Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (28 page)

“Shut up and listen to me,” Becca said so loud that Raylen heard it.

Well, Liz had said she wanted a fight. That ought to do it!

“What did you say to me?” Liz raised her voice two octaves.

“I said shut up, Liz. I wasn't there because Taylor and I got married today. I wanted you and Raylen to be the first to know. I did what you said and Daddy said I could have the down payment for a house to be built on the ranch or a big, fancy wedding. Taylor and I decided to take the house and we flew to Las Vegas for three days. After that, I'm putting in ten-hour days at the ranch, learning what I should already know, so when the time comes I can keep it running. So shut up and wish me good luck.”

“I'll be damned,” Liz said.

“I finally got the best of you.” Becca laughed.

“You did not!” Liz argued, but a grin spread across her face.

“Oh yes I did. Now give the phone to Raylen.”

“He's going to be so disappointed, Becca. He wanted to be your Maid of Honor, and now he's got this beautiful apricot-colored dress that he won't ever get to wear.”

Becca's laughter shot through the phone and echoed off the walls.

Raylen wrested the phone from Liz's hand and shot her a dirty look.

“Congratulations, and I do not have a dress of any color,” he said.

Becca lowered her voice. “She's a smart cookie. Hang on to her.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“She'll make you toe the line like Taylor does me. Neither of us could ever be satisfied with a wimp.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Good night. Taylor was on the hotel phone ordering room service and he's finished. I love him, Raylen. Have for a long time. This will change things between me and you, won't it?”

“Sometimes change ain't too bad,” he answered.

Liz looked at him with questions on her face when he turned the phone off and laid it on the arm of the sofa.

He raised a dark eyebrow and grinned. “What?”

“Yes, ma'am?” she said with both eyebrows raised.

“I was agreeing with my friend when she paid you a compliment.”

She snuggled back against his chest. “I can't get a rousting good argument out of anyone.”

“That's because we haven't had makeup sex from the last one yet. You can't work up the anger for another fight if you haven't completely settled the last one. Passionate people couldn't handle all that intense emotion at once. It would blow a fuse in their heart and they'd drop graveyard dead,” he said.

“You are full of bullshit,” she mumbled.

“So?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“It's five hours until I have to go to work.”

“Well, forget it,” he said.

“Are we fighting?”

He grinned. “No. Five hours just isn't long enough for good makeup sex.”

She shivered.

“My point is proven. If thinking about five whole hours of sex puts chills down your back, just think what enough to settle two fights would do to you.”

She giggled. “Kiss me and go home, darlin'. I'm going to take a cold shower and go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow.”

“I'll be here when the exodus begins.” He kissed her hard on the lips, giving her a very small taste of what the future held when they got around to the making up business.

She walked him to the door, stole a dozen more kisses and a short, stand-up make-out session before she stumbled to the bathroom and took the fastest shower of her life. She was asleep two minutes after her head hit the pillow, but she was restless all night, tossing and turning, reaching out for Raylen, only to find an empty pillow beside her.

Hugs were given.

Promises made.

Then it was time for Liz to stand on the porch like her Poppa had done for years and wave as the parade went down her lane. Flatbeds first, semis next, and then the pickup trucks pulling the living trailers. She'd flipped the lights on all the artwork even though the sun was bright and the day fairly warm.

Tears dripped off her cheeks and dropped onto her sweatshirt. She'd made up her mind and she was at peace with her decision. She liked her roots. She loved Raylen. But why did clipping her wings have to hurt so damn bad?

When the last taillight was out of sight, she tucked her head into Raylen's shoulder and sobbed. “I miss her already.”

“She's four hours from here, Liz. You can go see her any weekend that you want to. You can take off when you get off at two on Saturday and come home the next day. It's not like you won't see her for a year.” His tone was soothing.

“Oh, hush.” Colleen rounded the end of the house and she was crying as hard as Liz.

Raylen held out his left arm to Colleen and she walked into it, laid her head on his other shoulder, and sobbed loudly. He didn't know what to do with one weeping woman and he had two hugged up to him, soaking his shirt.

“You still want those wings?” Liz asked.

“More than ever. What's the price?”

Liz wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands. “I'll sell them to you for your roots.”

“Honey, today I'd rip them up and hand them to you on a silver platter. Watching him leave was the hardest thing I've ever done. How can I feel like this after only a week?”

Liz smiled through the tears. “Damnedest thing in the world, ain't it?”

“At least you don't have to have a long-distance relationship,” Colleen said.

“Neither do you. Four hours out there. Take your vacation time and go spend it with him,” Liz said.

Colleen swiped at her eyes with her denim jacket sleeve. “Momma will have a fit.”

“Mine did. Didn't kill me. They come around when it's got to do with their kid's happiness,” Liz said.

Colleen nodded and pulled out of Raylen's embrace. “I've got to go to Randlett. Got to be at work at four today. I'll call you, Liz.”

Liz stepped away from Raylen and put a hand on Colleen's arm. “Think about going out there. He'll call you but…”

Colleen hugged Liz. “I know. He's cocky as hell, but there's a little insecurity there. I promise I'll think about it, but it takes at least a week after I put in a request for that kind of time. I'll call you when I figure it all out.”

“I'll be right here or at work or riding horses to pay for all my help, but I'll have my phone,” Liz said.

Colleen disappeared around to the backyard. Liz swallowed another lump in her throat just thinking about the decisions ahead of Colleen. If that had been Raylen driving away, her heart would have shattered.

“Well, that puts things in perspective,” she mumbled.

“What's that?” Raylen asked.

“There could be a worse scenario than Momma and Aunt Tressa leaving,” she said.

“And what would that be?” Raylen tucked her hand in his and started walking toward his truck.

“Watching you drive away,” she answered honestly.

“That ain't happenin', darlin',” he whispered as he sealed that vow with a long, lingering kiss.

“Where are you takin' me?” she asked.

“Momma says Danny Boy needs a slow walk around the pasture and she wants me to do that. But there's about a dozen mares that need some exercise. Want to ride off those tears?” Raylen asked.

Liz nodded. “Let's go.”

They rode to the horse barn in comfortable silence.

Two very different emotions rattled around in Raylen's soul. He was elated to hear Liz say that she wanted roots, and his heart floated when she said that about not wanting to watch him leave. But it was bittersweet, because his sister was pulling up her roots and growing carnival wings right before his eyes. He'd always figured all five of the O'Donnells would settle down right there close to Ringgold. They'd all come to Sunday dinner when Maddie called them in like a hen with her chickens. And raise their kids together. If Colleen and Blaze got really serious and wound up together, Rachel would hardly know her carnie cousins. And Gemma? What did the future have in store for her? Would both of his sisters wind up living far away?

Maddie waved at them from the barn door where she leaned on a scoop shovel. She wore jeans and a gray sweatshirt. Both were stained with dirt, and her work boots left no doubt that she'd been mucking out stalls.

When Liz was close enough, Maddie hugged her tightly and said, “It can't be easy to watch your family leave like that. We've all lived in a pretty close pile. I'm not so sure how much longer that'll be the way it is. I saw the way Blaze looked at my daughter and it scares me. Colleen has always been the one with the…” She stumbled.

“The most pessimism.” Raylen smiled.

“No, the one who took care of everyone else,” Liz said.

“That's right.” Maddie nodded. “I always thought she'd probably wind up with someone older who'd adore her.”

“Blaze might not be older but he adores her,” Liz said.

“And that is probably the most important part. But right now, this minute, I think you need some good old hard work. I understand you ride?”

“Yes, ma'am,” Liz said.

“Well, start on the south side of the stables at the end. That'll be Missy. A couple of turns around the forty acres over there,” Maddie pointed to her left, “should do it. You can ride as many as you have time for and I appreciate the help.”

“Thank you, Maddie.”

“I'll clean out her stall while you ride,” she said.

Raylen draped an arm around Liz's shoulder and directed her to Missy's stall. “She's partial to that saddle.” Raylen pointed to one on a sawhorse beside the stall door.

Liz picked a bridle from a nail up above the saddle and started talking softly to the horse. “You pretty doll. I bet you get tired of this old stall, don't you?”

Raylen backed up to the other side of the center aisle and crossed his arms over his chest. He'd make sure she had the hang of things before he went over to Danny Boy's stall. The saddle might be too heavy for her. She might have trouble getting Missy to stand still while she cinched it up. Or she might need a boost to get mounted up and ready.

Missy nudged Liz's shoulder and she giggled. “Impatient, are you? Well, we'll have us a good ride right after we get this bridle on you. Yes, baby girl, that's a good darlin'. I'm going to lead you out, and we'll get some good exercise, and then we'll have an apple or a carrot.”

She bypassed the saddle and didn't respond to Raylen when he pointed at it. He followed her as she led the horse out into the sunshine and rubbed her ears for a minute before she grabbed a hunk of hair and swung up on the horse's bare back in one swift movement. She clamped her knees against Missy's flanks and the mare stepped high.

Maddie came out of the first stall and stared. “I'll be damned. Is she one of them horse whisperers?”

Raylen shook his head. “She's pretty good, isn't she?”

Liz's dark hair fluffed out behind her as she gave Missy more rein and let her go into a soft trot. “Fast enough, little girl. That's all you're going to get today. Any more and you'll work up too much sweat.”

Maddie watched until she and Missy disappeared over a rise. “She don't need me to advise her on horses. I'm going back to work,” Maddie said.

Raylen watched until they made the first circle and she waved at him, then he went back inside and brought Danny Boy out to walk him around the paddock a few times. The stallion looked disappointed that he couldn't have a good run, but Raylen reminded him that his leg wasn't healed and if he wanted to run, then he had to obey the rules.

“And besides all that, I'm still in shock at that woman of mine. I'm not sure I could keep up with you if we could take a jog around the pasture,” Raylen said.

Liz finished the second round and brought Missy back to the front of the barn. She slid off her back, led her inside the barn, and grabbed up the equipment to rub her down before she put her back in the stall. Maddie had just finished mucking out and laying down fresh straw.

“You're pretty good ridin' bareback,” she said.

“We got horses out in west Texas. I can saddle up if you want me to, but it's just extra time. Who's next?”

“Fire Red.” She pointed to the name above the stall door.

“Her name mean she's got a temper?” Liz asked.

Maddie leaned on the shovel. “Gentlest mare I've got. She's birthed several of Danny Boy's colts for me. Got one that'll be in the sale this next fall. Beautiful boy that we haven't broken yet.”

Liz itched to meet that horse. “Want me to start workin' with him?”

“Honey, Dewar would disown me as his mother if I let anyone near that horse but him. But there'll be more colts and now that I've seen what you can do, you're goin' to have your hands full livin' next door to us, so you will get to break one eventually,” Maddie said.

Liz and Fire Red had made it halfway around the pasture when her phone rang. She fished it out of her hip pocket and shifted the reins to one hand. Fire Red kept up a steady trot around the perimeter of the pasture.

“We're out past Wichita Falls,” Marva Jo said. “Haskell called. Daddy is antsin' for us to get there.”

“It wasn't easy, Momma,” Liz said around the new lump in her throat.

“Change hurts sometimes, but I saw it in your eyes, you are where you should be. Dammit! I should have gotten involved with a carnie instead of a
gadjo
! It was his genes that keeps you in one place. A third-generation carnie would have given you good genes.”

Liz giggled. “I'm riding bareback right now. I promised Raylen I'd help exercise horses if he'd help me take care of all my Christmas decorations and the party.”

“You loved horses from the time you could walk. That's Daddy's genes coming out in you,” Marva Jo said. “We're getting into Vernon and traffic is heavy. I'll call when we get there.”

She'd barely flipped her phone shut when it rang again.

“I'm miserable,” Blaze said when she answered, and she believed him. His tone sounded horrid.

“Good enough for you. When y'all left I cried my eyes out.”

“I just now stopped snifflin' enough to call you. I'm in love, sweetheart.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“Hell if I know. It's a brand new territory for me. Got to go. Traffic is slowing us down. Call you tomorrow.”

She flipped the phone shut and it rang a third time.

“Where'd you learn to ride like that?” Raylen asked when she answered. “Watchin' you makes me hot.”

“What?” She giggled.

“Well, it does.”

“I don't know how to answer that. Everything you do makes me hot. You can walk across the floor and I'm scalding hot. You can kiss me and flames shoot out my ears. But to answer your question, I started riding before Poppa or Momma knew it. I rescued an old wood stool from the barn and stood on it to mount up on the Shetland ponies. I was barely four, and Momma said I was too little to ride, but all I could think about was getting on that pony. I was too little to saddle up. I'd been riding a month or more when they figured out I wasn't playing with Barbie out there behind the barn.”

“Stubborn little cuss, wasn't you,” he said.

“Always,” she said. “I'm bringing Fire Red in now. Who's next?”

“Glory. She's one of Major Jack's first colts. Spirited. She'll test you.”

Liz giggled again. “As much as you do? Do I get makeup sex tonight?”

“It's a date,” he said. “Starting with a long bath together. Not a shower.”

“I'm looking forward to it,” Liz said breathlessly.

“Me too,” Raylen drawled.

She shivered at the idea of a bath with Raylen. Maddie was still mucking out the stall when she rode Fire Red into the barn. Liz slid off the mare's back and rubbed her down, but the visual of Raylen naked and wet kept a smile on her face until quitting time that evening. That cowboy sure knew how to rattle a girl's nerves, and Liz loved it.

The sun was a bright orange ball hanging right above the western horizon when they finished up. The inside of Raylen's truck smelled like hay, horses, and manure but neither Liz nor Raylen noticed. She wanted a long hot bath with Raylen. He could begin by massaging the aches from her upper thighs and butt cheeks. Tomorrow she was going to take the time to saddle the horses.

“Just so you know, Momma invited us to have supper with them. I told her that I'd promised to help you eat up some Italian leftovers,” Raylen said.

Liz patted him on the leg. “And you will. After we have a long, hot steamy bath and then long, hot steamy sex.”

“You don't stutter when it comes to speaking right up, do you?”

“I told you about riding that pony when I was four. I get something in my head, I do it. I got something to say, I say it.”

“Then why didn't you tell me that summer when we were teenagers how you felt about me?”

She blushed. “At fourteen I barely knew what sex was or what that aching feeling down deep in my gut was. I do now.”

She hopped out of the truck when he stopped it and hit the porch in a dead run. Hooter looked up, but she didn't invite him or Blister into the house. Raylen strutted up the steps and into the house, wondering why she was in such a big hurry. He found the answer when he opened the door. She stood in the middle of the foyer wearing nothing but a smile and a clamp in her hair.

“You sure are slow.” She grinned.