Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(27)

“I’m so glad that you and Lizzy are in a relationship even if it isn’t real,” Blake said out the side of his mouth. “It sure takes the pressure off me and Allie for a while.”

“Glad to be of help. We’re going to Wichita Falls to see her granny. Y’all want to go with us?” Toby asked.

Truman O’Dell pushed through the crowded church and stopped in front of Lizzy. “I heard where you were last night and what you were doing. I guess Mitch was right in finding another woman. You sure ain’t no preacher’s wife and you’ve proven it.”

“That is enough, sir,” Toby said.

“Yes, it is.” Katy laid a hand on Truman’s shoulder. “You have no idea what happened in Lizzy’s life and you won’t judge her. Don’t talk to my girls like that again or you’ll answer to me.”

“I’ve said my piece.” Truman marched out of the church without even shaking the preacher’s hand.



They found Granny sitting in her room watching episodes of The Golden Girls. While they waited in the door she fussed at Rose for being so stupid and told Blanche she was too damn old to be flirting with those young men. Then she noticed them and clapped her hands.

“Lizzy, you’ve come to visit and brought a new boyfriend. Thank God! I thought you might moon around and never get over Mitch. What’s in the bag?” Irene asked.

“Granny, this is Toby. Remember meeting him? He’s Blake’s brother,” Lizzy said.

“Well, come on in and drag up a chair. How’s Allie? Is the baby here yet?”

Lizzy situated her chair as close to her grandmother as she could get, and Toby sat across the room. “No, not until fall, Granny.”

“I forget, you know,” she whispered. “What did you bring me?”

“Powdered sugar doughnuts and a couple of those fried cherry pies from the deli in the grocery store. Which one do you want first?” Lizzy pulled them from the brown paper bag. “And a bag of miniature candy bars to put in your drawer.”

“I’ll hide them real good. The people in this prison steal candy,” she whispered.

“Granny, this is not a prison,” Lizzy said.

“Window won’t raise up. Doors are locked. It’s fancy, but it’s a prison,” Granny argued. “When are you and this fine-lookin’ young man gettin’ married? Can I wear red to this one? I hated that blue dress you had picked out for me to wear to the last one. I was glad that son of a bitch broke up with you because I didn’t have to wear that dress.” She opened the bag of small doughnuts and stuffed two into her mouth.

“We sang ‘I’ll Fly Away’ in church this morning,” Lizzy said.

Irene swallowed the doughnuts, sucked down part of a glass of water through a straw, and started the old hymn in a high clear soprano voice. Lizzy could have kissed Toby when he joined in with his deep voice. She harmonized with them and Irene smiled through the whole song.

“Now I’ve been to church.” She clapped her hands again. “Who is this young man again?”

“Toby Dawson,” Lizzy said.

“Katy, darlin’, you know you shouldn’t bring him here. You are engaged to someone else.”

Just like that Granny had left the present and was back to that time when Katy was preparing for her wedding to Lizzy’s father. “I won’t tell your daddy, but tell me this is a friend and not that awful boy from the Lucky Penny.”

Lizzy leaned closer to her grandmother and laid her head on her shoulder. “He’s the music director at the church and we thought you might like to sing some songs today so I brought him with me.”

Irene broke out into “I’ll Fly Away” again with Toby and Lizzy singing right along with her for a second time. When they’d finished she brought out three doughnuts and ate them slowly.

“Katy, I’m really getting sleepy. It was fun going to choir practice with you and this young preacher, but it’s time for you to go now so I can take a nap. Maybe later we’ll work on your wedding dress,” she said.

“I’d like that. I’m going to set your doughnuts and pies right here on the bedside table and your candy is in your top drawer,” Lizzy said.

“Good girl.” Irene curled up on her bed.

Lizzy pulled a throw over her, kissed her on the forehead, and nodded at Toby. She’d planned to spend the whole afternoon with her grandmother and almost cried when Irene recognized her. But she’d have to be happy with a few minutes of real time when she could get it.

She made it to the door when Irene called out. “Lizzy, darlin’, I like your boyfriend. Give Allie a kiss for me. And tell Dora June that she can kiss my ass.”

Lizzy started back into the room but before she got to the bed, Irene was snoring.

“How did she know about Dora June?” she wondered aloud as she and Toby made their way back up the hall to the lobby.

“Your mama probably told her when she stopped by to see her and told her everything that had happened,” Toby answered. “It’s a lovely day. Let’s get an ice cream cone and go to the park.”

One of the attendants punched in the code to open the door. “We love Miz Irene in here. She’s a hoot no matter what world she is in.”

“We appreciate y’all taking such good care of her,” Lizzy said as she and Toby stepped outside. “It’s going to rain. I can smell it in the air.”