Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (19 page)

Ace held up his iced tea glass. “Well, here's to Florida and Five Guys.”

Jasmine dipped a hot fry in a pile of ketchup and remembered what Liz said that day when she asked her if it was Raylen or Dewar.

It's always been Raylen.

Everyone went silent as they ate.

Jasmine continued to think about how cute Liz was when she looked at Raylen. Gemma fought back a jealous streak because she wanted a cowboy of her own so badly. Dewar had been attracted to Liz that first day but his brother was in love with the woman. Ace bit back a chuckle. No way was he ever falling that hard for a woman.

Liz looked up to see everyone staring at her with different expressions on their faces. “What's going on? Do I have ketchup on my face?”

Gemma giggled. “No, you don't. Why'd you ask?”

“Everyone was staring,” Liz said.

“Darlin' they know beautiful when they see it,” Raylen whispered and suddenly everyone started talking at once.

The dining room had thinned out to only one table of elderly men who were deep into a heated discussion concerning politics. That brought up the idea of imports and exports and whether they'd have to bring in hay from another place that fall or if they'd have to buy any in the winter or if they had plenty of small bales in the barns and big round bales in the pasture to last.

Liz had long since removed their dinner plates, dessert plates, and kept their coffee cups filled as they solved the problems of the country. They were discussing gun control again with each of them telling how many guns were in their arsenal when she made one more pass with the coffee pot.

“Hey, Liz,” Gemma called out from the door with Colleen right behind her.

Liz looked up, forced a smile, and bit back a groan. “Hi, y'all. Hungry?”

“Starving,” Colleen said. “Got any of the special left?”

“We do. How about you, Gemma?”

“I'm not in the mood for turkey and dressin'. I'm saving that for Thanksgiving. Bring me a bacon cheeseburger basket,” she answered.

Liz turned the order into Jasmine and waited in the kitchen.

“I'll holler when it's ready,” Jasmine said.

“I'm procrastinating. Let's talk about what we're going to do to decorate this place for Christmas. I've got lots of decorations left at my house. Let's put a big old stuffed Santa in a rocking chair out on the porch and hang ornaments in different lengths from the ceiling on ribbon… no, on jute twine because I saw some I want to buy at the Walmart store that were horses, steer horns, and horseshoes. We can make this a countrified Christmas in here. I saw one of those rough wood signs that we can hang above Santa on the porch that says, ‘countrified and satisfied.' We can figure out who made it and commission them to make us one that says, ‘countrified and satisfied' and right under it put ‘have a Chicken Fried Christmas.'”

“Whoa, girl. I like all those ideas, and we can do them right after Thanksgiving. I'd planned to put up a little garland and a few lights the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but if you are offering your decorations, why not make it gaudy as hell. Who knows? We might get all kinds of traffic down this way for your light drive, and if they see everything lit up here, they'll drop by and give me some business. Now why are you procrastinating?”

“Colleen knows. I can see disapproval in her face.”

Jasmine patted Liz on the back. “She was the same way with Austin. She loves her brothers, and I guess it's working with gamblers all the time that makes her not as trusting as Gemma. Besides, you've had it too good. You need some speed bumps.”

“Speed bumps?” Liz asked.

“Life is like a highway. Got to have a few curves and speed bumps, or else you start to take things for granted.”

“I'll remind you of that when your road is too straight and perfect,” Liz said.

Jasmine flipped a burger and added a slice of cheese to the top of the cooked side. “I bet you do!”

“Let's talk Christmas decorations some more,” Liz said.

Jasmine pointed toward the dining room.

The elderly men had evidently finished their executive committee meeting, because they were leaving when Liz went back out. She glanced at the table and almost went in that direction. She could clean it, pocket the tip, and make the job last until Gemma and Colleen's food was ready to serve. But if she didn't clean it right then, it would be waiting as an excuse if the speed bumps got too dangerous.

She decided on the latter and sat down at the table with the O'Donnell sisters. “So what brings you to town on a Tuesday, Colleen?”

“My hair. It was too long and needed some layers. Gemma just finished cutting it,” Colleen said.

“Looks good. Anyone ever ask you to model for their hair products?” Liz asked. Colleen hadn't whipped out a six-shooter and pointed it at her so maybe Gemma hadn't had time to spread the news.

“Not yet. Raylen told me that y'all are dating,” Colleen said.

“I guess so,” Liz said.

Colleen stared right into Liz's eyes. “Don't break his heart.”

Liz didn't blink. “I won't.”

Liz expected more but Colleen looked out the window at the truck pulling into the parking lot. “I'm staying at the ranch tonight. Raylen says your place looks like the Griswold house. I'm looking forward to seeing it.”

“It's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. I've got presents under the tree, and it's huge. Oh, I've been meanin' to ask you if we could borrow your tables next Wednesday night, Gemma. Colleen, did Gemma tell you everyone is invited? I can't wait for y'all to meet all my carnie family,” Liz said.

“Wow!” Colleen said.

“Is that sarcasm?” Liz asked.

Colleen tilted her head toward the door. “Hell, no! Look! I ain't seen nothing like…”

“Blaze!” Liz shouted, crossed the floor in a dead run, and jumped into his waiting arms.

“Hi, sweetheart! Who is that gorgeous redhead?” he whispered.

Liz's answer was somewhere between a laugh and a groan. Colleen and Blaze! The devil would be line dancing in heaven to Charlie Daniels's “Devil Went Down to Georgia” before Texas was big enough for that combination.

“There's two women back there. You sure you're lookin' at the redhead?”

He spun her around and set her down. “That gorgeous one with the dark red hair and the jean jacket is who I'm seeing. Introduce me if you know her,” he said.

“I planned on it.” She picked up his hand and led him to the table. “Gemma and Colleen, this is my best friend, my surrogate brother and cousin, and part of my carnie family, Blaze. Darlin', meet Gemma and Colleen, Raylen's two sisters.”

Colleen held out her hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Blaze's eyes never left her green ones as he shook her hand, holding it longer than necessary before letting go and turning to Gemma. “I understand you've been a big help in getting everything ready for Lizelle's Christmas party.”

“We just call her Liz.” Gemma looked from Colleen to Blaze.

The man was dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged a six-pack of hard abs and strained at the bulging biceps. His hair was blond, in need of a decent cut, and his eyes as dark as Liz's. He had two days' worth of light brown scuff that matched his eyebrows, a slight dent in his chin, and dimples when he smiled.

He wasn't a bit sexier than Ace or even Wil, but Colleen looked like she could see underneath all that black and could eat him instead of turkey and dressing for lunch.

“Order up!” Jasmine yelled.

Liz grabbed Blaze's arm. “Come on. You've got to meet Jasmine and…”

“Hey, y'all! Got any special left? I'm starving!” Raylen yelled as he came through the door.

“And Raylen,” Liz finished.

They were like two tomcats that had just jumped on the yard fence at the same time. Time stood still. The sun was afraid to move. The clock stopped dead. Liz could see their fur fluffing out and their tails straighten up as they met in the middle of the café floor.

Raylen extended a hand. “You have to be Blaze. Liz wasn't expecting to see you until this evening. It's nice of you to drive up here and surprise her.”

Blaze intended to crunch Raylen's hand, but he'd met his match. The cowboy's handshake was as firm as his. “I couldn't wait to see my favorite girl.”

“Order up!” Jasmine called again.

“Gotta go work. You want the special, Raylen?”

He dropped Blaze's hand.

“Yes, darlin', I want the special.” He brushed a quick kiss across her lips.

Then he turned back to Blaze. “Come on and sit with me and my sisters. I'll buy your lunch. Want some turkey and dressin' or one of the best burgers in the world?”

“I'd like one of those famous chicken fried steaks,” Blaze said.

Raylen led the way to the table. “They're really good.”

Liz plowed through tension as thick as a rangy old bull's hide all the way to the kitchen. She leaned on the doorjamb a minute before she picked up the tray. “Colleen was just barely a speed bump.”

“It's all relative. I'd say she was the speed bump that got you ready for the big hairpin curve.” Jasmine laughed. “He's pretty, but he doesn't make me have to go change my panties. Go on out there and sit with them. I'll bring out the guy's orders when they are done and meet him.”

Liz whispered, “Colleen might need to buy some new underbritches or borrow a pair of yours.”

Jasmine leaned away from the grill and peeked out at the table. “Well, I'll be damned.”

“I know. Raylen will kill me or worse yet break up with me. Blaze can charm the hair off a frog's ass. Colleen doesn't have a chance. And he'll be gone in a week.”

Jasmine shook her head slowly. “It'll take more than a tight shirt and dimples to get Colleen's britches wet.”

Liz put on her best smile and carried out Colleen's and Gemma's orders. “Turkey and dressing for you, and bacon cheeseburger basket for you. Jasmine said she'd bring y'alls on out when it's done.”

Raylen pulled a chair from an empty table and wedged it in between him and Gemma. When Liz was seated he brushed a kiss across her forehead and sat down beside her, taking her hand in his and resting their laced fingers on top of the table.

“Is everyone busy getting set up at the carnival?” she asked Blaze.

“They were getting positioned. Marva Jo has been antsy for two days. She's missed you. Is that your place south of here that looks like a North Pole store?” Blaze asked.

“That's it. Uncle Haskell made most of it,” she answered.

“So you grew up next door to Uncle Haskell?” Blaze asked Colleen.

She had a mouth full of food so she nodded.

Liz glanced at Raylen. If looks could kill, Blaze would be a pile of cold bones on the café floor right then. And she didn't even blame him. She'd told him about Blaze and his conquests and there he was, flirting blatantly with Colleen.

“What do you think of Liz's place?” Blaze asked Colleen.

“Haven't seen it since she moved in. I thought I'd drop by tonight and look at it. It's all Raylen and Gemma have talked about all week,” Colleen said.

“I'm going to help with the setup and see Momma, but I should be back by nine,” Liz told Colleen.

“Orders for the guys,” Jasmine said at Liz's elbow. “I've heard a lot about you, Blaze. Are you looking forward to a long, slow winter?” She set their food on the table, dragged a chair from the nearest table, and sat down.

“Liz has talked about all of you. And yes, I'm looking forward to the winter this year but I'll miss Liz. Thank goodness for cell phones so we can talk every night.” He turned his attention back to Colleen. “Will you be takin' in the carnival?”

“I haven't been to a carnival since I was a kid.”

“They keep a body young.” He smiled.

Liz rolled her eyes at Jasmine. Colleen was a sheep being led to the slaughter by a wolf.

“I'd think all those terrifying rides would scare a few years off a person,” Colleen said.

Liz cut her eyes around to Colleen. There was heat when she looked at Blaze but something else. Rock hard steel in her eyes said that she was attracted but she wasn't rolling back on her heels and falling into a motel bed with him. If he liked what he saw, he was going to work for it.

Gemma bounced a knee off Liz's and winked when Liz looked her way. Suddenly everything looked much better. Raylen wouldn't kill Blaze or break up with her. Blaze, bless his heart, didn't have any idea that the gorgeous redhead was a panther, and he'd only tamed little house kittens.

Blaze ate fast, complimented Jasmine on her cooking, flirted with Colleen, kissed Liz on the cheek, and told them all to come on out to the carnival and he'd see to it they had free armbands, so they could ride anything all evening without paying. Then he was gone and the static electricity in the café settled down.

“Is he your aunt's son or what?” Colleen asked.

“It's a long story but I'll give y'all the short version. We winter about halfway between Amarillo and Claude, Texas. We're sixteen miles from Amarillo and fourteen from Claude. My mother's people had a lot of land in that area when the depression hit, and they sold it to buy a small carnival. They kept enough to park the carnival for the winter months, and that's where we've always gone the week before Thanksgiving. The nearest neighbor is half a mile up the road and they had a daughter, Mary Lou, who was friends with Aunt Tressa. She got mixed up with a hippy group that decided to go to Wyoming and grow their own food when she was about eighteen. That lasted until she got pregnant and decided she'd rather grow longhorns than tomatoes. She came home and had the baby. Her folks died the year after he was born in a small plane crash going to Brownsville. Her dad had a heart attack at the controls and it went down. Then she got cancer and died when Blaze was fourteen. Aunt Tressa took him to raise. So he's not blood kin but just heart kin as Aunt Tressa says.”

“What about the ranch where he lived?” Gemma asked.

“By the time Mary Lou died, she'd sold it off to pay for medical bills until all that was left was a small trailer and two acres. Aunt Tressa sold that and put it in a trust for Blaze, gave him a job, and he's been a carnie ever since.”

“How did he feel about being jerked out of one world and tossed into another?” Colleen asked.

“He loved it from day one. He told me that he used to hang on the fence out by their place as we drove away in the spring and wish he could go with us. He's got that hippy blood in him from his biological father, I guess.”

“Who was?” Gemma asked.

“His name was Jamey.”

“Why'd she name her baby something like Blaze?” Jasmine asked.