Merry Cowboy Christmas (Lucky Penny Ranch #3)(84)

“I left Houston a few weeks ago,” she said.

“Then I suppose we’ll have to schedule for the week after New Year’s. It’s our company policy to close the offices from Christmas through New Year’s Day. How about January fifth? My secretary will be in touch with you to set up a flight from the city nearest to you and we’ll arrange for you to stay at the downtown Westin Hotel while you are here. Any questions?”

“What’s the job?” she asked.

“We need an accountant who will oversee three other people in that office. Basically the same job you had before but with a little more responsibility.”

She popped herself on the forehead with the back of her hand. Pierce, Davis and Green was her in-law’s biggest rival. But why now? Why did Fate put this job in her path right now?

“Interested?” he asked.

“Can I think about it? This has fallen out of the sky, so to speak,” she said.

“Of course. I’d expect you to need some time. We’ll look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. My secretary is out today but she’ll be in touch to set up an appointment. Merry Christmas, Miss Logan.”

“Merry Christmas to you,” Fiona said.

The line went quiet and she set the phone back on the base.

She carried the cloth to the table, wiped it down, and then eased into one chair and used another to prop her feet. She was trying to wrap her mind around the phone call and what it meant to her future. Was the coffee shop experience and the trip to Dry Creek a bump in the road or was it to teach her that she didn’t want to work in a big city for a big firm? But Lord have mercy, Pierce, Davis and Green? The biggest firm in Houston had asked for an interview. Walton Pierce had called her personally. That meant volumes.

“Hey,” Deke yelled as he entered the store by the back door.

“In here. At the table,” she raised her voice to say.

He stopped and drew up a cup of coffee. “I was wondering if you’d go with me to Wichita Falls tonight. I haven’t done a damn bit of Christmas shopping.” He set his coffee on the table, pulled out a chair, shucked out of his heavy coat, hung it on the back, and then sat down. Removing his hat, he looked at her with pleading hazel eyes. “Say you’ll go with me. I don’t know how to shop for babies and this is important. It’s Audrey’s first Christmas.”

“Sure. I need to pick up some last-minute things, too.” How could life go on like this when she had such a big decision to make?

“Good, I’ll tell Blake and Jud.”

“What do they have to do with us shopping?”

“They need to get theirs done, too, and we all need a woman’s opinion, but I asked first so you have to shop with me before you do them,” Deke answered. “What’s put a frown on your face? Don’t you want to go with Blake and Jud?”

“No, I don’t mind at all. But what about Toby?”

Deke shook his head slowly from side to side. “He and Lizzy have everything done. He’s so damned organized that it makes the rest of us look bad.”

Her cell phone rang and she worked it up out of her hip pocket. The jeans that had been baggy on her three weeks ago were fitting pretty dang snug these days. “Hello, Lizzy, what’s goin’ on down at your end of the street?”

“Allie needs to do some more shopping, so all us girls are going out for one more night to finish up. Dora June is going with us and we’ll stop by and see Granny. Leaving at five on the dot. Be ready,” Lizzy said.

“I just promised Deke that I’d go with him,” Fiona said.

“That rat! He came by here and I told him I was going to call you; then I had a rush of customers.”

“Maybe our paths will cross and we’ll take a break and have an Orange Julius together,” Fiona suggested.

“I hope not. Allie is shopping for Blake and he’ll be with y’all. If you see us, steer those cowboys another way. Oh, and Toby is taking Truman to the RV shop tonight. They are bringing the new toy home and we’re keeping it out behind our house until Christmas morning.”

“Dora June is going to be speechless,” Fiona giggled.

“And that will be the real Christmas miracle.”

“Ha! Happy shopping tonight.”

“Good luck to you. I wouldn’t trade places with you for anything. Customer coming through the door. Bye, now.”

Fiona shook a finger at Deke. “You are in trouble.”

“I know, but it’s worth it. Now what’s troubling you?”

Fiona told him about the job interview. “It’s a big thing, Deke. It’s what I’m trained for and it’s the city I love.”

“Hard decision you got to make. If you need to talk, holler at me. I’m a good listener,” he said.

“I’m in love with Jud,” she blurted.

“Well, that ain’t no surprise. But I do reckon it makes a difference in your decision about Houston.”

“Yes, it sure does.”



The mall was crazy that night. Christmas music played over the speakers. Last-minute shoppers raced from store to store. And Fiona found out that shopping with men was a whole different experience than with women. They found what they wanted, got her opinion and bought it, had it wrapped if that was an option, and went on to the next person on their list.