Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(18)

Chapter Six



When Lizzy opened the store on Thursday morning, there were more than a dozen women waiting to check out what was left on her sales racks or to buy something that they had to have before life could go on that day. Lucy Hudson led the pack of rumor-hungry women into the feed store and went straight to the checkout counter where she took up post.

“I’m here to protect you from the coyotes and wolves,” she whispered to Lizzy.

“Thank you,” Lizzy mouthed.

Dora June, Truman’s wife, pretended to look through the round sales rack at the front of the store, but it didn’t take her long to make her way to the counter. “Elizabeth Logan, I hear you were seen in public last night with that new cowboy who’s at the Lucky Penny.”

“And who told you such a thing?” Lizzy asked.

Dora June shook her finger at Lizzy. “You know exactly who told me. Mitch’s mother was mortified.”

Lizzy held her hands tightly behind her back to keep from grabbing that bony finger and giving it two or three twists to the left. “Why? Wanda was the one with the objection to Mitch marrying someone of questionable background. She was afraid that I might be too wild for her precious son. I would have expected her to be gloating because she was right.”

Nadine, along with half a dozen other women, left the rack and gathered around the counter like heifers at feeding time. She caught Lizzy’s eye and winked. “If I wasn’t married, I’d give you a run for your money with Toby Dawson. He’s the hottest thing I’ve seen in this part of the state in years and years. I’m dying to know if he kissed you and what it was like. Sharlene says to tell you that the race ain’t done until there’s rings and wedding bells involved.”

Dora June’s finger shot around so fast that it barely missed clipping Lucy’s nose. “Lord have mercy, Nadine! Married women don’t talk like that.”

“Miz Dora June, darlin’, when you are on a diet do you stop looking at all those lovely candy bars over at Katy’s store? I don’t think so. The rules say we can’t touch or be touched. They don’t say that we can’t look.” Nadine giggled.

Dora June pursed her thin mouth so tightly that it completely disappeared into the bed of wrinkles surrounding it. She sucked in enough air to push out her ample breasts a few more inches and narrowed her beady little eyes. “Elizabeth, I had high hopes for you,” she said tersely.

“And those were?” Lizzy asked.

“That you would realize God had other plans for Mitch and that you would find another godly man.” Dora June crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot on the wooden floor.

“All godly men are not trustworthy or exciting. We all found that out when Mitch pulled that stunt that he did,” Lucy said quickly. “I heard you were discussing building a house with Toby. Just how fast is this train moving?”

Oh, Lucy, you have no idea where that train has already been, Lizzy said to herself. Crazy how that we managed to sneak around for sex for three weeks and no one even suspected. But let me get in the truck with him and suddenly they assume we’re heading for the altar. Well, they don’t know Toby Dawson.

“Well?” Dora June asked. “Are you going to answer Lucy’s question or not?”

“I’m not sure. Can I wait until after Saturday night to answer that question? If you like I could stand up in church on Sunday morning and tell everyone so you don’t have to make so many phone calls to repeat the gossip. I’m going dancing with him at a bar up near Wichita Falls and I’ll know more after that,” Lizzy answered.

“I was planning to go to that bar to celebrate this Saturday,” Mary Jo said.

“What are you celebrating?” Lizzy asked.

Mary Jo shrugged. “Maybe that I’ve decided to be a blond this weekend with strawberry streaks. Maybe that I went twenty-four hours without chocolate. I celebrate something new every weekend.”

Dora June rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Women these days…”

“What?” Lizzy asked. “Something wrong with having a little fun? I would appreciate it if you tell Wanda that if she wants to be right there for firsthand gossip, I’ll save her a place at our table or beside us at the bar.”

“Well, I never in all my life heard such insolence from you, Elizabeth. Your mama needs to give you a talkin’ to. I can’t believe she is going to let you go to a sinful place like that with that awful cowboy.” Dora June spun around like an agile ballerina, but it took her three chins a while to catch up. They were still wiggling, trying to find their comfort zone under her bulldog cheeks, when she glared over her shoulder at Lizzy.

“I was thinkin’ about askin’ Mama to go with me. She hasn’t been out dancin’ since Daddy died,” Lizzy called out.

“And you might do well to remember, Dora June, that Lizzy is not sixteen. Last time I checked she’s past twenty-five and I reckon she can make up her own mind about where she goes and what cowboy she drags along behind her to buy the beer. And furthermore, she is Irene Miller’s granddaughter. That alone says volumes about her determination and stubbornness.” Lucy raised her voice.

All she got for an answer was the ring of a cowbell above the exit and the slamming of an old wooden door. The women were soon gone, leaving only Lucy and Nadine in the store.