Chapter 44

“How long are you staying?” Davina asked.

“We start back for Manchester tomorrow morning,” Barry told her.

She shook her head. “You’re not going to see a quarter of the things you want to in such a short time. Buckingham Palace is only open in the summer, only UK residents can climb the Big Ben tower, and Downing Street is gated off.”

The news didn’t seem to bother Jimmy and Jake overmuch.

“I’m free for the rest of the day. So, if you want, I could show you some of the sites. My uncle works at the Tower of London and he should be able to let you see things most other tourists don’t see,” Davina offered.

“Cool,” Jake said after checking with Barry that he was in agreement.

“Thank you. But I hate to take up your day off,” Barry said.

Davina waved his comment away. “I’d only be cleaning the flat and sitting in the launderette reading a book.”

“Don’t they keep the crown jewels in the tower?” Jimmy asked.

Davina nodded.

“No, they won’t let you try them on,” Barry told him.

Jimmy crossed his arms over his chest and mock pouted.

“You’re enough of a queen without wearing her crown,” Jake told him.

“Screw you,” Jimmy retorted.

Barry’s foot, which had been resting against Jimmy’s boot, moved back and delivered a gentle kick. “I’m so sorry, Davina. Sometimes they forget themselves.”

“Yes, sorry, miss,” both cowboys said, sitting up straighter, hands automatically going to hat brims.

Davina laughed. “I’ve got two older brothers. So trust me, I’ve heard a lot worse.”

Jimmy and Jake behaved themselves for the rest of the cab ride, and Davina explained some of the things they passed.

They exited the cab, Davina paying the driver before Barry even had a chance to get his wallet out. Jimmy took Barry’s hand once again and Jake patted Barry’s shoulder before opening the door to the restaurant for Davina.

As the breakfast rush was over, they had their choice of tables.

Jake walked to the back of the café and stood by a booth. “This okay?”

“Notice you picked one near the john,” Jimmy said.

“Jimmy!” Barry warned. To Davina he said, “An old joke.”

“Very old,” Jake said, taking off his hat and coat and gesturing to Davina to enter the booth before him.

“Such a gentleman,” she said, smiling and scooting along the bench seat.

Barry, well used to the drill, took off his coat, sat down and slid across so Jimmy could sit next to him. Always when they ate Jimmy or Jake would insist he take the inside seat, most likely so he’d be protected should anything untoward happen. He doubted his men were even aware what they were doing. But Barry never said anything, finding it endearing.

Barry felt Jimmy’s left leg pressing against Barry’s right leg. Barry reached under the table to pat Jimmy’s knee.

Jimmy smiled gratefully at Barry before picking up his menu and beginning to leaf through it. He then lowered it, fixed Davina with a look, and asked, “You paying for this, too?”

“Jimmy!” Barry said.

Davina laughed. “You two are a trip. Yes, I can put it on expenses.”

“That’s all right then. I’ll have the Royal Breakfast with an extra serving of toast.”

Barry shook his head but couldn’t help smiling at his blue cowboy’s cheek.

Naturally, Jake refused to be upstaged, so ordered the same as Jimmy.

Barry figured as he’d be doing most of the talking he should order something light, so opted for a bowl of fresh fruit with yoghurt and muesli. Also, he could use his spoon in his left hand should Jimmy need to hold his right.

Davina, being a vegetarian, opted for the meat-free breakfast.

As they drank coffee and awaited their food, Davina asked a few general questions about their lives, but nothing too intrusive.

Barry told her that he initially got the idea of setting Ranch-O-Rama on the Double J because he doubted many people would know what ranching was really about. “I certainly didn’t when I first arrived.”

“Why make it so true to life? I mean, the characters in the game exist in real life don’t they?” Davina asked.

Barry opened his mouth to answer but Jimmy said, “Yes, but as you can see, I’m better looking in real life.”

“And more of an asshole,” Jake threw back.

Davina laughed. “You certainly capture the banter between the men in the game.”

“I’m surrounded by it all day, so I guess it was inevitable it made it into the game,” Barry told her.

“We don’t mean anything by it though,” Jimmy said quietly. “Jake and now Barry,” he swallowed, “mean everything to me.”

Barry took Jimmy’s left hand and brought it to his lips.