The Wild Bunch 3 Casa Read Online Free PDF

threatened to split his face. When he climbed into the truck on the passenger side, Casa wondered if it had become a habit now.
    "Don't you wanna drive?"
    "No, you better do it this time. I've got to do some exercises to loosen up the joints and get the muscles back to work, the doc said. I might not be able to control my leg enough yet to be safe. But how about we stop at the Buckhorn for a beer? I sure feel like celebrating."
    Casa returned Jason's grin. "You betcha, boss-man. This calls for a cold one or two for sure, but as designated driver I better limit myself to one."
    A lot of ranch folks made it to town on Friday afternoons and the favorite rustic hangout was filling fast. Casa followed Jason to the bar with several stops to talk with local people who knew about the accident and offered congratulations on his recovery. Jason took some joshing, too, but his cheerful demeanor did not slip a notch. When they finally made it to the bar, he ordered two Buds for them.
    While Jason downed the first one and two more, Casa leaned on the bar and sipped his single beer slowly. It sure felt good to stand shoulder to shoulder there as if they were not boss and employee, but partners. Not that Jason ever talked down to those who worked for him. He never said or did a single thing to demean anyone, really. That was part of what Casa admired. He knew a lot of men as well off as Jason clearly was who never let their workers forget who was top dog. And being Mexican, Casa had endured his full share of put downs and outright prejudice.
    Finally, Jason glanced at his watch. "Guess we'd better get our butts back to the ranch. Chores go on no matter what, don't they?"
    Their departure went almost as slowly as the entrance, but eventually they made it back to the truck.
    "Shit fire," Jason exclaimed as he glanced at the sun, almost ready to drop behind the distant mountains in Arizona. "It's later than I figured." He turned to grin at Casa. "You shoulda grabbed me by the arm and hauled my lazy ass out of there."
    Casa shook his head. "No way. I was having too much fun listening to everyone hoo-rahing you about being too old to ride a rank bull and all the rest. When that wild daughter of ole Hank Lee's asked you to dance, I almost laughed my butt off."
    Jason chuckled too. "Yeah, they say she's hell on roller skates. I'm not quite up to dancin' yet and prob'ly wouldn't do it with her anyway. Wouldn't do much with her to tell the truth. But then you and me would look pretty strange out there two-stepping, wouldn't we?"
    Casa was torn between mirth and consternation as he visualized the situation Jason described. He went hot and cold thinking about them holding each other in the intimate embrace a dance required, but the heat won. "Cut that out, boss," he said. "You're about half lit and talking crazy here."
    "Me, drunk on three beers? I don't think so. I'm fifty pounds lighter than I was a few hours ago and it's got me high as a kite."
    They fell silent for a few minutes. Then Casa had to say something to fill the quiet in the cab. "I'd have danced with you if you asked, you know. I'd do it anytime or anywhere."
    Now it seemed it was Jason's turn to feel disconcerted. He waited a beat before he responded. "Would you really? Damn, I appreciate that, more than you know. We might get a chance one of these days. I bet you could dance the boots off a statue of John Wayne."
    Casa had to laugh at that ludicrous notion. "Not quite, but they threw some hellacious bailes down on the big ranch in Texas when I was a kid. I started dancing almost as soon as I could walk."
    He almost went on to blurt out the plan for a barbeque, but caught himself in time. However, he'd talk to Stace and Spark soon about adding some music. That was one thing they hadn't considered and would certainly give some special flavor to the party. Of course, he and Spark both played guitar and sang a bit and on occasion Stace added a melodic baritone harmony. This event might