Snow in Texas

Chapter Nine: Colin

Nine

Colin

He was bored. The first hour, as Gabe's was just opening up and the staff was in the morning scurry to take the chairs down and set out fresh rolled sets of silverware, he'd been delighted to watch Jenny hurry back and forth, heels of her boots clicking sharply across the boards. Her boots were white today, with large red roses on the uppers and toes.

How many pairs of boots did she have, he wondered. And what did they cost?

He asked Fox about the price and he shrugged. "You can get a pair at Walmart. But what Jen's got? Between two and five-hundred."

"For just one pair of boots." He'd whistled, decided her a brat, and slouched down in his chair.

The breakfast crowd had been entertaining up to a point. But now it was almost lunch and the boredom was setting in.

Finally deciding he had to ask even if he'd be denied an answer, Colin said, "So why are we here?"

Fox shrugged and sipped his sweet tea. "Because Candy asked us to be here."

"Okay, maybe you were asked, but I was ordered. And it'd be cool to know what or who I'm supposed to be looking out for."

The look Fox sent him was faintly patronizing.

"What? I'm just saying."

Fox shook his head and turned away. "Watch Jenny. If someone tries to jump her, I'd say it's a safe bet you ought to respond."

"You're just helpful as shit, aren't you?"

"Careful, prospect."

Fuck me.

The door opened again, then again, light beaming across the floor in strobe fashion as one after the next after the next lunchtime regular began to filter in. A sudden strong smell of sautéed onions announced the official changing of the menu.

Boot heels clipped toward them and Jenny arrived with a pitcher of tea to refill them, and heaping hot plates of potatoes with gravy, chicken fried steak, and wilted greens.

"Here boys, before it gets too late," she explained, setting down their food and topping off their drinks.

"Thanks, love," Fox said.

Colin said, "I've been wondering something."

She lifted her brows.

"How much do those boots cost?"

She made an exasperated sound and turned away.

"Hey, I'm just curious. I wanna know how expensive you are." He laughed when she tossed her hair in a clearly dismissive gesture.

"Idiot," Fox said.

The restaurant filled up with bodies and voices, and they attacked their lunches silently. Fox only ate half his potatoes, slid the plate over, and Colin scooped them onto his own plate.

As he shoveled in food, he glanced regularly up at Jenny, working the counter with her bright smile pinned in place. She seemed easy and relaxed with the customers, not tense the way she was with him. Still, he detected a scrap of something raw beneath her surface, an odd light in her eyes that shouldn't have been there.

He guessed needing a security detail would do that to a person.

Between one bite of steak and the next, something changed. Colin stiffened, fork hovering in the air, as he registered the scene across the room.