Christmas on the Ranch--A Clean Romance

by Julianna Morris

  Helene took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m so sorry. You’re too young to be going through that. I lost my second husband a few months ago, but we were fortunate to have twenty-six years together. Goodness, let’s not talk about it and depress ourselves. Where are you from?”

  “A tiny town in coastal Connecticut. Port Coopersmith.”

  “I thought you were from New York City,” Gideon said. “How did you end up with a lawyer in Manhattan?”

  Alaina shrugged. “My husband’s family is from New York. Janet Whitcomb is my sister-in-law. We’ve stayed close.”

  “Family ties are so important,” Helene said. “Come inside for a cup of coffee and tell me about your work. Do you use digital or film?”

  Alaina glanced at Gideon. She didn’t think he’d planned to extend any hospitality to his home, which was understandable. The Double Branch was a working ranch and her presence was just a business transaction as far as he was concerned.

  Still, she couldn’t be rude to his mom.

  “Digital,” she told Helene. “Everything seems to be electronic these days, but I brought solar chargers for when I’m camping higher in the mountains.”

  * * *

  CAMPING?

  Gideon’s head reeled. He’d assumed Alaina would just take short day trips around the ranch to get her pictures. But supplying herself with solar chargers meant she expected to be out for days or weeks at a time.

  “How much backpacking experience do you have?” he asked.

  “I was a research assistant and the team photographer on my husband’s field projects. He was a wildlife biologist. We got into some fairly inaccessible locations.”

  “So you were with a group and not necessarily backpacking.”

  “If I’m not worried about my skill level, then you shouldn’t be, either,” she returned in a crisp tone.

  “That’s easier said than done. I own the Double Branch and I feel responsible for everything that happens here.”

  Alaina gave him an innocent look. “I signed a liability release, so you have nothing to worry about. But if I run into trouble, I’ll be sure to do it on national forest land, instead of your ranch. Okay?”

  “I’m not talking about liability. I’m concerned about your safety. Wilderness camping isn’t the same as taking a walk around the Yellowstone geyser fields on well-maintained paths or staying in an established campground.”

  Alaina’s chin went up and a spark of irritation flashed in her blue-green eyes. “I’ll manage.”

  Gideon was ready to choke on his frustration. How had he gotten into this mess?

  Oh, yeah, money.

  She’d waved that twenty-five thousand dollars in his face and he’d taken the bait. Well, the terms of the agreement were clear. She wanted to be independent and that’s what she would get. He’d just have to remind his employees not to let themselves be charmed into doing everything for her. On work time, that is—he couldn’t prevent them from helping during their own hours. He was realistic—the combination of Alaina’s shimmering blond hair and unusual eyes could turn his employees into willing marks.

  His mother kept darting anxious looks between them and he gave her a tight smile.

  “Alaina, please, come in,” Helene urged.

  “What a great house,” Alaina murmured as they walked through the living room and back to the kitchen. “Is this the original home?”

  “No,” Gideon said. “The foreman’s cabin was the first. There’s electricity, but as you already know, the single source of heat is a fireplace insert.”

  Alaina’s expression didn’t change. “That’s why I ordered three cords of firewood to be delivered, with more to come. The first load should have already arrived. I don’t intend to be caught short. Winter in Yellowstone may be worse than surrounding areas because of its unique geology, but I know it can be bad here, too.”

  “The wood was dumped by the cabin. The firebox takes good-sized pieces, but at least half are still too big to fit. They’ll need splitting.”

  Humor crept into her face. “I assumed that was likely, which is why I brought axes, a hatchet, metal wedges and a maul.”

  “Alaina, do you take cream and sugar?” his mother broke in.

  “Black is fine.”

  Gideon tried to contain his impatience as the two women chatted. He’d rather be out checking the Double Branch’s herds and riding fences, but he’d stayed at the ranch center to show his tenant the cabin and to ensure there weren’t any misunderstandings. Now his mother was treating her as an honored guest.

  Maybe it was their shared widowhood. He regretted that. The pain on Alaina’s face had been very real at the mention of her husband. Embracing the wilderness might be an act of catharsis, a way to deal with her loss.

  Anyway, he’d agreed to let her stay on the Double Branch and was being paid well for the service. He needed to try putting his concerns aside and give her a chance—perhaps even do what his mother had suggested in the first place, simply keep watch from a distance to ensure she remained safe.

  That might not be feasible if she hiked deep into the backcountry, but he had trouble believing it would actually happen. Backcountry camping wasn’t for the fainthearted, whether you were a man or a woman. Few tried it alone. If Alaina was as inexperienced as he suspected, she wouldn’t go far.

  “Alaina, let me show you the foreman’s house,” he said before his mother could refill their empty cups. “The cabin is old, but my great-grandfather kept the place up, even when he didn’t have a foreman living there. The walls have some insulation and the plumbing is updated.”

  If the improvement in his attitude surprised her, she hid it well. “I’m looking forward to seeing it. Helene, thanks for the delicious coffee.”

  “You’re very welcome. Come over to visit whenever you like.”

  Gideon didn’t echo the invitation, but he wouldn’t deny his mother feminine companionship if that was what she needed.

  “Is it all right to park my SUV near the cabin?” Alaina asked as they stepped outside.

  “Of course.” He thought quickly, hoping to make up for his earlier behavior. It had been churlish to make an agreement and then resent having made it. “I should ask something. Obviously there’s time, but our summers are shorter than most people think. Do you have snow tires already?”

  “I don’t have any, but the real-estate agent in Bannister said I could get what I need through Anders Garage, so I let the owner know the make and model of my SUV. He’ll order a set in July or August, and install them later.”

  The real-estate agent?

  Gideon suddenly realized where Alaina had gotten her information about the vacant foreman’s house. Nobody was sure how Rita Johnson did it, but she knew everything about everyone for thirty miles in every direction.

  He cleared his throat. “In that case, you should have the tires in plenty of time. Montana allows them to be used from October to May. There’s a shed by the cabin where they can be stored until needed.”

  * * *

  “THAT’S GOOD TO HEAR.”

  Alaina definitely preferred a pleasant Gideon Carmichael over the one with misgivings in his eyes.

  Would he prefer her to be older and look more robust? Perhaps, but if he believed she wanted special treatment, he was dead wrong. Not that it mattered. She would be up in the mountains working most of the time and didn’t require his approval. Her brothers and parents didn’t approve of her plans, either, but that hadn’t stopped her. She’d been coddled her entire life, now she wanted to challenge herself.

  “This is it,” Gideon said, breaking into her thoughts.

  From the outside, the foreman’s house was still a nineteenth-century log cabin with a porch that wrapped around the front and south sides of the building. Inside it was a compact home with incongruously modern features. Even the firepl
ace insert was a contemporary touch, with an electric fan to circulate air around the firebox and blow it into the room.

  “Heat rises, so I’d recommend sleeping in the loft during the winter instead of the bedroom,” Gideon said, gesturing to the staircase. “I know from experience that it’s warmer up there, presuming you keep a fire burning all night. It’s cold either way if you don’t.”

  Alaina didn’t intend to discuss her sleeping arrangements with a virtual stranger, so she turned and walked into the kitchen. The refrigerator was huge in contrast to the room, likely a reflection of the ranch’s distance from town and the need to store more fresh foods. There was also a medium-sized chest freezer, where milk, bread and other items could be stocked for longer periods, along with a washer and dryer.

  “Will this be okay?” Gideon asked.

  “It’s perfect. Now, I’m sure you have much better things to do with your time. Go on and I’ll get settled.”

  He looked nonplussed, probably unaccustomed to being politely dismissed. “Of course.” He took out an envelope and gave it to her. “This is a map, showing property lines, my leased rangeland and other information.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see if the data can be programmed into my portable GPS unit.”

  “That should be possible. I’ve provided the GPS coordinates. I’ll get back to work now.”

  She bit her lip to stop a chuckle as he walked out of the cabin.

  In a way, Gideon Carmichael was just like her brothers. They saw themselves as progressive guys of the twenty-first century, when in reality, they’d barely emerged from the cave. Even her husband had leaned too far in that direction. Mason had teased, saying it was because she looked like an ethereal princess from a medieval tale of a knight-errant, but Alaina didn’t buy that excuse. With Mason, she’d also had the age difference to contend with, needing to remind him periodically that they were partners, not mentor and student.

  She didn’t know why the male half of her family was so impossible other than the pesky Y chromosome they shared.

  But in all honesty, her mom also disagreed with her decision to strike out on her own instead of finding a new photographer to work with. At least the family understood why she hadn’t stayed with her original mentor. He’d stolen a collection of her photographs, ones taken during field studies with Mason. She’d been forced to file a suit against him, proving that some of the photos had actually been published previously, citing her as the photographer.

  Mason had left enough that she could get by, but having someone she’d respected try to take credit for her work?

  Not acceptable.

  Her mouth tightened. It had been a case of too much trust in the wrong person. While it wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to her, she wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

  Pushing the memory away, Alaina went to the window and saw Gideon striding to a barn across the extended property. He was edgy and intense, like a wolf on the prowl.

  She would need to stay on her toes during their contacts. A few minutes later, he rode out on a reddish-brown horse with Danger trotting alongside.

  Hmm.

  She still didn’t know if she should have arranged for a horse to ride, but she hadn’t seen herself taking one out in deep snow. Besides, while she could ride, she wasn’t comfortable with horses. They were nice enough, but she’d broken her leg after a bad throw as a child and had never stopped being uptight around them. In return, they seemed to feel the same about her.

  Now that she was alone, she stowed her fresh food in the refrigerator and then rolled up her sleeves. The current temperature was pleasant, but a cold front was predicted to move in overnight and bring snow. Getting the firewood sorted out was critical if she didn’t want to huddle under blankets until the weather cleared.

  The three cords she’d ordered had been dumped in piles along one side of the cabin. She soon had it sorted into neat stacks, with chunks too big for the fireplace insert closest to the chopping block. Contrary to what Gideon Carmichael seemed to think, she knew how to split wood; it had been part of the survival-and-wilderness training courses she’d taken.

  The SUV was next.

  She unloaded the remaining contents, deciding to use the bedroom as a studio and the loft for sleeping. Places for storage had been cleverly added in the cabin to maximize the small space, but the pantry was the best discovery. She’d ordered a shipment of freeze-dried food and other supplies for her backpacking excursions and could store it there. More would come every few weeks, along with additional staples.

  “Alaina?” called a voice.

  She went into the living area and saw Helene standing in the open doorway. A yellow Labrador retriever stood next to her, furiously wagging its tail.

  “Hi. And who is this?” she asked as the dog dashed over, eager for attention.

  “It’s Cookie, my daughter’s pet. Libby will be spending the summer in New Mexico and asked me to take care of him.” Helene gestured to the wood by the house. “I feel guilty for letting you do all of this alone. The least my son could have done was get the firewood sorted out before you arrived.”

  “That wasn’t part of our agreement. Anyhow, I enjoy hard work. I’ve spent the last several months building my upper and lower body strength.” Alaina lifted an arm and flexed her muscles, then shrugged ruefully. “I’m fit, even if it doesn’t show.”

  “I admire your determination. But you need to eat, so I brought a late lunch for us to share.” Helene held up the tray she carried.

  “How thoughtful.”

  They ate on the porch, with Alaina mostly listening as Helene told stories of her family history. It was fascinating. One branch of the family had even traveled with Daniel Boone before eventually making their way to Montana.

  “It must be wonderful to know where you fit into history,” Alaina said wistfully. She knew little about her genealogy.

  “Part of our history isn’t admirable,” Helene admitted. “For example, a great-great-something uncle was strung up for stealing horses, and another was shot for desertion in the Revolutionary War. Whether they’re good or bad, we can’t pick our ancestors.”

  “True.” Alaina squelched an impulse to ask more about Gideon. He had the tall, dark and inscrutable thing down to an art form. Maybe he disliked her, maybe he regretted their arrangement or maybe he just had a perpetual migraine. “You mentioned visiting the Double Branch as a kid. You didn’t grow up around here?”

  “No, my mother fell in love with a rancher when my grandparents took her to a rodeo in Shelton County. Mom and Dad still live on the Carmichael ranch up there and my oldest son runs it for them. Eventually it will go to him.”

  “You come from a real ranching tradition.”

  “Yes, though my daughter is studying archeology. That’s why she’ll be in New Mexico. She’s going to be part of a new dig. My second husband was fascinated by Native American folktales and art and passed that on to Libby. Stewart was the county sheriff. Everybody in Shelton relied on him.”

  Alaina smiled. “One of the good guys.”

  “Stewart was a fine man. I just wish I hadn’t made him wait so long before accepting his proposal.”

  “Trust issues?”

  “Major trust issues. Mostly in myself since I’d had such bad judgment picking my first husband. I was terribly indecisive with Stewart. Sometimes I still marvel he was so patient.”

  Cookie, who’d been lying on his side and snoring, flipped over and let out a low huffing sound. The sound of horses riding their direction could be heard in the distance.

  Helene sat forward, concern on her face. “Alaina, you should know that Gideon has five ranch hands. One is older, close to my age, but the other four are young and single. They may hope to get acquainted.”

  “I’m not here for romance. And...” Alaina hesitated. Her family had been upset when she sa
id she didn’t want to get married again and tried to argue her out of it, but maybe Helene would understand. “I’ve had the love of my life. Now I’m focusing on my career.”

  Sympathy filled Helene’s eyes. “My first marriage was a disaster, so it was different for me. Deep down I was relieved when Luther left for parts unknown, though my sons took it badly. I think it was hardest on Gideon. Between his biological father deserting us and his ex-wife, I doubt he’ll get married again, either. Different reasons, obviously. I’ll have to count on my other children for grandkids.”

  “I’m glad your second marriage was good.”

  “Stewart was one in a million. He helped to raise my boys and we were blessed with a lovely daughter. Now, you don’t need to worry about the ranch hands, they’re gentlemen, but I’ll have my son warn them away if that would be easier.”

  Alaina didn’t plan to ask Gideon for a single thing. He’d just see it as evidence she couldn’t take care of herself.

  “I appreciate the concern, but I can handle them,” she assured Helene.

  “All right, if you’re certain. I’d better go and get Gideon’s dinner started. I’m so very glad you’re here.”

  “Me, too.”

  Two riders came over a rise of land as Helene stepped down from the porch. They were accompanied by several tri-colored Australian shepherds, who were energetically scampering around even after a long day. When the riders reached the cabin, Helene introduced them as brothers, Chad and Jeremy Singleton, before heading back to the main house.

  The men tipped their hats in unison.

  “Ma’am, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Jeremy drawled. “Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to make you feel welcome. Our bunkhouse is just a short piece down the road. You passed it driving in. Feel free to call on me day or night.”

  Not to be outdone, Chad pointed to the chopping block at the side of her cabin. “I’d be happy to take care of splitting any logs too big for the stove. I’ll come over after dinner and take care of it in nothin’ flat.”