Linda Lael Miller - McKettricks of Texas: Austin

San Antonio, Texas
October

E IGHT SECONDS.

Outside the world of rodeo, it was hardly any time at all.

Add two thousand pounds of ticked-off bullaptly named Buzzsawto the equation, though, and eight seconds could seem a whole lot like forever.

Standing at the bar in a little backstreet, hole-in-the-wall dive a more prudent man would likely have steered clear of, Austin McKettrick reflected on the ride hed made a few hours before and wondered why he didnt feel more like celebrating.

For months now, ever since the first go-round with that particular bull, when hed nearly been killed, Austin had thought about little else except riding Buzzsaw.

Now that hed done it, and laid a demon or two to rest in the process, he was fresh out of worthy objectives.

A flicker in the mirror behind the bar drew Austins attention; he adjusted his hat and scanned the shadowy width of the glass with an imperceptible movement of his eyes.

Shit, he thought as he watched his brothers, Tate and Garrett, approach.

They were both cowboys, lean and tall, with broad shoulders and Clint Eastwood attitudes. Folks just naturally stepped out of their way.

Without turning around, Austin lifted his mug and took a long, slow sip of beer.

Tate, the eldest of the three, bellied up to the bar on Austins right, while Garrett took the left side, both of them crowding into his space. As if he might not have noticed them otherwise. He grinned to himself and adjusted his hat again.

Pinky, the bartender, a woman in her mid-seventies with her hair plaited into a long gray braid and skin that glowed with good health behind a veil of wrinkles, appeared right away.

Whatll it be? she asked, her gaze moving from Tates face to Garretts, but slipping right on past Austins as if he werent there.

Once married to one of the wranglers on the Silver Spur, Pinky was still a friend of the family. The wrangler, on the other hand, was long gone.

Tate, always a hand with the ladies, tugged at the brim of his hat, gentlemanlike, and favored the woman with that famous white-toothed smile of his. Nothing for me, thanks, he said, exaggerating the drawl. Howve you been, Pinky?

Im holding up okay, Pinky allowed. She smiled, nodded to Garrett. I hear theres going to be a double wedding out there on the Silver Spur come this New Years Eve. That true?

Sure is, Garrett answered easily. Your invitation will be along in the mail, Pinky.

So youre both getting hitched? Pinky said after clucking her tongue at the marvel of it all.

Yes, maam, Tate replied. Im marrying Libby Remington, and Garretts tying the knot with her sister, Julie.

Pinky gave a long, low whistle of exclamation through her teeth. Brothers marrying sisters. Dont that beat all? Your kids will be double-cousins, wont they?