Page 55 (2/2)

Logan glanced at his atch “It shouldn’t be too rowdy over there yet You can go, but only for a little while”

“Thanks” Quint flashed hi the bar’s billiard area as fast as possible

The minute he darted away from the table, Trey screahchair and follow his older cousin After initial attempts to distract hiave up and lifted hiry yowlson her lap; he wanted to go after Quint

Rising fro toddler “I’ll take hi the little boy onto his hip “Coo find Quint”

As abruptly as the fit-throwing started, it stopped Trey pointed a finger in the direction Quint had gone and jabbered in exciteible except for the word “Kint,” which was the closest the toddler could co Quint’s name

Ty worked his way through the crowded restaurant area toward the bar where the occasional crack of a billiard ball could be heard above the din of loud-talking voices and even louder music fro to catch the first glimpse of his cousin

But the first person to catch Ty’s eye when he entered the bar area was Buck Haskell He was perched atop a stool in front of the long bar, aneck beside it He was sporting a new black Stetson and a pair of fancy-stitched cowboy boots to go along with crisp new jeans and a pearl-snapped Western shirt His skin had lost its prison pallor and taken on the hue of a tan, which made his curly hair seem all the whiter In short, he looked like what he was, in a sense, an old cowhand dressed for a Saturday night on the town

His eyes had a knowing glint when heTy’s presence It wasn’t in Ty to sinore the man A Calder faced his enemies; he didn’t walk away from them

“ ’Lo, Buck” He injected a coolness in his voice “Looks like you’re doing well”

“As ain a canny smile “That your boy?”

“It is”

“He looks like a Calder,” Buck observed “Heard you named him after your pa”

“That’s right”

“I guess thatthe Triple C for a good many years to come”

The last thing Ty wanted to talk about with Buck Haskell was his young son “I see you bought some new duds”