She pulled him down beside her and flipped part of the throw over his body. “Colleen just came out of the egg. She needs to grow her own wings. Mine won’t fit. She has to get used to a different lifestyle, but she has to know that Blaze loves her enough to keep her safe and protected while she’s sprouting her wings.”

“I’m not sure I understand it all,” he said.

“Okay, cowboy, here’s the deal. Right now. Right here. There’s no one else around here and this house is our island,” she told him.

“That I understand just fine.” He drew her close to his side. “Thank you.”

“For what? Forcing you to sit with me two hours every night for the light show?” she asked.

“For making this our island,” he said.

“No fortune-teller is an island unto herself. She must have a sexy cowboy with her before it’s a real island.”

“I see car lights coming this way, so we’d better get out on the porch, Mrs. Claus.”

“They’re really coming?” she whispered.

“Didn’t you think they would?” Raylen said as he took his place in one of the two rocking chairs he had bought for the porch.

“I didn’t know, Raylen, but I’m happy they are,” Liz said with a smile.

“Honey, in these parts folks have to drive a long way to get a little Christmas light show. You got a write-up on the front page of both the Bowie and Ryan newspapers. People want to see what they read about, and besides, it’s free and you are giving out candy canes,” Raylen said.

“And I’m entered in the Montague County Christmas contest for the best property decorations,” she said. “Aren’t they ever going to get here?”

“No, they’re takin’ it slow and easy, probably talking about each one of those exhibits. You got the candy canes ready?” he asked.

Liz pointed to a galvanized milk bucket full of red and white candy canes sitting on the table between them. “Right here. All ready.”

The first car arrived and the window on the passenger’s side slowly lowered. “This is so pretty. The kids had a wonderful time,” a lady said.

“It’ll be open nightly until Christmas Eve. Come back, and here’s candy canes for everyone.” Liz handed a fistful through the window.

The next car was there before she could sit down. The third truck pulled off to one side and three elderly cowboys crawled out.

“We want the whole tour, not just the drive-thru,” one said.

“Yes, sir.” Liz grinned and looked over at Raylen. “You are on candy cane duty,” she said and led the men on the walking tour to the barn. “This way, guys. The whole tour is the light show and the barn, which is still decorated because I didn’t want to give it up after a big party we had at Thanksgiving.”

“Read about this in the paper. Them fool reporters didn’t give it the right credit, though. I know you. You are the waitress up at the café who always keeps my coffee cup full. Man alive, Roy, would you look at that tree. Place looks prettier than that mall over at Wichita Falls, don’t it?” the oldest cowboy said.