Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(32)

“They were. According to the weather report, the snow stops just north of us and is going to the east,” Katy answered.

“Hey, y’all, I hear there’s a tree decoratin’ goin’ on tonight.” Deke swept into the house through the kitchen door, hung up his coat and hat, and grabbed two sandwiches on his way to the living room. “Granny! I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

“I’m always here when it’s time to decorate,” Irene said.

“It’s a Christmas miracle,” Dora June whispered to Fiona. “She’s good tonight.”

“I know.” Fiona nodded.

For someone who had put up such a fuss about Allie and Lizzy marrying those two Dawson brothers, Dora June sure was acting like a loving grandmother that night. Maybe since she’d figured out she couldn’t lick them, she’d join them as the old saying went. Truman was nowhere to be seen, but then Fiona didn’t expect him to come out of his cave and be civil.

“We’ve been waiting for y’all to get home,” Lizzy said. “The guys brought down all the Christmas decorations, and we’re ready to start putting up the tree. The outside will have to wait until the weekend. We can’t get the lights up out there in this blinding snow.”

Fiona picked up a sandwich and ate it on the way to the living room. “Holy smoke, Allie! There’s enough stuff in here to decorate half the state of Texas.”

“Ain’t it wonderful.” Dora June almost swooned. “This is the most exciting day I’ve had in as long as I can remember. Give me that baby and let me sit in the rocker and just watch. Come and sit beside me, Irene, and we’ll talk about old times.”

Irene stacked three more cookies in her hand and followed Dora June to the living room, sat down on the end of the sofa, and asked Dora June to tell her about the fire.

Allie put Audrey in Dora June’s lap. “When it comes to putting on the ornaments, you have to help.”

Fiona sat down on the other end of the sofa and watched the guys put together the eight-foot artificial tree. Thank goodness they built houses with high ceilings in the early part of the previous century.

“I can’t believe Allie and Lizzy are nice to me. I’ve been so nervous about this all day that I almost spent the evening in the bedroom with Truman, but I want to watch the Christmas decorations going up and I do love holding a baby. This is my favorite season of the whole year,” Dora June whispered behind her hand to Fiona.

“Us Logans don’t carry grudges…not for very long,” Fiona said softly. “Besides, it’s Christmas and miracles happen at this time of year.”

“Thank you, Lord.” Dora June looked toward the ceiling.

“I love Christmas,” Irene said.

“You think if I invited Truman to join us it might help?” Fiona asked.

Dora June shook her head. “If he comes out of the room, it has to be his decision. He didn’t help with decorations, but he did sit in his recliner and eat cookies the day that I put the tree up. He’s not much of a shopper, but he does pick out a card every year and he puts a hundred-dollar bill in it for me to spend on whatever I want. He might have been different if we’d had kids, but the mumps fixed Truman right before we married.”

“I’m sorry. You would have made a good mama and grandma,” Fiona said.

“I wanted a family but we’ve done all right except for the Christmas thing. Maybe it was because he had the mumps at Christmas and that soured him on the holiday. But I love it and I’ve had my tree and my decorations every year. I’m glad y’all are putting up one here since mine burned,” Dora June said sadly.

“Fiona, Jud needs help getting the lights on the tree,” Katy said. “I do believe y’all will have to wait until the weekend to get the outside stuff up and running. That wind is getting fierce out there.”

Fiona whipped around to lock gazes with her mother. “You’ve decided to go?”

“I have. I called Trudy while you were tidying up your paperwork and told her to pick me up in the morning,” Katy answered. “And thank you.”

“Go where?” Allie asked.

Fiona draped an arm around her mother’s shoulders. “She is going on a two-week vacation to Florida with her friends.”

“I can…”

“We will…”

Jud and Dora June both spoke at once and then stopped.

“Nothing needs to change. The only difference in the routine is that I won’t be here,” Katy said. “Now let’s get started on this tree. Fiona, you help Jud. Lizzy, you and Allie unpack the other boxes of decorations.”

“Are you sure?” Dora June asked.

“Absolutely. You’ll need to keep an eye on these two kids I’m leaving in your care.” Katy grinned. “And you two kids will have to keep a watch out for Dora June and Truman. Don’t let them work too hard.”

“Well, I think it’s a great idea for you to get away for a little while—long as you don’t decide to stay down there,” Allie said.

“Me too. I’d sure want you here for Christmas,” Lizzy chimed in.

“The timing is perfect.” Fiona started clipping lights to the tree. “Mama can have the fun of the trip and be home a few days before the holiday. Don’t go so fast, Jud. This part takes time and patience.”