Page 58 of Knox
The new owners had kept the aged mirror over the back of the bar, but now flanked it with two flat-screen televisions. Tonight, a baseball game—a local feed of the Helena Brewers—played on one screen; a hockey game —not the Blue Ox, Knox noticed—played on the other, both with the sound off.
The makeover had included a fresh polish of the floor, and a few locals had enticed their dates out for a dance. Knox recognized the guy at the mic as Turner Berry, the foreman at the Stinson ranch. He’d also seen the man at church a couple times with his beautiful cowgirl wife and their son.
“Make a hole, guys. Nachos coming in, nine o’clock.”
Knox looked up and spotted Tannie Bower holding a massive plate of chicken nachos. Glo and Tate moved their drinks, along with Kelsey’s lemonade and Knox’s boring lemon-infused water, and Tannie set the plate of nachos in the middle. Knox wanted to order a beer, but he was the keeper of the car keys tonight.
“Long time no see, Knox,” Tannie said. She wore her bleached blonde hair in a high ponytail, pretty and young, and he could hardly believe Chelsea’s kid sister had grown into such a beauty. He remembered her as a bony-kneed ten-year-old when he’d dated Chelsea. If “dated” was the right word. More like a clandestine affair that was high on his list of regrets.
Her gaze flickered to Glo, then Kelsey. Finally, back to Knox, just a hint of the past in her eyes. No doubt she blamed him for her big sister’s departure from Geraldine. He did too, frankly.
He should have steered clear of the Bulldog. But his other option for grub and a dance floor was the fine dining at Granite Ridge Lodge, twenty miles west.
Tannie tucked her tray under her arm, hung her hand on it. “How’s your brother?”
Which one? The question tipped Knox’s lips when Tate piped up. “Somewhere overseas, saving us from terrorists.”
Oh,Ford.Of courseTannie would have an eye for his handsome, charming youngest brother.
“I’ll pray he gets home safely. It seems all the best ones leave town. Anything else I can get you guys?”
Tate shook his head, and Knox ignored the barb and turned his attention on Kelsey.
She took a plate from Glo and dragged a couple chips onto her plate.
Onstage, Turner started with a song about broken hearts and letting go, and Knox couldn’t help himself.
“You okay, Kelsey?”
She glanced up at him. Pale blue eyes, and they looked at him for a second, empty before they focused on him.
“So, not really at all, huh?”
She gave him a small smile. “No. I was thinking that this song is a Brett Young cover. ‘Mercy.’ We’re supposed to be opening for him tonight.”
“Let it go, Kels,” Glo said, filling her own plate. “Have some fun.”
“Speaking of—how about a dance, Glo?” Tate was sliding up from his chair and holding out his hand.
Glo looked up, her eyes big, then smiled—and if only it were that easy. Knox shook his head as Tate took her hand and weaved through the crowd to the dance floor.
Glo came up to his shoulder, but he bent a little and took her into his arms.
Kelsey turned back to her nachos. “I think Glo likes him.”
“I think the feelings are mutual. I haven’t seen Tate quite so smiley since…okay, maybe I don’t know. He left town not long after he left the military, and hasn’t been around much since then.”
“Why?” She let a piece of long cheese dangle into her mouth and wrapped her tongue around it, grinning as she slurped it in. “Oops.”
Something happened to his stomach with the sight of her sudden smile.
“Oh, it’s a long story. I lost my cool…got him in trouble with my Dad. He and dad had it out, and Tate took off.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You…lost your cool? I don’t see that.”
“Not now, maybe, but I had my dark days. Wild, angry… It wasn’t a good season.” And frankly, he’d spent quite a lot of it here. He hadn’t realized how many ghosts still lingered, despite the makeover.
“Your mom said you wanted to be a professional bull rider.”