Frank cleaned up after patrons left the coffee shop.He planned to stay for the day.
Florence asked, “Which dessert should we bring with us to the bunkhouse?”
“If it doesn’t sell, the chocolate cake with the Christmas tree and cougars on it?It’s big enough to share with the rest of the ranch hands.”
“Yeah, that will work.”She put it in a box and set it aside.
“You don’t want to see if you can sell it first?”Frank sounded surprised.
“Nope.It’s ours.Did you pick out which dessert you want to take home with you, Ava?”
“The cupcakes with the reindeer on them,” Ava said.“We’re having Nina and her family over for Christmas Eve, and that should be enough to satisfy everyone.”
“All right.I was going to ask Nina what she wanted to take home with her.”
“This will be enough.We don’t want the kids or our husbands getting a sugar high,” Ava said.
Florence laughed.
After they took turns eating lunch, they worked, Nina switching off with Addie for protection detail until closing.
Florence and Frank were already dressed in holiday sweaters and were ready to drive out to the ranch.She locked the door.Deputy Sheriff Ricky was waiting for them, while Ava and Addie headed to their own homes for Christmas Eve dinner.Ricky, Florence, and Frank drove to the ranch in two vehicles.
When they arrived at the ranch, Ricky returned home for his own dinner.
The ranch hands went to Stella and Ted’s home for their dinner, but they would have dessert with Rory, Lacy, Frank, and Florence.
The fire was going in the fireplace, and the Christmas lights were all on.The aroma of rib-eye roast made Florence’s mouth water.She didn’t know what Wyatt and Blaze were going to eat at Ted and Stella’s home, but they sure looked like they wanted to share some rib-eye before they left the bunkhouse.
“Everything smells delicious,” Frank said.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” Florence said as Rory carried the rib-eye roast to the table.
Lacy brought over mashed potatoes and gravy, and creamed spinach.
Florence gave everyone a glass of water.Frank opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass for each of them.
“Hal approved our house plan,” Lacy told Florence and her grandfather.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!”Florence said.“By the way, I know everyone calls me Mrs.Fitz, but I’m changing my last name to Everest, so everyone can call me Florence.Or you can call me grandma.”
“Are you changing the name of the coffee shop?”Lacy asked.
“No.Everyone knows it by Fitz’s Coffee Shop, so I’ll leave it like it is.”
“Saves on the cost of changing out all your signage,” Rory said.
“That’s exactly what I thought.”Frank cut up some of his rib-eye roast.“This is so good.”
“I agree.”Florence took another bite.
“I love these and have them for the holidays whenever I can,” Rory said.“They always have them at a reduced price for the holidays.”
“Sounds like it should be a tradition for us to have,” Lacy said.
“Right,” Frank said.
Florence was all for it.“For Christmas, since you will be there also, I don’t believe we need anyone else there to provide security.”
