was the one to Jud’s right. He pulled it out with a flourish and seated her before taking his place.
“Deke will say grace,” Katy said.
Deke said the shortest prayers of anyone in Throckmorton County, and Fiona had no doubt that her mother called on him for that very reason. One minute after their heads were bowed, he said amen and the food started around the table. As luck would have it, every time a bowl, platter, or bread basket was passed, Jud’s fingertips brushed against Fiona’s and a whole bevy of sparks blasted every time it happened. It was definitely time for her to get back into the dating scene, which she would do as soon as she started over in a brand-new place. Until then, she could endure her hormones wanting a little something, something.
“Be sure to save your fork.” Katy smiled when they were nearly finished with dinner.
“Dessert?” Fiona forgot all about Jud.
“Warm chocolate sheet cake with vanilla bean ice cream,” Katy said.
“I love you!” Fiona squealed.
“Is that all it takes to make someone love you?” Deke asked. “I know a bunch of rough old cowboys in this area who’d gladly borrow Katy’s recipe.”
“Nobody can make it like Mama does,” Fiona countered.
“Hey, now!” Allie and Lizzy said at the same time.
Fiona slowly shook her head. “You both can make it but it ain’t like what Mama makes. She throws in mama love.”
“I can do that,” Allie said.
“And Audrey will think yours is the best in the world someday. Everyone finished with their plates? I’ll clear them away while Mama cuts the cake.”
Half an hour and two helpings of the rich chocolate cake later, several cell phones rang at the same time. Deke, Toby, and Blake fished theirs out of their pockets and were on their feet before they hung up. Katy, Allie, and Lizzy all found theirs in the pile of purses tossed on a chair in the living room.
“Come on, Jud. That was the volunteer fire department. There’s a fire somewhere down past Deke’s place. You can help,” Blake said the second he’d finished listening to the call.
“Down past Deke’s place on which end?” Fiona asked.
“It’s Truman and Dora June’s house,” Katy called out from the living room. “Get your coats on, girls, and bundle Audrey up, Allie. You can stay in the truck with her but Dora June might need us.”
Chapter Six
S moke, darker than the clouds rolling in from the southwest, billowed upward until the wind caught it and spread it out over the whole county. The blaze had engulfed the whole house, and even though the firemen sprayed every drop of water they had on it, the house and all its contents were devoured.
Truman and Dora June stood beside their pickup truck, shock written on their faces as they watched fifty years of their married life go up in flames. Katy wasted no time in marching right up to Dora June and wrapping her arms around her.
“It’s all gone.” Dora June broke down in sobs against Katy’s shoulder.
“Don’t cry, Dora June,” Truman said. “I hate it when you cry, but if you hadn’t left them Christmas tree lights on…”
Dora June pushed away from Katy, put both hands on Truman’s chest, and shoved him backward against the cold truck fender. “Don’t you go blamin’ me. It was probably that extension cord you wrapped duct tape around because you were too cheap to buy a new one.”
“You don’t need to talk to me like that…”
Dora June’s forefinger shot up. “Truman O’Dell, you are a scrooge.”
Katy stepped between them. “Why or how this happened is not as important as where you go from here, as in right now, so both of you settle down. Do y’all have a place to go tonight?”
Dora June shook her head. “Martha’s granddaughter is getting a divorce and staying with her until she gets on her feet. Henrietta’s got a grandson and his family over at her place until after Christmas. He’s got a month’s leave in between duty stations in the service.
“Deke will say grace,” Katy said.
Deke said the shortest prayers of anyone in Throckmorton County, and Fiona had no doubt that her mother called on him for that very reason. One minute after their heads were bowed, he said amen and the food started around the table. As luck would have it, every time a bowl, platter, or bread basket was passed, Jud’s fingertips brushed against Fiona’s and a whole bevy of sparks blasted every time it happened. It was definitely time for her to get back into the dating scene, which she would do as soon as she started over in a brand-new place. Until then, she could endure her hormones wanting a little something, something.
“Be sure to save your fork.” Katy smiled when they were nearly finished with dinner.
“Dessert?” Fiona forgot all about Jud.
“Warm chocolate sheet cake with vanilla bean ice cream,” Katy said.
“I love you!” Fiona squealed.
“Is that all it takes to make someone love you?” Deke asked. “I know a bunch of rough old cowboys in this area who’d gladly borrow Katy’s recipe.”
“Nobody can make it like Mama does,” Fiona countered.
“Hey, now!” Allie and Lizzy said at the same time.
Fiona slowly shook her head. “You both can make it but it ain’t like what Mama makes. She throws in mama love.”
“I can do that,” Allie said.
“And Audrey will think yours is the best in the world someday. Everyone finished with their plates? I’ll clear them away while Mama cuts the cake.”
Half an hour and two helpings of the rich chocolate cake later, several cell phones rang at the same time. Deke, Toby, and Blake fished theirs out of their pockets and were on their feet before they hung up. Katy, Allie, and Lizzy all found theirs in the pile of purses tossed on a chair in the living room.
“Come on, Jud. That was the volunteer fire department. There’s a fire somewhere down past Deke’s place. You can help,” Blake said the second he’d finished listening to the call.
“Down past Deke’s place on which end?” Fiona asked.
“It’s Truman and Dora June’s house,” Katy called out from the living room. “Get your coats on, girls, and bundle Audrey up, Allie. You can stay in the truck with her but Dora June might need us.”
Chapter Six
S moke, darker than the clouds rolling in from the southwest, billowed upward until the wind caught it and spread it out over the whole county. The blaze had engulfed the whole house, and even though the firemen sprayed every drop of water they had on it, the house and all its contents were devoured.
Truman and Dora June stood beside their pickup truck, shock written on their faces as they watched fifty years of their married life go up in flames. Katy wasted no time in marching right up to Dora June and wrapping her arms around her.
“It’s all gone.” Dora June broke down in sobs against Katy’s shoulder.
“Don’t cry, Dora June,” Truman said. “I hate it when you cry, but if you hadn’t left them Christmas tree lights on…”
Dora June pushed away from Katy, put both hands on Truman’s chest, and shoved him backward against the cold truck fender. “Don’t you go blamin’ me. It was probably that extension cord you wrapped duct tape around because you were too cheap to buy a new one.”
“You don’t need to talk to me like that…”
Dora June’s forefinger shot up. “Truman O’Dell, you are a scrooge.”
Katy stepped between them. “Why or how this happened is not as important as where you go from here, as in right now, so both of you settle down. Do y’all have a place to go tonight?”
Dora June shook her head. “Martha’s granddaughter is getting a divorce and staying with her until she gets on her feet. Henrietta’s got a grandson and his family over at her place until after Christmas. He’s got a month’s leave in between duty stations in the service.
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