Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(77)

Chapter Twenty-One



On Monday morning, Allie and Dora June began to gear things up for the ranch party the next Saturday night. The whole town was either talking about the party or the fact that Truman was going to be Santa Claus. Everyone had thought that the Lucky Penny would fail for sure and yet here they were throwing a huge ranch party at the end of their first year. No one would have believed that Truman, of all the men in Dry Creek, could ever have been coerced into doing anything for Christmas, but yet he was bragging about the pillow that Dora June was making for him to wear around his midsection.

The end of the world had to be on the way. Any second the clouds would part, a bright white light would shoot down, and a booming voice would come out of the heavens, calling all the saints and sinners to Judgment Day.

On Tuesday night, Fiona met Jud on the landing. He opened his arms and she walked into them, holding him tightly as she inhaled the sexy scent of soap, shampoo, and what belonged solely to Jud.

“I’ll be glad when this party is over,” she said.

“Me too. Let’s celebrate on Sunday by going to an afternoon movie in Wichita Falls. We’ll sit in the dark, hold hands like teenagers, and relax,” he whispered into her hair.

“Yes, but only if you promise you won’t laugh at me if I snore. I’ll be so tired by then, I won’t be able to stay awake. And can we stop in and see Granny either before or after the movie?”

“Yes, we can. Truman bought an RV today. The fanciest thing you’ve ever seen. He’s going to have it parked outside the house on Christmas morning and as soon as the leftover potluck is finished at the church that night, he and Dora June will head south for the winter,” Jud said.

“Oh. My. God! He was serious. Dora June is going to faint.”

“I hope not,” Jud chuckled, and then he tipped her chin up for a quick kiss. “He’s like a little kid about all this. Tomorrow he and Blake are going to Throckmorton to buy a small car that’s listed in the newspaper down there. He’s going to sell his truck to Toby but this is all a big hush, hush secret. Not even your sisters know it’s a done deal.”

“Oh, they know. Blake and Toby don’t keep secrets any better than you do,” Fiona laughed. “We are planning to buy stuff for their new trailer for their Christmas presents.”



On Thursday, things really moved fast. The rental company with all the tables arrived that evening right after Fiona got off work. In an hour the living room was changed into a lovely party area with small round tables scattered with the flow pattern to the bar and the dining room planned out beautifully. Centerpieces were chunks of mesquite with the Lucky Penny brand burned into the sides. Across the tops of the logs holes had been drilled to hold short tapers that would be lit just before the party started. Silk poinsettias and greenery had been used to give the pieces a Christmas flare and the ribbons matched the sashes on the backs of the chairs.

“Oh my!” Fiona gasped.

“Pretty damn impressive, isn’t it?” Lizzy asked from the Christmas tree area, where a big red chair waited for Santa Claus. “Did you see the bar? They decided to set it up in the foyer. The guys had to move out the hall tree and the credenza but it looks like it’s going to work very well. I wish Mama were here for the party but to have her come home early would be selfish.”

Fiona peeked out into the foyer. “It’s all decorated, too.”

“Oh, yes. This is the party to attend this year from what everyone says. The Dawson guys did not fall on their faces their first year in business and Truman is Santa Claus. What else could we ask for?”

“That Granny could be here and having a good day.” Allie carried Audrey into the room. “Who’d have thought a year ago right now that we’d all be where we are?”

“If you’d have told me I’d be married to anyone other than Mitch, I’d have thought you were crazy,” Lizzy said.

“We didn’t even know the Dawsons and only heard rumors that a bunch of fool cowboys were interested in the Lucky Penny.” Allie handed Audrey off to Fiona and straightened several ornaments on the tree.

“Fool cowboys, huh?” Jud asked.

“Yep.” Fiona nodded. “That’s exactly what they called you three. Like that old commercial said, ‘You’ve come a long way, baby.’ You weren’t supposed to last past that hard winter or the hot summer and yet, here you still are.”

“And we’ll be here next year and the one after that, won’t we?” Jud asked, but his eyes were on Fiona.

“Hopefully,” she said.

“It looks good. The caterers arrive at eight in the morning and take over the kitchen. I’m shutting the store an hour early to have time to get ready. Why don’t y’all girls come over here at four and we’ll have the whole upstairs to ourselves.” Fiona swayed back and forth with the baby in her arms.

Jud cleared his throat loudly.

“Minus Jud’s room. We can do mani/pedis,” Fiona said.

“Then we can all make an entrance down the staircase.” Lizzy nodded.

“Audrey and I will be here at four on the button,” Allie agreed.



Jud waited patiently at the bottom of the stairs with his two cousins on Friday night. The pungent smell of barbecue floated out from the kitchen. Waiters wearing white shirts and black slacks stood ready behind the dining room table to help guests.