Page 32 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“I will knock you so far off that chair, Google won’t be able to find you,” she replies. Her hand shoots out in a playful attack, but I catch her by the wrist and pull her in, planting a kiss on her soft cheek. “You devil child!”

“I love you, too, Auntie,” I chuckle and continue eating my eggs while she and Sammy start bickering again.

“Did you handle those patches on the northwestern fence?” Darla asks, her fork and knife surgically slicing through a slice of bacon.

“Of course. I wasn’t dilly-dallying, darlin’. I know my stuff,” Sammy grumbles. He tears a slice of sourdough bread apart to gather some of the runny yolks and bacon grease from his plate.

“Yeah, you know your stuff, but those holes have been in the fence for weeks now,” Darla mutters. “It wasn’t until Kyle got closer during their patrol the other day that they even noticed them. We’re sleepin’ on this ranch, ain’t we?”

“My gosh, woman, you are hell-bent on nipping away at my liver today, aren’t ya?”

“Someone’s gotta keep you honest.”

“And someone’s gotta keep you smiling, ’cause I don’t like this cranky version of you at all. Let’s go to a honky-tonk this weekend,” Sammy says, leaning close to her.

Darla rolls her eyes and quickly finishes the rest of her plate. “I’d rather gouge my eyes out with a hot spoon. Make sure you check the entire length of that south fence, too,” she says. “The last time we lost a few cows, they were grazing on that side of the pasture.”

“You’re no fun,” Sammy pouts.

“When was I ever fun?”

“You used to be fun.”

“Before we had to take over the farm,” Darla reminds him. “We’re grown-ups now. Remember?”

Sammy nods once. “I remember a lot of things, sweetheart. Even the things you claim to have forgotten. But it’s alright. One of these days, I’m gonna remind you.”

“Just fix the damned fence, you old dog,” Darla chides and leaves the table, stopping by the kitchen sink to deposit her empty plate into the water basin. “There you go, honey,” she says to Melissa. “Excellent meal, as always. Thank you.”

“You’re most welcome,” Melissa replies, the shadow of a smile lingering on her lips.

She’s heard the entire conversation, and I can’t blame her for not being able to keep a straight face around Sammy and Darla.

Speaking of the devil, my favorite auntie points an accusatory finger at me. “As for you, Mitch… I’ll find out what’s upandwhat’s off with you since you thought semantics was gonnathrow me off your scent.”

Melissa can’t handle it and bursts out laughing as do Sammy and I.

Darla tries to keep a serious demeanor as she walks out of the kitchen, yet her mask does crack eventually, and I hear her giggling all the way down the hall.

“You two need to sort things out,” I tell Sammy once I hear the front door shut behind Darla.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replies, now also rushing to finish his plate.

“Right. You don’t,” I laugh. “Come on, Sammy, you’ve been doing this back-and-forth with Darla for too long. You both deserve a second chance. We’re all rooting for you.”

“Spare me the trip down memory lane,” Sammy scoffs. “I’ve known Darla longer than you, boy. We grew up together.”

“Yeah. You and Darla and Tammy. I know. And I also know the love between you and Darla is the once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and marrying Tammy didn’t change that. Not one bit.”

“I loved Tammy.”

“No one’s saying you didn’t. But she’s gone. And you fumbled Darla.”

“Nothing I can do about it anymore.”

I smile gently. He’s been through so much over the years. I want what’s best for him, though, and I know that no other woman would give him the moon the way Darla would. “All isn’t lost. Did you see how she keeps bustin’ your balls? She expects better of you. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t be on you like that.Besides, a little bird told me Darla still hopes you’ll try again.”

“What little bird? What?” His interest is suddenly piqued, proving a theory of mine.

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