Page 7 of The Cowboy and the Bombshell
“Silas Harrison, you put me down right this minute! The eggs will burn.”
“Miss Ellie, your cooking is so good, I’d eat them even if they were burnt.”
I scoffed. “Kiss ass.”
“Stone! You mind your language in my house, now,” my mom admonished, turning a scowl my way.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek.
“You boys wash up, I have enough for you both.”
Silas and I moved to the sink, then took our places at the table, already spread with toast and bacon, pancakes and an assortment of homemade jams and preserves. We began to load up our plates, filling them to the brim as we always had. Mom brought the skillet from the stove and placed a couple fried eggs on top of everything, then dished a small plate for herself before joining us at the table.
“Silas will be by to check on you in a few days, ma, before he files out to join me in Las Vegas.”
Silas was not only my best friend, he was also a security specialist and I hired him for all the properties I was responsible for.
After high school, when I went off to San Antonio for university, Silas had enlisted in the Army, then went on to join the Army Rangers. He didn’t talk a lot about his time as a Ranger, but I knew some shit went down that haunted him. He worked real hard at being the same guy I knew growing up, but I could see when he was in a dark place. His eyes weren’t the same, growing shadowed and distant when the memories were nipping at his heels, but he never let it keep him down for long.
“You know I don’t need to be babysat, boys,” my mom interjected.
“I know that, Ma, but it’s for my own peace of mind. Once Si comes out to Nevada, I’ll have one of the Berkshire boys come by a few times a week to look after McNally and ensure everything is running smoothly.”
“Stone, really, I will be okay.”
“I know you will, Ma. But I’m paying the boys to keep up things around here, so let them do their jobs, alright? You can even feed them, if it makes you feel better about it.”
She smiled at me, and knowing how much she loved to bake, I figured those Berkshire boys would be happy as pigs in mud to come here and load up their bellies.
Si and I finished our meals and helped with the dishes, then he said his goodbyes and headed back to his place. He had some things to look after for the Austin hotel before he could come to Las Vegas and oversee the completion of the casino project with me. He’d be a week, maybe two, before he could fly out.
I packed the last of my things into my suitcase and loaded up my truck. Mom sat quietly beside me as I drove to the airport, her hands in her lap, and I just knew she was working up to a speech. Eleanor Montgomery always gave great speeches.
“Now, Stone,” she started, and I tried to suppress my grin. “I want you to be patient with your father.” My hands tightened on the steering wheel. If there was one topic my mother and I did not agree on it was Harold Pennington. “He’s a good man, Stone, and you deserve to get to know him as such.”
“Mom, I-”
“No,” she said sternly, surprising me. My mother rarely raised her voice to me. She was always gentle and calm. “I want you to listen to me, just this once, Stone. You shut down conversation about your father every time I try to bring it up, but I’m gonna say my piece now, and you’ll hear me.” I could feel her eyes on my face as I drove, unable to make eye contact because my anger was boiling again. Rather than snap back at her, I simply nodded for her to continue. “What happened between Harold and me is just that; between Harold and me. I know you have always felt it was your job to defend me and my honor, and I appreciate that, but the choices your father and I made were our own. They have never affected how he felt about you as his son. He loves you, Stone. And if you’d let him, he’d like to show you that.”
Taking a deep breath, I considered her words. True, Harold Pennington had never done anything but try to be a good dad. Even being away in New York, he always remembered my birthday, always called to ask about school and football and girls. He came to Texas as often as he could, as often as his marriage and family and work would allow. He asked every summer if I wanted to visit him and my half-sisters in Manhattan and my stubborn ass would decline every time out of pure spite.
But he was getting older now, and maybe ma was right. If I wanted a chance to get to know him, I would have to decide quickly, before life and father time took the decision from me.
“I can’t promise you anything more than that I’ll try, Ma,” I conceded, finally glancing her way and seeing the watery shine in her eyes.
“Thank you, baby. That’s all I’m asking.” I reached over and took her hand, bringing it to my lips for a quick kiss.
We reached the Austin airport and I hugged her goodbye, promising to call when I got to Nevada. I also made her promise to call me when she got back to the ranch so that I knew she’d made it alright. Then I watched as she climbed behind the wheel of the truck and drove away, my chest strangely tight. I loved that woman more than words could say. I’d have to threaten the Berkshire boys again, make sure they did right by her while I was gone.
Six hours later, after a brief stopover in Dallas, I found myself stomping my way through the concourse of McCarran International Airport. I was hot and sweaty and my legs were achy from being stuffed into a too small seat. All I wanted to do was get to the house and have a shower. Harold was offering up use of his own home while I was in town, and I liked the idea of a quiet space rather than being smack dab in the middle of the action on the Strip.
I was hauling my suitcase and making for the exit when the sound of raised voices caught my attention. Over near the baggage claim inquiry desk, a woman was getting more and more agitated with the staff. She was wearing jeans and a dress shirt, her blonde hair in a bun, and steam practically coming out of her ears. As I passed by, she stepped backward and turned, running directly into my chest, exploding her hot coffee all over the both of us.
Shit. What a way to start this job. Now I was pissed. Again.
CHAPTER FOUR
Penelope
