fifty-five years ago. He knew the place like the back of his hand, but he was too old to actually pull off a heist. Instead, he planned the robbery and Dad executed it. The plan was to hide the money and lay low for a while before spending any of it. But then Dad died and they featured him in Famous Texas Outlaws and the time never seemed right, so Big Earl was afraid to dig up the money. And then his old-timer’s set in and now he can’t actually remember where he buried it. He knows it’s somewhere out here, in the middle of a tall stretch of grass.”
Billy glanced from side to side. “This pasture’s a good twenty acres each way.”
“I know. That’s why I need you two to help. I can’t cover all this ground by myself.”
“Can I ask a dumb question?” Cole held up a hand. “Why don’t we tell the sheriff and let them get out here and dig the money up? It’s not like we had anything to do with it.”
“No, but we might as well have. If we hand over the info to the sheriff, the entire town will think we knew all along. But if we give it back ourselves, maybe we can prove once and for all that we aren’t anything like Silas Chisholm. He took from this town, and now we’re going to give back.” He tossed a shovel at Billy. “We’re going to dig every night up and down this pasture until we hit pay dirt. It might take a few days. It might take a few months.”
Billy shrugged. “I guess hauling an excavator up here would attract too much attention.”
Jesse nodded. “If anyone gets wind that the money might be here, there will be gold diggers from here to Houston looking for that money. We have to keep this between us and do it ourselves.”
“How long are we supposed to dig tonight?” Cole asked. “Not that I don’t want to dig. I’m totally on board with the plan, I just didn’t figure on being up here all night.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be out in time for a booty call. Which Barbie is it this time?”
“None.” Cole shook his head. “Jimmy and Jake hooked up with Crystal and April and they’re now officially off the market.”
Jimmy and Jake Barber were the last two members of the Lost Boys. They were twins who competed on the team roping circuit. They’d always been players when it came to the ladies, but it looked as if they’re carousing days were fast coming to a close.
“Jimmy and Jake are getting serious?” Billy arched an eyebrow.
“Last I heard,” Cole replied.
“And what about Barbie sister number three?” Jesse asked. “You thinking about making an honest woman of her?”
“Hardly. Nikki Barbie may look as good as her sisters, but she’s not nearly as much fun.” Cole shrugged. “Besides, I met someone today.” He grinned. “A lot of someones. There are girls coming out of the woodwork at this rodeo and I aim to make the most of it.”
Jesse eyed Cole. “Love at first sight?”
Billy grinned. “Safe to say it’s lust at first sight.”
Cole shrugged. “Lust is good.”
Jesse motioned to Cole. “Don’t worry, you won’t miss your booty call.” He turned to Billy. “What about you? You got a midnight rendezvous planned?”
If only.
Billy stifled the thought and gripped the shovel. “Let’s just get this done.” And then he started to dig.
* * *
“I F I SEE ANOTHER female, I’m going to slit my wrists,” Livi said the next day as she collapsed in the chair next to Sabrina. It was Sunday—over twenty-four hours since she’d met Billy Chisholm on Friday night—and the fair was in full swing.
She stared at the crowds milling about the rodeo arena where they’d set up their booth. While there were plenty of single males walking here and there, none of them were falling all over themselves to fill out a profile. No line around the corner like the nearby funnel cake stand. No whoops and hollers like the kissing booth across the way. “This obviously isn’t working. You man the table and I’ll go see if I can stir up some
Billy glanced from side to side. “This pasture’s a good twenty acres each way.”
“I know. That’s why I need you two to help. I can’t cover all this ground by myself.”
“Can I ask a dumb question?” Cole held up a hand. “Why don’t we tell the sheriff and let them get out here and dig the money up? It’s not like we had anything to do with it.”
“No, but we might as well have. If we hand over the info to the sheriff, the entire town will think we knew all along. But if we give it back ourselves, maybe we can prove once and for all that we aren’t anything like Silas Chisholm. He took from this town, and now we’re going to give back.” He tossed a shovel at Billy. “We’re going to dig every night up and down this pasture until we hit pay dirt. It might take a few days. It might take a few months.”
Billy shrugged. “I guess hauling an excavator up here would attract too much attention.”
Jesse nodded. “If anyone gets wind that the money might be here, there will be gold diggers from here to Houston looking for that money. We have to keep this between us and do it ourselves.”
“How long are we supposed to dig tonight?” Cole asked. “Not that I don’t want to dig. I’m totally on board with the plan, I just didn’t figure on being up here all night.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll be out in time for a booty call. Which Barbie is it this time?”
“None.” Cole shook his head. “Jimmy and Jake hooked up with Crystal and April and they’re now officially off the market.”
Jimmy and Jake Barber were the last two members of the Lost Boys. They were twins who competed on the team roping circuit. They’d always been players when it came to the ladies, but it looked as if they’re carousing days were fast coming to a close.
“Jimmy and Jake are getting serious?” Billy arched an eyebrow.
“Last I heard,” Cole replied.
“And what about Barbie sister number three?” Jesse asked. “You thinking about making an honest woman of her?”
“Hardly. Nikki Barbie may look as good as her sisters, but she’s not nearly as much fun.” Cole shrugged. “Besides, I met someone today.” He grinned. “A lot of someones. There are girls coming out of the woodwork at this rodeo and I aim to make the most of it.”
Jesse eyed Cole. “Love at first sight?”
Billy grinned. “Safe to say it’s lust at first sight.”
Cole shrugged. “Lust is good.”
Jesse motioned to Cole. “Don’t worry, you won’t miss your booty call.” He turned to Billy. “What about you? You got a midnight rendezvous planned?”
If only.
Billy stifled the thought and gripped the shovel. “Let’s just get this done.” And then he started to dig.
* * *
“I F I SEE ANOTHER female, I’m going to slit my wrists,” Livi said the next day as she collapsed in the chair next to Sabrina. It was Sunday—over twenty-four hours since she’d met Billy Chisholm on Friday night—and the fair was in full swing.
She stared at the crowds milling about the rodeo arena where they’d set up their booth. While there were plenty of single males walking here and there, none of them were falling all over themselves to fill out a profile. No line around the corner like the nearby funnel cake stand. No whoops and hollers like the kissing booth across the way. “This obviously isn’t working. You man the table and I’ll go see if I can stir up some
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