Page 25 of Barry
“No, to the daughter. She can call her brother, and if he needs more information, he can call me.” Ken picked up his cowboy hat. “I’m going to go over to Sanderson’s store and have a talk with Chester and Delbert, then I’ll call that judge. Miss Belinda, just text me the number when you can.”
Belinda nodded and made her way back to the corner booth. Edna walked up to them. “He was wrong—deadwrong, and we all know it. Sure, when stuff started happening, we looked to the stranger. But you’re not a stranger anymore. You’re part of this community, and we need young, hardworking men like you in this country.” She patted him on the arm that was holding Corrie.
Corrie sniffed a bit and stepped away from Barry. “I have work to do.” She spun. “Who needs fresh coffee?”
There was a smattering of answers, and Kathy turned to look up at Barry. “Are you ready to go to the ranch?”
“Beyond ready.” He stopped and reached for his wallet.
“I got that, Barry,” Doc Macy said. “Edna was right. The town is behind you.”
Barry blinked, and confusion ran across his face. Kathy poked him in the stomach. “Say thank you.”
Barry startled but managed to say, “Ah, thanks, Doc. You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, he does,” Tegan said as he and Kate got back into the booth.
“Why?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know. I just figured it was his time to crack open that vault. He’s rich, you know, being a veterinarian and all that,” Tegan said.
Kate elbowed him in the stomach. “Stop telling our vet secrets.” The lighthearted back and forth caused laughter throughout the diner. Kathy chuckled, too, as Barry nodded at Doc Macy again, and they headed out.
CHAPTER 11
Barry opened his truck’s door for Kathy and closed it behind her. He turned to walk behind his truck and locked eyes with Chester, who was sitting outside Sanderson’s grocery. Ken was standing there, but the old man ignored him. Chester had a smirk of complete satisfaction on his face. Barry stopped and put his elbow up on the tailgate, leaning against his truck. He stared at the man as Doc Wheeler’s words bubbled through the irritation and anger that had barely receded. He heard Kathy knock against the rear window. He lifted a hand, acknowledging her and asking for a minute as he processed his feelings.
Anger. Yeah, he waspissed. Not because of what the old bastard had said about him. People had said much worse. Hell, he’d thought worse about himself. That thought put amatching satisfied smirk on his face. What burned in his gut was what the fucker had said about Kathy being tainted. That sat like acid in his gut. The fact that people like Chester would think less of a woman like her was something he couldn’t change. And yes, that thought was said in Dr. Wheeler’s voice. After all those months, the man, or perhaps his ideas and methods, had a permanent residence inside his thick skull. Progress, for sure.
Six months ago, he’d have sprinted across the street and dealt with the old fucker. No lenience for the guy's age would have been given. He knew that for a fact. Now, hell, he was sorry for the wretched son of a bitch. The old fuck didn’t have any friends, and, well,he, the guy with anger issues and war scars that people couldn’t see, did. Talk about a reversal of his trajectory. He’d been on a tortured course straight to hell, and he’d been driving on that course as fast as he could push himself. Thank God for Corrie, Andrew, Kathy, and Doc Wheeler. Without them, he’d be in jail or dead. Most likely dead. And that would’ve been a tragedy. He’d never have met the love of his life.
Barry lifted a hand, smiled at the asshole across the street, and walked to his truck door. Kathy’s smile was worth the effort it took to deal with the thoughts still playing bumper cars inside his brain.
“Are you okay?” She reached out and touched his arm.
“Yeah. I was just trying to sort out what I was feeling and why.” Barry put the keys into the ignition and noticed a crowd at the diner's window. They scurried back to theirseats when he looked in their direction. “It seems everyone was wondering what I’d do.”
Kathy glanced at the diner. “You did the right thing by ignoring that wretched old man. I remember when he used to be nice. I don’t understand why he’s so bitter now.”
Barry put the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking slot. “The thing that still burns is what he said about you. That shit wasn’t right.”
“He did it to get a rise out of you. I think hewantedyou to take a swing at him.”
“So do I. The question is, why?” Barry headed to the highway and the Hollister ranch. “What did I ever do to that jerk?”
“Nothing. You’ve done nothing but prove the old man is delusional. He’s been spouting his theories since you hit town, and then stuff started to happen.” Kathy sighed and shook her head. “When Ken catches whoever is responsible for everything, that old man will have to eat an entire crow to get anyone to talk to him again. Except for Delbert, but then again, Delbert isn’t the sharpest tack in the box.” Kathy chuckled sadly. “Why do people need drama? Why can’t life be full enough with family, work, and things that happen every day?”
Barry took her hand in his. “I don’t know. But I can tell you that sounds like the kind of life I want to live. Family, work, and everyday things.”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Maybe we could have that.”
Barry shot a look in her direction. “We can. We definitely can.” He swallowed hard. “You’d want that with me?”
Kathy smiled so brightly it almost blinded him. “Of course, I want that with you. I love you.”
If angels had swooped down and lifted him off his feet, he would not have felt lighter and happier than he did at that moment. “I don’t deserve you.” He squeezed her hand and glanced back at the road so he didn’t drive them into the ditch.
“Don’t say that.” Kathy unfastened her seat belt and slid across the old bench seat. She dropped her head on his shoulder. “You deserve all the good things life has to offer, just like everyone else. We deserve to be happy together.”