Merry Cowboy Christmas by Carolyn Brown

for the first time in months, Fiona laughed until her sides ached. About nothing. About everything. And when he parked the truck beside the others in front of Audrey’s Place, she felt freer than she had in more than a year. Not even her therapist had set her soul free like laughing with Jud Dawson over something that wasn’t even funny.
    For that she owed him.
    “For something that wasn’t supposed to be funny, that was sure a hoot,” he said.
    She nodded, swung open the door, and caught a snowflake on her tongue. The warmth and the buzz of conversation welcomed her into the house. She and Jud hung their coats on the rack inside the door.
    Jud brushed against her shoulder on his way to the living room and snappy little bursts of heat made their way through her bright green sweater and to her skin. She’d have to be stone cold dead for a cowboy like Jud Dawson not to affect her but she’d have to be a deluxe idiot to act on that attraction. She wasn’t dead for sure but she wasn’t going to be an idiot, either.
    “Hey, Fiona, you can set the table while I help Mama with the gravy,” Allie said.
    Lizzy brought in an armload of plates with cutlery rattling on the top plate. “Mama is already serving up the food. If Truman had prayed much longer, we’d be eating salad and bread or going to Nadine’s. The roast is well done but still edible.” She lowered her voice. “So are you going to love your neighbor?”
    Fiona scooped forks, knives, and spoons up in her hands and placed them around the table. “I do love my neighbors. You and Allie live right across the fence.”
    “I’m talking about the one across the landing from you,” Lizzy teased.
    Fiona shot Lizzy a dirty look. “Are you going to love your neighbor, as in Truman and Dora June?”
    “Of course,” Lizzy said quickly. “I love them, but I damn sure don’t like them. I’m very grateful they aren’t my neighbor in the physical sense. Deke can have that honor and I’m sure he’s even glad that their house is on the far side of their property and not right over the fence from him.”
    “Dora June started meddling right after church,” Fiona said.
    Katy set a bowl of potatoes and carrots on the table. “I know she’s a gossip and gets into everyone’s business but she and her three friends do work hard at the church. They’ve turned an unused Sunday school room into a nice little clothes closet and food place for anyone who’s down on their luck. Folks donate and the ladies keep everything organized. Last month a young couple with a toddler came through, down on their luck trying to make it up to Ryan, Oklahoma. Dora June made sure they had a tank of gas, food, and even gave them clothes for that baby.”
    “I heard about that,” Allie said. “They had a warm coat day last week. Let any kid in the school who needed a coat pick one out. Henrietta washed the donated ones and repaired any tears or missing buttons. But, Mama, it was those four that caused you to quit the ladies’ group.”
    “The Lord works in mysterious ways. If they hadn’t been so judgmental of you girls and put you out of the group, I wouldn’t have resigned as president. If I hadn’t, then I would for sure be even more exhausted these days,” Katy said.
    “Silver lining?” Fiona asked.
    “Something like that.” Lizzy finished setting the plates. “But if they hadn’t gotten all self-righteous with me and Allie, then one of us could have taken over your duties at the church while you were gone.”
    Katy patted her on the shoulder as she passed on the way back to the kitchen. “And you would have hated being tied down to it. I did at times and I didn’t have a handsome husband waiting for me at the end of every workday. It is what it is and that’s enough buts .”
    When dinner was on the table, everyone took their seats as if they’d been assigned. Toby seated Katy at the end and she motioned for Jud to sit at the other end. The only chair left for Fiona