The Last Ranch by Michael McGarrity Page A

grandfather whom she adored, and how she loved being an army nurse. They moved to a candlelit patio table, where Raine ordered the roast pork loin and Matt chose the breaded veal cutlet. For dessert, they shared a slice of cheesecake and dawdled over coffee. When the waiter brought the check, Raine reached for her clutch purse.
    Matt plucked the check from the waiter’s hand. “This is my treat.”
    â€œBut I promised.”
    â€œPlease, allow me.” He counted out the money, added a nice tip, and placed the bills on the table. It had cost less than he’d anticipated. “Save your money for the gambling tables.”
    Raine reached out and touched his hand. “Thank you. This is lovely.”
    â€œIt’s my pleasure.”
    â€œI’ve never gambled before.”
    â€œThe first rule is to decide how much you’re willing to lose.”
    Raine gave it some thought. “Ten dollars.”
    â€œOkay, we’ll both wager ten dollars. If we lose, we leave. If we win, we split the take. Agreed?”
    â€œWager on what?”
    â€œI think roulette would be best. I’ll bet on black, you bet on red. We’ll watch a few games so you can get the hang of it. Take ten dollars to buy chips and tuck the rest of your money away. I’ll do the same.”
    Raine feigned a sharp look. “Do you think I lack willpower, sir?”
    Matt shrugged innocently. “I don’t know. Gambling can become addictive real easily.”
    Raine lifted an eyebrow. “Like sex?”
    â€œNow, that’s an interesting question. What would your friend Susie say?”
    Raine smiled seductively. “I thought you’d ask what I would say.” She quickly brushed off his attempt to respond. “Don’t ask now—I want to gamble first.”
    She took a ten-dollar bill from her purse, tucked the rest of her cash in her bra, and took Matt’s hand. “Let’s go win some money.”
    â€œI’d like that,” Matt said.
    An hour at the roulette table had Raine up sixty bucks and Matt down to his original ten-dollar betting money. They took a break for a drink at the bar and Matt handed her five two-dollar chips. “You’re on a hot streak, bet this for me.”
    Raine jiggled the chips in her hand. “Fifty-fifty split?”
    Matt nodded. “On anything above what you’ve already won.”
    â€œIt’s a deal.” She slipped the chips into her clutch, shook Matt’s hand, downed the rest of her drink, and stood. “Let’s get back to the table,” she ordered, her face flushed with the excitement of winning.
    Two hours later, Raine stopped gambling and watched the cashier count out her winnings. Cash in hand, she peeled ten dollars off the stack, divided the rest equally, and gave half to Matt. He tried to give her fifty back, but she refused it.
    â€œNope, fair is fair,” she said as she slipped her share of the winnings into her clutch. “I’m flush with more money than I make in a month as a second lieutenant. But if it will make you feel better, you can buy me a nightcap at the hotel bar.”
    â€œI’d like that.” Feeling flush as well, Matt put the money in a shirt pocket and guided Raine out of the noisy, smoky gambling parlor into the late-night coolness.
    In the truck, he detoured to show her his old neighborhood, and parked across the street from the house where he’d been born. Behind the picket fence, the cottonwood now loomed overthe front of the small adobe casita. Matt had forgotten how small the place was. In the quiet of the night, he told her about Emma and all she’d done on her own to raise him before her untimely death.
    Over cordials at the hotel bar, Matt took his time sipping his drink, not wanting to say good night. He talked about Raine’s exciting run of luck at roulette. He mentioned how pleased he was she’d written to him and what a fine time their