Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(55)

“I want to be ready. Never know when a pretty girl will want to spend some time outside under the stars rather than under the fan above my bed.” He chuckled.

“Put them on your bill?” she asked.

“No, I got cash. Can’t hardly classify them as a farm expense on my taxes,” he answered.

Lizzy rang up the total and Deke paid her with two twenty-dollar bills. He put the change in his shirt pocket and carried the box out the front door. “Hey, don’t forget to lock up that new overhead door.” He stopped and turned back around. “I told the boys to leave it up when they got all done. And we moved the light switch over a foot so be prepared for that change. Other than that, it’s all the same as it was.”

“Thanks again, Deke,” she called out.

She made sure everything was locked up tight, that Stormy was fed and the kittens were all given equal petting time, and closed up shop at five fifteen. Katy had offered to pick up takeout from Nadine’s that evening for supper because she had to pack for her Vegas trip and wanted Lizzy to help her.

Lizzy was glad to have something to do to take her mind off the next night. She’d been to bed with Toby numerous times. They’d shared dozens of kisses that came close to melting her insides with the fake dating thing. The whole town knew they were a couple these days, but this was the first time they were really going out together.

She’d never been so nervous about anything in her life. Not when she went out with Mitch the first time. Not even when she dated those other two guys she’d had brief relationships with. So what did it all mean? That she was playing with fire and was sure to get burned? Or that she was doing the right thing in spite of all the advice she’d been given against it?





Chapter Fifteen



Friday night was hot so Lizzy opted for a pair of jean shorts, a pastel plaid shirt, and sandals for her date. Surely that wasn’t too casual since he’d said she could wear jeans. She pulled her hair up away from her face and clamped it with a big clip, slapped on a minimum of makeup, and hoped that wherever they were going food was involved.

Nervousness made her hungry and right then she could have eaten half an Angus steer and polished off a couple of apple pies—with ice cream on top! Purse slung over her shoulder, she was on her way to the porch swing when she heard the crunch of tires on the gravel lane.

Her stomach knotted up and her palms went clammy. But it was a false alarm. Katy pulled up into the driveway, parked her vehicle, and waved. “We made last-minute changes. We are meeting here and all going down to Dallas in one vehicle. Janie and Trudy will be here in about five minutes. They’re coming down the back roads from Seymour.”

If Lizzy could have kicked Madam Fate right square in the shins she would have done so and enjoyed every second of it, even if it broke her toes. Now all those women who hadn’t seen her since she was a little girl would arrive at the same time Toby did. Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! The words kept repeating themselves.

Be nice or she’ll figure that something is going on.

“Want a glass of sweet tea?” Lizzy asked.

“Not now. I’d have to stop at every bathroom from here to Dallas if I drank tea. I thought you and Toby were going dancing or out to eat tonight.” Katy sat down on the swing and eyed Lizzy from sandals to hair.

“We are going out, but it’s casual. Are you playing slots or poker this weekend?” Lizzy changed the subject.

“Slots. I’ve got a set amount that I plan to spend tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday morning before we leave. I’ll stretch it out and make it last all weekend. We are going to see a show tomorrow night and, Lizzy, I’m so excited I can hardly sit still. But another part of me is worried that something will happen while I’m gone. If they call about your grandmother, you get in touch with me immediately.” Katy finally took a breath. “I’ve taken care of her so long that I feel guilty taking the weekend for something other than going to see her.”

Lizzy patted her mother’s hand. “Mama, most of the time she doesn’t know us anyway, but if it will make you feel better, I’ll go see her Sunday after church. Or I’ll go see her instead of church.”

Katy smiled. “Church first and then go see her. That helps my feelings a lot, Lizzy. Even if she doesn’t recognize us, I don’t want her to go two weeks with no one dropping by.”

“I’ll see if Allie wants to go with me and we’ll make a girls’ day of it.” Lizzy withdrew her hand and set the swing in motion with her foot.

“Allie and Blake left this evening to go to his folks’ place in Muenster. They’ll be gone until Sunday night. It was spur of the moment. Toby said he’d hold down the fort so they could get away for the weekend.”

Lizzy sucked in a double lungful of air and let it out in a rush. “That means I’m going to church with no support group. Dora June and her little buddies will slice me up and feed me to the buzzards.”

“Why?” Katy narrowed her eyes.

Lizzy gave her the short version of what had happened in the store that day. When she finished, Katy’s mouth was set in a firm line and her perfectly arched brows drawn down into a frown.

“That which does not kill us,” she said.

“After Sunday I should be able to bench-press a John Deere tractor. I hear the parade turning off the main road.” Lizzy pointed.