The Cowboy's Christmas Baby

by Cathy McDavid

  Everything she’d planned to say when she finally found him completely abandoned her the instant she’d seen him. The anger pulsing through her had come as a surprise. She thought she’d moved past that but evidently not.

  She was justified, of course. No one would fault her. He’d attempted to cheat, lied to her, and then left her with a huge mess to clean up. Okay, technically she’d yelled at him to get out and never come back. But, deep down, she hadn’t believed he would. When he did leave, he took the last of her faith in him with him.

  Honestly, she’d nearly choked when Ava had smiled up at him. Was it possible for a baby to instinctively recognize their father and form an immediate bond? No, it wasn’t. Stuff like that only happened in movies.

  Even so, Jewel couldn’t shake the conviction that Ava and Tanner had connected on some level. Perhaps she’d just been responding to him. He had looked besotted. If Jewel wasn’t battling a slew of conflicting emotions, she might have found the sight of them endearing instead of...

  She hated admitting it, but she was scared. Regardless of what Tanner had done, he was Ava’s father and had rights. Unless he voluntarily chose to walk away and leave them alone, he was going to be a part of her and Ava’s life to some degree.

  “Jewel, it’s nice to finally meet you.”

  She whirled at the sound of a friendly voice behind her. Apparently, she’d been standing at the parlor window for some time—long enough to momentarily forget she was at Sweetheart Ranch and meeting with the owner.

  Mustering what she hoped was a warm smile, she returned the greeting. “Same here.”

  Emily O’Malley-Foxworthy had to be in her late seventies, though she was clearly active and still a handsome woman. She’d mentioned during their phone conversations that she herself was a newlywed, having gotten married last fall. Jewel thought it was wonderful that love could blossom at any age.

  She shifted Ava to her left arm in order to shake Emily’s hand. “I really appreciate the opportunity and won’t disappoint you.”

  “We’re just glad to have you on board. We’ve been needing a staff photographer for months. This will be a good test run for both of us. Hopefully, things will work out and the arrangement will become permanent.”

  “Yes.” Jewel wouldn’t say more than that until she decided on a career. And with Tanner unexpectedly in the picture, she was less sure than ever which direction to take.

  “My, my.” Emily’s gaze landed on Ava, and her wrinkled face radiated pleasure. “Aren’t you just adorable?”

  Ava stared, wide-eyed.

  Emily extended a hand and gently squeezed Ava’s pudgy fingers. Instantly, Ava squealed and pried her fingers loose.

  “It’s okay,” Emily said soothingly. “We’ll become friends soon enough, I’m sure.”

  Jewel marveled at how Ava had accepted Tanner, a rugged looking and deep-voiced man, right off the bat and wanted nothing to do with this sweet grandmotherly woman.

  The absence of a beard had made him appear more approachable, she supposed. Jewel had always liked his neatly trimmed facial hair. She had to concede, however, he was far more handsome clean-shaven and looked younger than his twenty-eight years. That, or the beard had made him appear older.

  On the other hand, the cleft in his chin had surprised her. Sure, he’d told her about it and his father sported the same attractive cleft. But actually seeing how closely Tanner’s resembled Ava’s had been disconcerting.

  His shaved face also emphasized his well-defined cheekbones and strong jawline. Add to that his shoulder-length brown hair—a huge change from his previous close-cropped cut—and he could have passed for a country singer or celebrity soccer player. She understood why no one had recognized him, especially when he wore sunglasses.

  “How about we start with a tour?” Emily suggested.

  It would be Jewel and Ava’s second tour of the day. “Sounds lovely. Give me just a minute.” She rearranged Ava in the baby wrap just in case she needed her hands free.

  Emily swept her arm to encompass the charmingly appointed room with its many antiques. “This, of course, is the parlor. Besides wedding receptions, we host social club luncheons, family reunions, corporate events, you name it. My granddaughter Molly is head of guest services and helps me with coordinating weddings. My other granddaughter, Bridget, is our resident chef. Her fiancé, Ryan, is in charge of the carriage, hay wagon and trail rides. The other employees, like you, are part-time or seasonal. Winter holidays are our busiest time of year next to Valentine’s Day, which is why I requested you stay on past New Year’s Day for your trial run.”

  Jewel swallowed, silently wondering if she was in over her head.

  “Bridget was hoping you’d have some time to take pictures of the cake she’s preparing for tomorrow’s wedding. It’s decorated to look like a staircase with a gold banister and miniature bride and groom at the top. I’m not kidding.”

  “I’ll make time. Absolutely.”

  They continued the tour, which included the kitchen, library—soon to be converted into a small wedding boutique—the separate bride and groom dressing rooms and, lastly, the chapel.

  “It’s lovely,” Jewel gushed as they entered.

  “I like to think we have the nicest wedding chapel in the state.” The older woman winked. “I may be prejudiced.”

  “How many people does it hold?”

  “Around forty-five. We can seat over a hundred on the lawn for outdoor weddings.”

  Bright sunlight streamed in the large picture window and bathed the twin rows of pews and aisle leading to the altar in a golden glow. At the moment, the chapel was empty of decorations and flowers, but Jewel could easily imagine how beautiful it would look during a wedding.

  A wave of nostalgia washed over her. She and Tanner had planned to marry in a chapel, though not one as nice as this, right after the National Finals Rodeo. They’d hoped at least one of them would also have won a championship, giving them double the reasons to celebrate.

  A quickie Vegas wedding had made sense, though Jewel had sometimes dreamed of more traditional nuptials. Most of their friends were in the rodeo world and already in town for the finals, and both sets of parents and siblings had come to watch Jewel and Tanner compete.

  It’d had all the components for a happy ending. Only that hadn’t happened. Instead, she’d heard from fellow competitors right after her event that Tanner had been caught attempting to bribe one of the bull riding judges. When she’d confronted him, he hadn’t denied it. And, just like that, Jewel’s world had fallen apart.

  Pain squeezed her throat. Ava must have sensed the shift in Jewel’s mood, for she suddenly whimpered.

  “Shh, it’s okay.” She swayed back and forth, rocking Ava.

  “Let’s head outside,” Emily suggested, obviously aware of Ava’s distress but unaware of Jewel’s. “I’ll show you the quarters above the carriage house. A change of scenery might quiet the baby.”

  “She does love being outside.”

  Jewel gave Ava a pacifier before they ventured outdoors. Emily chatted about Jewel’s portfolio as they leisurely strolled to the stables and carriage house on the other side of the clubhouse and fenced swimming pool. She mentioned particularly liking Jewel’s action shots.

  “You have a good eye for capturing your subjects at just the right moment,” she said. “That’ll come in handy while photographing weddings and receptions.”

  “Thank you.” Jewel returned the compliment. “This place is just incredible. Straight out of a picture book.”

  “The main house was built in the 1880s. My late first husband and I bought it more than fifty years ago, when we first came to the Valley. The cabins are new as of last summer.” Emily pointed to the row of six cabins that had been designed to resemble the ranch house. “I’ll show you one tomorrow after the guests check out.”

&nbs
p; “I’d like that.”

  “The clubhouse was a former storage building. We expanded it and built the pool.”

  “You could never tell.”

  They reached the small stables and carriage house next to it. “We have two draft horses for pulling the carriage and hay wagon and three trail horses for rides. If we need more horses for larger groups, we lease them from Powell Ranch.”

  Emily led Jewel into the carriage house, which contained a white fairytale-style carriage and the hay wagon. She explained about the ranch’s signature amenity, a carriage ride through town for the newlyweds the day after their wedding, and the monthly hayrides and square dances.

  “Our next hayride and dance are this coming weekend. A Christmas theme, as you’d expect, since that’s the weekend before the annual Holly Daze Festival. We’d love for you to take some shots of the ride and the dance and also our booth at the festival. Our web page is in desperate need of updating.”

  Jewel’s head spun. “You mentioned a babysitter.”

  “Tracee. She’s the granddaughter of my best friend, Nora. Both of them help out at the ranch during busy times. Tracee is a senior in high school and an experienced and reliable babysitter. She can watch Ava while you work and are at barrel racing practice, if you’re comfortable with that. She’ll be here later this afternoon to meet you and Ava.”

  “That’s great, but what about school? Won’t babysitting interfere?” Jewel was thinking of her early morning barrel racing lessons.

  “She’s taking most of her classes online so that she can work and save money for college. Her schedule’s flexible.”

  “Okay.”

  Jewel followed Emily up the dusty wooden staircase. At the top of the landing, Emily opened a plain painted door with squeaky hinges.

  Jewel wasn’t sure what to expect when she stepped inside. It certainly wasn’t the lovely sight that greeted them.

  “Oh, wow.” She paused and let her gaze wander. “This is nice.”

  “We did add a few extra touches for you.” Emily placed a key on the tiny two-person dining table, next to a vase with fresh flowers. “The curtains and bedspread are new.”

  “I love it.”

  A wrought iron bed occupied one corner of the spacious room. Beside it stood an antique chest of drawers and on top of that sat an old-fashioned lamp with a pull-string switch. Other than the cedar chest at the foot of the bed, the only other piece of furniture was a cozy recliner in the corner. Lovely reproduction landscapes and still lifes adorned the walls, and a braided area rug covered the floor.

  Most interesting to Jewel was the compact kitchen unit installed in the corner opposite the bed. She’d never seen one like it. The unit consisted of a camper-sized sink, two-burner stove, small overhead cabinet and an under-the-counter refrigerator. A microwave sat atop a cart next to the kitchen unit.

  She thought she’d put Ava’s travel crib alongside the bed at night when they slept and move it out of the way during the day to make more room.

  “The bathroom’s a recent addition,” Emily said. “Bridget’s fiancé Ryan built it when he lived here for a short while.” She slid open an accordion partition to reveal a tiny bathroom with just the bare necessities: a sink, a toilet and a shower the size of a broom closet. “The water pressure’s not the best. I recommend showering at night when there’s less demand.”

  “It’s adorable,” Jewel insisted and meant every word.

  “As I mentioned before, we serve a continental breakfast in the parlor from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. for guests and employees. There are generally leftovers after the receptions or other events, and you’re welcome to fix yourself a plate. For anything else, there’s the market in town or you can drive to Scottsdale or Rio Verde if you’d rather shop at a proper grocery store.”

  They discussed the details of Jewel’s duties not previously covered. While there was a wedding tomorrow evening, that couple had hired their own photographer. Emily requested Jewel attend simply to observe and get a feel for the kind of services provided at Sweetheart Ranch. The two Saturday weddings would be her first paying gigs, and Jewel was getting nervous. Having to deal with Tanner only increased her anxiety.

  “Are you okay?” Emily asked.

  Jewel gave a start and felt her cheeks grow warm. Again, she’d let her attention drift. “Sorry. I was just wondering how I’m going to get all my stuff up here.” It wasn’t exactly a lie—she had wondered that while they were climbing the stairs. “Guess I’ll wait until Tracee arrives.”

  “Nonsense. I’ll have Tanner help you. He’ll be here shortly.”

  Jewel’s legs nearly went out from under her, and she placed a hand on the dinette table to steady herself before she dropped Ava. “Tanner?” she mumbled weakly.

  Emily obviously misunderstood her response. “He’s a wrangler at Powell Ranch. We need a few extra horses for today’s trail rides. I can usually wheedle a favor or two out of him in exchange for some of Bridget’s homemade pastries.”

  Tanner was a frequent visitor to Sweetheart Ranch? Good grief, what were the odds?

  “You’ll like him,” Emily continued. “He’s a polite young man. Very quiet.”

  Jewel absently rocked Ava, her mind racing. If she rejected Emily’s offer of Tanner’s assistance, she’d have to explain why, and Jewel wasn’t ready for that. Her story was too personal and too private to share with someone she’d known less than an hour. On the other hand, she couldn’t possibly carry up all her things without help.

  Drawing in a fortifying breath, she told Emily, “That’ll be just fine.”

  * * *

  TANNER SHUT THE rear gate on the horse trailer and slid the latch into place, securing it with a metal snap. The three horses inside shuffled for space, their combined weight causing the trailer’s floorboards to creak and groan.

  The lone mare apparently didn’t like the gelding behind her getting a little too personal, and she gave him a swift mind-your-own-business kick that grazed his shoulder. He squealed and jerked back, colliding with the horse behind him who nipped him on the rump in retaliation.

  “Play nice, you three,” Tanner hollered, though by then the horses had accepted the inevitable and were quieting down.

  They were veteran trail mounts, used to being trailered to various locations and carrying riders of all experience levels. They would do well for the group at Sweetheart Ranch.

  This was hardly Tanner’s first trip taking horses next door. Powell Ranch and Sweetheart Ranch enjoyed an amicable agreement that benefitted both. They regularly referred customers to each other, and, like today, Powell Ranch leased Sweetheart Ranch the extra horses they needed for special trail rides, weddings on horseback or corporate events.

  It was, however, the first time Tanner had taken horses next door with a knot of anxiety the size and density of a cannonball residing in his stomach.

  Would he see Jewel again? He imagined her and the baby sitting on the veranda’s porch swing. They’d make an appealing sight. He liked the idea of himself seated beside her, but that probably wasn’t going to happen. Not without an enormous amount of animosity—hers, misplaced because she didn’t know the truth, and his, justified because she’d kept an important secret from him by not telling his parents when she had the chance.

  Seeing his boss and friend Ethan Powell approach, Tanner tested the latch one last time. “Just about ready.”

  “When will you be back? We have team penning practice at five thirty.”

  “Long before then.”

  Ethan rested a hand on the trailer’s rear gate. Tanner had noticed the other man’s limp was especially pronounced today and wondered if the brisk winter weather was affecting his prosthesis. Ethan had lost his leg just below the knee many years ago when he’d served overseas in the Middle East. He hadn’t let the missing limb stop him from doing what he loved, namely breaking and
training green horses.

  “I have a request,” Tanner continued. “Any chance you can do without me for a couple hours tomorrow morning? After feeding, sometime about nine.”

  Ethan gave Tanner a once-over. “Everything okay? You seem a little distracted today.”

  “Guess that depends on your definition of okay.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  Tanner debated only a moment. He could use an ear to bend. “Jewel is at Sweetheart Ranch. She’s their new photographer.”

  “No fooling!”

  “I ran into her this morning in the horse barn. She’s boarding Teddy Bear here and taking barrel racing lessons from Ronnie Hartman.”

  Ethan knuckled his cowboy hat back and scratched his forehead. “What are the chances?”

  “And get this. She has a baby. Our baby.” Tanner hoped Ethan didn’t notice the husky quality to his voice.

  “You have a kid?”

  “She said she’d wanted to tell me and looked for me.” He told Ethan about the private investigator.

  “Shoot, buddy. If I’d have known she was pregnant when she called me—”

  “Not your fault. Don’t worry about it.” Tanner was still greatly bothered that Jewel hadn’t mentioned her pregnancy when she was searching for him, especially to his parents. She’d been having his child. Hadn’t he deserved to know? It made him wonder if she had just been going through the motions and hadn’t searched as hard as she’d claimed.

  Ethan propped a shoulder against the horse trailer, taking the weight off his prosthesis. “This mean you’re coming out of hiding?”

  “I’d like to.”

  “Your dad still opposed?”

  “He’s convinced the arena owners will file a suit against me and Daniel if I crack under the pressure and admit he was the one who approached that judge. With Daniel and I being minority shareholders, the arena owners could also come after Bridwell and Associates.”