Read Online Boots and Wishes: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 8 by Myla Jackson - Free Book Online

stools.
    “Those two weren’t much help, were they?” Charli set her tray on the counter and gave Audrey her order.
    While Audrey filled mugs and popped the tops off some longnecks, she lamented, “I have no clue what to get Jackson for Christmas.”
    “How about a battery-powered drill gun?”
    “He has three.”
    “A set of socket wrenches. Nothing says love like a bunch of tools to a man.”
    “He has more tools than a man can ever use in a lifetime.”
    “A tool box?”
    “He’s got two.” Audrey sighed. “I haven’t got a clue what to get him.”
    “I bet he just wants to be surrounded by his family—you—with a home-cooked meal and a lit Christmas tree.”
    “I’m not much of a cook.”
    “There you go. If you put a little effort into it, you’ll do great and he’ll be so happy you made him feel special he won’t care if you burn the whole damned meal.”
    “You think so?” Audrey stared at her assistant manager and friend. “I want him to know how much I love him.”
    “Honey, he knows.” Charli stared across at where Jackson sat playing a friendly hand of poker with Connor Mason, Ed Judson and Nick McBride. “He’s losing bad at his hand of poker because he can’t quit looking at you.”
    “I’m surprised Connor’s in the game. That’s about the fifth time he’s glanced up at you,” Audrey pointed out.
    “We are a couple of horny women, aren’t we?”
    “In love with a couple of horny men.”
    “And damn happy to be. I’d have blown this joint a long time ago if Connor hadn’t shown me what fun we could have together.” Charli lifted her tray filled with drinks. “Speaking of which, when will Mark, Luke and Libby be done in the storeroom?”
    “Good grief. You’d think we were running a bordello, not a saloon, with as much boinking as goes on in that storeroom.”
    Charli winked. “On second thought, I’d rather check out the costumes backstage with Connor.”
    “Hey, I can’t run the bar and serve the tables at the same time.”
    With an overexaggerated sigh Charli said, “I guess I could wait until closing. If I must. Although Connor’s giving me that look.”
    Audrey laughed and went to work filling trays for Kendall and Lacey, too busy to think past the next drink. As she caught up, the telephone on the wall behind the bar rang. She turned to answer. “Ugly Stick Saloon, this is Audrey.”
    “Hey, Audrey, thank goodness I got you. It’s Sam Whitefeather.”
    A stab of dread knifed through Audrey at Sam’s intense tone. “What’s wrong?”
    “There’s been an accident,” he said.
    Audrey gripped the phone tightly and strained to hear him over the noise in the bar. “Holy hell, Sam. Are you all right?”
    “I am. Can you get a message to Mona?”
    “Sure. What do you want to me to tell her?”
    “Grant’s in the hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He got run off the road by an eighteen-wheeler and is pretty banged up.”
    “Oh, Sam. Is he going to be okay?”
    “Yes, but he’s asking for Mona. The doctor wants to keep him a couple days. He broke a few ribs, punctured his lungs and has a concussion. He won’t be traveling for a couple days at least.”
    “I’ll get the message to her right away.”
    “I can pick her up at the airport. Tell her to let me know when she arrives.”
    “I will. Are you sure you’re okay?”
    “I’m fine, just bruised. Luckily the horses are okay. Gotta go, the doctor is motioning for me.”
    “Take care, Sam.” Audrey hung up as Libby returned from her break, all smiles and her face flushed a pretty pink.
    As soon as she saw Audrey, her smile faded. “What’s wrong?”
    “Grant’s been in an accident. I need to let Mona know.” As she hurried toward the rear exit of the building, Audrey gave Libby the digest version of what happened. “Call Jake Maddox. He might be able to fly her out there on shorter notice than an airline.”
    Outside, the night air was cooler than Audrey remembered going in earlier.