The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby Read Online Free Page B

ranch. She could not leave. He’d hire someone else to do the work, but
     the ranch needed Hazel. He’d wait on her hand and foot until her hip healed if he
     had to.
    “Humor her,” Grady said. “It’s just until Christmas. Hell, you could live with any
     woman in the world that long and it’ll make the transition from here to Memphis easier
     on her if she stays. I’d bet hundred-dollar bills to wooden nickels that she’s bitchin’
     to come home in less than a week. But just in case she doesn’t, she’ll think she had
     a little bit to do with her replacement.”
    “No one could ever replace Hazel. She’s been like a mother,” Lucas said.
    Jack set his mouth in a firm line and his head bobbed up and down as much as possible
     from a reclining position. “We all know that and it’s not like she’s leaving forever.
     She’ll probably get tired of that Memphis shit and come back to the ranch. I give
     her six weeks at the most. Soon as she gets done with therapy on that hip, she’ll
     see that she needs somebody to boss bad as we need bossin’.”
    “How’s she gettin’ to Memphis?” Lucas asked.
    “Willa Ruth has a friend who has a little charter plane. He’s flying into Denison
     to get them soon as they are released. Doctor said he’d let her go tomorrow since
     Willa Ruth is a retired nurse and knows how to take care of her mother,” Jack said.
    Lucas loved Willa Ruth. She visited Cedar Hill twice a year, at Easter and at Christmas.
     When her children were young she brought them with her. Two girls just a little older
     than Lucas, but they were always up for a four-wheeler ride or playing games with
     him. He looked forward to seeing them every year until they both grew up and got married.
     Nowadays, they came to see Hazel at least once a year and brought their own kids.
    Grady touched a button on the remote and the weather channel popped up on the television.
     A cute little woman in a short skirt waved her hands around telling them what to expect
     as the winter storm really hit north central Texas. Sleet and ice could cause power
     failures. Roads would be slick and travel was discouraged.
    “And it’s stalling out right over Grayson and Fannin counties, so don’t look for any
     changes for at least a week. More sleet, intermittent freezing rain, and up to four
     inches of snow. It’s too early to tell at this time, but we could be in for a white
     Christmas, folks,” she said.
    “I’m going to the hospital tomorrow. I don’t care how slick the roads are,” Lucas
     said.
    “Pickup has four-wheel drive, and we got chains in the barn if it gets too deep,”
     Jack said.
    Lucas uncovered his eyes. “I can’t let her leave without seeing her.”
    “I’m not going to fight with you,” Jack said. “She’d never stop bitchin’ if she didn’t
     get to see you before she leaves, anyway.”
    The house phone rang beside him and he jumped. Because Hazel said it wasn’t healthy
     to walk around with a phone stuck to the ear, they’d kept the old rotary phone in
     the living room just for her. And when her hearing got bad, they’d turned up the volume.
     When it rang, it could rival a storm siren.
    Lucas reached for it. “Hello.”
    “Is that you, Lucas? Did you talk Natalie into staying? Don’t you be paying her no
     minimum wage. You give her what it’s worth to have a woman in the house to do your
     cookin’ and wash your clothes,” Hazel said. “There is gingerbread in the big tin can
     out in the pantry. I didn’t tell Grady and Jack I made it or they’d eat every damn
     bit of it up from you.”
    “Thank you.”
    “What’s the matter with you? You sound like hell. Don’t tell me that you are still
     mad over Natalie not telling you about the baby.”
    “Yes, ma’am, I am and it’s going to be a long time before I’m over it. Aren’t you
     supposed to be in pain and getting doped up real good?” he asked.
    “Don’t be trying to change the subject. I’m