Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(56)

“If you do, clean it up. We sure don’t want any mice to scare Callie, do we?” She left her door open just a crack instead of shutting it all the way.

When she heard him coming back up the hallway, she peeked out to see him carrying a plate with half a dozen biscuits stuffed with leftover eggs and bacon in one hand and a quart jar of milk in the other.

The door to his bedroom closed, then immediately opened again and a little blond-haired girl tiptoed across to the bathroom. The process repeated twice more. A dark-haired boy was next and then a blond-haired one who looked a lot like the girl. When Martin’s door closed the final time, she quickly crossed the hallway and laid her cheek on the door. They were laughing softly and talking as they devoured the leftover breakfast, then the tone changed as they talked about the police.

She went back to her room and made a big noisy show of shutting her door and then called out, “Martin, darlin’, I’ve decided to make cookies. Can’t keep my mind on my book. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Cookies! Yes, yes, yes!” Joe said.

“Okay, Granny Verdie. I’m goin’ to rest awhile now.”

She went straight for the phone and called Polly, tapping her foot on the floor through five rings, and was just about to hang up when she heard Polly answer breathlessly.

“Hello.”

“Polly, where in the hell were you?”

“Talking to Orville. The Laytons’ kids ran away in the night, and they can’t find them,” Polly said.

“They’re at Salt Draw. Martin has snuck them into his bedroom. Now what are we going to do? Can you pull any strings and let me have them at least until after the holidays? By then I’d be willing to bet that Finn and Callie will be able to foster them. Poor little things just want to stay together, and our boy over here on Salt Draw doesn’t have a problem sharing. We’ve got lots of room,” Verdie said.

“Shit, woman! You are eighty years old,” Polly said.

“Well, you’re the same age as I am and still runnin’ a beer joint, so why can’t I have some fake grandbabies for the holidays?” Verdie protested.

“Okay, okay, I’ll see what I can do. Nobody wants to come out here in this kind of weather anyway, and I’ve still got some pull at the office, but I’m not making any promises. You sure about this, Verdie?”

“Never been more sure about anything in my life,” Verdie answered. “How soon can you call me?”

“We’ll have to bring in the law, since they ran away, and Finn and Callie will have to be willing. Finn most of all, since it’s his ranch and all,” Polly said.

“Bring the damn FBI and the CIA if you have to. Just don’t take them, not when we’ve got a place for them right here. Half an hour?” Verdie asked.

“Good God, Verdie, that would take magic. Maybe by noon.” Polly laughed.

“Then get off the phone and get to work. I’ll start making cookies so I can have something to offer all those people you mentioned when they get here.”

“Call you when I know something. And Verdie? I’m glad they’re safe.”





Chapter 17


The front yard was full of vehicles when Callie and Finn returned from doing the feeding that morning. And right there in the midst of a very suspicious-looking van and two fairly new trucks was the sheriff’s car.

Finn parked and then leaned over the console to kiss Callie on the cheek. “Whatever it is, missing kids or feudin’, we’ll get through it together. Besides, I’m sure Verdie has it under control.”

Callie pulled the stocking hat off and shook out her dark hair. She didn’t have her makeup kit from her purse, so whatever the problem was, she’d have to face it with a windblown face and most likely a few bits of straw in her hair.

“You are beautiful,” Finn said.

“You weren’t supposed to know that I was fretting about facing people looking like this,” she told him.

“We were closer than twins, Callie. We can read each other’s minds. That’s what kept us alive,” he reminded her.

“Then thank you for the compliment. Let’s go see what Martin has done now.” Thank God that he couldn’t really read her mind or he’d be running for the hills.

“What makes you think it’s Martin? Maybe it’s Verdie. She might be having a town meeting to discuss the Christmas program at church tomorrow.”

“And that would include Orville?” Callie asked.

Finn held her hand tightly in his. “You never know what she might have up her sleeves.”

Guns weren’t drawn, and the six people already around the table were laughing and telling stories when Finn and Callie went inside. Her eyes went from Orville to Verdie and back around the circle.

“Martin?” she mouthed to Verdie.

“In his room, but he’s fine. He’s not sick anymore.”

Polly waved at Finn. He let go of Callie’s hand and waved back.

“Hello, Polly. What brings you out to Salt Draw?”

“Tryin’ to help Verdie out,” Polly said.

“Y’all pull up a chair, and we’ll get down to business,” Verdie said.

“Hot damn! Joe wants a drink,” the bird said.