Smokin' Hot Cowboy Christmas

by Kim Redford

  The painted ladies came in four colors with accent trim. The first on the block was pale yellow with gold. The second was fuchsia with purple. The third was white with navy. The third was aqua with green. They all had wraparound porches, octagonal turret rooms, multi-peaked roofs, distinctive ornamental trims, and wide-entry staircases with elaborately carved handrails. Each home had a unique whimsical design from a steamboat with keyhole windows to gingerbread fantasyland to multicolored stained glass to jewel-cut fascia.

  On the other side of the street, five single-story buildings with Western false fronts promoted businesses on hand-carved, hand-painted signs that hung above the continuous boardwalk under a connecting portico. Destiny Books and Coffee Parlor. Destiny Sweetheart Café. Destiny Mercantile. Destiny Feed and Fashion Emporium. Destiny Junk and Antiques.

  On either side of the businesses, twelve small, single-story farmhouses with peaked roofs spread out, six to each side. Each house had been painted a different pastel color and gleamed like a long rainbow in the late afternoon sunlight. All had matching gray-slate roofs. And the front lawns were enclosed with white picket fences. Not a single vehicle was in sight, although there appeared to be horizontal parking spaces in front of the business buildings.

  “Oh wow,” she said again. “I see what you mean about this town being special. It’s as if time forgot it.”

  “Beautiful, right?”

  “Oh yes! And so perfectly maintained you’d never know the buildings were well over a hundred years old.”

  “Do you want to look in any of the shops before we see Doris?”

  “I have to admit that Feed and Fashion Emporium certainly caught my attention. That’s an unusual combination, but I’ve noticed in small towns that the stores frequently carry a wider assortment of merchandise than in big cities. I wonder if they carry my line of Western wear.”

  He glanced at the storefront. “Could be. Want to go there?”

  “Not today. Let’s stay focused. When I get back to the ranch, I’ll check my store list. If they aren’t on it, I’ll definitely be talking with them.”

  “Okay.” He looked at her. “Which of the four houses do you think belongs to Doris?”

  She glanced down the row and then started to chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “No doubt, it’s the fuchsia one.”

  “How did you guess?”

  She laughed harder. “I do believe that’s Doris standing at the top of her purple staircase waving to us.”

  He jerked around to look and then joined her laughter.

  “Did you let her know we were coming to town?”

  “No.”

  “How could she have guessed?”

  “Maybe Homer let her know,” he said.

  “By now I guess it’s safe to say anything is possible in Wildcat Bluff County.”

  “I wouldn’t bet against it.”

  He drove down Main Street, made a U-turn, and parked in front of Doris’s house.

  “What is that little building?” She looked more closely at the small structure that resembled Doris’s house in color and design except that it had been built on wooden pillars.

  “Dovecote.”

  “Do you mean it’s a pigeon house?”

  “Right. Every one of the Buick Brigade’s houses had a dovecote originally built beside it. They still use the dovecotes because they raise pigeons like their ancestors.”

  “That’s a surprise.”

  “Pigeons and doves have always been a part of country life since they’re popular and useful in communities. There are some beautiful dovecotes in Europe at the old castles.”

  “I’d like to see them.”

  “I’m sure we can find some photos online.”

  “Good.” Belle held the empty plate to her chest. “Any last words of wisdom before we see Doris?”

  “Wherever she’s going, just don’t get in her way.” He gave Belle a sharp-eyed look. “And please let me open all the doors.”

  “I take it Doris expects a man to act like a gentleman.”

  “In Destiny, the old ways hold sway.”

  “Suits me.” She laughed as she hugged the plate harder. “I’ve never been one to stand in the way of progress reversal.”

  “Good. The Buick Brigade can’t help but love you.”

  “Suits me even better. I bet I’m going to end up loving them just like everybody else does.”

  He gave her a quick grin before he stepped out of his truck, walked around the front of it, and opened her door.

  She returned his grin as she let him help her down to the ground from the high cab. She could easily imagine in days gone by that the physical restrictions of corset, petticoats, heavy gowns, and heels might have made help from a gentleman much appreciated by a woman. She’d probably have enjoyed fainting couches, too, if she’d lost her breath due to a tight corset.

  All in all, she liked the look of the Victorian house, but she wouldn’t have wanted to live during that time period…unless she could have been living it up freely in the Wild West like sharpshooter Annie Oakley and other far-ranging cowgirls.

  Rowdy placed his hand across his waist and extended his elbow to her with a wink and a nod.

  She got the message and tucked her fingers around the crook of his arm while holding the plate with her other hand. As they walked up the sidewalk toward the house, she didn’t mind being this close one little bit. She liked the heat of him and the feel of his strong muscles under her palm. In fact, she could very possibly get used to this kind of pampering and attention—if she wasn’t normally in such a hurry. Maybe those Victorian ladies had something on the ball after all and the time to enjoy it.

  Doris stood on the porch, or maybe portico was a better term for the wide expanse of floor under a purple, gingerbread-laced edge of roof. She wore a sweater and knee-length skirt in a rich lapis shade of blue to accent her pretty pale blue eyes and the shiny silver of her short hair. She also wore a triple strand of luminous white pearls. She extended her hands out to either side in a welcoming gesture.

  Belle walked up the stairs with Rowdy until they reached the porch and then held out the plate.

  “Thank you so much, my dear. I’ll return Ada’s plate to her later.” Doris accepted the plate, stepped back, and gestured toward a section of the porch with a white wicker love seat and two matching chairs. A small table had been positioned in between and held a tray with a violet-flower patterned delicate china teapot and three matching teacups with saucers. A plate was stacked high with misshapen cowboy cookies.

  “Thank you for the cookies. They were delicious,” Belle said.

  “Please join me for tea.”

  “We’d be happy to join you.” Rowdy gently clasped the back of Belle’s arm to steer her forward.

  “And, please, both of you sit there.” Doris indicated the love seat.

  Belle had been headed for a chair, but she quickly sat down on a soft purple cushion on one end of the small settee. When Rowdy joined her, his thigh nestled against her own because there was simply no other room. She wondered if their hostess had planned it that way.

  Doris sat down in the chair across from them, set Ada’s plate beside the tray, picked up the teapot, and poured liquid into three cups. “Now I want to hear all about your plans for Saturday night.”

  Chapter 14

  Rowdy caught Belle’s reaction to Doris’s question by the way she carefully accepted the cup and saucer so as not to drop it. He wasn’t much better when she gave him china that felt so fragile and delicate in his big hand. He was lucky he didn’t lose his grip, but he was particularly cautious since he’d been at this rodeo a time or two.

  When Belle lifted her cup to her lips instead of responding to the question, he knew he had to step in and make sure everything went okay, or at least as okay
as he could make it.

  “Saturday night?” Doris sipped tea, watching them over the rim of her cup.

  “Homer only arrived a little bit ago.” He was stalling, and she realized it, but he also knew politeness would prevail.

  “Pretty bird.” Belle appeared to take his hint about stalling the direction of the conversation.

  “I thought it was time he went home,” Doris said.

  “He might want to come back here.” Belle took a sip of tea.

  “Oh no.” Doris shook her head in disagreement. “He’s home now, and he’ll want to stay there.”

  “She’s not prepared to board pigeons.” He picked up a cookie, always willing to eat them even if he didn’t want to hazard the tea.

  “Everything he needs is either still in the barn or was delivered this afternoon.” Doris gave them a sweet smile.

  “Everything?” he asked, feeling Belle stiffen beside him.

  “Absolutely.”

  “I know nothing about pigeons.” Belle set her cup in her saucer with a definite click.

  “Do you like cows better?” Doris asked.

  Rowdy snatched another cookie and stuffed half of it into his mouth. He hoped this wasn’t a lead-in from Doris about the missing Daisy Sue.

  “Yes, I know and like cattle.” Belle set her cup and saucer down on the table, as if to free her hands for whatever was to come. “Pigeons might be a good addition to the ranch, but I’m not sure if—”

  “Belle will be fine with the pigeons.” He quickly stepped in to soothe matters. “I’ll help her. There’s not much to it. And she’ll enjoy the company.”

  Belle gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing to dispute him.

  “That’s what my friends and I think, too.” Doris smiled benignly at them. “Homing pigeons are a wonderful addition to any ranch…particularly one with a missing cow.”

  “If you’re wondering about the location of Daisy Sue, I don’t know.” Belle appeared ready to rise but held herself steady on the love seat.

  “That’s a shame,” Doris said. “If my friends and I may be of assistance, please let us know.”

  “I appreciate the offer,” Belle said. “And thanks for Homer. I’m sure he’ll fit in well at the ranch since he lived there before. If you ever need him back—”

  “We’ll let you know, but it’s doubtful.”

  “Thanks.” Rowdy was ready to leave now that the cow and pigeon issues were settled. He started to stand up, but Doris held out the plate of cookies to stop him. He selected one and eased back on the love seat close to Belle’s warmth.

  Doris leaned forward with a pleased expression that lit her face with happiness. “Now about Saturday night—”

  “We haven’t had time to make plans,” he said around a mouthful of cookie that had looked a little like the Lone Star State, but as always, it was hard to tell just what the original intent might have been.

  “I’ve discussed it with my friends.” Doris sent a big grin their way. “For such an important occasion, we’ve decided you should borrow Blondel’s granddaddy’s Packard.”

  Rowdy almost spit cookie crumbs all over Doris. He swallowed hard, now being the one who wanted to escape.

  “Packard?” Belle asked, looking interested at the idea.

  “No!” he said. “That’s a Packard Six Fourth Series Model 426 Runabout. 1927. Peach and cream. Plenty of chrome. Whitewall tires. That roadster is irreplaceable. It shouldn’t ever leave its garage. Personally, I wouldn’t touch it, much less drive it and park it at a honky-tonk.”

  “Oh dear, I can see you feel strongly about that old Packard.” Doris shook her head, appearing disappointed at his reaction. “And we had our hearts set on you two arriving in style.”

  “I’ll borrow a pickup, if that’ll satisfy you.”

  “And we have flapper clothes to go with it.” Doris fluffed her silver hair. “Our ladies have always had an eye to style.”

  “Oh my.” Belle inhaled sharply. “Flapper clothes? What a fascinating era for women. They cut and crimped their hair. They shortened their skirts. They danced to their hearts’ content. And, oh, they had such unique style.”

  “Yes, indeed,” Doris said. “Just think of the beautiful, feminine fabrics, the long necklaces, the matching shoes. And the men dressed up to go with them. We have those clothes, too.”

  Belle leaned back against the love seat with a disappointed expression on her face. “I doubt the clothes would fit us nowadays. Ladies and gentlemen were so much smaller back then.”

  “Not our families. We’ve always been on the tall side.” Doris focused on Belle. “I’d say the clothes would almost fit you or could be altered to fit. Rowdy, too.”

  “How very intriguing. I’m thinking of a photo shoot already.” Belle leaned forward, eyes gleaming with excitement.

  “No!” Rowdy stood up. “No classic Packard. No vintage clothes. I hate even to think what you’d want to dress me in.”

  “Something quite nice.” Doris gave him a long, slow appraisal, making a point of his current scruffiness.

  “I’m not a mannequin.”

  “Oh, but you could so easily be one in a photo shoot.” Belle tapped her fingertips on the knee of her jeans. “Honestly, I’m thinking of how I could incorporate vintage—from the flapper era—into my new line.”

  “Good idea.” Doris grinned even bigger.

  “I don’t suppose they wore bandanas?” Belle asked.

  Doris glanced at the bandana around her neck. “Perhaps long strings of pearls were more the thing, but someone somewhere would have worn bandanas, too…for sure right here in Wildcat Bluff County.”

  Belle fingered the blue fabric around her neck. “I’m writing a promo piece about ‘101 Uses for a Bandana.’ If you have any ideas you’d like to share, please let me know.”

  “Oh, what fun!” Doris clapped her hands together. “I’ll tell the others, and we’ll put our heads together. That’s quite a few uses, but I’m sure it’s doable.”

  “That’s what I think, too.”

  Rowdy took a step back. Women and fashion. This mutual admiration society was getting completely out of hand. He hadn’t meant for them to become friends. It might mean more offers of the Packard and flapper or other vintage clothes in his future. He wished he’d never pulled that short straw.

  Doris glanced at him. “You know, Rowdy dear, I do believe she’s a keeper.”

  “We’ve got to go.” He held out a hand to Belle as he took another step backward. “Homer needs to get settled in. Saturday night’s coming up. And there’s the work on the house to be completed in time for Belle’s party.”

  “Party?” Doris asked, eyes shining in anticipation.

  “Christmas party.” He wished he’d never said the word party. It could only mean more trouble for him.

  “Yes, indeed.” Belle stood up. “You and the…the other ladies must come and join us.”

  “How exciting!” Doris leaped to her feet. “Theme. Decorations. Costumes. Food. Drink.”

  “Exactly…although I hadn’t had costumes in mind. I keep trying to make plans, but something always gets in my way.” Belle gave Doris a suspicious look and then shook her head as if tossing away an idea. “I’m sure it’ll all come together in time for Christmas.”

  “We’ll give your party some serious thought, and we’ll let you know what we believe will be suitable. Our families used to throw the best of the best parties in Destiny. Now that I think of it, I don’t know why we stopped doing it. I guess life just dwindled down here until there were only the four of us. But that shouldn’t preclude fun and games, now should it?”

  “No, it shouldn’t.” Belle edged toward the staircase. “But really, it’s more of a promotion for introducing Lulabelle & You Ranch to select media and buyers.”

  “You’ve come
to the right place. My friends and I know exactly how to plan effective campaigns.”

  “Wonderful,” Belle said.

  Rowdy resisted a groan, thinking of former county campaigns. If the Buick Brigade was moving from local to global, he wasn’t sure the world was ready for them. But he wasn’t about to be the one to get in their way when they were on a mission. He had his own mission to accomplish. At least he’d averted the Packard and clothes debacle. He had to be grateful for small favors. Now was the time to get out while the getting was good. He gently touched Belle’s elbow to let her know they should be on their way right that very moment.

  “Thank you so much for the tea and conversation.” Belle smiled as she turned and grasped his arm.

  “Delighted to have you here. I can’t wait to share your good news. My bosom buddies will certainly want to help out with a party.”

  At the top of the staircase, he nodded at Doris. “Please give my best to our friends.”

  “I certainly will.” Doris followed them. “And we’ll be in touch. This Christmas will be a magical time for all.”

  “Thank you for everything,” Belle said.

  He quickly led her down the sidewalk, opened the pickup door, and helped her inside. He rounded the front grill in record time, threw himself inside, and started the engine. He took off with only a belch of smoke.

  “What a delightful lady.” Belle lowered her window and waved goodbye to Doris, who waved back from the porch.

  “That Packard and clothes were a near-miss.”

  “I’d like very much to see that car and those dresses.”

  “I have a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach that you will.”

  “Do you mean they might come to my party in the Packard and flapper dresses?” She turned toward him with excitement shining in her eyes.

  “Maybe…maybe not.”

  “They’d be a huge hit. Talk about beauty. Talk about style. Talk about class. Think of the photos!”

  “Magazine worthy, I’d guess.”

  “I bet we’d be all over the internet. You can’t buy that type of promotion.” She squeezed his arm. “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”