Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(67)

“Where’s your mind? I asked you three times if you wanted to go have some dinner with me on Sunday. Seems the womenfolks is goin’ to see Irene again and then they’re going to buy a bunch of shit for this ranch party next week,” Truman said.

“I’m sorry. I was—”

“Thinkin’ about Fiona. I know. I know,” Truman interrupted. “But you got to get a hold of yourself, son. That woman wasn’t never the settlin’ type and if you are ever goin’ to make a go of the Lucky Penny, you’d damn sure better not tie yourself up to a woman who’s half bird.”

“Bird?” Jud asked.

“You heard me. Soon as she can she’ll fly out of this nest again. Ain’t nobody, not even her mama, been able to clip her wings for very long. One time when she was about eight years old, she packed a bag and made it to the outskirts of town before they found her.”

“What happened?”

“She told Katy that she was going on an adventure. That was Fiona, always looking for something out there beyond Dry Creek. Now, are we goin’ to eat at Nadine’s together on Sunday or not?”

Jud cut his eyes around to Truman and rubbed his chin with the palm of his hand. “You buyin’ or am I?”

“This time it’s my turn. After we get done, we’ll have us another go at dominoes and you can invite your two cousins if you’ve a mind to. They might be getting tired of all this Sunday shit, too.”

Jud could hardly sit still and drive. This was a big step for the old scrooge. He might turn Truman O’Dell around by Christmas yet. “Well, I ain’t never turned down a free meal yet, so I’ll go with you. Reckon we could ask Blake and Toby to meet us there.”

“That’d be okay, but I ain’t payin’ for their dinners, too,” Truman said.



Fiona and Dora June watched reruns of NCIS that night on television. Truman had voiced his opinion about folks who watched those crazy cop shows and spent the rest of the evening in his room, probably watching a fishing show and wishing it were summer.

At ten o’clock, Dora June yawned and stood up. “It’s an hour past my bedtime, but I wanted to see one more. I expect Truman is already snoring like a grizzly bear, so I’ll get on to bed. Wonder what’s kept Jud out so late?”

“He called a couple of hours ago and said they had a heifer giving birth out of season. They’ve got her in the barn and all three of them are out there with her, trying to save the calf,” Fiona said with a long sigh.

“Y’all talk up there a lot at night, don’t you?”

If you only knew what we do up there at night, Fiona thought.

“Sometimes.”

“You like him. I can see it on your face when he’s around. I ain’t meddlin’, but be careful, honey. He’s slicker than his cousins. He comes across all sweet and sensitive, but he probably don’t even know that he’s leadin’ a woman on until she gets serious and then he bolts like a jackrabbit in huntin’ season.”

Fiona frowned. “You think he’s leadin’ me on? I’m the one who’s been ready to bolt. He’s the one who wants to put down roots.”

Dora June shook her head slowly and pursed her mouth tightly. “Lord knows I love that boy, but that’s what he’d have you to believe. Maybe he even believes it himself. But if you told him that you’d changed your mind and was goin’ to stay on here in Dry Creek, he’d be livin’ in that travel trailer in half an hour.”

One corner of Fiona’s mouth turned up slightly. “You really think so?”

Dora June patted her on the shoulder as she passed by. “I know so. I know men folks. Good night, Fiona. You’ll unplug the Christmas tree lights before you go to bed, won’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am, and good night, Dora June.”

“There’s snickerdoodles on the cabinet if you want a snack.”

“Thank you,” Fiona called over her shoulder.



On Saturday morning, Jud opened the kitchen door to find Dora June at her regular business of making breakfast, Truman sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, but Fiona was nowhere in sight.

“Where you been all night? Out with some old hussy?” Truman grumbled.

“Truman O’Dell!” Dora June popped her hands on her hips.

“I stayed over at Blake’s. Didn’t want to wake y’all. Is that pancakes and sausage?”

“It is and omelets so you have some protein to stick to your ribs,” Dora June answered.

“You up to helpin’ me or do you need to get a rest?” Truman asked.

“I’ve had five hours of sleep, so I’m good,” Jud said, keeping the smile off his face. They’d both have an acute coronary if they knew he and Fiona had been running on about that much sleep all week.

“Well, sit down and eat your breakfast so we can get goin’. That calf a good one?” Truman asked.

“Fine-lookin’ bull calf. Want to go see it once we get the chores done?” Jud asked.

“I might. Why’d you breed a heifer so she’d birth in December? Ain’t you got any sense about cows?”

“Didn’t do it on purpose. Sometimes those hussies get around the best rancher. You ever had one calve in the middle of the winter?”