Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(68)

“Couple of times, but I sure don’t like it. Spring calves are the best and that’s when we’re ready for them. Not in the winter when we got to keep them in the barn for fear of ’em freezin’ to death,” Truman answered. “Is it goin’ to be a good breeder or just another one to throw in the auction this next fall?”

“A bit hard to tell so early but looks like a breeder. Maybe you could give me your opinion. But if you don’t want to set foot on the Lucky Penny, I could ask for Herman’s thoughts on it,” Jud said as he poured warm maple syrup on a tall stack of pancakes.

“Hmmph.” Truman almost snorted coffee out his nose. “Herman might raise cattle, but he ain’t got as much sense about breeders as I got. I’ll look at that calf. You don’t need to be askin’ Herman Hudson a damn thing.”

Jud tucked his chin and set about eating breakfast. Laughter was not an easy thing to keep in when it was determined to escape, but Jud managed to keep it contained. It had to be the spirit of Christmas had finally gotten past that tough exterior and found Truman’s heart.

“When you get done, Jud, will you plug in the Christmas lights for me?” Dora June asked. “It’s awful hard for me to get down on my knees and do that.”

“Sure thing.” Jud finished off the last of his coffee and carried his dirty dishes to the sink. “You about ready, Truman?”

“Been ready for ten minutes. Dora June, why in the devil do you want lights burnin’ on that tree when the sun is coming out and it’s daytime? It’s a waste of electricity,” Truman grumbled.

“I’ll pay the electric bill if that’s what’s worryin’ you.” Dora June patted him on the shoulder. “You can hate baby Jesus if you want, but I love him and I’m having Christmas every minute that I can.”

“I don’t hate Jesus,” Truman argued.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Dora June said icily.

Truman slapped his forehead. “Well, go plug in her lights so we can get on with our business. Women! Can’t figure them out and it’s against the law to shoot ’em.”

Jud managed to have his back turned before he grinned and he made it to the living room before a chuckle erupted. Next time he got to town, he intended to buy a cord that had one of those on/off switches attached to it. He would affix it to a tree branch at the right height for Dora June to reach. That way she could turn it on and off at whim.

When the lights were all shining brightly, he heard a slight noise behind him and whipped around to find Fiona curled up on the sofa. He drank in the sight of her for several seconds, red hair flowing over a throw pillow under her head, thick eyelashes resting on her cheekbones, one arm under her head, the other one clutching a second throw pillow. She was so damn cute that it took all his willpower not to awaken her with a kiss. But it wouldn’t be right to deprive her of another hour’s sleep, so he gently tucked a throw blanket around her. Tonight, he promised himself, they’d have some time together.





Chapter Eighteen



Saturday was one of those days that started out fast and built speed until the sunset. With the sun shining and the roads semi-clear, folks were in and out of the convenience store all day. Fiona sold more gasoline that day than she’d sold in the two weeks her mother had been gone. She was tired and ready for an evening in Jud’s arms when she headed home.

She turned on the radio, hoping to catch a weather report, and listened to country music. Every song reminded her of Jud and the situation she’d landed in with him. Her phone vibrated in her hip pocket just as she parked in front of a dark house. She fished it out and answered on the third ring.

“Hey, Jud,” she said. “You working late, or are you sittin’ in the dark?”

“Working. Another one of our heifers that we’ve been worried about has decided to calve tonight,” he said with a sigh. “Remember Blake and Allie are up in Muenster for the day so the grandparents there can have a little time with Audrey. They’re on their way home, but it’ll be after eleven when they get here. Lizzy and Toby are in Throckmorton for a Christmas party, something about one of the products she sells,” Jud answered. “Oh, and another thing. I got that extra set of keys from the hook by the back door this afternoon and stole your car for an hour this afternoon. I got the snow tires put on it and brought it back. I planned to come inside but the store was full and I was in a hurry.”

“Thank you but I was going to do that tomorrow afternoon after church,” she said.

A picture of Jud’s big biceps bulging as he removed one tire at a time and replaced it with a snow tire popped into Fiona’s head. In spite of the bitter cold outside, the car was suddenly too hot, so she rolled down the window an inch.

“Maybe we can do something more fun after church,” he teased.

Fiona couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Pink, yellow, or blue?”

“None of the above. I rather like the plain love more than the playful sex,” he said.

“I missed you last night, and tonight Truman and Dora June are at Ruby’s place to play dominoes, probably until after ten. That’s why you asked about the dark house, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Dammit!”

“What?” she asked.