Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(42)

Jud flipped around until he was sitting beside her, his back braced against the headboard. “And every oil company in the state would flock up here to get a piece of the pie. Everyone will think I’m crazy for drilling because of the Lucky Penny’s reputation, but if I hit oil, I plan to reinvest my original money into equipment and start my own company with Josie as a partner. It will be a sideline business because ranchin’ is my first love and we won’t ever go big with it. But it would be a good moneymaker and could even bring some business to Dry Creek. We could give these folks a bigger cut of the profits than the big companies and still make a lot of money for us.”

“What makes you think your sister will want to live in Dry Creek?” Fiona sipped at her beer.

“She came to Blake and Allie’s wedding and loved the place. Said it had lots of potential. Who knows, if you stick around, you might have a city built around you in a few years.”

“After living here the first eighteen years of my life, that’s really hard to imagine, Jud.”

“Nothing is impossible. It might all take time but sometimes even miracles still happen. Hey, I wanted to come by the store after my haircut, but the guys were painting and wanted me to help,” he said. “How was your day?”

“I finished getting Mama’s books in order. Now it’s just a matter of a little weekly maintenance. Oh, and Mama called and told me to put the snow tires on the car because of this weather.”

“I could do that for you,” Jud said.

“I know how to change tires. Daddy made sure that all of us girls could do that and change oil.”

“Then we could do it together.”

“With any luck, we won’t even need them since the latest report says the bad stuff will end at midnight and the sun is supposed to shine tomorrow. It’ll be slushy by noon but not as slick. I’m just glad it’s going to be cleared off by Friday night. I’m ready for a night away from Dry Creek,” Fiona said.

“Me too. That reminds me. Deke wants to go with us. And Sharlene’s boyfriend is out of the state for a few days, so she and Mary Jo are going along, too.”

Well, damn it to hell on a rusty poker, Fiona thought. I’d rather call it a date as be stuck between those two after they’ve been drinking all night.





Chapter Eleven



When the clock struck five on Thursday evening, Fiona wasted no time locking up the store and heading to Lizzy’s house. She was still in a snit that she’d have to ride all the way to Wichita Falls the next night in the backseat with Sharlene and Mary Jo and then most likely all the way home with them in a drunken state.

But that wasn’t the whole ball of wax of her bad mood. If Jud’s sister came to town, then he wouldn’t need Fiona to talk to in the evenings, to bounce ideas off of or share secret beers with. He’d have Josie, and Fiona would be right back in her room—all alone. Fiona loved the evenings when she and Jud visited. It was something that she looked forward to all day.

Judging from the number of trucks out in the front yard, everyone was already at Lizzy’s when Fiona arrived. She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror, shook her hair out of the ponytail she’d worn all day, and reapplied her lipstick.

“Hey.” Lizzy met her halfway across the room with a hug. “You’re just in time for dinner.”

Fiona peeked over her sister’s shoulder. “Your place looks amazing! It looks…like a brand-new house.” She took a step back so she could see the whole living room and kitchen. “I love the soft off-white with the pure white woodwork. You did good picking that out, Lizzy.”

“I hear we’re going to make a party out of tomorrow night. It’s been years since I’ve danced with you.” Deke nudged Fiona on the shoulder.

“Be prepared to be worn out by the night’s end.”

“I expect whoever I take home will finish the job,” he laughed.

“Let’s eat and then we’ll put up my first Christmas tree in my new home with my new husband,” Lizzy beamed. “Tonight Toby is going to hold the lights and the garland and I’m going to place them on the tree.”

“Just like Mama and Daddy did when we were kids,” Fiona said softly.

“That’s right. Deke, say a quick grace for us and we’ll have supper,” Lizzy said.

Since the small kitchen table would only seat four people, Lizzy declared that the guys could eat in the kitchen. The ladies would take their food to the living room and sit on the floor around the coffee table.

Allie chose the outside because she wanted to be close to Audrey’s infant seat. Lizzy claimed the far end, leaving the other for Fiona. The low buzz of conversation and laughter in the kitchen came through the walls, but Fiona couldn’t make out individual words. She could easily distinguish each man’s unique drawl and knew who was talking at what time and wondered if Jud would miss talking to her in the evenings when his sister came to town.

“So how do you feel about going out with Sharlene and Mary Jo?” Allie’s nose looked as if she’d smelled something bad.

“Not my choice,” Fiona mumbled.

“What was he thinking?” Lizzy whispered. “But you said you didn’t want to make it a date, so it’s your own fault.”