Christmas in Cowboy Country by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page B

at the bottom marked the line between Jenny’s painting and her sister’s. Zoe squashed her brush into a blob of red and yellow paint and dabbed at a green background that was already dry.
    Annie squatted down to talk to the little girl on her level. “And what are you painting?”
    â€œFlowers. Under the ground. That’s because it’s winter,” the child replied, a serious expression on her face. “My mommy says snow helps them grow in the spring.”
    â€œShe’s right,” Annie said. “Which do you like better, winter or spring?”
    â€œI like them both better.”
    Cilla exchanged smiles with Annie, who got up again, stepping back to admire the whole painting one more time. Cilla dug in a pocket and took out a smartphone.
    â€œAnnie, would you take our picture?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œHere comes Ed. You can get all of us together.”
    â€œCan we send it to Mommy?” Jenny asked.
    â€œThat’s the idea,” Cilla said. The girls put down their brushes and she moved them in front of her, smiling at her husband as he walked up and put an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
    â€œSay cheese, ladies,” Ed told the others.
    Annie held up the smartphone and clicked it.
    â€œTake another one,” Zoe piped up. “So Mommy has just me and Jenny.”
    Annie laughed and obliged.
    Â 
    Â 
    The ranch kitchen was warm, what with the oven going all morning. Tyrell Bennett didn’t seem to mind. He was reading the paper, enjoying the mingled scents of cinnamon and brown sugar that wafted through the air as his wife bustled around, talking to him as she worked.
    â€œThey have their own lives now, Tyrell. I consider myself blessed to have two wonderful daughters-in-law.”
    â€œI just wish they were able to come home more often.” Her husband nodded in agreement. “You’re right about Nicole and Paula. I’m always telling Sam and Zach how lucky they are.”
    He fell silent for a little while, studying the column on school sports in the local newspaper. “Says here in the Voice that the high school has a stellar lineup for the football team. Remember when the boys were on it?”
    â€œDo I ever.” Lou laughed. “I was the one who had to wash all those muddy jerseys and britches and knee guards.”
    â€œUntil I made them see to it themselves,” Tyrell pointed out. “What’d you do with that stuff, anyway?”
    â€œDonated it all,” she said briskly. “Ages ago. No sense keeping things some other kid could use.”
    He nodded, his gaze moving to the social column. Absently, he read aloud. “Albert and Gloria Sanchez have announced the engagement of their daughter Teresa to Ned Dawley of Denver. Who’s he?”
    â€œI’ll ask Gloria next time I see her. But when did you get interested in stuff like that?”
    â€œI read the whole paper. I like to be well informed,” Tyrell said with lofty dignity. He kept on reading. “Think Annie’s ever going to get herself married?”
    â€œOf course. She just needs to find the right man.”
    Tyrell leaned back in his chair until the front legs lifted a few inches off the floor, and folded his arms behind his head. “That could take a while.”
    Lou flicked a dish towel at him. “Let her figure it out. And don’t you try to do any matchmaking.”
    â€œI wouldn’t dare,” Tyrell said mockingly. “I believe that’s still a woman’s job.”
    â€œDon’t look at me.”
    He waggled his eyebrows and did just that. The chair legs came down on the floor as Tyrell reached out and pulled his wife onto his lap. “How long do you think Annie’s going to be in town?”
    Lou giggled. “I don’t quite know. But she’s only been gone a half hour and she said she was going to the mall with Nell.”
    Tyrell put his arms around her.