Holidays on the Ranch (Burnt Boot, Texas #1)(92)

“Don’t you be sassy with me.” Verdie grinned.

They were pulling off the road and into the lane at Salt Draw when Finn heard a gasp from the back seat.

“We’ve got company. I wonder who it could be,” Verdie said.

“You won’t let Amanda take us away before we get our presents wrapped, will you?” Olivia asked.

Verdie patted her on the leg. “Honey, nobody is taking you anywhere. We’ll see who gets out of the truck, and if we don’t like his looks, we’ll send him or her on their way.”

Finn parked and waited for someone to crawl out, but no one did. He raised the hatchback on the van so the kids could unload their bags and then opened the truck’s passenger door to see a back seat full of suitcases, boots, and a very familiar saddle.

“Sawyer O’Donnell,” Finn said.

A tall cowboy rounded the end of the house with Snoopy and Linus at his feet. “In the flesh. I checked out the bunkhouse. Good-looking gym you got in there. But there’s plenty of room for a tired old cowboy to rest his achin’ bones.”

“We’ve got a spare room in the house,” Finn said as the two cousins bypassed the handshakes and did a man-hug right there in front of four gaping kids and two women.

“Everyone, this is my cousin Sawyer. Sawyer, this is Verdie, Martin, Olivia, Adam, and Ricky, and this right here is Callie. Remember me talking about her when we did the cattle run last year?”

“I do, and I’m right pleased to meet the whole bunch of you.”

Verdie stepped forward first and opened the front door. “Ain’t no use in standin’ out here in the cold. I bet you’d love a cup of decent coffee and some cookies. Then you can unload your things. You’ll have a choice of the old nursery. It’s got a twin-sized bed in it, or there’s one spare bunk bed in the boy’s room. But for now you bring your gear inside, and we’ll get all this Christmas shopping unloaded, and then we’ll sit down and get acquainted.”

The kids all raced inside with Callie right behind them, directing traffic to separate rooms to wrap their presents. Olivia would be in her own room. Martin could have the bunk room, Adam would be in the living room, and Verdie offered her room to Ricky. Callie was glad she didn’t have to give her bedroom to anyone, because she wasn’t sure that Finn had taken all his clothing with him that morning when he left.

Sawyer was as tall as Finn, but a slightly toasted look to his skin said there was probably some American Indian or some Latino blood in there somewhere. His eyes were deep dark brown, and his hair so black that it had a blue cast in the sunlight.

“Looks like you’ve been a busy man.” Sawyer followed Finn down the hallway to the old nursery.

“Little bit.” Finn set the boot bag inside the bedroom door. “Mama sent you, didn’t she?”

“Oh, yeah, she did.” Sawyer grinned. “And I’m to report back to her by Christmas morning. Done your shoppin’ yet?”

“Just got a little left to do. Why?”

“Well, since I’m going to be here until after Christmas, I guess maybe I should do some shopping for the folks in the house, and you’re going to help me,” Sawyer said.

Finn crossed his arms over his chest. “What makes you think I’m helping you? You didn’t even tell me you were coming to visit.”

“You are happy, Finn O’Donnell. I swear to God, you are happy. Never thought I’d see you like this again after what happened in Afghanistan. It’s written all over your face. To answer your question, you’re going to help me shop because I’m the one who’s talkin’ to your mama every evening. I already called her and told her that there are two big old pups in the barn, that the horses look great, that you’ve got a damn fine gym and a shitty shootin’ range that I’ll have to help you build up, and that Shotgun is happy. I didn’t know about the cat and the rat-dog in the living room, or I would have reported on them as well. Tonight I’m telling her about Callie and the kids and Verdie. She reminds me of Grandma O’Donnell.”

“Callie?” Finn asked.

“No, Verdie reminds me of Grandma. I can’t believe that little bitty beautiful woman was your spotter. Lord, I expected a woman who was at least six feet tall and maybe weighed in at two hundred pounds, not one who looks like Jennifer Lopez’s sister or cousin.”

Finn chuckled. “I guess I forgot to tell Mama what she looks like. I could send a few pictures of Callie, Verdie, and the kids.”

“It might be a good idea. It would put your mama’s mind at ease,” Sawyer said.

“So you’re really staying until after Christmas?” Finn asked.

“Is there a problem with that? Truth is, my old girlfriend is back in town, and I don’t want to deal with her, not after the stunt she pulled, breaking up with me and marrying someone else when we were on that cattle run.” Sawyer removed his black felt hat and ran a hand through his jet-black hair.

“No problem at all. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. You interested in relocating permanently?” Finn sat down in a rocking chair and set it in motion.

“You offering me a job?”

Finn shook his head. “I got a crew that’s working out pretty good right now. But Gladys Cleary has a nice little spread and the general store here in Burnt Boot. I heard she was looking for a foreman, but I got to warn you, there’s a feud goin’ on here, and believe me, right now it’s hot as hell between the families.” He went on to tell Sawyer what had happened in the last few weeks. “The Gallaghers and the Brennans pretty much own the land in Burnt Boot. Only other three folks who have any property to speak of is Gladys, who has Fiddle Creek Ranch, and her sister-in-law Polly, who has the bar and runs a few cattle on her small acreage.”