Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(12)

“Polly is the one who owns the bar?” Callie asked.

Gladys nodded. “She was playin’ the piano before her husband died and she had to take on the runnin’ of the bar. Ain’t nobody in town brave enough to tell Polly that she can’t have a bar and play in church.”

Finn’s hand dropped from the back of the pew to rest on her upper arm. Did he not realize that in small towns and small churches that would brand him as a taken cowboy? Or maybe he did and he was sending a false message for the women to leave him alone. She glanced up to find him staring right into her eyes. He bent low to whisper, “Kind of a snug fit, ain’t it?”

“You sure you want to send this message? There are some good-lookin’ women in the church this morning.”

“I’m not sending anything. I’m just trying to make some room for you so you don’t wrinkle up that cute little skirt,” he said.

The preacher pushed himself off the short deacon’s bench, cleared his throat, and said, “Good morning and merry Christmas.”

His deep, booming voice startled Callie. It didn’t match the short, round, balding man wearing wire-rimmed glasses. His baby face looked like it could grow better pimples than whiskers, and his voice should be high and squeaky.

“Is he Brennan or Gallagher?” Callie whispered to Gladys.

“Neutral, but church is neutral, even if it is like the cold war,” she answered.

The preacher went on, “We have four Sundays between now and Christmas. To keep us all reminded of the spirit of the holidays, we will have a special program each week, and tonight instead of the evening services we will be participating in the traditional Christmas tree decoration. The Brennan family will put up a tree in front of the general store, and the Gallaghers will put theirs up in front of the school. Refreshments will be served at both places, and everyone is invited to both or either. Today we are going to present the nativity in a musical worship service.”

His words were a little fuzzy in Callie’s ears. She couldn’t think of anything but Finn’s hand and the effect it had on her. No wonder they didn’t want fraternization between sniper and spotter. She couldn’t keep her mind on a simple church service with him touching her. They’d have blown every single mission if they’d been in a relationship over there in the sand.

Men began bringing in the props for a nativity scene as the preacher told the story. When the stage was set, he sat down and the choir behind him sang “What Child Is This?” A young couple, portraying Mary and Joseph, carried a baby from behind the choir. It wasn’t a doll, but a real live child wrapped in blue blankets who cooed as they gently laid him in the manger of hay.

“Is that a real kid?” Callie whispered.

Gladys leaned toward her and said, “Yes, it is. This year the Gallaghers are presenting this service.”

“Do they switch off with the Brennans?”

Gladys nodded. “That’s right, and they never share it.”

When the song ended, the preacher told about the wise men, the choir sang the traditional “We Three Kings” Christmas song, and three wise men wearing robes and crowns brought their gifts to put before the baby in the manger. “Silent Night” brought out the shepherds, and then a little boy did a good job of keeping time on his drum set when the choir broke into “The Little Drummer Boy.”

“You reckon that boy will be in my school?” Martin asked.

She nodded. “He looks to be about your age.”

“Keith Gallagher,” Gladys said softly.

The service ended with the preacher raising his hands for everyone to stand. “We’ll close our program with ‘Do You Hear What I Hear.’ It’s on a special sheet right inside the hymnals. Don’t hold back. Sing loud enough that even the courts of heaven can hear your voices.”

Gladys stooped enough that Martin could share her music. Finn moved even closer to Callie, and they each held a side of the paper to keep it steady.

“Do you see what I see, a star, a star, dancing in the night,” Callie sang, and she could imagine stars very easily while standing there with one of Finn’s arms around her shoulders and sharing a music sheet with him.

“Do you hear what I hear, ringing in the sky,” Finn’s deep voice rang out, sending a whole different kind of shiver up her spine. He could easily have been a star in the music industry with a voice like that.

“He will bring us goodness and light,” Martin’s thin voice blended with the whole crowd. The way he was smiling as he sang, it was plain that he was happier than he’d ever been.

The last notes of the song drifted away, and quietness prevailed for a few seconds before everyone started talking at once. The preacher was already busy shaking hands with the people as they filed out. Those who’d played a part in the program disappeared through an opening behind the choir where they’d most likely shed their costumes.

A couple of men from the Gallagher side of the church cornered Finn when he stepped out into the aisle and were talking to him about Salt Draw and telling him that if he decided to sell they’d sure be interested in buying him out.

Gladys reached across Martin and touched Callie on the shoulder. “Don’t think because Finn shared the song paper with you that they won’t come after him.”

“What?” Callie asked.