Great choice. What would you like to drink? the girl asked.
Sid peeked out from behind the menu. Through the window into the kitchen she could no longer see the two mennor could she hear them. Maybe theyd left.
And a beer.
The girl nodded, then shyly asked if she could see her ID. Im sorry, but I have to ask.
Sid might have found that amusing since she was thirty. But she was aware that she didnt look a day over twenty. Behind the waitress, she heard the mens voices coming from the kitchen again. They sounded as though they were arguing.
She heard one say he didnt like what the other one was doing. Austin, if I need your help Ill ask for it. I can handle this. Laramie Cardwells voice. Handle what?
Sid looked up at the waitress. Today of all days, she didnt want to show her ID. She knew it was silly since Laramie Cardwell hadnt seen her face last night. But he might have a few moments ago. She remembered him above her in the moonlight and the way hed looked into her eyes...and felt a shiver.
You know, just make it a cola. I have work to do this afternoon.
The poor girl nodded without looking at her and wrote on her order pad.
The owners of this place, are they really from Texas? Sid asked.
The girl brightened. They sure are. Five brothers. They just opened this place, but I heard theres another one going to open at Red Lodge.
Really? Five brothers, huh?
Yep, all raised in Texas. They were born here, but left when they were kids. Four of them have moved back.
The fifth one? Sid asked, remembering how strong the mans Texas accent had been.
Laramie still lives in Houston. Thats where the main office is located. Hes the one in charge of all the restaurants. Theyre cousins to Dana Cardwell of Cardwell Ranch, if youre familiar with the area.
Anyone who lived in the Canyon as the Gallatin Canyon was known had heard of the Cardwells of Cardwell Ranch.
Their story is on the back of the menu, if youre interested. Ill get your order right out, the girl said. You want that cola while you wait?
Sid would much rather have had a beer and felt foolish for not showing the girl her ID. What were the chances that the waitress would remember her name or have any reason to mention it to her bosses?
Glancing toward the kitchen, she didnt see the men. Or hear them, but that didnt mean they werent still back there. And if the man from last night had seen her a few minutes ago...
Sure, Ill take the cola now, but make it to go, she said as she picked up the menu and turned it over.
The Cardwell brothers story was on the back along with their photos. What surprised her was that Texas Boys Barbecue was a franchise the brothers had started. Shed just assumed they only owned this one restaurant.
Less surprising was that all five brothers were drop-dead gorgeous. In the photo on the back of the menu, the photographer had lined them up along a jack-legged fence, a ranch house in the background. Each brother wore jeans, boots, Western shirts and Stetsons. Each was equally handsome.
Her gaze went to Laramie. He was definitely the one whod tackled her last night. She felt a shiver as she looked at his photo. His blue eyes stared back at her almost challenging. She told herself she had nothing to fear. He didnt know who she was or the marshal would have been to her door already. Even if he had bought that house, hed be like most of the residentsstaying only a few weeks of the year.
She wished she could wait for him to return to Texas. Unfortunately, she couldnt. Time was running out. She had to get the painting backeven knowing there was a chance of crossing paths with Laramie Cardwell again. She would just have to make sure that didnt happen.