Wild Cowboy Ways (Lucky Penny Ranch #1)(26)

“Why are folks so interested?” Blake’s skin crawled at the idea of people watching him through the windows of a glass house.

“Because you are the new guy in town and they want to see if you’ll last through the winter. They’ve probably already got bets on how long you’ll stay. The ones who bet for you will be nice and the others, not so much. You’d better get out there and tell them where to unload that stuff or they’ll drop it right in your front yard.”





Chapter Eight



Allie hummed as she made her way to the kitchen that Friday morning. She was sure she and Deke could finish the roofing that day. Rays of sun poured into the foyer through the window in the door and the aroma of fresh coffee floated from the kitchen. The humming stopped when she saw Lizzy sitting at the table. Their kitchen wasn’t as big as the one over at the Lucky Penny, but their dining room could match it for size. Most of their meals they took in the kitchen unless they had company and then Katy set the table in the dining room.

Allie liked the kitchen better with its bright yellow walls and white woodwork. It brought cheer into the house on the darkest mornings. But the dining room, with its paneled walls and heavy curtains, told a different story. It said to sit up straight and be nice, there was company in the house.

“It’s your morning to make breakfast,” Lizzy said coldly. “I made coffee, but I’m not helping cook, not if you won’t go with me and Mitch and Grady to dinner tonight.”

Allie filled her father’s favorite mug and sipped it, hoping that holding his old cup would give her the strength for yet another fight with her sister.

“Aren’t you going to say a word? You know I’m right. That bad boy next door isn’t for you, isn’t interested in you other than maybe a quick romp in the sheets, so wake up and smell the bacon,” Lizzy said.

“What makes him a bad boy?” Allie asked.

“Sharlene and Mary Jo have been over there already and he’s been flirting with them. I heard he even called Dora June sweetheart and she’s sour as rotten lemons. If she smiled more than twice in a year, she’d probably drop dead. Sharlene says that she intends to bed and wed him by the end of the year and you know how wild that girl is. Only a bad boy would take her eye,” Lizzy answered.

“What I do or do not do with the cowboy next door is my business. I’m old enough to take care of myself.” Allie sipped the steaming-hot coffee. “Besides, who died and made you God?”

“Don’t blaspheme!” Lizzy raised her voice.

Irene shuffled into the room with Katy right behind her. “Don’t yell in the house.”

“Mama, talk some sense to your oldest daughter.” Lizzy rolled her eyes.

“God is a hell of a lot farther away than the ceiling, so you might as well not be lookin’ up there expecting him to leave important work to settle your fight.” Irene went to the cabinet, poured a cup of coffee, and took it to the table. “Is Allie cooking this morning? If she is, I want pancakes.”

Allie began to gather the ingredients from the refrigerator and pantry. “I’m tired of this fight, Mama. And yes, Granny, we are having pancakes if that’s what you want.”

“We need to get this settled,” Lizzy said.

“Sounds to me like it is settled,” Irene said. “Lizzy, you need to stop your whining and carryin’ on like a two-year-old. Allie don’t like that rascal Grady and neither do I. He’s got wandering eyes and probably hands that match.”

“Granny, he’s a youth minister!” Lizzy protested.

“That don’t mean shit, girl. There have been men since the beginnin’ of time that wasn’t worth a damn and Grady is one of them. His ancestors probably spent a lot of time in this very house back when Audrey was doin’ what she could to keep soul and body together,” Irene declared with a frown. “And you can wipe that grin off your face, Allie. Ain’t no good ever come from the Lucky Penny so you need to be careful, too.”

Lizzy exhaled so loudly it bordered on a snort. “I thought you’d want her to be involved with a decent man rather than someone who’ll just run off and break her heart again.”

Irene scratched her temple. “If you two want to fight, then take two butcher knives to the backyard but remember, the one who comes back in the house had better have the strength to dig a six-foot hole because I’m not helping you. And remember, too, that the ground is cold and harder than a mother-in-law’s heart.”

Lizzy pushed her chair back. “I’m going to the store. I don’t want pancakes.”

Irene grabbed Lizzy’s arm. “You are not going anywhere. You are going to sit down and behave yourself and when Allie has breakfast ready, you are going to ask the blessing on it this morning. God needs to soften up your spirit or you’ll never make a preacher’s wife.” Irene blew on her coffee and then sipped it loudly. “And it wouldn’t hurt you to learn how to make decent pancakes. Allie’s are light and fluffy. Yours are like shoe leather. If your marriage depends on your pancakes, Mitch will throw your ass out in the cold within a week.”

Lizzy threw up both palms defensively. “Hey, why is this pick-on-Lizzy Friday? I don’t think Mitch is going to leave me because my pancakes aren’t perfect.”