Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(81)

“I love you, Callie Brewster,” he said softly.

“Remember something important. We were friends and partners a long time before we were lovers, so we know and understand each other. Now kiss me again.” She pointed to a sprig of mistletoe that she’d hung on the bedpost right above her head.

He drew her down for a kiss, and all doubts faded. There was only Callie, his old spotter, his best friend, his new lover.

“Please tell me those sirens I hear are in my head and not really getting closer and closer.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

“I believe they’re real.”

“Shit! I may buy two Stinger missiles and blow both those feuding families out into the Red River for messin’ up my afternoon.” She threw back the covers and grabbed the pair of jeans hanging on the back of a rocking chair. “I knew they were up to something this morning in church. The air was almost crackling with tension.”

Finn shot out of bed. “I felt it, too. Wonder which one set fire to the other one’s barn?”

“You’re kiddin’. Would they take it that far?”

“I just hope Honey Brennan isn’t so mad at you for the soap in her eyes that she set fire to our barn.”

“The puppies,” Callie said as she hurriedly jerked on socks and rubber boots.

Callie reached the kitchen first. Verdie was on the phone and the kids waited at the table for her to return to the board game they’d set up.

“It’s a fire at the Brennans’ place,” she said.

Before Callie could answer, the doorbell rang.

“Get that door while I finish talking to Gladys.”

Expecting to see Honey or Betsy, or maybe both, ready to crucify her for arson, she was shocked speechless to see the sheriff on the porch.

Orville held a big flat box with a dozen doughnuts in it. There was a fleck of chocolate and a red sprinkle in the corner of his mouth. “Afternoon. Thought I’d stop by and say hello on the way to the fire. They won’t need me for a few minutes.”

“Doughnuts! Doughnuts! Joe wants a doughnut,” Joe yelled from his perch.

“Come inside out of the cold. What’s going on? We heard the sirens,” Callie said.

He handed off the doughnuts to her, and she took them to the kitchen with Orville right behind her.

“Doughnuts!” Martin squealed.

“Only one each and, yes, Joe can have a few bites but not a whole one. It would make him sick. Olivia, you can pour up milk to go with them,” Verdie yelled from the utility room.

“It’s the feud, I’m sure. One of the Gallaghers set fire to a big round bale of hay. There was about sixty bales lined up at the edge of a fence, and it’s burned through at least ten of them by now. Throws a lot of smoke, but it’s not a barn or a house. Trouble was when the Brennans went to put it out, every damn—oops, pardon my language, kids—danged one of their truck tires were flatter than pancakes. Not slashed or cut, just all the air let out of them,” Orville said.

“Wow!” Adam said. “How many trucks was there?”

“A bunch,” Orville said.

“Afternoon, Sheriff,” Finn said. “Reckon they need help over there?”

“Naw, they can put out that fire, but I was hopin’ maybe you or Miz Verdie would ride along with me to kinda help me buffer,” he said. “You want to go, too, Callie?”

“Let me get my coat,” Verdie said. “Finn, you’d best come along with us.”

“I’ll stay here with the kids,” Callie said. She’d had her fill of the feud, and she didn’t want to encourage Orville one bit.

***

The roads were slick and Orville didn’t seem to be in any hurry to get to the site of the burning hay, so what should have taken five minutes took fifteen.

“Is he afraid to drive on ice and snow?” Finn griped.

“He’s got his reasons. Stunt like this means the Brennans will load their guns. Last time they did that, Orville got shot. Nowadays when a call comes from Burnt Boot, he goes by the doughnut shop, eats a couple, and gee-haws with the ladies who run it before he drives out here. And he always takes his time,” Verdie explained.

The bales were smoldering and the firemen were putting the last of their equipment away when Orville drove over a cattle guard and onto River Bend Ranch. He parked beside the fire truck and was instantly surrounded by Brennans.

Most of them, women included, had pistols or rifles in their hands. A sawed-off shotgun was tucked up under Honey’s arm, and Kinsey had a Glock strapped to her leg. Verdie hopped out of the truck and pushed her way into the middle of the crowd. Finn approached with caution.

Questions were flying like ducks going south for the winter. Poor old Orville kept one hand on his pistol, still in the holster with the safety on, and the other held up trying to fend off angry comments.

“Now, y’all just wait a minute. You don’t know the Gallaghers did this. Did you see them? Do you have evidence that they’re behind it?”

“We’re in the middle of a damned feud. Who else would do something like this?” Honey yelled, and then she spotted Finn. “Unless it was that hired hand over on Salt Draw. She’s had it in for me ever since she got here. Maybe we’re blaming the wrong party.”

“Honey, you’d best watch who you are accusing,” Verdie said loudly. “Callie Brewster has been in my presence all day. There’s no way she set that fire or let the air out of a bunch of tires.”