Big Man for Christmas - Penny Wylder Page 0,3
and choose two pieces. “Here, girls! Beg for it.”
The two beautiful hounds come running and sit up on their back legs with perfect manners. As often as I come here, I have them trained. Every time they wait for me to finish loading up all my bags of feed so they can get a treat, and I always make sure that I have treats ready for them.
“You’re going to spoil them,” a voice calls.
“You say that every time.”
Red shuts the door to the feed mill, shuffling as he does. “It’s true I do. And you never listen.”
“That’s because they’re such excellent girls,” I say, leaning down to pet them. I love on them because I don’t have a pet of my own. The cattle and farm provide me with enough work that it doesn’t seem practical to get a dog, though I would love one.
“You been around town recently?” Red asks.
“No more or less than usual,” I say.
He whistles. “You wouldn’t believe some of the shit that’s going on around here. Stan Williams nearly got his head cut off by a combine because he got too drunk and decided it was a good idea to operate the damn thing at night. And the Harrison’s daughter ran off with a singer from Nashville. A singer. Neither one of them got a penny to their names but they think they’re gonna make it big.”
I chuckle softly. Red, like most of the people in this town, is a gossip. Mainly harmless. But everyone knows that if you want the news in town you don’t need to read the newspaper. Sure, some of the tales are embellished, but there is generally a core of truth to them.
“And the Farrell’s are hosting the fireworks this year on their farm again.”
“You say that as if they don’t host them on their farm every year, Red.”
He sighs. “I know, but I thought that it would be nice if you actually came this year. People have noticed that you never show up. And you know how people can talk.”
I raise an eyebrow, and he laughs. “Anyway, I was wondering if you could do me a favor.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Right around that time I’m getting the truck fixed up. Long overdue honestly. They’re going to dig deep into that engine and make her shine like the day she came off that factory belt.”
Red loves his truck. Everyone knows that. But it’s seen better days. “That’s great, Red. But what’s that got to do with me?”
“I just thought you might be able to give an old man a ride over there if you were heading that way.”
I tilt my head and wait. That’s not what Red is really asking. He has closer friends that he would ask if that were the case.
His face lights up like he just thought of something. “Oh, and my granddaughter will be here visiting too, if you don’t mind giving her a ride as well.” The grin on his face is like the goddamn Cheshire Cat. As if I don’t know exactly what he’s doing. What everyone in this town is trying to do.
I take a breath and stifle a sigh. Still, annoying or not, Red trying to set me up with his granddaughter isn’t enough of a reason for me not to be neighborly. “Sure,” I say. “I’ll happily give you guys a ride. But I have to get back to work now.”
“Sure thing.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Thanks, Casey. I owe you one!”
Darlene and Jemma watch me mournfully as I get into my truck, hoping for more treats. But I have to leave them wanting more or they actually will be spoiled in no time.
The fireworks. I do sigh this time. I haven’t been to the fireworks in years. Officially called the Farrell Farms Fireworks, but everyone shortened it. There isn’t anything else that it can be. And it has been a Christmas tradition in this town since before I was born. Long before.
Growing up it had been one of my favorite nights of the entire year. In some ways it was even better than Christmas Day. The whole town came together for a holiday carnival that got more and more extravagant over the years. Party games with all your friends, hayrides, the most amazing buffet of food you could possibly imagine, and then, after dark, a fireworks show that rivaled the ones in the big cities.
People come from everywhere for Firework Night. More than half the town’s budget