Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(14)

“I always considered Allie and Lizzy to be geniuses,” Fiona said.

The three chins quivered when Dora June shook her head. “In business, they are but, honey, when it comes to men, well, you are the smart one. Where is that husband of yours?”

“Living with his new wife, I would expect,” Fiona said.

Dora June’s hand was a blur as it went from Fiona’s shoulder to the chubby woman’s cheek. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine now.”

“Well, you should steer clear of that Jud Dawson, honey. Show a little more sense than your sisters.”

“Dora June, I think my sisters are the smartest women in the whole county, maybe the whole state of Texas when it comes to men because they are married to men who adore them.”

Dora June quickly changed the subject. “Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? I got mine all done yesterday.” She lowered her voice. “Truman hates it but then he’s an old Scrooge when it comes to the holidays. Maybe he would have been different if we’d have had kids but then maybe his attitude is why God didn’t see fit to give us any. I’ll be seeing you at the store, I’m sure.” She leaned in even closer. “Listen to me. The Lucky Penny isn’t kind to the folks who own it. Your poor sisters will wind up having to leave their businesses and move away from Dry Creek. Your mama will only have you left to help her.”

She was gone before Fiona could say a single word. When she finally made it to the door, shook hands with the preacher, and the cold north wind whipped her long red hair around to slap her in the face, her family had gone. All but Jud, who was two people behind her and the last person to shake the preacher’s hand.

“Guess we’re the last two people on earth,” Jud said. “Good thing I brought my own truck or we’d both be walking a couple of miles.” He looked down at her shoes. “Or maybe I’d be walkin’ and carryin’ you.”

“Don’t fool yourself. I can run as fast in these shoes as you can in those boots,” she said.

“But aren’t you glad we don’t have to?” He escorted her out across the parking lot with his hand on the small of her back.

Truman drove past them so slow that Fiona could have reached inside and hugged Dora June if the window had been down. Not that she would have wanted to, not as sour as they both looked.

“The gossip will have us sleeping together by morning since you are taking me home and well, you know, your cousins and my sisters, their stories are only going to fuel the blaze of the whole thing,” Fiona groaned.

“Might as well have the game if we’re going to have the name,” Jud drawled.

“Not in your wildest nightmares, cowboy.” Fiona pulled free from him and let herself into the truck.

“Now they’ll say I’m only sleeping with you. That I’m not even a gentleman who’ll open the doors for you,” Jud teased.

“Just drive us home. Small towns!” She folded her arms across her chest and looked straight ahead at the dark clouds rolling into Dry Creek.

“Ain’t they wonderful?” Jud started the engine, pulled out of the parking lot, and turned south to go to Audrey’s Place. “Didn’t you miss it when you were in the big city?”

“I missed family and potlucks but not the gossip,” she answered.

“But that’s where the fun is.” His beautiful smile, just slightly crooked on the left side, lit up the interior of the truck. “It makes folks so happy to spread secrets whether they are true or not. The preacher said we should love our neighbors, didn’t he?”

“As in food, shelter, and necessities for life, not as in rumors. I don’t like gossip, so if I love my neighbor as myself, then I don’t have to like their gossip, either,” she argued.

“Am I your neighbor since we are sharing food and all that other stuff?” he asked.

“No, that makes you my roommate,” she said. “A neighbor doesn’t live in the house with you.”

“If we considered our bedrooms as our apartments and the landing as the hallway between our apartments, then we would be neighbors. Then you would be heavenly bound to love me, right?” he teased.

“Is that a line you use in bars to pick up women?”

“This ain’t no bar and we didn’t just have a dozen beers, Fiona.”

“Why do you care if I love my neighbor, namely you? We can share a house without loving each other like it says in the Bible. Lots of married folks do.” She unfolded her arms and held her hands in her lap.

His chuckle was every bit as deep as his drawl. “I like your sense of humor.”

The chuckle developed into laughter. She tried to bite back the smile, but it didn’t work and for the first time in months, Fiona laughed until her sides ached. About nothing. About everything. And when he parked the truck beside the others in front of Audrey’s Place, she felt freer than she had in more than a year. Not even her therapist had set her soul free like laughing with Jud Dawson over something that wasn’t even funny.

For that she owed him.

“For something that wasn’t supposed to be funny, that was sure a hoot,” he said.

She nodded, swung open the door, and caught a snowflake on her tongue. The warmth and the buzz of conversation welcomed her into the house. She and Jud hung their coats on the rack inside the door.