned towards the bar, refusing to play their game of one-upmanship and reply within a while crocodile.

He turned to me, and I just shrugged. “I don’t know what’s up with her.”

“Try and get her drunk and find out.” His brows dipped in. “She’s freezing me out at the moment. Anyway, I’m not drinking tonight so let me know when you’re all ready to head home.”

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Leo. Appreciate you.”

He smiled. “Anything for my girls. You have fun tonight, you hear?”

I nodded and turned back but everyone had disappeared except August who smiled up at me gently, looking demure in her green dress with long sleeves, the color doing amazing things for her fair complexion. I saw Daisy and Maddy had forced their way through the crowd to the bar and I followed behind them.

Maddy was still frowning and Daisy was glaringacross the bar. I followed her glare and saw Duke Raleigh was on the other side, drinking with some fancy ass buddies of his.

“Shots?” I shouted, hoping that would lighten the mood. We were here to have fun after all.

I flagged Max down and requested four shots of Fireball. The patrons close enough to hear my order booed me, which normally happened. If you didn’t order native Wyoming whiskey you got booed.

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