Cash (6 page)

“And
would that be soon?” asked Betty.

Katy
hadn’t thought that far ahead.
A husband who wasn’t sure when
he was ready to get undressed and have sex with her.
There had to be
women out there married to guys like that. Could she in all honesty be one of
them too?

“Ignore
them,” said Jennifer.

Jennifer
turned sideways to add some dressing to the salad and her bump was now quite
distinct through her dress. She’d guess that Jennifer was going to be huge by
end of her pregnancy. No Nolan-Delaney boy had weighed less than nine and a
half pounds at birth.

“We
are almost done so how about you and Betty start to take the food into the
dining room,” said her mom.

Katy
took the bowl of mashed potatoes and the platter with the bread while Jennifer
carried in the salad and green beans.

Her
father and Connor were sitting watching TV.

“Hi
there honey bunny,” said her father. He got up and walked over to her, kissed
on the cheek and then hugged her.

“You
feeling okay?” she asked.

“Never
better and I even think my hair’s starting to grow back,” he said, lifting his
cowboy hat. Yeah her dad had some stubble going on there.

“So
maybe you can sit at the table without something on your head,” said her mom,
bringing in the meatloaf.

Connor
hugged Katy. “You all ready for tomorrow?” she asked him.

“Oh yeah.”

“Okay
everyone let’s sit down and enjoy our meal before the chaos of tomorrow is upon
us,” said her mom.

Katy
sat next to Betty and couldn’t help but reach across and take a slice of bacon.
She winked at Connor who sat opposite her.

“Everyone
dive in and enjoy the meal,” said Betty.

“Did
you know your aunt has a gentleman friend?” asked her mom.

“No,
I didn’t,” said Katy, taking the bowl of mashed potatoes from her dad. “Tell me
all about him.”

“He’s
a widower, very handsome and eight years younger than me,” said Betty.

Connor
whistled. “Aunt Betty is a cougar.”

“Wait
till she tells you his name,” said her dad.

“It’s
Branndon
Mckinney
,” said
Betty.

“You
mean father of
Branndon
Mckinney
Jr. who’s the rodeo rider?” asked Katy.

“The
one and only,” said Betty.

“And
like his son does
Branndon
do it in eight seconds?”
asked Connor.

Jennifer
slapped his arm. “That’s a bull rider.”

“Both
of them ride bulls too,” said Betty. “And no,
Branndon
Sr. likes to take his loving slow and easy.”

“Aunt
Betty you are one naughty cougar,” said Connor.

“I
remember seeing both of them at that show in Livingston. You remember me taking
you, Connor?” asked her dad.

“Yeah,
I think that must have been when
Branndon
Jr. first
started on the circuit.”

“So
is it serious, Aunt Betty?” asked Katy.

“I
guess things are different when you’re our age but let’s just say I think we’re
both smitten,” said Betty.

“At
least you don’t have to worry about birth control,” said Connor. “I guess the
money you save on that you can spend on the Viagra.”

Jennifer
hit his arm again. “That’s so ageist.”

“And
honey bunny how’s your romance with Cash Doyle coming along?”

Suddenly
the focus was on her.
All five pairs of eyes looking her way.

“It’s
fine,” she said.

“Just
fine, oh honey, don’t you like him or what?” asked her mother. “I know
sometimes when you go away with a man for the first time you see them in a new
light and things change.”

Oh
yeah, things had changed all right.

“I
like him a lot and everything’s going as it should be.”

Katy
felt tears welling up her eyes. She tried to fight them back.
The food on her plate suddenly looking unappetizing.

“Something’s
wrong I know it,” said her mom.

The
lady had a sixth sense.

“Now
sweetie, if something was wrong she would tell us,” said her dad.

“You
okay Katy?” asked Jennifer.

It
was at that point she realized she was crying and her sister-in-law had spotted
it.

“Did
that guy do something to you when you were in Vegas because if he did I’ll…
”

She
put her hand onto her father’s. She had to tell them something and it
definitely wasn’t going to be the bit about Cash’s reluctance to have sex. That
was his business.

“I
guess you should know.”

All
pairs of eyes on her again.

“Cash
served in the army and there was an explosion and he lost half his left leg and
was badly burned.”

“Oh
the poor dear boy,” said her mom.

“He
doesn’t mind me telling you but he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him.”

“That’s
understandable. I know how that goes,” said her dad.

“He
shouldn’t be worried about anything like that because the guy’s a fucking hero
fighting for his country,” said Connor.

“Connor
Nolan-Delaney, there are ladies present so watch your damn tongue.”

His
father burst out laughing after clearly realizing what he’d just said. “Connor
is right. Cash is a hero and should be treated as such,” he said.

“Oh
honey, that must have been a shock,” said her mom.

“It
was.
 
I mean I would never have guessed
because he walks so perfectly.”

“I’m
going to give him a job in my sheriff’s office,” said Connor.

“That’s
the spirit,” said Betty.

Cash
working with Connor. Cash was currently working with his uncle. This put her in
an awkward spot. She didn’t want him to think that Connor was offering it to
him out of pity.

“Maybe
I should check with him first,” said Katy.

“That’s
a smart idea,” said her dad. “You tell him from me he’s welcome in my house any
day and I’m proud that a war hero is dating my daughter.”

“Now
who wants dessert?” asked her mom standing.

“If
it’s the chocolate cake I saw sitting in the fridge, I certainly do,” said
Jennifer. “I’ve had a bad craving for something sweet all day.”

Connor
kissed her on the cheek and rubbed her bump.

“My
grandson moving around in there yet?” asked her dad.

“Oh
yeah, the last few days he’s been active,” said Jennifer.

Katy
stood. Not that she was in any way jealous of Connor and Jennifer or the fact
they were having a baby, but it suddenly made her realize that if Cash never
got over his
hangup
she’d never have one of her own.
Sure they could adopt but she’d always envisioned herself being pregnant. She
loved babies. Why did the perfect man always have to come with some type of
problem?

“I
think I’ll go help Mom with the cake,” she said.

****

Cash
pulled up in front of Connor’s campaign headquarters. He’d been foolish enough
to leave his car outside. It was early November and this was Montana. He’d also
been tired after their trip to Vegas and headed to bed early the night before
and not listened to the weather forecast that had predicted snow overnight.
 
The following morning it was still snowing and
the wind had changed direction. It was cold and raw and Cash hoped this didn’t
stop folks from going out to vote.

When
he opened the door, the warm air greeted him. He saw Connor and Jennifer and
then Katy and her parents talking to some folks that ran one of the local
restaurants.
 
Katy spotted him and walked
over.

“Not
the best day for voting with all the snow,” she said.

“We’ll
keep thinking positive,” he said.

Connor
headed their way. He slapped Cash on the back almost knocking him off his feet.

“Nice to see you Cash.”

“Great to see you again too.”

“I
want you to know that if I’m elected today I want you to
come
work with me.”

“That’s
great but I don’t know what I’d do. I mean I don’t have any law enforcement
training.”

“You’re
an army guy so I’m sure we’d find the right position for you.”

He
looked at Katy. She’d obviously told Connor.
Probably told
him about his leg.
He hoped Connor’s offer wasn’t down to any sort of
pity.

“There
you are son,” said Katy’s father, also slapping him on the back. “I’m so proud
that you’ve chosen to date my little girl here. Always pictured her with a hero
and you truly are one.”

“Connor,
Dad, could you just give Cash a little space and don’t overdo things,” said
Katy.

“That’s
okay, really it is,” said Cash. He didn’t want to offend either man. If he and
Katy were going to make this a long term thing, then he’d hoped they’d all get
along. He saw Katy moving her feet back and forth. She was clearly
uncomfortable about the attention her family was suddenly giving him and he
didn’t want her to think she was to blame.

“Hot
chocolate for everyone,” said Betty. She winked at Cash. “Have you met my
gentleman friend,
Branndon
Mckinney
?”
she asked him as a tall, grey haired man approached them carrying another tray
of mugs of hot chocolate.

“I
don’t believe I have,” said Cash.

“
Branndon
, this is Katy’s boyfriend, Cash Doyle.”

Katy’s boyfriend.
Did that make
it official?

“I’m
pleased to meet you,” he put out his hand and shook Cash’s hand.

“Isn’t
your son the rodeo rider?” asked Cash.

“Yes, the one and only.
Keep telling
him he’s getting too old for it and he should settle down but you kids never
listen to your parents.”

“Could
I have everyone’s attention,” said Betty, standing on a chair.

“The
polling stations open in fifteen minutes. Let’s go vote and then shuttle as
many people as we can to the stations so we can make this handsome young man
the next county sheriff of Big Sky County.”

Cash
clapped and everyone else joined in.

“You
want to go vote with me and then I can drop you back here for your car?” Cash
asked Katy.

“Good
idea.”

He
put out his arm to her and they headed outside with the rest of the group. A
local newspaper cameraman snapped Connor and Jennifer’s photo as they walked
along the sidewalk.

“Mr.
and Mrs. Nolan-Delaney could you look this way please,” he shouted at them.

Connor
waved and then got hold of Jennifer’s hand as they set off for their car.

“They
are a cute couple,” said Cash. He opened the car for Katy; she slid in and then
he walked around to the other side and got in. He turned on the ignition and
quickly cranked up the heat.

“I’m
sorry about how my dad and Connor overreacted.”

“That’s
fine,” said Cash. He reached across and squeezed her hand. “If this
relationship is going to work you just have to relax Katy. Treat me like any
other guy you’ve dated.”

****

Katy
held Cash’s hand as they waited for the final votes to be announced. Cash had
been wonderful the whole day. He’d been like family. He’d traveled back and
forth between the polling station and the nursing home three times, fitting
more people into his car then was probably legal, but he’d done it.

“They’re
about to announce the totals,” shouted Betty.

The
room they’d rented at the back of the Old Mill Tavern, yes the whorehouse that
Cash’s great, great, great, grandmother had owned, was now campaign central. Everyone
had gathered there for drinks, food, and to wait for this very moment.

Betty
turned up on the volume on the flat screen TV on the wall.

“And now to the votes for Big Sky County
sheriff.
Matt Peterson, incumbent, 23,568 votes,” said the reporter.

Katy
squeezed Cash’s hand harder and then squeezed her eyes shut.

“Connor Nolan-Delaney, 26, 987 votes.”

The
roar in the room was suddenly deafening. Cash turned to her and they kissed.

“Your
big brother’s done it,” he said.

Katy
ran over to Connor and hugged him. Connor looked over at Cash. Cash fisted the
air.

“I
wasn’t joking when I said I’d like him to
come
work
for me,” said Connor.