The Twin

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“It was dark, and I couldn’t see much more than his back. His butt was awfully cute, though. You know, he looks familiar,” Cass said, gawking at him as he performed a perfect dive.

“His butt?”

“No, his face. I’m almost sure he came into the café one day last week.”

“Last week? When? Why didn’t you say something?”

“I think it was Thursday,” Cass told her, “and I didn’t mention it because I didn’t recognize him.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“Nope. We were packed, and I didn’t get a chance.”

Sunny groaned. “He probably thought you were me and that I was ignoring him.”

“Is something wrong?” Belle asked.

“No,” Sunny said, “not a thing. Beautiful pool.”

“Isn’t it? It’s heated with solar power, and we can swim any day of the year, except when it’s storming.”

“Now there,” Cass said, “is a real hottie. The tall one in the red shirt. He looks like a movie star.”

Belle laughed. “Don’t get too excited over him, though I’ll grant you he is good-looking. He’s my brother Frank, and your cousin. He’s married and has three kids.”

“Frank James Outlaw?”

“The very one,” Belle said, catching his eye and waving him over to where they stood near the back door. “He’s a judge in the County Court at Law in Naconiche.”

Frank smiled as he approached. “You must be the newfound family. It’s good to meet you,” he added as he was introduced and shook hands with both of them. “The rest of the Naconiche bunch wanted to come, but everyone was tied up this weekend except my wife, Carrie and me. We drove down yesterday with our twins. We left the youngest with J.J. and Mary Beth.”

“You have twins?” Sunny asked.

He nodded. “Janey and Jimmy. Fraternal, of course, not like the two of you. Come meet Carrie.”

“She’s the lawyer?” Cass asked.

“That she is,” Frank said. “Are you the one who’s a lawyer, too?”

“Used to be.”

“Once a lawyer, always a lawyer,” Frank said.

“I’m not sure I agree. Let’s just say I’m a recovering lawyer.”

Frank laughed, and the four of them joined a group sitting near the shallow end of the pool and watching children splashing around.

When Skye spotted them approaching, she jumped up and hugged them both. “It’s so good to see you again, Sunny, and I know you must be Cass.” Sunny was surprised Skye got it right. “Come meet everybody.”

“This is Gabe’s and my mother, Flora,” Skye said. “She’s a painter and owns a local art gallery.”

Flora, an older woman in a dazzling magenta muumuu and full makeup was effusive in her greeting.

“And this,” Frank said, “is my wife, Carrie.”

“Lawyer and former landman,” Carrie said, standing and hugging them both. “And stepmother to two of those kiddos in the pool. The dark-haired ones.”

“What exactly is a landman?” Sunny asked.

“Basically, it’s someone who acquires land leases for oil and gas companies. That’s how I came to Naconiche and met Frank and the other Outlaws.”

They also met the Ballards, neighbors of Belle and Gabe and parents to two other children in the group. The last of the adults was John Oates, a nice-looking guy who was mayor of Wimberley.

A big German shepherd came to stand beside Skye, and she scratched his head. “This big fellow is Gus.”

“He’s beautiful,” Sunny said.

“Isn’t he?”

“He reminds me a bit of a dog I was walking at the shelter the other day. I volunteer there.”

“How wonderful. A woman after my own heart. Do you think he would be a good service dog?”

“You know, I hadn’t thought of that. Possibly. Thanks for the suggestion.”

“And, Sunny, you know Ben McKee,” Belle said.

The twins turned to Ben, who was hoisting himself from the pool. He looked back and forth between the two of them as if totally bewildered.

“You’re twins?”

Sunny smiled. “Is that so odd?”

He picked up a towel, dried his face and ran the cloth over his well-muscled chest, which looked even better up close. “You said you had a sister. You didn’t mention she was a twin.” He frowned and glanced from one to the other again until he zeroed in on her. “Sunny?”

“Yes,” she said. “And this is Cass. Cassidy Outlaw, my baby sister.”

Cass snorted. “By two and a half minutes. Sorry I didn’t recognize you when you were in Chili Witches the other day. Thursday, wasn’t it?”

He nodded, then smiled at Sunny. “I thought she was you and that you were ignoring me.”

“We’re comanagers on flextime. She runs things on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and I’m boss on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

“What a marvelous idea!” Flora said. “You must let me paint the two of you. I don’t think I’ve ever done twins before, and your bone structure is superb!”

“You ought to let her,” Sam said, coming up behind Flora and hugging her against him. “She’s terrific.”

Flora patted his cheek, obviously adoring him. “You’re a dear boy to say so, even if you did move my daughter all the way to San Antonio.”

“San Antonio isn’t Lubbock. It’s just down the road a piece.” He kissed the pouf of curls atop her head. “And you know we’ve always got an extra room for you.” He stuck out his hand toward the twins. “I’m your cousin Sam,” he said. “Who’s Cass?”

“I am,” Cass said, shaking his hand.

“Welcome to the family. Hey, Sunny, good to see you again.” He gave her a hug. “This is Pookie.” He held out a small mop of a dog which had been tucked under his arm. Sunny took her, and Pookie licked her face and wiggled all over. “You’re a friendly one.”

“She seems to like you,” Sam said. “Want a dog?”

“Oh, Sam,” Skye said. “Stop that. You know you wouldn’t part with Pookie for any amount of money.”