Cowboy Boots for Christmas (16 page)

Finn laid a hand on Martin’s shoulder. “It’s like this, son. There’s lots of paperwork involved before folks can be foster parents, and they prefer the people who are going to be foster parents to be married. Even if we wanted to take the kids, the law probably wouldn’t let us.”

“Then the law needs to be changed. You and Callie are the best parents in the world, we even got Verdie to be the grandma, and we got lots of beds for them.”

“It would take a miracle,” Verdie said.

“Well, then, I want a miracle for Christmas,” Martin said.

“What do you think, partner? Shall we feed cows or take care of the horses first thing this morning after breakfast? Or would you like to stay in and read and let me and Callie do the work?” Finn asked.

“Cows. They’ll be hungry,” Martin answered quickly.

“Smart move. That’s what I would have said, too, because once the sun melts the snow, it’s going to get muddy, and we could get stuck out there,” Finn said.

“What are you going to do this morning, Callie?” Martin asked.

“There’s always Saturday cleaning that has to be done,” Callie said.

“Well, don’t go in my room. I’m working on a Christmas present, and I don’t want you to see it until Christmas day,” he said.

“Oh, really?” she asked.

“Promise you’ll stay out of my room,” he said.

“I promise.” She agreed, but she was a bundle of mixed emotions that morning. And the churning deep in her gut had a hell of a lot more to do with this new relationship with Finn than whatever Martin had in his room.

Ever since she had awakened, she’d felt like the other shoe was about to drop. Add that to the heat between her and Finn, and she had jitters that had nothing to do with black coffee that morning. Then there was Verdie, bless her heart. Callie had only known her for three days, but it felt like they’d been a part of each other’s lives forever—as if she was the grandmother Callie never had. A hell of a lot of change going on, and it was unsettling.

“Oh no!” Martin pushed his chair back so quick that it fell on the floor with a thud. He took off for the bathroom with a hand over his mouth, and Callie followed right behind him.

“Open this door,” she yelled when she heard the lock click.

“I’m not going to upchuck. It’s going the other way. Would you take my place this morning with the feeding? I’ll be better in a little while,” he hollered.

“I can’t leave you here alone if you’re sick,” she said.

“Granny Verdie is here,” he said. “I’ll be fine, but it would be awful if this happened out there in the pasture.”

“Are you sure?” Callie asked.

“Finn needs your help,” he called out.

“I’ll have my phone. If you need me, you’ll promise to call, right?” she asked.

“I promise. Just go help Finn, and tell him I’m sorry,” Martin said.

She turned around to find Verdie right behind her. “Probably nerves over his little friends. We’ll be fine. I’ll give him a dose of that pink medicine. Raised my boys on it, and there’s a brand-new bottle in the medicine cabinet.”

“I’ll take it,” Martin yelled.

“And it will make you all better by noon. You’ll probably be ready to build a snowman after dinner,” Verdie shouted through the closed door.

Finn peeked down the hallway. “Hey, is my partner sick?”

“That one is. I’ll be standing in this morning,” Callie said.

“Does he need to go to the doctor?” Finn asked.

“I think it’s a case of nerves,” Verdie whispered. “He’s so worried about those children that it’s upset his stomach. He’ll be fine.”

Cassie dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, and her new coat and met Finn in the living room. Shotgun got up slowly from the front of the fireplace, shook his fur, and ambled toward the door. Pistol looked up, shut his eyes, and went back to sleep.

“Pistol isn’t much of a cow dog.” Callie laughed.

Suddenly, as if he understood what she said, a low growl came from his throat, and he set up a yapping that would have raised the dead all the way down in Fort Worth. He ran to the door, hackles standing up like porcupine quills and carrying on until Angel trotted across the floor sideways, her fur puffed out like a dandelion to put the fear of a limping yellow kitten in whatever was on the porch.

Finn opened the door to find Sheriff Orville with his finger headed toward the doorbell.

“Good morning. Guess that noisy mutt announced my arrival.” Orville sent a bright smile toward Callie.

“Can I help you?” Finn asked.

“We’ve got a call from the Laytons up the road from you. Their foster kids went missing last night. We’re just checking the neighbors to see if anyone saw or heard anything,” he said.

“Well, come on in where it’s warm. We’re just getting ready to do chores, but those kids sure aren’t here. You want a cup of coffee?” Finn asked.

“No, thank you. I got a cup in the car. Mr. Layton says that the kids have taken quite a likin’ to the little boy who lives here. He was hoping the kid might have talked to them and would know where they might be headed or holed up. You didn’t tell me you had a kid.”

“That would be my nephew, not my child. His name is Martin. He is friends with the kids and is very upset about them going back into foster care. He’s not feeling well, but I can ask him. Please come inside, Sheriff,” Callie said, but she caught the sly wink from Finn and blushed.

He nodded and stepped into the living room. “I’d appreciate that, Callie.”

Callie started to swing the door open but remembered that he’d asked that she not barge into his room, so she shouted through it. “Hey, Martin, the sheriff is out here. Your friends are missing, and Mr. Layton is worried. Have you talked to Olivia?”

“Hot damn! Joe wants a doughnut,” Joe yelled.

The door opened immediately, and there was Martin, all the color drained from his face. “Oh, no! Did someone steal them? We should have taken them in, Callie. Now they’re gone, and it’s cold, and what if they freeze or starve? What’s Joe hollerin’ about? Did Verdie make doughnuts?”

“You just get to feeling better. The police will find them.” She touched his forehead, but he wasn’t feverish.

Evidently Joe could smell doughnuts, and that set him off. “Run, dog, run. Cops,” he said loudly.

Orville raised an eyebrow and she shook her head.

“He’s upset because he wanted us to take them, but we aren’t approved foster parents. Sorry about the bird.”

“Well, thank you. Call me if you hear anything. Small as Burnt Boot is, we’ll find them.”

“Now I’m really worried,” Callie said as soon as the door closed. “I hope they’re holed up in a warm barn. Maybe they’ve gotten into the school or the church. That’s the two places they know won’t be occupied on a Saturday.”

Finn draped an arm around Callie’s waist. “Let’s get the chores done, and if they haven’t found them by then, we’ll help with the search. Just knowing we’re out there will make Martin feel better.”

“He’ll throw a fit to go, even if he’s not feeling better,” she said.

“We’ll take him with us, I promise.”

Verdie waved from the kitchen table as they passed. “Don’t worry about those kids. They’re probably somewhere warm and safe, and like the man said, this ain’t a big town. Somebody saw them or is keeping them, and they’ll be in touch with the Laytons right soon.”

When they were in the truck with Shotgun right between them, Callie sighed loudly. “I’m sorry, Finn. It’s just that he’s never made friends before, and he’s been so happy here.”

The truck roared to life when he started the engine. “Don’t worry. It’ll all blow over in a week or two, and he’ll make new friends. I wonder why Joe yelped about doughnuts.”

“He probably could smell them on Orville.” Callie laughed. “I bet if you kissed me right now, you could taste them. Kind of like the smell a smoker leaves behind when he’s been in a room.”

“Never accuse me of passing up an opportunity like that.” Finn leaned over and let his tongue slip inside her mouth.

“So?” she asked when he moved away.

“No doughnut taste there, but it was right nice. Anytime you want me to check for doughnut breath, you just let me know.”

***

“If you need me, I’ll be in my room reading.” Verdie knocked on Martin’s door and raised her voice so he could hear it.

“Dammit, kid! Talk to Joe,” the bird yelled.

He opened it just enough that he could step outside into the hallway with her. “I’ll be fine. I’m feeling better. I’ll go change out Joe’s papers in a little while and read him a story.”

“I promised I’d be honest with you, Martin. Tomorrow they’re coming to take those kids away to Gainesville to a place where they’ll stay until Monday. Then they are going to put them in three different homes,” Verdie said.

Tears rolled down his cheeks. “I wouldn’t never want anyone to put Callie in one place and me in another.”

Verdie hugged him tightly. “I had a bunch of brothers and a sister, and I sure wouldn’t have wanted to be torn away from them, either. But if you know anything about the kids, Martin, you need to tell me or Callie so we can let the Laytons know. They’re real worried.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded. “I’m hungry again. Reckon it’d be all right if I stuffed some of them leftover eggs in a biscuit?”

“Guess that medicine worked pretty good.” She smiled.

“I can do it myself and eat it while I work on Callie’s Christmas present. I’ll be real careful and not make a mess,” he said.

“If you do, clean it up. We sure don’t want any mice to scare Callie, do we?” She left her door open just a crack instead of shutting it all the way.

When she heard him coming back up the hallway, she peeked out to see him carrying a plate with half a dozen biscuits stuffed with leftover eggs and bacon in one hand and a quart jar of milk in the other.

The door to his bedroom closed, then immediately opened again and a little blond-haired girl tiptoed across to the bathroom. The process repeated twice more. A dark-haired boy was next and then a blond-haired one who looked a lot like the girl. When Martin’s door closed the final time, she quickly crossed the hallway and laid her cheek on the door. They were laughing softly and talking as they devoured the leftover breakfast, then the tone changed as they talked about the police.

She went back to her room and made a big noisy show of shutting her door and then called out, “Martin, darlin’, I’ve decided to make cookies. Can’t keep my mind on my book. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Cookies! Yes, yes, yes!” Joe said.

“Okay, Granny Verdie. I’m goin’ to rest awhile now.”

She went straight for the phone and called Polly, tapping her foot on the floor through five rings, and was just about to hang up when she heard Polly answer breathlessly.

“Hello.”

“Polly, where in the hell were you?”

“Talking to Orville. The Laytons’ kids ran away in the night, and they can’t find them,” Polly said.

“They’re at Salt Draw. Martin has snuck them into his bedroom. Now what are we going to do? Can you pull any strings and let me have them at least until after the holidays? By then I’d be willing to bet that Finn and Callie will be able to foster them. Poor little things just want to stay together, and our boy over here on Salt Draw doesn’t have a problem sharing. We’ve got lots of room,” Verdie said.

“Shit, woman! You are eighty years old,” Polly said.

“Well, you’re the same age as I am and still runnin’ a beer joint, so why can’t I have some fake grandbabies for the holidays?” Verdie protested.

“Okay, okay, I’ll see what I can do. Nobody wants to come out here in this kind of weather anyway, and I’ve still got some pull at the office, but I’m not making any promises. You sure about this, Verdie?”

“Never been more sure about anything in my life,” Verdie answered. “How soon can you call me?”

“We’ll have to bring in the law, since they ran away, and Finn and Callie will have to be willing. Finn most of all, since it’s his ranch and all,” Polly said.

“Bring the damn FBI and the CIA if you have to. Just don’t take them, not when we’ve got a place for them right here. Half an hour?” Verdie asked.

“Good God, Verdie, that would take magic. Maybe by noon.” Polly laughed.

“Then get off the phone and get to work. I’ll start making cookies so I can have something to offer all those people you mentioned when they get here.”

“Call you when I know something. And Verdie? I’m glad they’re safe.”

The front yard was full of vehicles when Callie and Finn returned from doing the feeding that morning. And right there in the midst of a very suspicious-looking van and two fairly new trucks was the sheriff’s car.

Finn parked and then leaned over the console to kiss Callie on the cheek. “Whatever it is, missing kids or feudin’, we’ll get through it together. Besides, I’m sure Verdie has it under control.”

Callie pulled the stocking hat off and shook out her dark hair. She didn’t have her makeup kit from her purse, so whatever the problem was, she’d have to face it with a windblown face and most likely a few bits of straw in her hair.

“You are beautiful,” Finn said.

“You weren’t supposed to know that I was fretting about facing people looking like this,” she told him.

“We were closer than twins, Callie. We can read each other’s minds. That’s what kept us alive,” he reminded her.

“Then thank you for the compliment. Let’s go see what Martin has done now.” Thank God that he couldn’t really read her mind or he’d be running for the hills.

“What makes you think it’s Martin? Maybe it’s Verdie. She might be having a town meeting to discuss the Christmas program at church tomorrow.”

“And that would include Orville?” Callie asked.

Finn held her hand tightly in his. “You never know what she might have up her sleeves.”

Guns weren’t drawn, and the six people already around the table were laughing and telling stories when Finn and Callie went inside. Her eyes went from Orville to Verdie and back around the circle.

“Martin?” she mouthed to Verdie.

“In his room, but he’s fine. He’s not sick anymore.”

Polly waved at Finn. He let go of Callie’s hand and waved back.

“Hello, Polly. What brings you out to Salt Draw?”

“Tryin’ to help Verdie out,” Polly said.

“Y’all pull up a chair, and we’ll get down to business,” Verdie said.

“Hot damn! Joe wants a drink,” the bird said.

“Don’t mind the bird.” Verdie laughed. “He’s crazy as hell, but he entertains me. I hated him at first, but he grows on a person. I wish I’d gotten one like him years ago.”

Finn seated Callie first and then sat down so close to her that their thighs were plastered together. “Verdie?” Callie asked.

“Okay, I’ll introduce the bunch of you. I forget that everyone don’t know everybody else. This here is Amanda. She’s the lady from the social services in Gainesville. She’s the one who handles the kids staying with the Laytons. That’s Arlan Layton and his wife, Beth. Y’all know Orville. We’ve got ourselves a problem, and we can’t go no further until I get your opinion, Finn.”

Callie laid a hand on Finn’s thigh and squeezed. She’d known that this group of people had nothing to do with a church program.

Finn covered her hand with his. “It’s got to do with the kids, right, Verdie?”

“They are hiding out in Martin’s room right now. Probably been there since last night. Amanda drove out here on slick roads so she could take them to the group home, but she’s agreed to let the kids stay with us through the holidays if you are willing. It’s your ranch, so it’s your decision,” Verdie said.

“And after the holidays?” Callie asked.

“Then they’d still go to separate homes unless a qualified one opens up that would be willin’ to take in three kids,” Amanda said. “This is a special arrangement that normally I wouldn’t even consider, since you two haven’t been vetted, but Polly vouches for Verdie, and she does the same for you all. Polly was my supervisor for years, and I’d trust her with my life, so her word is gold in my books.”

“Could Callie and I talk about this in private for a few minutes?” Finn asked.

“Sure,” Amanda answered.

His hand on the small of her back normally would have melted her into a boiling pot of desire, but she was so worried about those children that she was quivering inside. Poor little darlings had walked for more than a mile in freezing-cold weather. Had Martin even managed to get food into the room for them that morning?

Finn shut the door to his bedroom, sat down in an overstuffed rocker, and pulled her down in his lap.

“Wind call, Brewster,” he said. “Give me the news fast because this is about to happen.”

“Lots of dust blowing. Wind looks like a tornado bearing down on us, and visibility is less than five feet, sir,” she said.

“That mean we should call it off? Or can you see past it to the target?”

She laid her head on his chest. “I can feel the fear of four little kids in that room, Finn. We cannot turn them away. I’d worry the rest of my life if they were split up because we didn’t do our best to keep them together. And Verdie has gone out on a limb for us, and…”

His lips found hers in a sweet kiss that stopped the words and eased some of the fear in her heart.

“Stop worrying, darlin’.” He broke away and gazed deeply into her eyes. “We’re going to take in three kids. Never was a doubt in my mind, but I would never make a decision like that without asking my partner.”

“Martin needs to be punished for not coming to us. I know he told them to come here and he’d hide them. I’m not sure how, but he did it,” she whispered.

“He will be. I had two brothers and a sister. He’s going to have to share that room, share the bathroom, and put up with a sister. It won’t be like playing with them at school. He’ll be instantly thrown into a sibling situation.”

“And after the holidays?” she asked.

“We’ll start the process to get certified for foster care. If they’re having trouble finding a suitable home, maybe they’ll get the ball moving faster.”

“You haven’t even met those kids,” she said.

“No, and I don’t expect every day to be perfect. It wasn’t where I grew up. But we’ll do the best we can with what we’ve got to work with that day.”

“You are amazing,” she said.

“We’re both guilty of taking in strays. And before you say a word, I know these kids aren’t dogs and cats. We might have to beg Verdie to stick around to help us with the new crew, but something tells me she won’t give us much sass about it,” Finn said.

He tipped her chin up, and his blue eyes drifted shut as his lips found hers in a harder, more demanding kiss. One hand tangled itself into her black hair; the other found its way up under her sweatshirt, making long, lazy circles on her back. He moved from her lips to her eyelids and her earlobe, where he whispered, “You think we’ve made them wait long enough?”

She giggled. “You didn’t bring me in here to talk, did you?”

“I knew what you’d say and what we’d agree on. I wanted to touch you and hold you, Callie, to reassure you that everything was going to be all right, and this was a perfect excuse.”

Her sudden intake of breath sounded like a faint sneeze. “You are a rascal.”

He stood up but kept his arms around her. “That would be the pot calling the kettle black for sure.”

His words made her knees go weak. “Now we’ll have four kids and Verdie in the house. You think we’ll ever have a moment to ourselves?”

“Oh, honey, with what I’ve got planned and what I know right now, it’s not going to be a problem at all. Matter of fact, I’m thinking I just got handed a special Christmas present.” He grinned.

“Then let’s go tell them we’ve made a decision,” she said.

Conversation came to a screeching halt when Finn and Callie were back in the kitchen. Six sets of eyes were on them when they sat down, and Amanda asked, “Have you made a decision?”

“We’d love to have the children here, but we do have a question. What would it take for us to become foster parents so they can stay past the holidays? We’ll be attached to them by then, and it’ll be even tougher to see them leave,” Finn said.

“It would be unusual but not impossible. You’d have to be the primary foster parent, but with Callie as hired help and Verdie as a nanny figure, there’s a good chance it could work,” Amanda said. “We can take it a step at a time. The first is settling them in for the next three weeks. Would you be willing to keep them until after the New Year?”

“We are.” Finn nodded.

“We thought Amanda would be taking them from here, so we brought their things,” Beth said. “I’ve enjoyed having them, but since you are taking them, we are planning on leaving first thing in the morning. All we have to do is load up the truck. We sold our home as is, so we don’t have to move furniture.”

Callie laid her hand on Beth’s. “We’ll take good care of them, I promise.”

“I know you will. Y’all have got your work cut out for you. We were their sixth home, so they don’t trust too good.”

“We’ll give it our best,” Callie said.

“I’ll help you unload,” Finn offered.

“Appreciate it.” Arlan shoved his arms into the sleeves of his coat, which had been hanging on the back of his chair.

“Verdie, if you’ll show me where the kids are hiding, I need to visit with them,” Amanda said.

“So my services aren’t needed anymore?” Orville asked.

“I guess not,” Polly said. “Me and you can get on down the road about our business. These folks can finish up the process here.”

“I’m glad it’s turning out this way. A family doesn’t need to be separated during the holidays. Finn O’Donnell, you are a good man, and, Callie, you are one of a kind.” Orville shot another brilliant smile her way.

Finn grinned. “Thank you, Sheriff. Next time you come back to Salt Draw, maybe it won’t be on official business.”

“I hope not.”

“Verdie, keep me posted on the news out here. I’ve got a feelin’ you are going to be pretty busy with four kids underfoot.” Polly laughed.

“Best Christmas present I’ve got yet. Just think of all the bossin’ I get to do. Come on, Amanda, and, Callie, you and Finn best come along, too. We’ll just get the introductions done all at once,” Verdie said.

Verdie threw open the door to find a kid on each bed, books in hands and eyes bugging out as four adults paraded into the room with them.

“Don’t put Martin in jail,” Olivia said. “He was just helping me. I don’t want to lose my brothers. They’re all I have for family.”

“And we don’t want to lose Olivia. She takes care of us,” Ricky said.

“Callie, I just couldn’t let them go away in different homes, so please don’t be mad at me,” Martin said.

“It’s okay, kids.” Verdie pushed her way into the room. “We’ve made a deal, but you have to hear Amanda out before it’s final. Don’t cry, and, little dark-haired boy, don’t you dare throw up on that pillow. You’re going to have to sleep on it tonight.”

The dark-haired boy nodded. “I’m Ricky and my brother is Adam and my sister is Olivia, and I do feel sick to my stomach.”

“Ricky is going to sleep here tonight?” Olivia asked.

“Finn O’Donnell has agreed to let you kids stay here on Salt Draw Ranch until the holidays are over. He’s asked about being your foster parent, but there’s a lot of red tape we’ll have to take care of. But right now, you get to stay in Burnt Boot if you promise me you will not run away again,” Amanda said.

“For real?” Olivia asked.

“Yes, and you can thank this lady for making it happen.”

Verdie nodded at Olivia. “Martin calls me Granny Verdie, so y’all can, too, if you want to.”

“I can’t believe it,” Adam gasped.

Verdie went on, “This is Callie and Finn. We live here with Pistol and Shotgun the dogs and Angel the cat and Joe the bird. Any of y’all allergic to animals?”

“A bird? For real? Can I see it?” Olivia climbed down from the top bunk and hugged Verdie first and then Callie. “Thank you so much for not letting them put us in different places. We’ll be good, we promise.”

She gave Ricky and Adam a long stare. “Well?”

“We promise, too,” they said in unison.

“What we want you to be is happy,” Callie said around the lump in her throat.

“And to promise us as well as Amanda that you won’t run away again,” Finn said.

“We promise. We won’t never ever run away from here,” Olivia said.