One Tough Christmas Cookie (The Reindeer Wrangler Ranch Christmas Romance Book 1)

by Lucy McConnell

  “Is everything okay?” asked Mr. Nichollas from where he ladled himself a mug of cocoa.

  “I just figured it out.” She turned to him. “How you all get along and everything is so perfect here.”

  His eyebrows shot up.

  “It’s the reindeer.”

  The eyebrows slowly lowered as if he wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

  Faith hurried to explain. “You all have the same vision of caring for the reindeer and put that above all else—even yourselves. It’s always about the good of the reindeer, and that in turn creates harmony.” It made so much sense as to why her father chose this place over his family. He couldn’t get this kind of dedication and purpose at home, so he spent his time on the ranch.

  Mr. Nichollas contemplated the contents of his cup. “You’re close. Family is most important, and in turn, the family takes care of the reindeer. I’d give all this away for any of my kids.”

  Her shoulders fell. “Not my dad. He gave me up for this.” She swallowed down the bitter taste in her mouth.

  Mr. Nichollas sighed. “I don’t think the explanation for what happened with your parents is all that easy. In my experience, it takes both partners giving 100% to make it work.”

  She waited, hoping he would expound, because she had more questions about the past than she had answers.

  He replaced the lid on the cocoa. “People are complicated. There’s more to the story—have you asked your mother why she left? Or your dad why he stayed?”

  She snorted and thunked her mug on the table. “Mom’s told me plenty of times that dad cared more about the reindeer than he did us.”

  Mr. Nichollas frowned. “I’d like to think the very best of my friend and defend him in this, but I’m pretty sure he got caught up in what goes on out here and didn’t bring your mother along. He could have, ya know—we wouldn’t have kept her away.”

  “So why didn’t he?”

  “That’s something you’ll have to ask him.” Mr. Nichollas drew in a sharp breath, as if screwing up his courage. “But I’ll bet you he cared about you the most. I couldn’t spend more than three minutes with the man before he was bragging on you.”

  “I don’t know that person.”

  “Maybe it’s time you did.” He gave her a side hug to soften the blow his words inflicted. “Looks like our break is over. You ready?”

  She nodded. She was more than ready to get to the bottom of things with her dad and to help these reindeer. She could use some more of their antics to cheer her up and cheer her on. By the end of today, she’d have a lot to talk to her father about. She just hoped she could get to the important stuff, because it was easy to talk about reindeer—not so easy to talk about the hurts of her heart.

  Chapter 11

  Caleb

  Muscles that didn’t get used all the time complained as Caleb let the last reindeer out of the chute. Sugar, who was ironically named because there was nothing about that reindeer that was sweet, flicked her tail as she walked past.

  He would have tugged her ear in response like a twelve-year-old, but he was beyond those kinds of tricks. Sugar loved to pull out the worst in people. It was almost like she knew she’d been passed up as a Santa reindeer, so she was determined to be on the Naughty List. Mom always said to give her some slack because it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t fly. Dad would point out that less than one percent of the herd could fly and the rest of them weren’t sourpusses like Sugar. It was an ongoing debate between the two of them, and Caleb opted to stay out of it.

  “That just leaves the reindeer in the barn.” Dad walked hunched over and bowlegged, like he’d pulled that muscle in his back again. Probably needed a good hot bath and some time in his massage chair to work it out.

  Faith opened her coat and counted the syringes she had left in that nifty vest of hers.

  “I’ll take Faith in,” Caleb volunteered. The reindeer had been put in their short stalls that morning to keep them from flying all over the place. They liked to let them have the run of the barn, even if it meant a cleanup job, because a flying reindeer was happier when they could climb the walls. Since Faith wasn’t on the Santa-approved list, they’d taken precautions.

  “Hey now.” Forest lifted a gloved hand. His cheeks were rosy from the cold, and his eyes were bright. “How about you quit hogging the new lady doc to yourself and let some of the rest of us get to know her?” He winked at Faith, who stared at him with an open mouth.

  Caleb longed to reach over and lift her jaw, but he kept his hands to himself and glared at his brother. “I think you have some panels to clean up.”

  Forest laughed. “I’m just messing with you. Thanks for your expertise today, Faith. I appreciate you—even if my lunkhead brother doesn’t.” He clipped Caleb on the shoulder and danced out of the way in case Caleb came back swinging.

  Caleb did not. Retaliation only fueled Forest’s teasing.

  “Yes, thank you, Faith. We couldn’t have done this without you, and we’re grateful you caught the sickness before it spread to the whole herd.” Dad patted Faith on the back and then made his way toward the house, leaving the cleanup for the younger generation. They’d done it. All 700 reindeer in one long day.

  Caleb watched Dad lumber along.

  Faith came to stand beside him. “I really like him.”

  Caleb glanced down to see her watching Dad too. “What’s not to like?” He shook his head. “I forget how old he’s getting. And then on days like today it hits me between the eyes. He used to outwork us all, but now he has a thing in his back.” He waved his hand. “Sorry, you don’t want to hear our problems.” He motioned for them to head to the barn, and they started off. It wasn’t a long walk, but it felt good to work out his tight muscles.

  Faith twisted her lips. “Honestly, it’s good to know you have problems.”

  “You’re happy we have problems—that’s not very Christian of you,” he lightly scolded.

  “No. That’s not at all what I meant.” She swatted his arm. “You all seem so perfect that I’d believe nothing bad ever happens here.”

  “You do realize the whole reason you’re here is to prevent something very bad from happening.” He pushed open the barn door and shoved his head inside, looking up to make sure no one had gotten out of their stalls. The coast was clear, so he shoved the door the rest of the way and stepped back so Faith could go in first.

  “I know. I know.” She stepped past him, and he caught a whiff of cinnamon and chocolate. The chocolate was probably from the four cups of cocoa she’d drunk to stay warm, but the cinnamon? That was all her, and he wanted to know if it was a lotion or maybe a shampoo. He’d love to run his fingers through her hair and find out. He shook his head at himself. Where were all these romantic notions coming from, anyway? He wasn’t the type of guy to go all soft for a woman—he never had been before, and he didn’t plan to be now.

  There was just something about Faith that got to his sensitive side. He leaned against Dunder’s stall as she gave him a checkup. Her earlier apprehension about being close to the reindeer was gone. Dunder was one of their largest, if not the largest reindeers on the ranch, and his ever-present antlers were intimidating. Faith didn’t seem to notice. She walked in with one hand out, which she used to touch Dunder’s neck and then move up to scratch behind his ears. He leaned into her touch.

  “I think he likes you.”

  “Of course he likes me.” She ran both hands down Dunder’s neck and then gave him a light hug. “We’ve bonded—right, handsome?”

  Dunder winked in response, making her laugh.

  That sound! Caleb’s hand went to his chest to stop his heart from leaping out. If he could combine the sounds of church bells ringing on Christmas Eve, with the bubbling of a brook, and the giggle of a child on Santa’s lap—he might come close to Faith’s laughter. Nothing was quite like the effect it had on him. He was all upside down and sideways because of it.

  While he was trying to get his he
ad on straight, Faith tested Dunder’s temperature and looked in his ears and eyes. The animal stayed still for her exam. When she was done, he nudged her pocket. “What is that?” she asked Caleb.

  “He’s looking for a treat. Doc would bring him a carrot or an apple when he checked him over.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Sorry. I don’t have anything.”

  “I got you.” Caleb hurried into the tack room and came back with an oat bar.

  “What is this?” She eyed it like it was a rogue doggie treat.

  “Oat bar,” he replied. “Mom makes them with organic ingredients. They have dried apples and oats. The reindeer like them.” He nodded for her to give it to Dunder.

  She put the treat on her flat hand and moved it under Dunder’s snout. He sniffed and then used his lips to pick up the bar, so he didn’t bite her. Faith gave him a goodbye hug and made her way out of the stall. “He’s looking really good.”

  “Do you think he’ll be a hundred percent by Christmas Eve?” Caleb hadn’t checked in with the Kringles. They had their solid eight reindeer for the big sled, but Dunder was second string. He might be getting on in years, but he still had some flight left in him.

  “Why, does he need to pull a sleigh?” Faith lifted an eyebrow and her eyes glinted with challenge.

  Caleb paused. This could be his opening. He could tell her all about the magical reindeer that really flew and moved to the North Pole to train with Santa’s elves. Letting her in on the secret would be so easy. “What would you say if I said yes?”

  She put a hand on her hip. “I’d say the kids in town were pretty lucky to have Santa ride past their house every Christmas Eve. Your family makes things pretty amazing for them. I wish I had those kinds of memories from my childhood.”

  His heart sank at the bitterness that laced her tone like powdered sugar on crinkle cookies. “Don’t you have any happy Santa memories?” Caleb moved over to Rudy’s stall and opened the door.

  Faith stood outside. “I have the regular ones: waking up on Christmas morning to a pile of presents and such, writing my letter …” She frowned. “I even asked Santa to get my parents back together one year. Probably the first year they split. Can you imagine?”

  He glanced down, taking in the parentheses around her frown. “Hey.” He spoke low and stepped into her space, noticing once again the sweet combination of flavors she presented. “It’s totally natural for a kid. They make movies about those kids and their feelings and wishes.”

  She barked out a laugh. “I’m pretty sure you never watched The Parent Trap.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Of course not. What kind of man would I be if I’d rooted for Mitch and Maggie to patch things up?”

  “Uh!” She tugged once on the front of his coat. “Stop—don’t even let me think you’re that wonderful.”

  “Okay. I won’t let you think it.” He shrugged and stepped back, immediately missing her nearness. Theirs was a dance of closeness balanced with time apart. They’d been stepping through it all day long, and he wasn’t about to break pattern for fear she’d leave him alone on the dance floor.

  Faith purposefully turned her attention on Rudy and held her hand out for the reindeer to sniff. “Hey, Rudy. Do you remember me?”

  Rudy approached slowly, as if he wasn’t sure what he was headed for. Caleb’s heart went out to the animal. It couldn’t be easy not being able to see. Rudy got closer to Faith, sniffing loudly.

  Faith spoke out of the corner of her mouth. “I wish I had another one of those oat bars.”

  Caleb chuckled, which brought Rudy’s head around his direction. “You’re okay, aren’t you, tough guy?”

  Rudy eased toward him as Caleb spoke, following his voice. Faith huffed in displeasure.

  “It’s only because he knows me better. We’ve spent a lot of time together, haven’t we, fella?”

  Scratching the top of Rudy’s head made his back leg thump. He made a circle around Caleb and then around Faith, sniffing her and bumping her as if testing her size and weight. She tried to keep her feet, but Rudy’s backside hit her hip and she tripped into Caleb’s side.

  He reached out to steady her. “You okay?”

  She nodded. “He’s not trying to hurt me.”

  Caleb’s smile was warm and all too revealing of the way his heart galloped. “I’m glad you noticed.”

  She glanced down at where her hands rested on his arm, and she blinked as if realizing that she was still holding him. She yanked her hands down to her sides. “Have you given any more thought to surgery?” She pulled out a small flashlight and waved it in Rudy’s eyes. Stepping closer to him, she spoke in low tones as she gave him a once-over.

  Caleb watched her every move, amazed at her sureness and knowledge. “We talked about it, and we are good to go whenever you are. The only catch is that one of us will have stay at the clinic.”

  Faith jerked upright, and Rudy stutter-stepped backward at her sudden movement. “You can’t stay at the clinic—it’s part of the house.”

  Caleb tucked his hands into his jean pockets. “We’ve done it before.”

  “Yeah, but that was with Dad—I mean, you and I can’t—” Her face turned red. Rudy brushed his red nose against her back, pushing her closer to Caleb.

  Caleb appreciated the reindeer’s help, but he didn’t need a wingman on this. Rudy started to lift off. Caleb panicked and lunged for him, using his body weight to hold the reindeer down.

  “Haven’t you ever had a sleepover?” Caleb wiggled his eyebrows at Faith to take her mind off of his strange behavior. Leaning against a reindeer wasn’t exactly normal, but he had no other choice, as Rudy seemed determined to get his hooves off the ground.

  “No,” Faith groused.

  Caleb considered her double meaning and liked her all the more for it. He threw an arm over the back of the deer and kicked one leg out. “I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. You can lock me in the clinic with Rudy.”

  Faith considered him. “I might just take you up on that.” Working with Rudy while he held the deer still, Faith was able to give him the shot.

  Caleb racked his brain for a way to make this work. Obviously, Rudy couldn’t be trusted to ground himself and needed a babysitter. But he also needed the surgery, and the North Pole needed him. He had the right temperament to be one of Santa’s reindeer. They didn’t really know if he had the speed, because they’d never been able to let him fly at his full potential because of his eyes. Getting even one more reindeer up north would make a big difference.

  Technically, Mom could go with Rudy, but she was needed here. Dad might spend a lot of time in the office, but Mom was the brains behind the business. She kept their government permits in order and applied for grants that allowed them to do things like give high-quality veterinary care to the animals—including elective surgeries.

  Any of his brothers were out of the question. Jack would see how wonderful Faith was and fall for her himself. Forest would do his best to spill all of Caleb’s most embarrassing moments—including video. Pax would speak little and probably be okay—but he would hate the assignment. And Drake was too young to be trusted with a reindeer off the ranch. He was trying, though—bless his heart.

  An idea struck, and Caleb spoke before he thought it through. “Why don’t you talk to Doc about it and see what he thinks? If he trusts me in his house, then maybe you can too.”

  Faith stepped closer and looked up at him, her blue-grey eyes luminous in the dimming daylight. “I’ll do that. Thanks for understanding.”

  Words. He needed words. Gulping, his mouth dry and his throat tight, he nodded.

  Faith slipped out of the stall and headed for Sparkle’s stall next.

  Caleb stared after her. He glanced down to find Rudy watching him. This close up, he could probably make out Caleb’s confusion. “I hope you can keep a level head around her, because I’m struggling.”

  Rudy shook his head, making his ears flap against his cheeks.

&nbs
p; Caleb chuckled, rubbed his head, and locked the stall. “Stay on your feet,” he hissed over the door.

  Rudy gave him a look that said, I will if you will.

  “Yeah, well, that’s the trick, isn’t it?”

  “Caleb?” Faith called.

  “Coming.” He hurried in, hoping Sparkle wasn’t hovering off the ground. That was all they needed: a reindeer to out them. Gaining Faith’s trust proved hard enough with regular reindeer; he could only imagine what flying ones would add to the situation.

  Chapter 12

  Faith

  Card-stock stocking cutouts lined the wall of the rehab center, sporting names in glitter, Sharpie, and crayon. Faith wondered if each resident and worker signed their own or if a good Samaritan from the community had come in and decorated for the holidays. Gold tinsel garlands swooped between the stockings and added a garish festiveness to the otherwise sad décor.

  A ball of anger grew inside of Faith. This was what her father preferred over coming home with her? “Bathroom breaks,” she mumbled to herself as a reminder of why she should not be upset. Dad was doing her a favor by being here, even if it felt like another rejection.

  She turned a corner, noting the Charlie Brown tree with multicolored lights and no ornaments. The saddest part about the whole thing was that it wasn’t even a real tree someone had felt sorry for; it was fake. Her dad must be miserable. He loved Christmas with the eagerness of a little boy waiting for his first bike.

  The sound of Dad’s laughter met her in the hallway and directed her to his room. He was sitting up in a hospital bed, wearing red flannel pajamas and watching Elf.

  Faith grinned as he cracked up over Buddy jumping across mattresses in the department store. “Do you ever get tired of this show?”

  Dad’s eyebrows rocketed upward. “Baby girl!” He held out his arm, pointing to the screen. “This is a classic. I watch it every December and it gets better and better.”