Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(41)

“So, Deke, I heard you were out with a hot redhead over the weekend,” Jud said.

Deke laughed. “So hot that butter would melt right off her naked body.”

“Hot enough to melt an Eskimo’s igloo?” Toby asked.

“Are we going to get into so hot stories?” Blake chuckled.

“You used to tell them better than anyone,” Deke answered.

“You’ll be reformed someday. When your baby daughter wraps her fist around your little finger and smiles at you for the first time, all those hot women stories will disappear,” Blake said.

“Now that would take magic or miracles. I’m not ever settling down to one woman. There’s too many out there all lined up for a little Deke love for that kind of nonsense.” Deke grinned. “How about you, Jud?”

“Don’t get me to tellin’ lies.” Jud dipped his paintbrush into the bucket and kept working.

“So you’re ready to settle down?” Deke’s hazel eyes popped wide open. “And here I thought I’d have one bar buddy for a long time.”

“I didn’t say a word about settling down,” Jud said. “But changing the subject. I’m glad we’re all here because I’ve got something I want to talk to y’all about.” Jud went on to tell them about the old well and what Truman had told him.

“If there was oil on the Lucky Penny, don’t you think someone would have discovered it?” Deke said.

“This ranch has been grown up in mesquite for years. No one even thought to look past the unlucky reputation that it has had all this time.” Jud had a steady hand and was almost to the corner.

“In other words, no one looked beneath the surface and everyone thought that well had water in it. I was looking forward to using it this spring after we cleared the land around it,” Toby said. “I got to admit, I’m a little disappointed. But if it yields a gusher, it would sure turn our five-year plan around.”

“Well, I’d like to keep it under our hats until spring. I can have all the paperwork done for what we need in the meantime, and if it’s got the potential I think it does, the Lucky Penny will finally live up to its name instead of its reputation.”

“Good luck,” Deke said. “Now, what’s this I hear about you helping Truman? Did y’all see him peeking around the corner last night while we were decorating? What do you figure that was all about?”

“He’s a lonely old coot,” Jud answered. “Y’all remember Mr. Henry?”

“Who?” Deke started back to work.

Blake laid his roller down and gulped down a third of his beer. “Mr. Henry was the scrooge in Muenster for years.”

“Like in the movies?” Deke asked.

“Exactly. He didn’t give out candy on Halloween. He would call the police if a kid walked on his grass on the way home from school. Truman reminds me of him. He’s even about the size Mr. Henry was and he’s got that mean look in his eye,” Toby said. “I was terrified of him when I was a little kid.”

Deke stopped long enough to wipe a blob of white paint from his cheek. “What happened to him?”

“He died a couple of years ago,” Blake answered.

“But a grandson that he didn’t even know he had came to live with him about ten years before that,” Jud said. “The kid was probably twelve that year because he was a few years younger than me. Anyway, that boy turned Mr. Henry’s life around. I intend to turn Truman’s around. Mr. Scrooge is going to be Santa Claus on Christmas morning.”

“I’ll bet you fifty dollars that won’t happen,” Deke laughed.

“I’d rather bet a case of beer. If he’s wearing a red suit on Christmas morning, you owe me a case of beer. If not, I’ll buy you one,” Jud said.

“That’s a deal. Is our word good enough or do we need to shake on it?”

“Deke Sullivan’s word is good enough for me any day of the week.”



Jud had lots of things he wanted to share with Fiona, starting with a couple of beers he’d talked Deke out of after they’d finished the painting. She was sitting in one of the chairs in the hall outside her door, and when she looked up, his heart kicked in an extra beat.

“I’m returning last night’s treat.” He held the beers up. “Did Lizzy and Allie call you? If not, I’m supposed to tell you that we’re expected at Lizzy’s tomorrow night to help with Christmas decorations and supper. When we get done there, we’re supposed to go to Allie’s and help put up her stuff.”

“They called already.” Fiona headed to her spot on the bed. “Nice haircut.”

“Thanks. Mary Jo does a good job.” He grinned as he handed her a beer.

Jud sat down on the edge of the bed instead of in his chair. “I need a huge favor, Fiona.”

“Which is?” she asked.

“I’ve talked to my cousins and Deke knows, too, about this oil business, but I don’t want anyone else to know, including your sisters, until it’s a done deal.”

“Blake and Toby are good with not telling them?”

Jud nodded.

“Then I’ll keep mum about it, too. No problem. I’m sure if the gossip gets loose that there’s oil on the Lucky Penny, everyone will be clamoring, wanting to know if it’s on their property.”