Merry Cowboy Christmas (21 page)

Dora June giggled softly. “You are spoiled, Truman. In two weeks you are spoiled rotten to having someone help you and listen to your stories while y'all work.”

“I am not,” he protested loudly.

“Yes, you are, whether you admit it or not. Frankly, darlin', I like you better and better.” She dropped a kiss on the top of his near-bald head.

Jud bit back the laughter when high color filled Truman's cheeks.

“Hmmph!” The old guy grunted and kept his eyes on his plate until his food was totally gone.

After breakfast, they bundled up and set about doing Truman's chores before Jud went over to Blake's place to work on his own property. Truman acted as if nothing happened and prattled on about the weather, the new president who'd be taking office in a few weeks, and the state the world was in. Jud nodded at the right times, took care of the goats and fed the cattle, chipped ice from the watering troughs, and listened sporadically so if Truman asked a question, he might be able to answer it.

But his mind was on that one word that stunned him that morning as well as sleeping with Fiona. Not having sex or making love but sleeping with her in his arms all night. He'd slept with women before on occasion when he couldn't figure out a tactful way to leave, but not a single woman in his past had stirred him like Fiona. And it wasn't just the amazing sex. She was dependable, kind, hardworking, loved her family, and then there was the way her smile lit up the whole room and that cute temper when something like a tire blew out. Just exactly the kind of woman Jud needed: sass and love all rolled into one beautiful woman.

“Where's your mind? I asked you three times if you wanted to go have some dinner with me on Sunday. Seems the womenfolks is goin' to see Irene again and then they're going to buy a bunch of shit for this ranch party next week,” Truman said.

“I'm sorry. I was—”

“Thinkin' about Fiona. I know. I know,” Truman interrupted. “But you got to get a hold of yourself, son. That woman wasn't never the settlin' type and if you are ever goin' to make a go of the Lucky Penny, you'd damn sure better not tie yourself up to a woman who's half bird.”

“Bird?” Jud asked.

“You heard me. Soon as she can she'll fly out of this nest again. Ain't nobody, not even her mama, been able to clip her wings for very long. One time when she was about eight years old, she packed a bag and made it to the outskirts of town before they found her.”

“What happened?”

“She told Katy that she was going on an adventure. That was Fiona, always looking for something out there beyond Dry Creek. Now, are we goin' to eat at Nadine's together on Sunday or not?”

Jud cut his eyes around to Truman and rubbed his chin with the palm of his hand. “You buyin' or am I?”

“This time it's my turn. After we get done, we'll have us another go at dominoes and you can invite your two cousins if you've a mind to. They might be getting tired of all this Sunday shit, too.”

Jud could hardly sit still and drive. This was a big step for the old scrooge. He might turn Truman O'Dell around by Christmas yet. “Well, I ain't never turned down a free meal yet, so I'll go with you. Reckon we could ask Blake and Toby to meet us there.”

“That'd be okay, but I ain't payin' for their dinners, too,” Truman said.

Fiona and Dora June watched reruns of
NCIS
that night on television. Truman had voiced his opinion about folks who watched those crazy cop shows and spent the rest of the evening in his room, probably watching a fishing show and wishing it were summer.

At ten o'clock, Dora June yawned and stood up. “It's an hour past my bedtime, but I wanted to see one more. I expect Truman is already snoring like a grizzly bear, so I'll get on to bed. Wonder what's kept Jud out so late?”

“He called a couple of hours ago and said they had a heifer giving birth out of season. They've got her in the barn and all three of them are out there with her, trying to save the calf,” Fiona said with a long sigh.

“Y'all talk up there a lot at night, don't you?”

If you only knew what we do up there at night,
Fiona thought.

“Sometimes.”

“You like him. I can see it on your face when he's around. I ain't meddlin', but be careful, honey. He's slicker than his cousins. He comes across all sweet and sensitive, but he probably don't even know that he's leadin' a woman on until she gets serious and then he bolts like a jackrabbit in huntin' season.”

Fiona frowned. “You think he's leadin' me on? I'm the one who's been ready to bolt. He's the one who wants to put down roots.”

Dora June shook her head slowly and pursed her mouth tightly. “Lord knows I love that boy, but that's what he'd have you to believe. Maybe he even believes it himself. But if you told him that you'd changed your mind and was goin' to stay on here in Dry Creek, he'd be livin' in that travel trailer in half an hour.”

One corner of Fiona's mouth turned up slightly. “You really think so?”

Dora June patted her on the shoulder as she passed by. “I know so. I know men folks. Good night, Fiona. You'll unplug the Christmas tree lights before you go to bed, won't you?”

“Yes, ma'am, and good night, Dora June.”

“There's snickerdoodles on the cabinet if you want a snack.”

“Thank you,” Fiona called over her shoulder.

On Saturday morning, Jud opened the kitchen door to find Dora June at her regular business of making breakfast, Truman sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, but Fiona was nowhere in sight.

“Where you been all night? Out with some old hussy?” Truman grumbled.

“Truman O'Dell!” Dora June popped her hands on her hips.

“I stayed over at Blake's. Didn't want to wake y'all. Is that pancakes and sausage?”

“It is and omelets so you have some protein to stick to your ribs,” Dora June answered.

“You up to helpin' me or do you need to get a rest?” Truman asked.

“I've had five hours of sleep, so I'm good,” Jud said, keeping the smile off his face. They'd both have an acute coronary if they knew he and Fiona had been running on about that much sleep all week.

“Well, sit down and eat your breakfast so we can get goin'. That calf a good one?” Truman asked.

“Fine-lookin' bull calf. Want to go see it once we get the chores done?” Jud asked.

“I might. Why'd you breed a heifer so she'd birth in December? Ain't you got any sense about cows?”

“Didn't do it on purpose. Sometimes those hussies get around the best rancher. You ever had one calve in the middle of the winter?”

“Couple of times, but I sure don't like it. Spring calves are the best and that's when we're ready for them. Not in the winter when we got to keep them in the barn for fear of 'em freezin' to death,” Truman answered. “Is it goin' to be a good breeder or just another one to throw in the auction this next fall?”

“A bit hard to tell so early but looks like a breeder. Maybe you could give me your opinion. But if you don't want to set foot on the Lucky Penny, I could ask for Herman's thoughts on it,” Jud said as he poured warm maple syrup on a tall stack of pancakes.

“Hmmph.” Truman almost snorted coffee out his nose. “Herman might raise cattle, but he ain't got as much sense about breeders as I got. I'll look at that calf. You don't need to be askin' Herman Hudson a damn thing.”

Jud tucked his chin and set about eating breakfast. Laughter was not an easy thing to keep in when it was determined to escape, but Jud managed to keep it contained. It had to be the spirit of Christmas had finally gotten past that tough exterior and found Truman's heart.

“When you get done, Jud, will you plug in the Christmas lights for me?” Dora June asked. “It's awful hard for me to get down on my knees and do that.”

“Sure thing.” Jud finished off the last of his coffee and carried his dirty dishes to the sink. “You about ready, Truman?”

“Been ready for ten minutes. Dora June, why in the devil do you want lights burnin' on that tree when the sun is coming out and it's daytime? It's a waste of electricity,” Truman grumbled.

“I'll pay the electric bill if that's what's worryin' you.” Dora June patted him on the shoulder. “You can hate baby Jesus if you want, but I love him and I'm having Christmas every minute that I can.”

“I don't hate Jesus,” Truman argued.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Dora June said icily.

Truman slapped his forehead. “Well, go plug in her lights so we can get on with our business. Women! Can't figure them out and it's against the law to shoot 'em.”

Jud managed to have his back turned before he grinned and he made it to the living room before a chuckle erupted. Next time he got to town, he intended to buy a cord that had one of those on/off switches attached to it. He would affix it to a tree branch at the right height for Dora June to reach. That way she could turn it on and off at whim.

When the lights were all shining brightly, he heard a slight noise behind him and whipped around to find Fiona curled up on the sofa. He drank in the sight of her for several seconds, red hair flowing over a throw pillow under her head, thick eyelashes resting on her cheekbones, one arm under her head, the other one clutching a second throw pillow. She was so damn cute that it took all his willpower not to awaken her with a kiss. But it wouldn't be right to deprive her of another hour's sleep, so he gently tucked a throw blanket around her. Tonight, he promised himself, they'd have some time together.

S
aturday was one of those days that started out fast and built speed until the sunset. With the sun shining and the roads semi-clear, folks were in and out of the convenience store all day. Fiona sold more gasoline that day than she'd sold in the two weeks her mother had been gone. She was tired and ready for an evening in Jud's arms when she headed home.

She turned on the radio, hoping to catch a weather report, and listened to country music. Every song reminded her of Jud and the situation she'd landed in with him. Her phone vibrated in her hip pocket just as she parked in front of a dark house. She fished it out and answered on the third ring.

“Hey, Jud,” she said. “You working late, or are you sittin' in the dark?”

“Working. Another one of our heifers that we've been worried about has decided to calve tonight,” he said with a sigh. “Remember Blake and Allie are up in Muenster for the day so the grandparents there can have a little time with Audrey. They're on their way home, but it'll be after eleven when they get here. Lizzy and Toby are in Throckmorton for a Christmas party, something about one of the products she sells,” Jud answered. “Oh, and another thing. I got that extra set of keys from the hook by the back door this afternoon and stole your car for an hour this afternoon. I got the snow tires put on it and brought it back. I planned to come inside but the store was full and I was in a hurry.”

“Thank you but I was going to do that tomorrow afternoon after church,” she said.

A picture of Jud's big biceps bulging as he removed one tire at a time and replaced it with a snow tire popped into Fiona's head. In spite of the bitter cold outside, the car was suddenly too hot, so she rolled down the window an inch.

“Maybe we can do something more fun after church,” he teased.

Fiona couldn't keep the smile off her face. “Pink, yellow, or blue?”

“None of the above. I rather like the plain love more than the playful sex,” he said.

“I missed you last night, and tonight Truman and Dora June are at Ruby's place to play dominoes, probably until after ten. That's why you asked about the dark house, isn't it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Dammit!”

“What?” she asked.

“I'm in the barn and my phone is going dead,” he answered. “If I don't see you before then, I'll see you in church tomorrow morning…”

She held the phone out but the screen was blank. An empty house. Leftovers warmed up in the microwave. Depression set in as she remembered other evenings just like that in the shabby little apartment in Houston.

The DJ on the car radio broke the silence surrounding her. “And we have a request from Diana this evening, so here's a little Sara Evans for all y'all out there in north-central Texas.”

“Suds in the Bucket” started off with the twang of guitar music. The lyrics didn't match her exactly, but it sure made her antsy to get out of Dry Creek. The lyrics about not being able to fence time reminded Fiona of when she'd packed a bag and started walking out of town to go on an adventure. That same antsy feeling hit her as she sat in the car with new snow tires and looked ahead at a dark house.

“I need an adventure tonight,” she said.

Every song on the radio reminded her of Jud or something about Dry Creek as she drove north. When she was out of range of that station, she hit the search button and a DJ with a voice almost as deep as Jud's filled the car. “And now for an hour of Christmas music starting with Vince Gill's ‘Peace on Earth,'” the DJ said.

Tears flowed down Fiona's cheeks as the lyrics asked for peace on earth and for it to begin with her. She tried to clear her mind and think about nothing but the joy of an adventure as she drove, but when she reached Claude, Texas, at nine o'clock, she realized that every single thing she'd thought about on the journey that evening had circled right back around to Dry Creek, to her family and to Jud. Maybe it was time to hang up her adventurous nature and go home.

A convenience store was still open, so she stopped to put gas in the car and get a cup of coffee. The small motel down the street beckoned to her, but she was reluctant to shell out any more money, so she got back in the car and started toward Amarillo. Then she saw a sign that pointed south down through the Palo Duro Canyon and she made a left-hand turn.

Suddenly, the flat land where dirt met a sky full of bright twinkling stars disappeared as she fell into a deep canyon filled with shadowy formations on either side of the narrow two-lane road. Somewhere in the middle of the journey, her eyes grew so heavy that she dozed and awoke with a jerk to find that she was on the wrong side of the road headed straight toward a barbed wire fence. With adrenaline pumping, she whipped the steering wheel, overcorrecting to the point that she just missed another fence on the other side of the road. Finally getting it under control and back on the road, she let out all the pent-up air in her lungs in a long, loud
whoosh
.

She pulled into a short lane with a locked gate right ahead of her. Hands shaking, her heart still pounding, she looked up past the canyon walls at the sky above her where the moon hung weightless with a billion stars around it. She remembered the song from a couple of hours before and nodded. She wished that Jud was with her and that all those stars were shining on them as they cuddled up and slept together in the backseat of the car.

She turned off the engine but wasn't sure what to do next, so she laid the seat back and gazed at the sky through the top of the windshield. She'd wait until her pulse settled back to normal before she got back out there on the road and drove up to Silverton. According to the last sign she'd seen, it was probably only half an hour at most from there and then she'd get a motel, no matter what the cost.

She wrapped her coat tightly around her chest and shut her eyes. Just for a minute until her heart stopped racing, but the adrenaline left as suddenly as it had flashed through her body and she fell asleep.

Jud slipped into the house a little after midnight. He grabbed a fistful of cookies from the countertop and poured milk into a quart jar. There was no light under Fiona's door, but he knocked very lightly in case she was still awake.

She didn't answer, so he eased the door open. Her bed was unmade, her spotless room every bit as empty as the feeling of emptiness in the whole upstairs portion of the house. Come to think of it, her car hadn't been outside, either. Leaving the door open, he quickly went to his room, put the cookies and milk on his nightstand, and got his phone attached to the recharge cord. Not waiting until it even had one bar, he hit her number and it went straight to voice mail. Either her phone was turned off or she was in a place with no service. She hadn't mentioned going anywhere, but then their conversation had been cut short when his phone went dead.

He headed toward the bathroom for a quick shower. When he returned, he tried calling her three more times but it still went to voice mail. Finally, at one o'clock, he crawled into bed and slept fitfully until morning.

Dora June wore a bright red robe and a very worried expression when Jud reached the kitchen for breakfast. “You heard from Fiona? Allie and Lizzy both called this mornin'.”

Jud shook his head.

Truman sat at the table with his breakfast before him. “Quit your fussin' and carryin' on, woman. Fiona is a grown woman and she don't have to answer to you. If she wants to lay out all night in some dive motel with God knows who, it ain't none of your business.” He stopped long enough to sip his coffee. “I keep tellin' both of y'all that girl won't never have roots. Her wings have probably carried her away and we might not see her for another year.”

Jud's heart skipped a beat. He'd never thought about her leaving permanently. His wildest idea was that Mary Jo and Sharlene had talked her into going back to that bar with them and that some other two-steppin' cowboy would take her eye.

“The girl has run away again. Get that through your heads. Now eat up, son, so we can go see if that new calf is as good as the one you got the day before,” Truman said grumpily.

Jud ate breakfast, but he might as well have been eating sawdust. He helped Truman with chores, but that morning he didn't care if he changed Scrooge into a nice person or not. He just wanted to know that Fiona was safe. He tried several more times to reach her and got the same results every time. At least Truman didn't harp on the issue anymore. That much was a blessing. When they finished at Truman's place, they went straight to the barn where the two calves were penned up with their mothers.

Blake was already leaning on the stall door, a smile on his face. “I believe this one is even better stock than the last one. He's got good heavy bones and look how alert he is.”

Truman climbed up on the first slat and tilted his head to the left, frowned, squinted, and nodded. “You're right. That's a breeder. You'll have to watch Herman. He'll try to tell you that it ain't so he can get a chance to buy him.”

“What about you, Truman?” Blake asked. “Would you buy him if you had a chance?”

Truman shook his head. “Sorry, boys, but I'm not real sure that this time next year I'll be in the cattle business. I been doin' some real hard thinkin'. I ain't through yet, but seems like God is tellin' me what I need to do. I just got to figure out if I want to listen to Him.”

“You plannin' on arguin' with God?” Blake asked.

“Wouldn't be the first time,” Truman answered.

“How does that work out?” Jud asked.

“Okay, if I let him win. If he lets me win, then not so good most of the time.”

“What're y'all fightin' about this Sunday mornin'? Where Fiona is or isn't?” Blake turned around and sat down on a hay bale.

“You heard anything about that flighty girl?” Truman stepped down from the slat and leaned against the stall.

“Not a word. Allie has sent a dozen messages and she called Sharlene. Neither she nor Mary Jo have seen her. I keep tellin' Allie that Fiona is a big girl and she's promised her mama she'll run the store, so she'll be home by tomorrow at the latest. And she's supposed to go shopping with the ladies after church, so if she can't make that, she will call.”

With every fiber of his being, Jud hoped his cousin was right. What if she was mad at him for stealing the car and putting those snow tires on it without waiting for her to help him? What if she'd planned something special for the evening and thought he was making excuses not to be with her?

“I expect we'd all better get on about the church business now. Dora June has to teach that Sunday school class, so we have to go earlier. I envy the lot of you that,” Truman said.

Blake shook his head. “Would you say that again? You envy the guys who bought the Lucky Penny? Never thought I'd see you on our ranch or hear you say that.”

Truman pushed away from the stall. “Maybe I was wrong. I'll admit it if I decide I was.”

“Is that what you and God are in a fight over?” Jud asked.

“Hell no! That's my decision, not God's.”

A hard shiver awoke Fiona. Somehow during the night she'd kicked all the covers off her bed. She reached for them, but got the steering wheel instead. That popped her eyes wide open as the realization of where she was and what had happened washed over her like baptismal waters.

Sleet made little popping noises as it hit the roof of her car. She quickly brought her seat upright, started the engine, rubbed her cold hands together until the circulation was better, and shoved the gear stick into reverse.

The roads were clear when she started back south, but they were getting slick when she started climbing to the top of the canyon's edge not far from Silverton. Even though the sky was gray, when she reached the tiny town, the sleet had stopped and the roads were clear again.

Her phone vibrated and she picked it up to find a dozen messages from Jud, five text messages from each of her sisters, and one from Sharlene asking why she'd gone out to have a good time and hadn't invited her or Mary Jo to go along.

She knew she needed to call her sisters first, but she wasn't ready to talk to them. So she sent Lizzy a short message:
See you in church.
Then her phone screen went blank and there were no more bars.

Lights were shining from a little restaurant on the north side of the street in Silverton, and she pulled the car into the parking lot. A cup of coffee was all she intended to buy, but when she stepped out of the car, a wave of light-headedness swept over her. That little niggling voice in her head said that if she didn't eat something, she might see her sisters in church, but it wouldn't be today and she'd most likely be lying in a casket instead of sitting beside them on the Logan pew.

At 5:00 a.m., she wasn't surprised to find she was the only person in the café, so it didn't take long for the waitress to bring out her order. She was busy cutting up her fried eggs when the waitress asked if she was just passing through or looking for a job.

“What kind of job are you talking about?” Maybe this was Fiona's answer. She'd have never thought she'd find it out there in the flattest part of Texas but stranger things had happened.

“I need a waitress. You just looked kind of lost, so I thought I'd offer.”

Fiona looked up at her name tag. “Thank you, Macy. I am lost, but I think I'm about to find the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“If you change your mind, write down the numbers on the bulletin board in the foyer,” Macy said. “Here comes my early morning coffee drinkers with a fresh crop of bullshit to spread this Sunday morning.”

Fiona laughed with her as she hurried off to get four old men seated by the window. When she'd finished her breakfast, Macy brought a to-go cup full of coffee and the bill to her table. Fiona handed her a ten-dollar bill and told her to keep the change. She walked right past the bulletin board, out into the cold winter air, and headed home.