Free Stuck Together (Trouble in Texas Book #3) by Mary Connealy

diner.
    “Hurry, so Mother can lie down,” Vince yelled after him.
    Paul called over his shoulder to Melissa, “I’ll take extra care with your basket.”
    Vince and Melissa got Mother up the two steps to the board-walk, inside the diner, and settled at a nearby table.
    Eight-year-old Janny came in with four pie plates in her little hands. The girl was getting to be the best cook and waitress in the family. She was the spitting image of Glynna with her golden-hazel eyes. Janny being the best cook honestly wasn’t saying much, considering Glynna blackened everything she cooked. Paul was pretty good in the kitchen too, so it wasn’t like Janny didn’t have some competition.
    Janny arranged the plates on the table before they’d all had a chance to sit down on the long benches. She then headed back to the kitchen to fetch coffee.
    “Apple pie!” Mother clasped her hands together with childlike glee. “Mercy me, this looks delicious.”
    Vince did his best to conceal it, but it hurt that she recognized apple pie when she didn’t recognize her own son. What had he done to make himself so forgettable?
    In truth, Vince had been a handful all his life. Something he took some pride in, however misguided that might be. He’d’ve bet neither of his parents could forget him, no matter how hard they tried.
    The back door opened and closed as Dare came in. Somehow, just knowing Dare was here made the worst of the tension ease out of Vince’s spine. Yet even with his friend there, this situation was still looking like a world of trouble.
    Another racket from the back and Jonas came in, followed by Tina. Paul was a regular town crier.
    Vince found himself distracted from the disaster that had climbed out of that regal carriage by the disaster that was Tina Cahill. His family showing up was so bad that he was grateful he’d almost kissed the troublemaking little reformer, just because the stupidity of that was enough to distract him from how badly his life had just been blown apart.
    Dare slid onto the bench beside Mother on the far end of the table and spoke quietly to her, then took her pulse. Mother simpered under the attention.
    Several minutes passed with Dare checking Mother over, and then, looking at Vince, Dare said, “I think your ma is just worn out from the trip. A bite to eat and a good long rest will set her to rights.”
    Glynna bustled in with empty tin cups hanging from one hand, a finger through each handle, and a heavy coffeepot in the other. “Sit on down. We’ve got plenty for everyone.”
    As if pie and coffee were going to fix anything.
    Tina sat at the far end of the table from Vince without once looking at him. He knew because he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. Tina was straight across from Mother.
    Jonas sat on the end of the bench past Vince, as if he knew Vince needed a friend nearby. Or maybe Tina had told Jonas what had gone on in the jail, and Jonas wanted to keep an eye on Vince in case Vince needed a thrashing.
    Dare took a cup of coffee from Glynna and began pacing. Vince felt his muscles tighten, and he itched to go stand by the door. Keep watch. Someone was always bringing trouble. Except all the trouble in the world was sitting right here at this table with him.
    His friends all thought he’d gotten in the habit of posting himself as a sentinel during the war, but Vince had learned to be on guard by Father. Vince could never make Father happy, so he learned to hide when he could, sneak when he had to, and delight in driving Father mad when there was no escape.
    A quick glance at Mother—eating her pie with enthusiasm while not knowing who Vince was—made him regret thinking of madness in any context.
    The coach driver came in at that moment, hat in hand. The man was covered in trail dust and dressed all wrong for Texas. How had Father managed to get themselves a driver in such formal clothing? Had he ridden all the way from Chicago with Father, to have handy for when they