Free Make Mine a Bad Boy by Katie Lane

keep her little secret, but you can’t change our mind about something we heard with our own two ears.”
    “But you heard wrong!”
    Hope had to give it to her. Faith could win a few hog-calling trophies of her own.
    Harley’s eyes squinted. “So are you tellin’ us you lied?”
    “Not lied, exactly. I just didn’t explain things properly.”
    Slate stepped up and placed his arm around Faith. “Now, darlin’, I know you want to set things straight and all, but I don’t think now’s the time or place. Why don’t we go on back to Bubba’s and continue where we left off before I went and opened my big mouth.”
    “No.” She shook her head. “If I don’t explain they’ll continue to believe Hope’s pregnant, and I can’t let them—”
    “What?” Hope came off the stool so quickly that her slipper got caught in the rung of the bar stool. And she would’ve hit the floor, just like Colt’s coffee mug, if Shirlene hadn’t reached out and grabbed Rachel’s gray sweater and reeled her back in.
    Rachel hurried around the counter, ignoring the broken shards. “Now, don’t be gettin’ yourself in a lather, honey.” She fanned Hope with one hand, which created enough air to rival a ceiling fan. “It’s not good for the babies.”
    “Babies?” Hope sat down hard on the bar stool and tried to keep from passing out.
    “ ’Course, babies.” Rachel fanned harder. “You’re a twin, ain’t you?”
    “No.” Faith raced over. “I told you, she’s not pregnant. It was all just a misunderstanding. She threw up, and I just assumed she was pregnant.”
    Rachel nodded her head. “And that’s a good assumption, honey. I threw up like the town drunk with both my kids.”
    “Except she’s not pregnant.”
    “Says who?” Harley said.
    “Says me.” Hope finally came out of her comatose state and stood back up to glare at her twin sister. “I gather I have you to thank for this mess?”
    Faith’s eyes widened, and she nodded.
    Damn. A double murder was going to be more difficult. But before Hope could let her sister have it, Slate pulled Faith toward the door.
    “Come on, darlin’, I think you’ve straightened things out enough for one day.”
    “B-but,” she stammered and sent Hope one last beseeching look before she disappeared out the door.
    Once they were gone, Hope turned to the group. “I’m not pregnant,” she stated firmly. “It was just a little misunderstanding between sisters.”
    “So you didn’t throw up,” Kenny jumped in.
    “Yes, I threw up, but only because I ate red chili the night before.”
    “But, Hope,” Twyla entered the conversation, “you grew up on red chili—”
    “I’m not pregnant!” Hope screamed so loudly that the glasses rattled on the shelf behind the counter.
    The town exchanged looks before Shirlene spoke up, her green eyes twinkling almost as much as Colt’s were.
    “I don’t know, honey. Throwing up and bad mood swings, I’d say that about clenches it.”
    Shooting a murderous glare at her best friend, Hopeslapped Rachel’s fanning hand out of the way and jumped up from the stool.
    “Where are you going, Hog?” Kenny yelled as Hope headed for the door.
    “To get me a cup of coffee and a loaded gun!”
    The folks of Bramble waited for Shirlene and Colt to follow Hope out before they hurried over to the window.
    “So what are we gonna do?” Kenny asked as he watched Hope cuss Shirlene up one side and down the other.
    “I’m not sure,” Harley stated. “But we can’t let our little Hope raise a passel of children by herself.” There was a long pause as Harley twirled the end of his mustache. Finally his eyes narrowed, and he looked over at Rachel.
    “Rachel, isn’t your cousin, Bear, a private eye?”
    “He ain’t a private eye, Harley. He’s a bounty hunter.”
    Harley nodded. “Well, I’d say that’s even better.”

Chapter Six
     
    C OLT MISSED THE open road.
    Shirlene’s guesthouse was more than comfortable, and her Mexican