Ryder pushed the front door open and, like at the gas station, there was the sound of a bell tinkling above. The lighting in the room wasn’t great but he could plainly see the half a dozen men who turned at his entrance. They were lounging around tables, each man with a drink in his hand. That was when Ryder realized he’d stumbled on some kind of bar.
“Howdy, stranger,” one of the men said, holding up his mug of beer. “Pull up a chair.” The way he said the word made it sound like ‘cheer’.
“Uh, thanks,” Ryder said, letting the door close behind him, but he didn’t move, still taken aback by the unexpected invitation. These Texans were something else. They were either super-friendly or downright crabby. Was there no middle ground with these people?
“Go on. He’s not going to bite.”
At the sound of a female voice, a bright and bold, almost teasing tone, Ryder’s head jerked up and he found himself locking gaze with the most startling ebony eyes he’d ever seen. It wasn’t so much the color of the eyes that got him but the audacious stare she’d fixed on him. Like a goddess who deigned to associate with mere mortals, the look she gave Ryder told him that in this little part of the planet she was the woman in charge.
And if that wasn’t enough to make him stand rooted to the spot, on top of that the woman was breathtakingly beautiful. A mass of wavy, dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, framing a face blessed with high cheekbones, a pert nose and the sexiest lips he’d been ever so lucky to behold. She was the lone flower in a field of pot bellied beer-drinking men and among such weeds her beauty bloomed brilliant. And she knew it. He could see it in the way she carried herself, back straight and eyes fearless as she stared at him.
The beauty leaned forward to rest her elbows on the bar counter and her luscious lips curved into a smile. “Are you going to stand there staring at me the whole evening?” she asked, tilting her head as she regarded him with amusement. “Your butt got something against chairs?”
Ryder blinked. He’d thought he had a good handle on women but this one took him by surprise. When it came to being shy or reserved this girl didn’t know the meaning of the words. But how a woman so young could be so bold in a sea full of grizzly men, he couldn’t figure out. Instead of being intimidated it looked like she was the one who usually did the intimidating.
Before she could throw out a command Ryder cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from the mesmerizing Texas rose then he glanced down at the man who had invited him over. His unexpected host was still grinning up at him so he figured the invitation was still open. With a shrug he headed over to the table where the man sat with another, a smaller man, who stared up at him in open curiosity.
As he approached, the big man used his foot to push the free chair away from the table. “Make yourself comfortable, stranger. It’s not everyday we see a new face in these parts.”
Ryder gave him a nod of appreciation for the welcome. “Thank you,” he said as he took the seat that was being offered. “This is my first visit to Marfa.”
“Marfa?” The bearded man let out a hearty guffaw. “Did you hear that, fellas? This stranger thinks he’s in Marfa.”
The man got the reaction he’d probably been looking for. The whole place erupted in raucous laughter and, to Ryder’s chagrin, even the woman behind the bar was chuckling.
Feeling like a fool, he cleared his throat again then frowned when he realized he’d fallen right back into his nervous habit. Whenever he felt out of his depth he was always clearing his throat. It was a habit he’d thought he’d licked but now it was back, just when he didn’t need it causing him even further embarrassment.
“Where am I then?” he asked, now giving up hope of ever finding this place called Marfa.
“This is Pequoia,” the woman said as the laughter died down. “One of the oldest towns in Texas.” Then she gave him a rueful grin. “Now one of the smallest, what with all the youngsters leaving as soon as they're old enough.” Then she dried her hands on a nearby towel, lifted the counter and came over to him, a letter-sized laminated card in her hand. “Here’s the menu. You might as well make yourself comfortable and grab a bite. Looks like you’ve been on the road a while.”
Ryder gladly took it from her hand but it wasn’t the food list that held his attention. It was her. She was even lovelier close up.
“What did I tell you about staring?” Her voice was brusque but her lips twitched then curved into a crooked smile that had Ryder smiling back.
“Sorry.” Suitably chastised he glanced down at the menu. “The roast beef sandwich sounds good. Can I have that?”
“It’s your lucky day,” she said. “That’s the most popular item on the menu but it so happens I’ve got some left. Just enough for one.”
“I’ll take it,” Ryder said, his mouth already watering at the thought of the meal. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast and at this hour of the day he’d reached starvation point.
The woman nodded and took the menu from his hand and was just about to turn away when Ryder stopped her. “Do you mind if I ask your name?”
She stopped and actually looked surprised that he’d asked. “It’s Blake. Blake Beaumont. And what’s yours, stranger?”
“I’m Ryder Kent.” He put out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Blake.”
She took it even as she cocked an eyebrow at him, the amusement back in her eyes. “Are you sure about that? Maybe you should get to know me better before you throw out such statements.”
“Yeah,” one of the men from a neighboring table said. “This is one tough gal, my friend. Don’t be fooled by all this beauty. When she’s ready she can be a real b-”
"Calvin, you mind your mouth, you hear me?” Blake’s voice was stern. “No need to scare off Mr. Kent with your crude language.”
“Call me Ryder,” he began but she’d already turned away and was heading back to the bar. Well, so much for striking up a conversation with the sole woman in the place. He might as well turn his attention to his new-found friends.
Within minutes of a lively conversation about the current issues plaguing the dairy industry Blake was back with a salad and the sandwich that smelled so good it made Ryder’s stomach growl.
She smiled. “I could tell you were hungry. It’s all yours. Chow down.” She laid the plate on the table then handed him his silverware rapped in a white cloth napkin.