Cowboy Boots for Christmas (17 page)

Finn held out a hand to the little boy on the bottom bunk. “Welcome to Salt Draw. Why don’t the bunch of you come out to the dining room and tell the Laytons good-bye. And then we’ll go over the house rules.”

Ricky had a good firm grip for a little boy, and so did the kid on the top bunk. Olivia’s hand was a bit shaky but then tears were flowing down her little cheeks.

“Mr. Finn, thank you for letting us stay here,” she said.

“You are very welcome. When Martin came here last week, we didn’t go over house rules because Callie took care of that part of his life. But I thought we’d get things straight before you unpack your things,” Finn said.

“Our things?” Adam asked.

“That’s right. The Laytons brought your stuff, and it’s waiting for you in the living room,” Finn answered. “Callie and I will show you the way. Did you come in by the front door?”

“No, sir, by the window,” Ricky said.

“I see.” Finn smiled.

Beth and Arlan Layton hugged the kids, but it wasn’t a tearful parting. The Laytons had heavy hearts because of her illness. The kids felt awkward because they’d run away, so it was a quick good-bye, and then they were alone in the living room.

“That is the biggest, prettiest, awesomest tree I’ve ever seen.” Olivia’s eyes darted from tree to decorations and back to the tree.

“Do those dogs bite?” Ricky hid behind Martin.

“Naw, they’re good dogs. Angel, that’s the cat, climbs the tree, so we have to watch her, but the dogs are fun, especially Shotgun. Pistol, now he likes to lie by the fire and bark when strangers come around, but Shotgun will go out in the yard and play anytime you want to.” Martin’s voice was full of joy and pride.

“Shit, Verdie! Don’t burn the cookies!” Joe pranced from one end of his perch to the other, saying every phrase he knew, then starting all over.

“That’s a big bird. I was expecting a little bitty one like a canary. And he says dirty words,” Olivia said with wide eyes.

“But he’s so pretty,” Adam said. “Does he ever fly around in the house?”

“Not anymore,” Finn said.

“Okay, kids, all four of you can sit on the sofa and listen to Finn,” Verdie said. “I expect his rules won’t be hard to obey, but you need to hear them.”

The kids sat down and looked up at Finn, three with big round blue eyes and Martin with his dark brown eyes.

Finn pushed the coffee table back and kneeled in front of them so his eyes would be on their level. “Rule number one is that you really have three bosses in this house, but we’re all three pretty fair about things. Verdie is a grandma, nanny, mama, and babysitter, all rolled into one, and you have to obey her. Callie and I are like parents, so you have to mind us as well. Rule number two is that you have to make your own beds before school in the morning, remember to brush your teeth, and pick up after yourselves. You boys will bunk in with Martin. Showers begin at eight thirty every night. Bedtime is at nine, reading for thirty minutes, and lights out at nine thirty. Miz Olivia will have her own room right next door.”

“Callie?” Verdie asked.

“Will be moving to the other wing so that the kids can be close together,” Finn said.

Verdie smiled. “Why, thank you, Finn, for including me with the kids.”

“Unless you want to move, then Olivia can have your room,” he said.

“I can stay in the room with the boys. There are four beds in there, and me and the boys are used to sharing,” Olivia said.

Verdie patted her on the shoulder. “Girls need their own space. I’d move you in with me, but I’m not turning out my lights at nine thirty. And I was very serious when I thanked Finn. I’m tickled to be on the wing with you kids. It’ll be like it was when I was a child. You okay with the move, Callie?”

“Yes, ma’am. I could sure use some help from these big strapping boys getting my things out of that room and into my new one. Olivia, you’ll have to put up with Angel coming in your room at night. She’s been sleeping on the end of my bed,” Callie said.

“Is that all?” Martin asked.

“That’s the whole list of rules,” Finn answered.

“It’s sure a short list. You didn’t say anything about doing homework when we get home or nothing about chores.”

“Those things are your responsibility and don’t fall under house rules,” Finn said.

“Look, Olivia, mistletoe.” Adam pointed toward a sprig hung in the archway between the living room and dining room.

“Well, I’m not kissing you, so don’t go stand under it,” Martin declared. “When I get big enough to kiss girls, it’s going to be Sally.” He blushed scarlet.

“Didn’t intend for those words to come out, did you?” Finn chuckled.

Martin shook his head.

“Well, I wouldn’t kiss you either. I’m going to fall in love with Harry when I’m sixteen. But not until then. Kissing you would be like kissing a brother.” Olivia skewered up her face.

“Well, I’m real glad we got that settled,” Callie said.

Finn took her hand and led her to the spot right under the mistletoe, picked her up until her feet were six inches off the floor, and kissed her right there in front of them all.

“Well, how about that?” Verdie grinned.

“It’s like a movie,” Olivia sighed.

“Didn’t want to waste the chance.” Finn grinned as he set Callie on her feet.

She tiptoed and kissed him on the chin. “Neither did I.”

***

Finn had broken the ice by kissing her in front of them. The boys’ noses were snarled up like they’d smelled something horrible. Olivia was wide eyed, and Verdie was still smiling. The awkward moment had passed.

“I like cats, but we never could have pets in the places we’ve lived,” Olivia said shyly, changing the subject.

“I bet by the end of the day that Angel will let you hold her, and she’ll probably sleep on your bed,” Callie said.

“This all”—Olivia swept the whole room with her arms—“feels like a dream.”

“I expect all four of you best get on in the bathroom and wash up for dinner. Since we had all this to settle this morning, we’re having grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, but supper will be fried chicken,” Verdie said and quickly wiped away a tear.

“Y’all got any questions?” Finn asked.

“You sure those dogs won’t bite us?” Ricky asked.

“I’m sure,” Martin answered. “Let’s go wash up. I’m starving, and I love cheese sandwiches.”

“Hands. Bathroom,” Verdie said.

Martin hugged Finn. “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome, son,” Finn said.

“Y’all come on. I’ll show you where the bathroom is, and after dinner, us boys are going to help Finn clean up the barn if you think you’re big enough,” Martin said.

“Anything you can do, I can,” Adam declared.

“Me too,” Ricky said right behind them.

“Well, that’s done,” Callie whispered.

“Martin almost made me cry,” Finn said.

“Big old mean soldier like you?” Callie asked.

“Big old mean soldier has a soft heart,” Verdie said. “Y’all can help me get some food on the table. Them kids need something warm in their stomachs. I know Beth Layton was good to them, but I swear them boys look like they could use fattenin’ up.”

“Which brings us to the second question of the day,” Callie said.

Verdie was behind the refrigerator door taking out butter, cheese, and milk. “Which is?” she asked.

Finn had started toward the pantry for tomato soup. “If it works out for us to keep these kids past the holidays, would you stay on as the nanny?”

Her head popped up over the door. “Hell no!”

“Hell no! Hell no!” Joe filled the house with several wolf whistles in between repeating what Verdie said.

“If you don’t shut up, I’m getting out the tomato cage and the apron,” Verdie threatened.

Callie stopped in her tracks. “Finn would pay you.”

“It ain’t money.”

“Then what is it?” Finn asked.

“If I can’t be the granny, I ain’t stayin’. I want the title, not the damned old money. I got more of that than I can ever spend. You let me be the granny, and I’ll tell the funny farm to give my room to someone else.”

Callie let out a whoosh of air. “You scared me, Verdie McElroy.”

“Just keepin’ y’all on your toes. This is my home. I figured it out after I left it, and God has seen fit to give me a second chance at livin’ here. I’ll be glad to stay on and help you run this ranch, Finn. If you’d have told me you needed some help, I wouldn’t have ever left,” she said.

“Sure funny how a man’s life can do a hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in a few days, ain’t it?” he said.

“Patrick used to say that it was a good thing we didn’t know what the next five minutes would bring in lots of cases.”

Four little kids coming down the hall sounded like a herd of elephants. Martin led the line and held out his hands for inspection.

Callie looked at the tops, the palms, and then the nails. “Good job, soldier. Next?”

Adam held his out his hands and she did the same, all the way down the line to Olivia. The girl’s hair was in need of a good shampooing and application of conditioner. It was thick and straight as a board, hung in her eyes, and needed a cut or a shaping. Callie took her small hands in hers and examined them like she had the boys.

“Good job, soldier. All four of you can sit at the table until we get the food ready.”

Martin’s smiles and the tone of his voice as the kids all talked at once was music to her ears. She’d never seen him that happy, not even when the social services lady told them that he wouldn’t have to go to foster care while Callie got guardianship papers in order.

***

Callie’s new room was one door down the hall from Finn’s with the old nursery across the hallway. The linen closet and bathroom were on the same side as the nursery. The little boys carried what they could, but Finn brought in her clothing and hung everything in the new closet.

Olivia was like a little girl with unlimited money in a candy store over the room that Callie vacated. Her meager possessions were lined up on the dresser and her Bible was on the nightstand. Her clothing took up less than a foot of space in the closet, and the shoes on her feet were all that she had. Amanda had said social services would send a check each month, but Callie had money saved, and she was determined the child would have a few things before the money arrived.

The moon hung in the sky outside her window that night like an omen telling Callie that everything was working out in every aspect of her life. She wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the patterns the lacy curtains made on the walls and ceiling as the moon slowly rose and clouds shifted back and forth across it.

Her new bed was king-sized and felt like it covered an acre of ground. There was one of those tall chests in the corner like the one in Finn’s room, a gold velvet rocker in the other corner, and a desk located where his fireplace was over in his room. Martin was all the way across the house from her. But he had Adam and Ricky in the bunkhouse, as they had started calling their room with him, Verdie across the hall, and Olivia right next door.

A soft knock on her door drew her attention away from the moon, and she wondered what Verdie needed. Then she remembered that she’d locked the door. She crawled out of bed and scolded herself. What if Martin needed her? What if he had one of those bad dreams and they had to relocate to the sofa for the rest of the night? He’d wake up the whole house beating on her door.

She had barely gotten her feet on the floor when the closet door opened and there was Finn, or his ghost. She wasn’t sure which it was for a split second as her heart did triple time and the adrenaline rush threatened to put her into flight mode. He’d told her good night at the door half an hour ago, and she’d locked it when she came into the room.

“What the hell?” she asked.

“I knocked.” He smiled.

She looked from bedroom door to the closet and back again.

“I discovered it while I was hanging up your clothing. Evidently one of the former owners in this place liked to keep separate rooms, but they didn’t want anyone to know. There is a secret door connecting my closet to yours. This place is full of tricks.” He sat down in the rocker and patted his leg.

She took two steps, and he pulled her down into his lap, wrapped both arms around her slim body, and kick-started the chair into motion. The movement and his steady heartbeat soothed her nerves more than a shot of Jack could.

“Did I tell you about the secret closet behind the bookcase?”

“What’s in it?”

“Booze.”

“It wouldn’t be as intoxicating as this.” His lips found hers, and every sane thought flew right out the window, headed for the moon. “I was so damned excited when I found that door, but I wanted to surprise you, and then I had to wait until the kids were asleep. And they were too wound up to go to sleep. I made three trips to the kitchen and checked on them before I found them passed out,” he whispered.

“I’m glad I didn’t know, or I’d have been crazy. You think Verdie knows about the closet?”

“Hell, she might be the very one who had it installed, but I’m not saying a word about it or she might make me nail the connecting door shut.” He smiled. “Now, I’m going back to my room. I just came for a good-night kiss. I’m sure that will keep the nightmares away.”

He tipped her chin up with his fist and tangled his fingers in her long, dark hair. His lips covered hers in a steamy kiss that left her legs feeling like rubber and her heart racing. He picked her up and gently laid her on the bed, kissed her softly on the nose, and left her lying there wanting more.

He was halfway across the room when he turned around, an evil grin on his face. “I heard that you and Betsy had a little problem at the store. I understand she’s gunnin’ for you since you humiliated her.”

“She’d best bring a lot of ammo.” Callie yawned.

After Finn went into the closet, she snuggled down under the covers and shut her eyes. She was almost asleep when the dream started. There was a small, swarthy boy in ragged clothing right outside the base. His face was frozen in terror, and he was whining, looking down at his feet and the land mine beneath them.