Christmas on the Ranch--A Clean Romance

by Julianna Morris

  She wouldn’t always have a Gideon Carmichael to conduct tours and keep watch...which brought her to another persistent thought. Danger. He was a remarkable dog, but he didn’t belong to her and there wasn’t any question of being able to buy him. He was a member of Gideon’s family, after all.

  The bear moved to another section of the log and began rooting in it. Plainly he wasn’t going anywhere soon. Fattening for winter hibernation was his priority.

  Alaina looked over at Gideon. “We’d have to detour well around that grizzly to avoid disturbing him, so maybe we should just go back to the ranch. I get my backpack food online, and some recent orders are overdue. If we return earlier, rather than later, I can check on the status.”

  He agreed and they turned the horses.

  Truth be told, she needed time alone to reflect. She hadn’t told Gideon the entire story about her encounters in Bannister. The reckless driver had swerved so wildly the second time she’d gone off the road to avoid being hit. That was the most disturbing, but things had also gotten weird at the small grocery store. She didn’t know if the owner and his wife had deliberately turned hostile or if they were just wary about a newcomer. Regardless, it was uncomfortable.

  The counter clerk at the post office had been nice, though. And Nels Hewitt came out to say hello whenever he saw her, even when the hardware store was busy with customers.

  Still, it wasn’t just the tensions in Bannister that bothered Alaina. Gideon and the way he made her feel were more unsettling than everything else put together.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “DOES ALAINA THINK it was the same driver on both occasions?” Deke asked. When Gideon had called, saying they needed to talk, he’d expected it to be about Libby, not a traffic report.

  “She wasn’t sure. Apparently it was an old red truck each time, but she couldn’t read the license plate because it was covered with dirt.”

  “Did the incidents occur during daylight hours?”

  “I assume so. She was going into town to shop, so it must have been before 5:00 p.m. Nothing in Bannister is open later except the Made Right Pizza Parlor and Good Drinks Tavern.”

  Deke tapped his pencil on the desk, trying to recall who owned an old red truck in Bannister County. He could think of several. “You realize that if she’d wanted an official report, she would have done it herself.”

  An exasperated sound came over the telephone line. “Alaina is a nice person and willing to believe she overreacted, but I don’t think she did. Whether this is someone being aggressive or a drunk driver, it’s a problem for all of us. I live in this county and I don’t like it. You should be concerned, too, since your family drives in the area.”

  Deke’s back straightened. “Slow down, pal. I’m concerned about everyone who lives here. I happen to agree with you. I just want to be careful about treading on Alaina’s toes.”

  “You’re just worried she’ll tell Libby that we tread on her toes, and then Libby will be annoyed with you,” Gideon retorted.

  “I’m no fool. Your sister is both independent and strong-willed.”

  “You don’t need to tell me.”

  Deke choked down a laugh. “She just doesn’t like you getting in her way.”

  “How can I get in her way? I don’t even know where she is most of the time.” His buddy couldn’t hide the humor in his voice.

  Deke grinned. It was hard keeping up with Libby. It should bother him more than it did, given that whatever was brewing between them was still in the air.

  “I understand. Completely,” he said. “Now, about what happened to Alaina, we’re always on the lookout for drunk or aggressive drivers, but I’ll tell the other deputies to be particularly vigilant. I won’t bring her name into it. We can also run extra patrols around the Good Drinks Tavern.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  Deke leaned back in his chair. “I’ve heard the new owner is putting in a restaurant and plans to change the name to Good Eats Bar and Grill. That should help in more ways than one. Bannister needs more restaurants than just a pizza parlor and the deli at the grocery store.”

  “You’re forgetting the Sunrise Earth natural food store.”

  Deke laughed. “True. Have you ever tried their Earth Special Burger? It’s tofu on gluten-free bread, piled with alfalfa sprouts and drizzled with tahini sauce.”

  A startled noise sounded over the phone. “You’ve eaten there?”

  “My mom likes the place and that’s her favorite sandwich. Every now and then she gets the urge to be motherly and visits with lunch. The Earth Special Burger wouldn’t be my first choice, but if someone is nice enough to feed me, I won’t question what it is.”

  “To each their own. They’ve stayed in business for twenty years, so they must have more customers than your mother.”

  “That’s a fact. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Deke hung up the phone and frowned at the notes he’d made. They occasionally caught someone driving under the influence, but repeat offenders were rare.

  As for the possibility Alaina had overreacted? Gideon was right—it was unlikely. Deke didn’t know Alaina well, but she seemed levelheaded.

  Though concerned, Deke was also amused by his friend’s involvement with his tenant. Taking her around the ranch and backcountry had made sense, but they must be beyond the need for guided tours by now.

  Yet Deke’s humor faded as he wondered if Gideon was falling for the wildlife photographer. Alaina was beautiful and intelligent, but while he’d like to see his friend happily married, he was concerned about Gideon getting put through another emotional wringer.

  Like Libby, Alaina had a career that could take her all over the world.

  Deke took out his smartphone and looked at the picture he’d taken of Libby on Founders Day, right after the three-legged race. Though she’d declared a determination to win, she had spent more time teasing him than making a real effort to get across the finish line.

  He closed his eyes, remembering how they’d tripped and he’d kissed her. Or maybe she’d made the first move. He didn’t know. What he couldn’t get out of his head was the faint scent of her perfume, teasing his senses. Or the lingering flavor of vanilla on her lips. She made him laugh and feel good, even when he was uptight about work or whether he should be involved with her in the first place.

  He cared about Libby, more than he’d ever cared about a woman, but that didn’t make their problems go away.

  Deke shook himself and sent a notification to his fellow officers about reports of a drunk or aggressive driver in the vicinity of the Good Drinks Tavern. He’d also speak with the new owner of the bar and see if they had any suspicions. If a customer had a habit of revving their motor and spinning gravel as they left the parking lot, the same person might be just as aggressive on the road.

  Another deputy arrived to relieve him in the office, so he eagerly went out on patrol. None of them enjoyed desk duty and he’d spent long weeks riding a desk chair while recovering from his gunshot wound. On top of that, his father was making noises about him becoming a shift supervisor. It was a logical step toward him running for sheriff, but it meant more paperwork and less action.

  Deke rubbed his shoulder, more with the memory of pain than anything real. He hadn’t planned to tell Libby about getting shot, but it was better that she knew. Her reaction had been typical—concern, with a period of withdrawal. He didn’t blame her. He’d rather have her decide sooner rather than later whether she could handle being involved with someone in law enforcement. A lot of people couldn’t.

  They wouldn’t be seeing each other for a few days, which was just as well. Libby’s classes were starting soon and she needed to get settled into her college routine. She might even lose interest once she resumed her normal life.

  Summer romance had a habit of falling apart once time and distance offered perspective.


  * * *

  GIDEON KEPT THINKING about his call to Deke. Even though it needed to be done, Alaina wouldn’t appreciate him interfering. Had she acted that way with her husband or was it something new?

  That’s none of your business, the sensible half of his brain reminded him. The other half, the one that liked her too much, kept chewing on the question.

  He’d made the call in the horse barn to prevent his mother from overhearing. He didn’t want her to worry, especially since she was driving into Bannister more often. Of course, now he was going to worry whenever she or Libby went into town.

  “Hi, Gideon.” Alaina’s greeting made him jump, partly out of guilt. He would have to tell her that he’d contacted Deke.

  “Uh, hi. Do you need something?”

  She looked at him quizzically. “Just getting carrots for Griz. I’m going to sit by the paddock and work on my computer.”

  “Did you track down your missing supply shipments?”

  Alaina frowned. “Yes, but it’s strange. Apparently they were returned with the notation address unknown.”

  “Surely it wasn’t the post office that messed up.”

  “No.” She took several carrots out of the sack. “My supplier is using a start-up shipping company, but the drivers haven’t had trouble finding the Double Branch before now. Maybe it’s a glitch in their computer system. I found a store in Bozeman that carries the brands I like, so I’ll stock up there. I want a big supply on hand for the winter.”

  “That’s good. Er, I should tell you that I spoke to Deke about the problem you had near the tavern. He’ll alert the other deputies, but keep your name out of it. I had to tell him. After all, a drunk or aggressive driver affects everyone’s safety.”

  * * *

  ALAINA WANTED TO scold Gideon for his presumption, but he looked so guilty that she was more amused than annoyed. “I understand.”

  “Look,” he said, “I get monthly shipments of both dog and cat food, but I don’t want to risk running short in case a similar shipping issue crops up. I’ll feel better about it if I drive into Bozeman today to get a truckload as backup. Why don’t we go together?”

  “Aren’t you sick of my company after spending the last two days together?”

  “I wouldn’t have offered if that were true. You could work on your photos when we get back.”

  Alaina wavered. She enjoyed her time with Gideon a little too much. He was complicated, interesting, fun to debate with...and fun to tease. While he didn’t laugh often, when he did it was wholehearted.

  “How about it?” Gideon prompted.

  “All right. Are you leaving right away?”

  “I just want to see if Mom needs anything. She may decide to go with us.”

  Alaina nodded, wryly amused at herself. Thank goodness he couldn’t read minds; to him this was just a shopping trip, not a contrived social outing.

  “Then I’ll meet you at the truck.”

  She stopped to feed carrots to Grizzly and give him a minute of special attention. It was great to see him getting friendlier with the other horses in the paddock, so he wasn’t as lonely through the day. He didn’t even move aside when Nikko came over for a treat.

  “I have to go,” she told them finally.

  They whinnied as she rushed to the cabin for her purse, then went to wait by Gideon’s large pickup. He came out a few minutes later. Danger, Jax and Ollie were sitting on the porch, tails waving as they watched, probably hoping for an invitation to come along.

  “Sorry, guys, you’re staying here,” he told them, giving each a pat. He came down the steps, tucking a piece of paper into a pocket. “Mom is in the middle of baking, but she gave me a list,” he explained.

  Alaina accepted his assistance into the high truck seat without objection. She was more and more conflicted about Gideon. He was a decent man, walking a tightrope between the traditions of the past and the realities of the present, so it wouldn’t destroy her independence to compromise with him sometimes. Compromise was important in any relationship, even one between a tenant and landlord. He’d reminded her of that.

  Except a tenant and landlord usually didn’t kiss each other. Still, both occasions had been a fluke, a moment outside of time. Surely that sort of kiss didn’t count in the real world.

  And if she kept telling herself that, she might actually start to believe it. Thinking less about it would also help.

  “You mentioned the possibility of doing a book on ranches. How would that work?” Gideon asked as he started the engine.

  “Actually, I have a publisher who’s interested, but it doesn’t mean a book is feasible.”

  “Why not? People are fascinated by ranching. That’s why my ex moved to Montana from Chicago. She had the idea that a ranch community would be wildly romantic. Then she discovered it isn’t all roundups, barn dances and barbecues, and that Shelton doesn’t have a boutique and designer coffeehouse on every corner. It’s just as well she went back home when I moved down here. The Double Branch is no place for someone who isn’t tough enough to handle what nature deals out.”

  Alaina focused on the view ahead, not wanting to seem too curious about his ex-wife. “You’ve said she didn’t like your long working hours.”

  “Celeste was pretty unhappy when things didn’t turn out the way she expected. Marrying me could have been a last-ditch effort to prove she hadn’t made a mistake by moving to Montana.”

  “That’s insightful.”

  Gideon laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised. It’s amazing what you come up with when you stop being angry. To give credit where credit is due, I kind of learned that from you.”

  “Have we ever talked about being angry?”

  “It’s more of a general thing. Tell about the problem with your book. Not enough variety? That shouldn’t be an issue. We’re moving the herds down to lower pastures before long and getting ready for the October market. You’ll also be here for spring calving and branding. Lots more chances to take pictures.”

  “It’s more about needing releases in order to publish.”

  “The amendment to our agreement—”

  “Doesn’t cover individuals,” Alaina said quickly. “I’ll need a release signed by anybody in the photographs.”

  “I’m sure my ranch hands will be happy to cooperate.”

  Alaina swallowed uncomfortably. Janet had shown a client the photos of Gideon carrying the calf...a client who owned a non-fiction publishing house. She’d loved the pictures and wanted them to be the centerpiece of a book on western ranching. It was understandable. He was sexy, photogenic and the embodiment of pure masculinity. But whether he’d be willing to have his bare torso displayed in a book was another matter. He wasn’t an exhibitionist.

  “Your ranch hands have already signed releases for me, but I’d need one from you, too. I’ll show you the photographs and you can decide. Some people are self-conscious about seeing themselves in print.” While she expected him to refuse, there was always a chance.

  “I suppose.”

  They chatted pleasantly for the remainder of the drive. Once in Bozeman, she suggested he drop her off at the sport supply company to shop, while he went down the street to get what he needed for the dogs and barn cats.

  Alaina moved around the store, selecting a large supply of freeze-dried food, along with fuel for her camp stove and other items. The manager asked if he could help, and after hearing her story, explained that they remained fully stocked throughout the year due to the popularity of winter sports in the state.

  “I’m sorry you had a problem with your regular supplier,” he told her. “But you shouldn’t have any trouble getting what you need in Bozeman, even during the winter. We usually aren’t snowed in for extended periods.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  She was pushing her cart outside as Gid
eon arrived. He helped stack everything on the floor and back seat of the truck and then they went to a warehouse store for groceries. They were on their way to the checkout when Alaina stopped to look at Christmas decorations. She’d already bought solar light strings and other holiday decor off the internet, but the sparkle and appeal of the displays were impossible to resist.

  “Is there room in the truck for a Christmas tree and some other stuff?” she asked Gideon.

  “I brought a tarp and rope to tie everything down, so get whatever you want. But you don’t need a tree. I’ll cut a fresh one when we get close to the holiday. There’s always a few near the house that need clearing.”

  “I’d love that, but I still want one of these to put up on Thanksgiving. A fresh tree would dry out too quickly. A second on the cabin porch would be great, too.”

  “You want three trees?”

  Alaina grinned. “Just making up for lost time. Mason and I spent most of our holidays in the field on research projects. Christmas doesn’t require lights and ornaments, but I enjoy the festive trappings.”

  “Surely wolf biologists don’t have to be in the field every minute.”

  She shrugged. “It varies, but Mason was determined to study wolf populations all over the world. Even when he was on one project, he was writing grant proposals for the next.”

  “Is that what you wanted? You said you chose to be part of his research, but that doesn’t mean you enjoyed living that way.”

  Alaina hesitated, recalling her thoughts the day she and Gideon had talked about their plans for the future.

  “In the beginning I was thrilled to be part of those studies,” she said slowly. “But I admit it got old for me. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to rent the cabin, so I could come back from a hike and have a place that felt like home.”

  “And why you want so many Christmas decorations.”