Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(73)

“Are you serious?”

“About the men or the tequila?”

“Both.”

“Oh, yes. But you’re involved with Finn. His eyes have been on you ever since Kinsey stole you away. And I’m very serious about the tequila. Don’t you tell a living soul that I’m the one who brought in the liquor. Let them think it was a Gallagher who paid someone to bring it in. And if Mavis is serving ham tonight as well as steaks, be sure to partake of it. You can find a good steak anywhere between here and the coast, but Mavis grows her own hogs and has a couple of state-of-the-art smokehouses. Her ham is to die for.”

Polly waited until no one was looking and dumped a whole bottle of tequila in the punch bowl. Then she dipped up two crystal cups full and handed one to Callie. She was right—it did cut the sweet and give the punch just enough kick.

***

Finn was so damned glad when Declan picked up a small crystal bell and rang it that he could have shouted. He could move across the room to lace his fingers in Callie’s instead of talking about cows, crops, and weather. The other cowboys in the room hadn’t said a word about her, but they had sure enough stared their fill, and it was time they realized that she had come with him, and she’d damn sure be going home with him, too.

“We’d like to thank all of you for attending our party this year. River Bend is fortunate to have had the best year ever, and we are glad you are here to share the good times with us. Merry Christmas! And now dinner is served,” he said.

Double doors opened into a massive room filled with round tables covered with snowy white cloths waiting for the guests. A poinsettia sat in the center of each table, and wall candles filled the room with soft light.

Several waiters lined the walls, and starting with Declan and his sister, Leah, they checked a chart in their hands and led the guests to their tables. Finn and Callie were seated near the middle at a table with Quaid Brennan and Kinsey, Polly and Gladys, and one other couple that Callie had never met.

Kinsey made introductions. “This is our foreman and his wife. They’ve been with us for years.”

Callie leaned in close to Kinsey’s ear and asked, “Why are you willing to sit at the table with me? You have to know about the thing with Honey.”

“We invited Finn because he owns Salt Draw, and you are his plus one. And, honey, what you did to Betsy was far better than what you did to Honey,” Kinsey answered.

Waiters came around with bottles of champagne and filled fluted stems so effortlessly that Callie didn’t realize her glass was full until Declan rang the bell again and stood up. “We’ll have our traditional Irish blessing to serve as grace tonight before the waiters bring our food. ‘The light of the Christmas star to you, the warmth of home and hearth to you, the cheer and goodwill of friends to you, the hope of a childlike heart to you, the joy of a thousand angels to you, the love of the Son and God’s peace to you.’”

“Amen,” Gladys said loudly, and everyone in the room echoed it.

Dinner started with a lovely potato soup, followed by a crisp salad, and then the entrée, which was the best steak Callie had ever eaten. The small dessert carts rolled around the room held cheesecakes of every kind and description, pecan pie with or without vanilla bean ice cream, pumpkin cake, and chocolate mousse. After that, coffee was served in china cups with the River Bend logo imprinted in gold on the side.

Callie leaned over and whispered softly, “Think Wild Horse can outdo this?”

Finn smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “I’d really rather be home eating fried chicken with the kids.”

“But Verdie said we have to socialize.”

“And we can’t argue with her. This reminds me of the officer’s ball over there. Remember?”

“Honey, it wasn’t nearly this fancy, and the steaks weren’t this good either.”

“Hey now. You wait until you taste my steak,” Finn said.

“What makes it so special?”

He didn’t give a damn if it was bad manners or not, he cupped his hand over her ear and said, “Because I will feed it to you with my fingers, and the only thing either of us will be wearing is a smile.”

Crimson filled her cheeks, and he chuckled.

***

“What did he just say to you?” Kinsey asked.

“This place would catch on fire if I said the words out loud,” Callie answered.

“Well, shit! I do like a cowboy who talks dirty. I might give you a run for your money even yet. I figure I can shoot as good as you can,” Kinsey said.

“But can you outrun a bullet?” Callie asked.

“I’d love for you to be in the Brennan family with your attitude.” Kinsey smiled. “Looks like it’s time to move back into the cattle pens while they take out the tables and get this room ready for dancing.”

Finn pushed back his chair and pulled Callie’s back as she stood. Soft Christmas music played as he put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. “Good food. Beautiful woman by my side. Only thing that would make it better would be if we were alone and not in a crowd of people.”

“Amen,” she said.

The Brennans were efficient, because in fifteen minutes the big doors opened to a different room altogether. Small tables for four circled the room, leaving the shiny hardwood floor ready for dancing. Tables were covered in red-and-green plaid with a red jar candle flickering in the middle of each one. Longer tables had been set up on each side of the double doors with finger foods, cheese cubes, tiny bite-sized sweet tidbits, and a punch bowl on each. Polly winked when Callie caught her dumping another bottle of tequila in the punch bowl after it had been refilled.