The Rancher's Holiday Hope

by Brenda Minton

  “And what do you think I would do to Sierra?”

  “Hurt her.”

  Max shoved his hands in his jacket pocket. “Isaac, I haven’t wanted to hit someone in a long time. As a matter of fact, you were the last person I wanted to hit. I guess it makes sense that you’d be the person pushing me to do it again.”

  “You know you don’t have the best track record on dating. What was it you told me? More than one woman has been forgotten because you get busy working and leave them sitting at home alone. That isn’t the most gentlemanly thing to do.”

  “I agree. Which is why I haven’t been doing any dating lately. A woman has to mean more than business.”

  “That sounds like a good philosophy. But does Sierra mean more to you than business? Or is she just a girl from Hope, and pretty soon you’ll be going back to wherever you’ve been living with your big cars and fancy helicopters?”

  A shout from outside the barn stopped the conversation. “What was that?” Max asked.

  Isaac gave him a look and pointed to his ear.

  “Sorry, I heard something. It sounded like Sierra.” He headed for the barn door. Isaac fell in next to him.

  When they got outside they saw Sierra standing in the middle of the yard in a panic.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked as they drew closer. The women from the quilting session were pouring out of the apartment.

  “I can’t find Bub. He took off as we were walking back to the apartment.” Sierra kept her gaze trained on the horizon.

  “I’m sure he didn’t go far,” Max said encouragingly. “We’ll find him.”

  “What if he doesn’t come back?” A lone tear streaked down Sierra’s cheek. “This is silly. He’s just a dog. They run off. They chase things. They come back.”

  “He’s around here somewhere. Call him again,” Isaac said.

  She whistled and called the dog. Nothing. Bub had been trained to be a companion dog. He knew to stay by her side or to come to her the minute she needed him. The dog wouldn’t willingly ignore her.

  “What’s wrong?” Max’s mom, Doreena, was the first of the women to reach them. She took one look at Sierra and folded her in her arms. Why hadn’t he thought to do that?

  “The stupid dog,” Sierra said. “I didn’t want a dog. I don’t even like animals.”

  Of course she didn’t. She didn’t like the dog. Or the horse in the barn. She pretended she didn’t like children. The truth of the matter was, she loved deeply but didn’t want to be hurt by loss.

  “Let’s go look for him,” Max offered. “We can check the roads, Isaac can check the fields.”

  His mother released Sierra from her embrace. “Yes, go with Max. I’m sure Bub is just chasing rabbits. Dogs do that.”

  Sierra wiped a finger under her eyes.

  Max motioned her toward his truck.

  They drove down to the main road. Max scanned the roadside and knew she was doing the same. They both wanted to see the dog trotting in the ditch, heading home.

  “I can’t believe I’m acting like this. I didn’t even want a dog.” She had her window down, allowing the cold air to blow in.

  “You’re acting like this because you love the dog.” Max slowed to check ditches as they drove.

  “Yes,” she admitted. “I love Bub.”

  They found him a few hundred feet down the road, sitting dazed and unmoving.

  Together they approached the dog. He’d obviously been hit. When he saw Sierra, he gave a low bark, then whimpered and settled on the ground. She sank to her knees next to him. Max pulled out his phone and called Isaac so he could let everyone know they’d be heading to the veterinarian.

  “Let’s get him in the truck,” Max told her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

  “Yes, of course.” Sierra put her arms around the dog and struggled to her feet.

  “Sierra, I can carry him for you.”

  “I know.” She stubbornly headed for the truck, her face buried in the dog’s neck.

  “Okay, you can carry him.” He followed her, opening the back door so she could slide the dog in. Instead she got in with him.

  “Do you think he’ll be okay?” she asked as they made the short drive to the local vet.

  “I think he will be. I can’t believe whoever hit him didn’t stop.” Max glanced in his rearview mirror. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good. We’re good. Aren’t we, Bub?”

  They pulled up to the veterinarian’s office. A truck pulled in right after. Doc Erikson was close to retirement and dealt more with farm animals than pets.

  “Doc,” Max said as he hopped out of the truck, “thanks for meeting us.”

  Max lifted the dog from the truck and carried him to the building, Sierra at his side like a worried mother hen.

  “Bring him on into the exam room.” Doc flipped on light switches as they went.

  Max placed Bub gently on the table. The dog whimpered as Doc Erikson did a quick exam.

  “I don’t think it’s anything serious. I’m going to do an X-ray, so the two of you go on out. I’ll call you back in when I’m done. He’s a nice-looking dog, Sierra. That’s your name, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, Sierra.”

  Max led her back to the waiting room and they stood looking at dog food and grooming brushes rather than taking a seat in one of the hard plastic chairs that had been there for as long as Max could remember.

  “You think I’m ridiculous, don’t you?” Sierra asked as she fiddled with the canned dog food, straightening the stacks.

  “Nope.”

  “Broken beyond repair?” she asked with only a hint of humor.

  “I think you’ve had some hard knocks and that you’ve survived. You’re still surviving.”

  “I had a dog once, for two days.” She cleared her throat. “Until my dad got mad at my mom and decided the best way to pay her back was to hurt me. He grabbed that dog and told my mom she would never make another decision without asking him first. I never saw the dog again. From the outside looking in, my parents were educated, decent people. My dad was an accountant for a company in Cleveland. My mom managed several clothing stores. We had a beautiful home in a good neighborhood—” Abruptly she stopped talking as if surprised she’d said so much.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I survived.” She paced the room then she returned to his side.

  He opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace. Her head rested on his shoulder and he couldn’t remember ever feeling like that, as if someone belonged in his arms, in his life. His hands were on her back and he couldn’t remember a time that he’d ever felt more like he’d come home than at that moment with Sierra in his arms, trusting him.

  The door to the exam room opened. She stepped back, gave him a shy smile and faced Doc with a hopeful look.

  “He’s pretty banged up, bruised and sore. He has a broken bone in his front leg that I’m going to set. In a couple of weeks, he’ll be as good as new.”

  Sierra rushed to Doc and gave him a tight hug. “Thank you.”

  The vet laughed and patted her shoulder. “You’re welcome. I hope the two of you have a long and happy relationship.”

  “Oh, we’re not dating,” she said.

  Doc chuckled. “I meant you and the dog. But okay.”

  Sierra’s face turned a shade of red Max hadn’t seen very often, and she raised a hand to cover her embarrassment.

  “Now, don’t you worry about a thing. You can probably trust Max to stay close without a leash, too.” Doc called out to them as they headed for the truck.

  Max drove Sierra back to her apartment on Mercy Ranch. The place was quiet, most of the lights were off. Kylie met them at the door, a finger to her lips.

  “Patsy and the kids just went to bed,” she said as she opened the do
or for them. “How is he?”

  “Broken leg,” Sierra answered. “I don’t know what I would have done... Not that I’m attached or anything.”

  Max shot her a look as he settled Bub on his bed in the living room.

  Kylie gave her an equally dubious look. “No, of course you’re not attached.”

  Sierra sat next to the dog on the floor. “Okay, I’m attached. And I hold you responsible.” She pointed a finger at her friend.

  Kylie smiled. “I’m glad I could help. I’m out of here. Carson and the kids are at Jack’s, waiting to drive me home.”

  Sierra got to her feet and walked her friend to the door. Max guessed that was his cue to go. It was late. As he made to depart, Sierra closed the door. She turned to face him.

  “I should go,” he said.

  “I could make tea,” she offered.

  “As tempting as that is...” he said. But it wasn’t tea that tempted him.

  He could very easily promise her things. The thought left him shaking in his muddy old boots even as he took a step toward her.

  “I’m thirsty.”

  The tiny voice from the hall stopped him cold. They both pivoted in the direction of the child who appeared, standing just feet away from them.

  “I’ll get you a drink and then it’s back to bed,” Sierra said as she took Linnie by the hand. Shrugging, she gave him an apologetic look.

  Max settled for kissing her cheek. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

  Sierra didn’t object. It was better that way. He didn’t know how she felt, but he knew that each moment he spent with her made it that much more difficult for him to leave at the end of the month.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “How’s your dog?” Melody asked when she showed up at the Stable chapel on Saturday following the quilting of the honeymoon blanket. They had just over a week to pull off the Christmas at the Ranch event, and the committee members were supposed to meet. That meant Max. Sierra hadn’t seen much of him since the night Bub had gotten hit.

  “He’s much better. He’s at home with Patsy and the children.”

  Sierra pulled out a notebook. “Melody, I made a few plans. For a small, more intimate wedding. For you.”

  Melody took the notebook and looked it over. “Oh, Sierra, this is beautiful. But my family...”

  “Would want you to be happy. They’re planning this wedding because they think it’s what you always wanted, and they want you to be happy.” Sierra smiled at the younger woman. “And you’re planning a wedding to make them happy.”

  “I never thought about it like that,” Melody said in a tone that became quiet, thoughtful. “I just don’t know.”

  “Is this about the ceremony?” Sierra asked. “Or are you more worried about the marriage?”

  Silence hung between them as Melody studied the notebook Sierra had given her to look at, avoiding eye contact. “Andrew cheated on me. To be honest, I don’t even know if he wants this wedding. We talk on the phone but I haven’t seen him in over a month.”

  “Oh, Melody.” Sierra didn’t know what else to say.

  “I shouldn’t have told you. I mean, he apologized and said it won’t happen again.”

  “Do you really believe that?” Sierra regretted the harshness of her words. “I’m sorry, it isn’t my place to judge. I just know that when a husband or father cheats, he’s cheating on more than his wife. He’s breaking a promise.”

  “I worry that I’m not judging Andrew fairly because I want him to be more like my father. He’s Andrew. I have to accept that.”

  “Yes, we have to accept people for who they are. But you have to like who he is. At least most of the time.”

  “Yes, you’re right. And I do like him.” Melody looked a little startled. “I mean love. I love him.”

  “Do you trust him?”

  Melody stared up at the ceiling. “That’s a good question.”

  “It’s a question I would want to be able to answer before I married someone.”

  Melody looked down at the notebook in her hands. “I wanted a crazy, extravagant wedding when I was a kid, but now I just want simple. I want to stand at the front of the church in front of people I care about with the man I care about.”

  “That sounds pretty perfect to me. And you can do that in a big venue or church. If it is special to you, that’s all that matters.”

  “Right,” Melody said. “I know you have donations rolling in for the Christmas event, but someone said you’re also gathering up donations for Patsy and her children.”

  Sierra allowed the younger woman to change the subject. “Yes, they have the clothes on their backs, shoes, a few toys each. But they’re going to need so much more as they get settled in a new home.”

  “A tree with gifts, decorations, dishes, food, toys and clothes.”

  “It’s a lot,” Sierra admitted. “As for Christmas decorations, I have enough for the Christmas event and for Patsy. The Jones/Gunner wedding was an overdecorated mess. The bride had to push her way through the forest like Gretel trying to get to Hansel. I’m sure they love each other and they’ll have a beautiful marriage, but...”

  “God bless them,” Melody murmured.

  They both laughed.

  “Yes. And they left behind some of those trees and decorations. We have plenty to decorate Patsy’s new home and present it to her as a Christmas gift.”

  “Perfect.” Melody jumped up. “Let’s drive to town, do some shopping and go by the house.”

  The invitation took Sierra by surprise and, normally, she would have declined. Today, however, she found herself at loose ends and wanting to spend time with a friend. A friend who happened to be Max’s sister.

  A few minutes later, they were parking in front of Rebecca’s salon and day spa. Christmas music played from a speaker attached to the underside of the awning. There were people walking along the sidewalks, going in and out of shops. The growth of the town, thanks to Jack West’s time and investment, had changed so many lives.

  “It’s very festive, isn’t it?” Melody observed as they walked along the sidewalk. “I do love my hometown. Even when we lived in Tulsa, this was always my town.”

  “I think it’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a hometown.” Sierra stepped aside for a young couple to pass by. “I hadn’t planned on staying. I still wonder sometimes if I should move on. After all, Jack didn’t start Mercy Ranch for people to live here permanently. It’s a place to start over, to get physically and emotionally ready to get back to life.”

  “I think Jack would let you stay forever. You’re one of his kids.”

  Sierra smiled at the statement. “Yes, maybe.”

  “Let’s get a cupcake.” Melody grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the bakery. “I know they’re not as good as yours, but we can sit down, have coffee and something full of calories.”

  “I’m not against other people’s cupcakes,” Sierra said. Then she noticed the sign on the window. Cupcake Café For Sale By Owner.

  “Oh, no!” Melody exclaimed as they walked through the door. “I love this place.”

  The small establishment was packed, with only a few tables available. Melody and Sierra made their way to the front to peruse the glass case of cupcakes. The owner, a woman named Millie, appeared from the back to help them.

  “Millie, why are you selling?” Melody asked without preamble.

  “I thought I could live here, away from my grandchildren. It was our dream to have a lake home. But Fred and I miss our kids.”

  Melody gave Sierra a pointed look that Sierra ignored.

  “We’ll be sorry to see you go,” Sierra told the woman.

  Millie brightened. “You’re a baker, Sierra. Would you want to buy it? We don’t want to compete with Holly, but during the summer we were going to expand our menu to items she d
oesn’t offer. Fancy little sandwiches, herbal teas.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. I have the Stable to run.”

  “But—” Melody started.

  Sierra cut her off. “But I would love a French vanilla cupcake and a bottle of water.”

  Melody rolled her eyes. “I’ll have the same. And coffee for me.”

  They found an empty table in the corner and sat down. “Sierra, this place looks like it was made for you. You love to bake. You love tea.”

  “Yes, I do like to bake. But I like to bake in the comfort of my own home.” Sierra took a bite of the vanilla cupcake and closed her eyes. “This is amazing.”

  Find your dream, Jack West had told her. Could her dream really be a cupcake bakery in Hope? She tried to picture herself here, baking, greeting customers.

  The door of the café opened and Max walked in. He saw them and headed their way.

  “Hey, big brother, imagine seeing you here.” Melody stood to give him a hug.

  Max removed his cowboy hat and grabbed a chair from an empty table to join them. “What are the two of you up to?”

  “We just wanted to get out. It’s close to Christmas and I think Sierra spends all of her time at the ranch. Hope at Christmas is the best, so here we are.”

  “Here you are,” he repeated. His gaze connected with Sierra’s and she felt it her cheeks heat up. “I saw your car and thought you might be in here. You should come by the house on Sunset. I think we’re going to have it done for Christmas.”

  “We were just discussing how we could decorate it for them.” Sierra explained the idea and Max agreed.

  “Perfect. Stop by and see how things are going after you finish shopping.”

  Sierra started to object but Melody told him that they’d be by as soon as they finished shopping.

  * * *

  Max and Pete, one of the Mercy Ranch residents, finished the section of wall they’d been drywalling and Max grabbed the bottle of water he’d left in the windowsill. A truck pulled up outside. He watched as his sister and Sierra got out. The two of them stood in the yard of the little house Jack West was having remodeled for Patsy.