Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(62)

She waved, picked up her purse, and didn’t give him time to get out of the truck and open the door for her. “What song was playing on the radio? It looked like you knew every word.”

“Oh?” he asked.

“You were singing something. I could see your mouth moving with the words,” she said, then changed the subject. “At least we’re finally rid of the skunk smell. Did you go back out there and take care of the food?”

He leaned over the console separating them and kissed her on the cheek. “I sure did and brought the quilt back to the house. It went through three washings before I put it in the dryer. But I think all the skunk smell is gone. At least all we got was his passing-by aroma and not a full-fledged dose of what could have happened if he raised that tail.”

“Hangover. Tornado. Wreck. Skunk. What’s going to happen tonight?” she asked.

“Not one thing. It’s going to go smooth because we’ve eaten our toad frog and it’s time for us to get good luck on our side from now on.” He straightened the truck up and started down the lane.

“Toad frog?” she snarled.

“Ever seen a dog froth at the mouth when they eat a frog?”

She nodded. “That’s why I can’t imagine eating one.”

“My grandpa said that you get up every morning and eat a toad frog and nothing can faze you the rest of the day. I reckon what we’ve been through is our toad frog and now it’s happy sailing from here on in.” He turned right at the end of the lane and drove through town.



Lizzy hoped that Toby was right and that Madam Fate was through testing her. She felt as if the old witch had picked her up, set her on a spindly tree limb, and then stood back and hurled rocks at her from a catapult. She’d managed to hang on but enough was enough, especially after the skunk.

Riding on a road that she’d traveled so many times that she knew every single landmark from the church in Elbert where they turned on Highway 79 to the old rotting log at the corner edge of the bridge crossing over the Brazos, things went past in a blur that evening. She didn’t remember shifting positions to get the setting sun out of her eyes or the time when Toby adjusted the sun visor to keep it from pouring into the truck cab.

“You are awfully quiet.” Toby picked up her hand and held it on top of the console separating them.

“I like that we are comfortable enough with each other that we don’t have to fill the space with lots of words,” she said.

He squeezed her hand. “Me, too.”

Lizzy recognized the place when Toby made a left-hand turn, crossed over a cattle guard and under a big sign welcoming them to the Dickson Ranch. The red barn’s doors were open on both ends with several stalls on each side of the concrete center aisle. Lizzy had been in that barn before. She’d ridden one of those horses when she dated Terry Dickson a couple of years ago.

A very pregnant woman with red hair must’ve heard the vehicle approaching because she left a horse stall and waved. Toby rolled down the window and stuck a hand out, but Lizzy let herself out of the truck and started toward the woman.

“Hey, Lizzy Logan.” Melanie Dickson smiled. “What are you buying donkeys for?”

“Not me,” Lizzy said. “The buyer is Toby Dawson from the Lucky Penny.”

“And you are with him?” Melanie’s green eyes widened. “I thought you were about to marry a preacher.”

“That’s old history. I didn’t know about the baby. Congratulations.” Maybe baby talk would steer the conversation away from Toby.

“I heard that the ranch over there had sold to some really sexy cowboys.” Her eyes got even bigger and she didn’t blink. “They weren’t exaggerating,” Melanie whispered. “I wouldn’t blame you for throwing out a preacher and taking him on.”

“It didn’t happen like that,” Lizzy said.

“Hello,” Melanie said. “I’m Melanie Dickson. Terry isn’t here but I’ve got your donkeys in a couple of stalls, and I know what the deal was between y’all.”

Toby stuck out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Dickson. I’ve got the check ready right here in my pocket. Could I look at the animals before I give it over to you?”

“Why, sure. Right this way,” she answered.

Toby tucked Lizzy’s hand inside his own and followed Melanie into the barn. The donkeys were housed in the first two stalls. One was a little plain old gray fellow, and the other one reminded Lizzy of a Dalmatian dog with his multiple black spots. Toby petted both and neither offered to take a chunk out of his hand.

“They look like good stock,” he said.

“We probably wouldn’t sell them, but we’re thinning the herd this summer. The gray one is a real pet, but he can get noisy when he doesn’t get breakfast on time. The spotted one is bashful and likes his apple in the evening. He’s not real partial to the tart kind, though,” Melanie said.

Toby handed her the check and opened the first stall door. “Come on, feller.” The donkey lowered his head and followed Toby like a puppy.

“He’s got a way with animals,” Melanie said. “I bet he’s got a way with the women, too? What can you tell me?”

“That the stories are probably right,” Lizzy whispered.