Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(33)

“Oh, honey,” Jud whispered for Fiona’s ears only, “I can go fast or I can have patience, depending on whatever you want.”

“Hush.” She blushed.

“Dora June can hold Audrey while we do all this,” Allie said.

“No, that’s my job since I won’t see her for a couple of weeks.” Katy took the baby from Dora June and sat down on the sofa with her. “We are going to watch this whole process together. Dora June, darlin’, will you unpack the ornaments and line them up on the coffee table so that they’ll be ready when the time comes?”

Dora June clapped her hands. “I love looking at the pretty ornaments and it’s a special year when me and Irene can put them on the tree together.”

When she turned around to pick up the box that had been marked ORNAMENTS, Fiona noticed that she wiped a tear from her eyes.

Fiona felt a sting of sadness for Dora June. She’d never had a big family around her as she decorated her tree. Even with Truman sitting in the background enjoying her cookies, it had to be lonely. Then another shot filled her heart as she watched Irene struggling to hold on to everything she held dear. Two old ladies: one with family that she didn’t even know some of the time, the other who wished she had family.

Lizzy bumped Fiona on the shoulder. “Time to get busy if we’re going to get this done tonight.”

“What are you and Allie going to do while I’m doing the hard work?” Fiona asked.

“We’re unpacking the boxes with the stuff in them like Mama said.”

“Mama lets me help with the ornaments,” Irene said.

“You can help tonight,” Katy told her. “You and Dora June can do that job together.”

“I think I’m supposed to be mad at Dora June but I can’t remember why,” Irene whispered.

“Y’all aren’t mad at each other anymore.” Katy patted her on the shoulder. “The miniature nativity scene goes on the mantel and the collection of snowmen goes on the top of the bookcase and the secretary and wherever you can find a place,” Katy said. “This is the last year we’ll put them on the end tables. Next year Audrey will be walking and she might hurt herself if she knocked one off and broke it.”

“And the snow globes?” Lizzy asked.

“Exactly in all the traditional places this year. We may have to rethink things next year since Audrey will be walking by then,” Irene answered.

“Have the lights been tested?” Fiona asked before she clipped another one to the branches. “This tree is artificial but I swear I smell pine.”

“I lit a pine-scented candle,” Dora June said. “And thank you, Katy for letting us continue to stay here while you are gone.”

Fiona’s hand brushed against Jud’s bare arm and the electricity was nothing short of pure static. How no one else saw it was a complete mystery.

“To answer your question about the lights, Fiona, the guys and I did that before you got home,” Jud answered.

Tradition: that’s what her mother said years ago when she asked why they still used the ancient lights on their tree when everyone else had gone to the flashing twinkle lights.

He stopped and she took another step, her whole body plastering against his, sending little spurts of heat from her toes to the ends of every red hair.

“Where does a person even buy the bulbs for these antiques anymore?” she murmured breathlessly as she took a step back.

“Anywhere,” Jud answered. “They sell every color imaginable for night-lights now. Same size as these are. My grandparents still use this kind. I saw a place online last week that’s selling strands of these again and I plan to buy some when I have my own home and Christmas tree.”

He bumped against her hip and more sparks flashed around like dozens of stars falling from the sky. Everyone talking at once covered Fiona’s quick intake of breath, thank God. She clipped the bulb to the tree and took a step, putting a foot of space between her and Jud but that didn’t do much for the heat between them.

“I’d offer you a penny for your thoughts but I bet you wouldn’t sell them that cheap,” Jud whispered.

Sweet Lord! She wouldn’t sell what she’d just been thinking for any amount of money.

“You got that right.” Crimson filled her cheeks.

“Are you blushing? Now I really want to know what you were thinking.” His warm breath caressed that soft spot on her neck, sending shivers up her back.

“You aren’t getting them spread out enough. We’ve only got two more strands and they have to do the whole tree,” Lizzy bossed from the sidelines.

“You worry about your job and leave me alone. The nativity is off center. The shed and manger go smack dab in the middle, or you won’t have enough room for all the rest of the animals,” Fiona told her.

“The joys of sisterhood.” Allie winked.

Toby unpacked figurines of sheep, a donkey, a few cows, and a couple goats. “Hey, where is Truman? I found goats.”

“Not even nativity goats would get him out here,” Dora June said above the noise. “The music has stopped. Someone needs to start another CD. I always play music when I’m decorating.”

“It ain’t Christmas without music,” Irene said.

“Yes, ma’am.” Blake crossed the floor to the corner where the CD player was located and chose an album with a mixture of country music artists.