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.He looked at Gage."You're quiet tonight."Gage popped the top off a cold root beer and handed it to his longtime friend.He watched Dev take a long swallow, knowing it was the closest the man had been to the real thing in four years."You noticed, huh?""Despite the festivities." His friend waved the bottle at the center of the room, then lowered his voice."You want to talk about it?"Gage considered the offer.His and Dev's friendship had taken root in high school and never wavered despite the many times spent on opposite sides of a jail cell over the years.When Dev had finally admitted to a drinking problem, Gage had been his ride to his AA meetings.When Gage had been ready to make his dream home a reality, Murphy Mountain Log Homes had been there for him.Now, thanks to his friend's company, they were standing in the lower-level game room of said dream house.And at the moment, the room was filled with men, all here for the time-honored tradition known as a bachelor party.Landon Cartwright had arrived an hour ago with a group that included the four cowboys who worked for him, his brother and his best friend, a lawyer from Texas who was also standing up for him at the wedding next weekend.Gage had greeted them with drinks and food and managed to look Hank Jarvis in the eye, oddly satisfied when the older man held his gaze."Did you hear me?" Dev asked."Yeah." Gage lowered his voice, staying just loud enough to be heard over the man-talk happening at the pool table."I've got a lot on my mind."Dev grabbed some chips, scooped up cheesy dip from a nearby bowl and tossed it all into his mouth.He chewed for a moment, then spoke."Anything I can do?""Nah, it's nothing I can't handle."He hoped.The betterment committee meeting had gone longer than expected, with Donna Pearson ranting about Racy and the Blue Creek Belles.After a while, he wasn't sure if she was only interested in stopping the Belles or closing down the bar entirely.Either way, it was clear she wanted to get rid of Racy in the process.He'd been surprised to learn about the letter the committee had sent to Max a month ago and of Donna's visit to The Blue Creek last Sunday.Both of which must have ticked off Racy to no end.From Donna's attitude, and knowing Racy like he did, he'd bet the fiery redhead's response had probably included a shot or two at the chairwoman's expense.He'd tried to calm everyone, but Donna had a talent for whipping the members into an uproar, especially when she'd announced a hearing was scheduled for tomorrow with the town's selectmen and that a notice had been delivered to the bar's management.Gage knew Max had gone to Florida for a couple of weeks of sun and golf.That left Racy to convince the town leaders her waitresses should be allowed to provide entertainment in their own way.He was sure she would arrive at the hearing full of attitude, and the end result would be one of the town's favorite distractions being outlawed.A plan to fix this situation—for the town, the waitresses and for Racy—had formed inside his head as the meeting had ended.He'd been on his cell phone right up until his first guests had arrived.He hoped it would be enough."Is it the Dillon boys?"Dev's question surprised him."What makes you say that?""I saw Billy Joe the other day." Dev took another swallow of his drink."I'm guessing from your reaction you know he and Justin are back in town.Billy Joe is doing repair work at Mason's Service Station, and my brother Ric said Justin is working in the kitchen at The Blue Creek."Gage had learned about Billy Joe working for Racy's former father-in-law a few days ago.He wasn't surprised.Billy Joe and Racy's first husband had been friends and old man Mason was getting too far along in years to do much more than pump gas.He also knew about Justin working with his sister from one of his deputy's daily reports.And no, he wasn't happy about it."Yeah, I know they're back." He tried to wash away the bitter taste in his mouth with a long swallow."They got out early on good behavior.""Wonder how long that's gonna last.Are they staying with Racy?"Gage shrugged.He hadn't seen either of them Wednesday when he'd returned Jack."As long as they stay out of trouble, I don't care where they live."Yeah, he almost sounded believable.Dev raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth, but the jukebox in the corner came to life with a country song about cheating wives and love gone wrong.It mixed with the clanking of pool balls as a chorus of male groans filled the air
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