“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” she said.

“Be lookin’ for you. Want me to drive over and get you?” he asked.

“No, I’d either walk or bring my own truck,” she answered.

“Okay, then. Good night, Liz.”

“Night, Raylen.” His name slipped off her tongue.

She plopped down in the recliner, and Hooter laid his head in her lap. Blister moved from the back of the chair to the arm and purred. The remnants of Raylen’s shaving lotion surrounded her.

“I’d give you each a big T-bone if you could talk and tell me more about Raylen.”

She dug her cell phone out of her purse and punched in the speed dial for her uncle. After five rings she was about to hang up when she heard his voice.

“Uncle Haskell, hi. I’m here and I’m unpacked, and I was so tickled to see Hooter and Blister. Do I really get to keep them? I’ve already made up my mind. I’m staying on the property, and I promise I’ll spoil them even worse than you did.”

“Whoa, girl. Slow down.” Haskell chuckled. “Yes, you can keep Hooter and Blister. They wouldn’t be happy anywhere but right there, and I know you’ll do right by them. But you haven’t been there long enough to make up your mind, so you have to stay until March when the carnival pulls out of this area before I sign it over to you legally. I told Raylen to water and feed Hooter and Blister. I guess he did?”

“Yes, he was in the house when I got here. He went home but he came back and invited me to the O’Donnells’ for Sunday dinner. He said they’re going to have music,” Liz said.

“You’ll enjoy that. That Raylen and Dewar both are good men, Lizelle. Take your fiddle and enjoy the day.”

“Are you settling in out there?” Liz asked. It hadn’t occurred to her in the flurry of excitement that her uncle might not be satisfied in Claude, out in the Texas panhandle, and would want to come back to Ringgold. What if she put down roots, and then her uncle wanted his place back?

“Yes, I am,” Haskell answered. “Poppa and I are getting along pretty good. I’m still unpacking my books, but we’re getting a few boxes done each day. Poppa borrowed some yesterday. I may make a reader of him yet. He’s anxious for Marva Jo and Tressa to get here for the winter though. He loves helping revamp the carnie wagons every winter.”

“I’m glad you are there, Uncle Haskell. He gets lonely. I promised Hooter and Blister some quality family time so I’m going to hang up and visit with them,” Liz said.

“I’ll be looking for reports at least once a week,” Haskell said.

“You got ’em. Good night,” Liz said.

Did that mean she could ask questions about Raylen once a week as well as give her uncle a report?

Chapter 2

Liz brought up a Martina McBride Christmas album on her phone and listened to the music as she drove down her lane toward the highway. The first song was an old tune that she and her mother and aunt listened to when they were in their winter quarters, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The lyrics said that the holiday would find her where love light gleamed. Liz sang along with her and hoped that she would find love—maybe not this year, that would be too soon.