A Cowboy Christmas Miracle (Burnt Boot, Texas Book 4) by Carolyn Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

we’re bound to have to retaliate.”
    “How are you ever going to work together to make this program happen?” Kyle asked.
    “Don’t worry, Preacher. We’ll get it done in spite of each other,” Declan said. “I’m leaving now. Betsy, we’ll meet here next Thursday night to discuss the rules?”
    She nodded curtly.
    “Okay then. No gathering of items until we talk about it, or the bet is off,” Declan said.
    “What bet?” Kyle asked.
    “That I can bring in more than he can.” Betsy shoved her arms into her denim duster.
    “So this is a competition?”
    “Everything between the Gallaghers and Brennans is a competition,” Declan said. “Have a happy Thanksgiving, Preacher. If you don’t have a place for dinner that day, you are welcome at River Bend.”
    “Or at Wild Horse,” Betsy said.
    “Thank you both, but I’m going home to Waurika, Oklahoma. My fiancée and I are having dinner at my folks’ place.”
    “Then enjoy it,” Betsy said.
    Declan crawled into his club cab truck and laughed out loud. He’d win this crazy Christmas war, collect his thousand dollars from Betsy, and give it to Tanner. That would make her even madder at her cousin when she found out what had happened at the poker game. He started the engine and had put the truck in reverse when someone tapped on the window.
    Betsy made the motion for him to roll down the window.
    He hit the button, and it slid down slowly. “What? Do you want to cancel the bet right now?”
    “I just want to know what time we’re going to meet on Thanksgiving night since the can for notes might not be in place until after that.”
    “How about ten o’clock? Park your truck at the bar. I’ll pick you up there, and we’ll park under the shade trees out back of the church and go inside to set up the rules.”
    She gave a brief nod and walked away, her cute little butt swaying from side to side and making his mouth go dry.

Chapter 4
    Declan could not remember a single Thanksgiving without his sister, Leah. He’d just celebrated his second birthday when she was born, and ever since they were kids, Thanksgiving had been their favorite holiday. She hadn’t been welcome on River Bend since she’d married a man Mavis didn’t like. So this year, he planned to take her up on the offer to have Thanksgiving with her and her new husband, Rhett O’Donnell. The first plan had been to fix a turkey at her new home on Burnt Boot Ranch. Then the O’Donnells decided to get together with Sawyer and Jill at Fiddle Creek Ranch, so the plan changed.
    Granny Mavis shot a dirty look his way that morning when he kissed her on the forehead and wished her a happy Thanksgiving. She didn’t say anything, but the cross between a disgruntled snort and long, wistful sigh let him know that she was not happy with him.
    As near as he could count, there would be about fourteen people at the dinner, which made it a small gathering compared to the one that would be held on River Bend, with almost two hundred people.
    And you, Granny darlin’, would give me more than evil looks if you knew that I was meeting Betsy Gallagher tonight , he thought as he got into his truck and drove from Wild Creek to Fiddle Creek.
    The trip took all of five minutes and would have been shorter if he could have gotten there as the crow flies, instead of by the road. Leah met him at the door with a hug and led him inside the Fiddle Creek bunkhouse.
    Leah had always been the quiet Brennan, the good girl who did exactly what she was told and made no waves—right up until Rhett O’Donnell arrived in Burnt Boot on his motorcycle. Happiness and that little touch of sass she’d found hiding deep in her soul looked every bit as beautiful on her as her sparkling, sage-green eyes that morning.
    Declan hugged her tightly to his side. “This is nice, Leah. Real nice. It’s warm and homey, and I’m jealous of you for having it.”
    “You just got to find a soul mate, Brother, and then it doesn’t matter