Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(82)

Finn bit back a smile. As hot as things had gotten in the bedroom that afternoon, maybe a spark bounced out the window, down the road, and jumped onto the hay. The tires, now, that had to be Gallaghers for sure.

“Callie doesn’t go behind people’s backs to speak her mind. She’s up front and honest,” Orville said.

“So what are you going to do about it?” Quaid asked.

“You bring me solid evidence, and I’ll lock someone up. Your suspicions won’t carry weight in court,” Orville told them.

The feud had gone beyond the women fighting in the bathroom and at the dealership. Now it was getting down to business. Finn was determined to stay out of it as much as he could, but he’d keep a close watch on his property. Thank God the kids were enrolled in public school and wouldn’t get caught in the middle of it.

“I’d advise the bunch of you to bury this thing once and for all,” Verdie said. “It’s gone on long enough. Most of you weren’t even born when it started.”

“That won’t happen any time soon,” Honey said. “Since the sheriff is in the Gallaghers’ pocket and won’t do anything about it, we’ll take care of it ourselves.”

“I’m not in anybody’s pocket.” Orville blushed.

“I heard Ilene Gallagher was chasin’ after you,” Kinsey said.

“I’m warnin’ the bunch of you. If y’all start something that winds up with someone hurt or killed or severe property damage that can come back on you, I’ll haul your asses to jail.” Orville headed for his car with Verdie and Finn behind him.

“Dammit!” he fumed. “Where’d they get that shit about Ilene Gallagher?”

“She’s liked you since high school, Orville. On that part, there is evidence.” Verdie laughed.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” He chuckled as he crawled into his car and slowly turned around.





Chapter 26


The atmosphere in Burnt Boot was tense, as if everyone was sitting on a keg of gunpowder with a stick of dynamite duct-taped to the side of it. The Brennans would retaliate, and the longer they waited, the worse it could be.

But the feud was the last thing on Finn’s mind that night as he tucked Callie’s arm into his and escorted her through the doors of the Gallagher ranch mansion. “Have I told you that you are stunning in that green dress? I like it even better than the one you wore last week.”

To call it a ranch house would be like calling a palace a cabin. It was built like an old plantation house with lights shining out from three floors. The entryway led to a ballroom with crystal chandeliers throwing enough light to illuminate half of Texas. Tables were covered in what must be the Gallagher plaid, a rich woven pink and green with green napkins and gorgeous pink poinsettias in the middle of each table.

A lady in black slacks, a white shirt, and a cummerbund of the Gallagher plaid took Callie’s wrap.

“Well, has the cat got your tongue?” Finn held her hand as they made their way into what could only be described as a ballroom.

“No, but all this has,” she answered.

“And to think, this, instead of Salt Draw, could be yours.” He chuckled.

“I’d live every day in fear I’d do something wrong.”

Tyrell was the first Gallagher to greet them, shaking hands with Finn and then bowing low to kiss Callie’s fingertips. “You wore our shade of green tonight. The Gallagher family suffered a severe loss when you stopped at Salt Draw instead of crossing the road to Wild Horse. Someone as lovely as you would wear our plaid so well.”

“Thank you for that compliment, but I was actually trying to match the green of the O’Donnell and the Brewster plaids when I bought this dress. They are bold and very similar.” She smiled.

“Ah, Finn, you’ve got yourself a spitfire Irish lass, I see.” Tanner laughed.

“She can hold her own,” Finn said.

Betsy swept across the floor in a lovely green velvet dress that hugged her curves like a glove. The glow of the chandeliers, the dress, and pure mischief put a sparkle in her dark green eyes. Her red hair was swept up in a nest of curls behind a diamond tiara.

“Hello, Finn. Save me a dance.” She ignored Callie and smiled at him before she moved on to the next guests.

Gladys touched Finn on the shoulder, and he whipped around. “Open bar here at this party. I’ll take Callie to get a drink, and you can talk to the menfolk.” She tucked Callie’s arm into hers and led her through the maze of people to the bar.

***

“You need to meet Naomi Gallagher, Callie. She’s the grand matron of the ranch, and she runs Wild Horse with an iron hand. Nothing gets past her,” Gladys said.

“Not even the feud stuff?”

“Not one thing. She probably instigates ninety percent of it. She married into the family more than fifty years ago. She dated a Brennan first back in the day, and they had a big fight. She went for a Gallagher next and, believe me, she’s made the Brennans pay and pay and pay. She might look like a prissy little old lady with dyed red hair, but believe me, there’s horns under that ratted hair,” Gladys whispered.

A bar stool served as Naomi’s throne. Her cowboy boots with lots of flashy rhinestones didn’t reach the first rungs. The brilliant diamonds on several of her fingers sparkled even brighter than the enormous crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling. Even though she was a small woman, her dark green eyes left no doubt that she was the boss and everyone in the room would do well to respect that.