Page 14 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

Nearly choking on his mother’s use of the word package, he said, “I assure you, my package has changed quite a bit since the last time you changed my diaper.”

“You don’t have to be crude, you know.”

He twirled his finger at her, and she turned her back on him. He was just pulling his boxers over his hips when she repeated, “Now, why weren’t you in church?”

“I wasn’t in church, Mother, because I overslept.”

“That is fairly obvious, Albert. What I want to know is why you overslept. Jake and Miranda were in church this morning. I thought you went over to visit them last night.”

God knew he loved his mother, but she still treated him like a twelve-year-old.

Finally, he finished buttoning his jeans. “All right, I’m clothed.”

She spun around and, as if to highlight her irritation with him, started tapping her foot. “You were explaining why your friends were in church, and you look like you just did five eight-second rides with the meanest bull in Texas.”

“Not that it is any of your business, but Rand fell asleep early, and Jake was tired. So, I left their place and went out.”

“And got into some trouble from the looks of that jaw.” As if to get a better look, she grasped his face and turned it toward her.

Red winced as she squeezed the tender flesh, and grabbed her wrist gently. “Ow, let go.”

“I just want to look at it. When are you going to outgrow all this hell-raising and fighting?”

He finally got away from her motherly ministrations. “I didn’t start it. Couple of cowboys were hassling the new owner of the Watering Hole, and I stepped in.”

His mother’s eyes gleamed with a terrifying light. “Oh, really? That was nice of you to take the part of a stranger. I heard the new owner was a woman. What’s her name?”

He hesitated, not liking his mother’s sweet tone. “Her name is Jessie.”

“Well, I’ll have to stop by and welcome her to town. Maybe invite her for dinner. Where does she live?”

It was a trick question. If he told her Jessie lived in the hotel, it could go a couple of different ways, and neither of them were good.

“She’s staying at the Loco Inn. And before you say anything, I offered her a ride home after the fight, and that’s all that happened.”

“I didn’t say anything. You’re a grown man, and you can do whatever you want.”

Red snorted. “Really? Then why are you in my trailer giving me hell for missing church?” Red watched his mother’s eyes narrow with irritation.

“You may be too big to turn over my knee, but you might want to remember who washes your dirty drawers before you get flip with me.”

“You haven’t washed my drawers for quite some time.”

“But I do make your favorite biscuits, and if you ever want to eat at my table again, you better show me some respect.”

Dammit, she was right. No one made buttermilk biscuits like his mama. Walking past his mother, he dumped out the coffee from the night before and started to make a fresh pot. “I am sorry, Mother. You want some coffee?”

“No, I need to go make lunch for your father.” Heaving a heavy sigh behind him, she added, “I worry about you, Albert.”

He turned and leaned against the counter. “I promise I’ll be back at church next Sunday, ready and willing to have the fear of God shoved down my throat.”

She whacked him on his arm. “One of these days, you’re going to learn to watch your mouth.”

He grinned impudently. “Probably not today.”

Red thought he heard her snort as she headed for the front door. Before she left, she gave him a wide grin. “If you run into your Jessie, you should invite her over for dinner.”

“She’s not my—” But his mom was already out the door.

---