Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(28)

“I got work to do. Ain’t got time for none of you Dawsons’ problems. Got enough of my own,” Truman said coldly.

“Then I’ll help you with chores this morning so you’ll have the time. It’s just a matter of a little hike. If you’re too old to do much walkin’, I guess I could just tell you what the problem is.”

“Boy”—Truman set his jaws in a clench— “I could outwalk you any day of the week. I’m used to hard work.”

“We’ll see about that.” Jud smiled. “I’ll help you get your work done and then we’ll see if you get winded on the hike back to the place I want you to take a look at.”

“Hmmph,” Truman snorted.

Jud pushed back his chair, hurried across the kitchen floor, and took the two plates from Dora June. He set one in front of Truman and the other across the table. “I’ll ride with you and then we can come back here when we’re done. The place I need you to see can’t be reached by truck. You’ll need to bundle up so you don’t get sick.”

“I’m used to the weather, so don’t tell me how to dress. Maybe I don’t want you to ride with me. Can’t you get it through your thick head that I don’t like you or your kin? And what’s to say that after you work for me that I turn around and don’t go with you?” Truman dug into the breakfast Dora June set before him.

“You might be a jackass, Truman, but you are an honest man, so if I work for you, then you will do what I ask,” Jud said.

Dora June brought a plate of muffins to the table and sat down beside Truman.

He buttered a muffin and laid it on the side of his plate, then shot a dirty look across the table at Jud. “Jackass, am I?”

“I didn’t stutter,” Jud said.

“Well, if you’re going to ride with me, you’d better get to eatin’ because I’m not waitin’ for you,” Truman said.

Jud had never shoveled food in so fast or gotten his boots and coat on in such a hurry. When Truman came out of the house, Jud was leaning on the fender of the old guy’s truck. The look on Truman’s face was absolutely priceless.

“It ain’t locked,” Truman said. “I only open the doors for Dora June.”

Jud nodded seriously and crawled inside. Truman got in, ignored the seat belt, and started the engine.

“I reckon we’re in for a hell of a winter. Only hope I’ve got enough hay in the barn to carry me through,” Truman said. “You boys are going to be hurtin’ big-time.”

“I don’t think so. We put up enough for the herd in the worst conditions and then added another forty big bales to that number, plus we always use some cattle feed to keep the weight on them in the cold weather,” Jud countered.

Truman turned right at the end of the lane. The Lucky Penny lay to the right, and down the road a bit was Deke’s new place over on the left. Just past that, Truman turned into his lane, drove past the charred remains of what used to be his home, and drove on out to the barn.

“What kind of stock are you runnin’?” Jud asked.

“Twenty goats and a hundred head of cattle.”

“Why goats?” Jud asked.

“Dora June thinks the babies are cute in the spring and I sell off the stock in August. It gives her a little extra money to put in her jar.”

Jud opened the door and got out of the truck. “What does she do with the money?”

“Never asked. It’s hers and it’s her business.”

“Okay, goats first and then cattle?” Jud asked.

Truman nodded. “Load up two bags of them pellets and we’ll drive over to the goat pen.”

Jud hoisted a bag up on each shoulder and tossed them over into the back of Truman’s truck. “Now what?” he asked.

Truman almost smiled. “I’ll drive and you can dump it in their feeder. Be careful around that old billy goat. Dora June is the only person he likes. He’s put me over the fence more’n once.”

Jud fought the urge to pump his fist in the air. A smile from Truman was a hell of a lot of progress for one morning’s work.

“Okay. You want me and my cousins to bring the dozer over here when this weather clears up and take care of that fire mess?”

“Hell no!” Truman raised his voice. “Insurance ain’t decided what they’re going to do yet. Don’t know why they’re actin’ like it was arson. It was that damned old Christmas tree Dora June puts up every single year.”

“Did you hear that the whole family is coming over for supper tonight and we’re putting up decorations?” Jud asked.

“I ain’t goin’ to be involved in that shit. I’ll stay in my room,” he said.

“Why?”

“I hate Christmas,” Truman said.

“That’s sad.”

“I don’t need your pity. I can hate it if I want to,” Truman declared.

“I guess that’s your choice. I love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday.”

Truman grunted.

It wasn’t far to the goat pen and the herd seemed oblivious to snowflakes drifting down from the cold gray skies. The younger ones romped around playing king of the mountain on a couple of hay bales. The older ones pawed at the snow so they could get at the brown grass beneath it. The two bags filled the feed trough and the billy goat was far too interested in eating to mess with Jud.