Read Online Cowboy Boots for Christmas by Carolyn Brown - Free Book Online
Authors: Carolyn Brown
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in a box onto the rafter and out of sight.
“Here, kitty, kitty, kitty,” he called out to the mama cat. “Until I can bring food to you, these mice will be supper.”
He was still looking up when he realized the boxes were labeled with big lettering written in black marker. Evidently one housed an artificial Christmas tree.
He moaned out loud. “And I just stomped all over the ranch looking for a tree when all I had to do was come out here and tote this one in the house?”
The next one was marked tree stand and skirt . And the third one, Christmas stuff.
He pulled the last two off the shelf, checked to make sure there were no mouse holes, and headed back toward the house. With a real stand, they could keep the tree watered, and it wouldn’t shrivel up and die within a week.
He’d barely cleared the door of the barn and started back to the house when he heard a noise behind him. He turned slowly, boxes still in his hand, to see a black-and-tan Chihuahua following him. When he stopped, the dog did; when he took a step, the dog did the same.
“Well shit fire!”
Good grief! Did the dog talk?
“Shut up, dog.”
Finn raised his eyes slowly and saw a brightly colored parrot right above his head in the branches of an old scrub oak tree. It fluffed its wings and pranced up and down the mesquite limb. “Shut up, dog,” it said again in a gruff voice.
The Chihuahua barked at it that time.
“Hot damn!” the bird squawked.
The Chihuahua wagged its tail.
“You two traveling together?” Finn asked.
He set the boxes down right there on the ice-covered grass and whistled softly. The dog wagged his tail, ducked its head shyly, and sniffed Finn’s outstretched hand.
“Who are you and what are you doing on the ranch? Verdie didn’t mention a dog, and I don’t see her having a little guy like you around. I guess if Callie can bring in a stray, I can, too. It’s a big house and a big ranch. I hope you aren’t afraid of cats, but your friend there, I’m not too sure about him,” he said.
Finn’s feet slipped when he straightened up, but he got his balance before he took a tumble. Ice was so much worse than snow, and if the weatherman was right, the temperatures were going to stay below freezing for several days. It was going to be a cold tree-decorating party downtown that evening. Maybe they’d stay in after they’d decorated their tree.
He touched his lips. He’d far rather have one more kiss from Callie than go to town amongst all that feuding.
Martin looked up from the tree when Finn rounded the end of the porch. “I got it all cleaned out. I even rolled it over so I could make sure. And the only time Shotgun moved a muscle was when he got to quiverin’ and yippin’ a little while ago. I think he was chasin’ that rabbit in his dreams. It sure did get cold when that wind hit, didn’t it? What is that?”
“I expect it’s a Chihuahua,” Finn said.
“Can we keep it?” Martin’s sudden intake of breath had nothing to do with the cold. He pulled off his ragged gloves, and the old dog licked his fingers.
The parrot flew down and landed in the cedar tree branches.
“Hot damn!” it said.
“And a bird, too? Wow, Finn. We sure are a lucky bunch here on Salt Draw. How are we going to get the bird inside the house? Callie is going to love it.”
Finn looked over the tree. “Good job, Martin. The bird and dog seem to be traveling together. You think Angel will try to eat the bird if we let it in the house? Poor dog looks too old to be able to endure much of this weather. Shotgun, come over here and give us your opinion on this overgrown rat.”
Shotgun got up and slowly made his way to the newcomer. They sniffed noses and circled each other a couple of times, then the big dog put a paw on the little guy’s back and began giving him a bath.
“He likes him,” Martin yelped. “Does that mean we get to keep him?”
“I guess it does. Open the door and we’ll drag that tree in the
“Here, kitty, kitty, kitty,” he called out to the mama cat. “Until I can bring food to you, these mice will be supper.”
He was still looking up when he realized the boxes were labeled with big lettering written in black marker. Evidently one housed an artificial Christmas tree.
He moaned out loud. “And I just stomped all over the ranch looking for a tree when all I had to do was come out here and tote this one in the house?”
The next one was marked tree stand and skirt . And the third one, Christmas stuff.
He pulled the last two off the shelf, checked to make sure there were no mouse holes, and headed back toward the house. With a real stand, they could keep the tree watered, and it wouldn’t shrivel up and die within a week.
He’d barely cleared the door of the barn and started back to the house when he heard a noise behind him. He turned slowly, boxes still in his hand, to see a black-and-tan Chihuahua following him. When he stopped, the dog did; when he took a step, the dog did the same.
“Well shit fire!”
Good grief! Did the dog talk?
“Shut up, dog.”
Finn raised his eyes slowly and saw a brightly colored parrot right above his head in the branches of an old scrub oak tree. It fluffed its wings and pranced up and down the mesquite limb. “Shut up, dog,” it said again in a gruff voice.
The Chihuahua barked at it that time.
“Hot damn!” the bird squawked.
The Chihuahua wagged its tail.
“You two traveling together?” Finn asked.
He set the boxes down right there on the ice-covered grass and whistled softly. The dog wagged his tail, ducked its head shyly, and sniffed Finn’s outstretched hand.
“Who are you and what are you doing on the ranch? Verdie didn’t mention a dog, and I don’t see her having a little guy like you around. I guess if Callie can bring in a stray, I can, too. It’s a big house and a big ranch. I hope you aren’t afraid of cats, but your friend there, I’m not too sure about him,” he said.
Finn’s feet slipped when he straightened up, but he got his balance before he took a tumble. Ice was so much worse than snow, and if the weatherman was right, the temperatures were going to stay below freezing for several days. It was going to be a cold tree-decorating party downtown that evening. Maybe they’d stay in after they’d decorated their tree.
He touched his lips. He’d far rather have one more kiss from Callie than go to town amongst all that feuding.
Martin looked up from the tree when Finn rounded the end of the porch. “I got it all cleaned out. I even rolled it over so I could make sure. And the only time Shotgun moved a muscle was when he got to quiverin’ and yippin’ a little while ago. I think he was chasin’ that rabbit in his dreams. It sure did get cold when that wind hit, didn’t it? What is that?”
“I expect it’s a Chihuahua,” Finn said.
“Can we keep it?” Martin’s sudden intake of breath had nothing to do with the cold. He pulled off his ragged gloves, and the old dog licked his fingers.
The parrot flew down and landed in the cedar tree branches.
“Hot damn!” it said.
“And a bird, too? Wow, Finn. We sure are a lucky bunch here on Salt Draw. How are we going to get the bird inside the house? Callie is going to love it.”
Finn looked over the tree. “Good job, Martin. The bird and dog seem to be traveling together. You think Angel will try to eat the bird if we let it in the house? Poor dog looks too old to be able to endure much of this weather. Shotgun, come over here and give us your opinion on this overgrown rat.”
Shotgun got up and slowly made his way to the newcomer. They sniffed noses and circled each other a couple of times, then the big dog put a paw on the little guy’s back and began giving him a bath.
“He likes him,” Martin yelped. “Does that mean we get to keep him?”
“I guess it does. Open the door and we’ll drag that tree in the
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