Page 4 of Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas 2)

“So, what do you think?”

Jake raised an eyebrow at his best friend. “Bout what?”

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Red huffed. “About marrying Rand.”

The statement was so ludicrous, Jake started choking. When he could breathe again, he wheezed, “The hell?”

Red shrugged. “I’m thinking about it. The Double C is a nice spread and it beats working at the garage.”

Jake blinked at his best friend. Red worked at the only mechanics garage in town and was a bit of stagnant guy. He didn’t seem to have any other goals besides making it through the week. He definitely hadn’t ever been interested in ranching or cattle that Jake knew of before ten seconds ago. “You want to run a cattle ranch?”

“There are worse things.”

“You’d have to marry Rand!” Jake hadn’t meant to sound so appalled, but Rand was…well, Rand. He loved her, God knew he did, but like a sister. A bratty irritating sister.

He tried to picture his best friends married, and the thought made him smirk. Red was a good guy, but growing up with four sisters, he had little patience for “nattering.” Rand wouldn’t natter, but she sure as hell wouldn’t wash his dirty drawers either.

“Rand’s cute in her own way. And we’ve been friends forever, so it’s not like I’d have to be on my best behavior,” Red said, the casualness grating on Jake. Marriage was serious business, not something you just jumped into because the other person was used to your habits.

“I’d give it a day before you two were brawling it out.” Jake watched Rand smile at something Bubba said at the bar. He had to admit, if she put the effort in, she’d be a looker, but Rand would have razzed anyone who had suggested make-up and a dress.

“Come on,” Red broke into his musings, waving his hand toward her, “you’ve never thought about what she might look like naked?”

“I’ve seen her naked. Remember truth or dare and her granddaddy’s pond?” Jake said it trying to be funny.

“We were fourteen and she was twelve. She didn’t even have boobs yet.” Red protested.

“No, I have never thought of Rand like that. Ever.” Jake saw her heading back with their beers and added, “And if you suggest marriage to Rand, I guarantee a black eye or a busted nose.”

Rand set the beers down and asked, “What are you yahoos talking about?”

“Your future husband.” Red said, reaching for the bottle. “You know, if you need help learning how to be a girl, I could talk to my sisters.”

Rand stared at Red in horror before remembering to scowl at him. She was a girl; she just didn’t get all giggly and swoony like some of the dingbats in town. Besides, the last thing she needed was all four Calhoun sisters invading her house to pinch, prod, and paint her. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. It’s only for a year right?”

That’s what Mr. Cranston, her granddaddy’s lawyer, had told her anyway, although he would prefer it be a true marriage. Impossible. People didn’t fall in love in three months outside of romance novels and romantic comedies. Or if they did, it was fleeting. Getting to know someone took time, and time was something that was just not a luxury she had.

Unless…no, even if they offered, she couldn’t accept it. If she married either Jake or Red for convenience sake, who would she go to complain to when her temporary husband pissed her off?

She tried to think of a few likely candidates, but in a town like Loco, Texas, pickings were slim. A small town of about 1,200, at least seventy-five percent of those were men, but of those only a handful of acceptable prospects came to mind. Doctor Jay Patterson was one of the best choices. The young Veterinarian was new to town, he seemed like a nice guy, and she’d never seen him scratch or spit.

Leaning back in her chair, she smiled to herself. As far as candidates went, it wasn’t a bad start.

The next day, Jake stood on Rand’s porch with a paper sack of beer, a pizza, and a couple of movies he picked up at Movie Madness Video. It was a long standing tradition for Jake, Rand, and Red to have genre movie marathons on Saturday nights unless one of them had a date. Well, unless Jake and Red had a date. He couldn’t remember Rand ever going out with anyone.

He opened the door, not bothering to knock and yelled, “Hey Rand, I’ve got the goods.”

“I’ll be out in a bit! Is Red with you?”

He set the sack and pizza down on the counter of the kitchen and Rand’s cat meowed at him. He ignored the pest and looked around the house, noting the old crown molding was still there, despite the improvements Rand had been making. He’d always admired this house, having grown up with just his mom and brother in an old double wide. It wasn’t much, but it was home.

“Nope, said he had something to do tonight.” He called as he cracked open a beer.

“Lame.” She came around the corner in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, her long brown hair woven into a simple braid. Reaching into the bag, she pulled out a beer and asked, “What movies did you get?”

He held up the choices and she grinned. “Horror huh? I gotta tell you that is a relief because if you had brought me anything with romance in it, I think I’d lose my mind.”

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