Holiday Heat: The Men of Starlight Bend

by Ashley Jennifer

  She returned to the kitchen and found Jake at the island pouring orange juice from a pitcher while Nick flipped an omelet on the grill portion of the six-burner stove. The scent of it was heavenly, making her stomach grumble.

  Anna slid onto a high-backed stool at the end of the island and asked Jake, “How’d you sleep?”

  “Great,” he enthusiastically said. “Dad didn’t even have to come get me. I was wide awake when the sun came up.”

  “Definitely not a common occurrence,” Nick assured her.

  Anna smiled. “It’s all that fresh mountain air and the outdoor activities.”

  “You don’t even need an alarm clock here,” Jake added.

  “Most times, no.”

  Nick set out a plate piled high with loaded omelets, a bowl of breakfast potatoes with sautéed red and green peppers and onions, and a side of sausage and bacon.

  “I had all of that in my fridge?” she asked.

  “Some of it in the freezer. You are clearly stocked up for the winter.”

  “Habit.”

  He took the stool next to hers. The place settings and silverware were already arranged. Nick filled her coffee mug and then his. They all dug in. Anna considered that it should be a little disturbing how they fell into step with one another and that it wasn’t the least bit startling for her to be sitting down to yet another meal with Nick and his son. It felt natural. Comfortable, even, as Jake posed a dozen questions about jumping and how the horses were trained for competition.

  Evidently, he shared both hers and Nick’s sense of adventure and vast interest in everything under the sun, because one topic led into another, all related to living in Montana, in the mountains, on a ranch. A completely different lifestyle for Jake, and one he seemed wholly fascinated by.

  They chatted through breakfast and cleanup. Then Anna got a wild-hair and said, “You know, when it snows this much and we can’t get around in our trucks until the roads are cleared, Hunter and I make house calls on horseback or by snowmobile or ATV. If you don’t have any plans for the day, you can make the rounds with me.” She eyed Nick with the hope of some more time with him. And Jake. “Can’t imagine you’re flying anywhere with the foot or so of snow we accumulated overnight, and the fact that it’s still coming down.”

  “Dad, can we?” Jake eagerly asked. “That would be so cool! Snowmobiles!” His gaze shifted to Anna. “We can take the snowmobiles, right? I don’t know how to ride a horse yet.”

  Yet. Her stomach did an unexpected flip at how fervent he was about learning new things, especially horseback riding.

  “All depends on how your dad feels about it,” she causally said. She didn’t challenge Nick this time. Anna realized it was much too easy to excite Jake over all the things he’d never had exposure to in New York, but it could also be a dangerous game to play, getting the kid hooked on Montana and ranch living.

  Worse, Anna didn’t need to get hooked on the kid.

  Nick said, “It’s been over fifteen years since I’ve snowmobiled. And I’d like to see the neighbors.” He grinned at Anna. “And see you in action.”

  “Well, I don’t know for sure there’ll be any. I’ve got some routine meds to administer and a couple heifers to check in on, since they’re close to birthing their calves, and some regular exams. But the scenery can’t be beat, especially this time of year, and there are some very interesting characters in these parts.” She shot a look toward Jake and added, “I’m not just talking about the people. Rachel Stoddard has hens that can peck out a tune on children’s plastic pianos. Not saying it’s good for the ears, or anything, but it is incredibly amusing.”

  “I want to see!” Jake bounced on the balls of his sock-clad feet.

  “Does Paul Piper still have his collection of sleighs?” Nick asked.

  “He does. And he’s always more than happy to pull one out and hitch up the horses when the snow’s falling.”

  “A real honest-to-God sleigh ride?” Jake asked. “Not like the carriages in Central Park. But an actual sleigh with runners?”

  Anna nodded.

  “Oh, we definitely have to check that out, Dad.” Jake suddenly frowned. “Hey, Anna… You don’t have any Christmas decorations out.”

  “I, uh…um…” She glanced around. Cringed inwardly. “You know, Jake, I guess decorating slipped my mind.”

  For the past ten years.

  Jake said, “Well, if you have all the stuff, we could spruce the place up. We need twinkle lights. And I bet we could find a tree for you.”

  “Anna’s probably too busy for that,” Nick interjected, sliding a sideways glance toward her. Because he very perceptively assumed she hadn’t been in the holiday mood since she’d lost her son?

  Anna sighed. She wasn’t the bah-humbug type. But, admittedly, there hadn’t been much cause to put up a tree or go all out this time of year. She allowed Darla and the other techs to hang wreaths and tinsel in the med facility. But that was pretty much the extent of the Christmas cheer she partook of herself, aside from stopping into Travis’s bar on Christmas Eve to have some spiked nog with him and the regulars.

  Then he’d come over for an early dinner the next day before heading back to work. She’d catch up on paperwork after he was gone. Be back in the clinic the following morning, as though the holiday had never even happened.

  She had no qualms over everyone else feeling merry and bright… Anna liked Christmas, actually. Hadn’t even realized she’d been skirting it until now, to tell the truth.

  “So, are we going on Anna’s rounds with her?” Jake prompted, pulling her from her ruminations.

  “Sure,” Nick said. “Grab our bag from the living room and go get dressed. I’ll be up in a second.”

  “Awesome.” Jake did as instructed.

  Nick’s gaze remained on Anna. He asked, “You certain you’re okay with this?”

  “Yes. Absolutely. It’ll be fun. And I haven’t been out much lately. Seems I’ve forgotten how much I used to look forward to getting snowed in so that we could go sledding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. This’ll be a nice change of pace, getting out of the med building and stables for the day.”

  He closed the gap between them and placed a hand on her hip, coaxing her body to meld with his. “That’s not exactly what I’m talking about, sweetheart.”

  “Jake,” she murmured. “That’s what you’re talking about. You’re worried about my meltdown last night.”

  “I’m suddenly thrusting my own son on you.”

  “No,” she was quick to say. Holding Nick’s gaze, she told him, “I liked Jake from the moment I met him. Even before I knew who he was. That he was yours. He’s a great kid, Nick. I enjoy his company. And… I don’t know. He’s reminding me to have some fun. How can I have a problem with that? For all the reliving of the glory days we’ve been doing with our reminiscing, I’m becoming all too aware that I could use a few new adventures in my life.”

  His head dipped and he kissed her. Then murmured, “I’m more than happy to broaden your horizons between the sheets.” He winked.

  With a soft laugh, she told him, “You really should be better behaved, Dr. Hoffman.”

  “Now where’s the fun in that?”

  A little thrill cascaded down her spine. “Where, indeed?”

  Nick kissed her. Slowly, deeply, passionately. Anna’s arms wound around his neck and she pressed her body firmly to his, marveling over how perfectly they fit together. How perfect they were together, in general. Despite that whole star-crossed lovers thing.

  “Uh-hum.” Jake cleared his throat as he returned to the kitchen.

  Nick dragged his mouth away and glared down at his son, his arms still around Anna, who stifled another laugh.

  Nick said, “That was rather fast. Did you even brush your teeth?”

  “Yep. Combed my hair and even washed behind my ears.”

  “Bit of a smart Alec, isn’t he?” Anna mused.

  “No wonder the two of you hi
t it off so fast.”

  “I’m not trying to interrupt or anything,” Jake said as he perched himself on a stool again. “Take your time. I was just letting Dad know that the guest bathroom’s free for him.”

  Anna unraveled from Nick and told him, “We should be on our way soon. No telling how much more snow we’re going to end up with later on and we don’t want to get stranded.”

  “Good point.” He reluctantly stepped away. Playfully pinched his son on the arm, then sauntered off.

  Anna turned to Jake, her cheeks burning once again. “Sorry about that.”

  “Why? Dad told me you were his girlfriend when he lived here. And you guys practically did everything together—he had tons of stories to tell on our tour of town. They mostly included you.”

  “I kind of came out of the blue where his history is concerned, though. You didn’t know about me before you came to Starlight Bend.”

  “I didn’t know anything about Starlight Bend before we came here. I mean, Great-Gran Ruby mentioned this place a few times when we were in New York, but I can’t remember exactly what she said.”

  “Probably didn’t pay much attention, did you?”

  “Well…no. Not really.”

  Anna grinned. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

  “Thanks. So,” he ventured, “you and Dad never stopped liking each other. I think that’s cool.”

  “You do?”

  “Sure. I mean, he works all the time or is on the plane or at some fancy event. He doesn’t have girlfriends. Not serious ones, anyway. No one I’ve seen more than once or twice.”

  “That’s his business, Jake. Not mine.”

  “Oh, yeah?” His brows raised. “Seems like you’d want to know, the way you guys kiss and all.”

  She swallowed hard. “And all?”

  Jake gave her a coy look. “He stares at you a lot. And…I don’t know. He seems more relaxed since we came here. Happier, even. Maybe he’s thinking we should stay.”

  Anna’s heart skipped a beat. But she couldn’t let Jake’s sentiment get the best of her. She said, “When a person’s been away from a place they grew up in, they can be nostalgic about it. But, Jake, your home and your dad’s business are in New York and—”

  “Not totally.”

  She eyed him curiously. “What do you mean?”

  “I actually did pay attention yesterday when he came back from lunch with Great-Gran’s doctor,” Jake energetically said. “Dad told her there are a lot of vets in the area—not vets like you, but you know, people who served our country.”

  She nodded.

  “So, he said a lot of them have trouble adjusting to life after combat and might even suffer traumatic brain injuries. I know about TBI because my dad’s a neurosurgeon. Anyway, he said something about how the rural communities could use more doctors to help these vets and they need housing, too. A wounded something village. I forgot what all he said about that.”

  “A wounded warrior village?”

  “Yes! That’s it. Dad told Great-Gran he’d donate proceeds if anyone ever picked up the project.”

  “And what are you thinking about this, Jake?”

  Did Anna really want to know?

  He said, “Well, couldn’t my dad be the one responsible for building this wounded warrior village? He has the money. Plus, he can treat the vets. Perform their surgeries and stuff.”

  Anna’s lips pursed for a moment. Dread slithered through her as she considered her words carefully, then told Jake, “Your father’s focus has always been a bit more…um…well—”

  “Prestigious. I know the word. You want to say that his focus isn’t on the military. But who knows, Anna? That could change. He seemed really interested in what this guy had to say. Dad could totally take this on, and then we could move here and—”

  “Oh, Jake…” She started to panic. This was not a conversation she should be having with Nick’s son. “You are way ahead of yourself, my friend. I don’t see your dad pursuing anything like that. It’s very complex and probably rife with red tape and legalities. I’m afraid you’re getting your hopes up where there are none.”

  “Anna, he used to rescue animals with you. He just wants to help. He just wants to save lives. I know it, because he was really upset that he couldn’t save my mom’s life.”

  Her stomach lurched. “I know, Jake. And I’m so sorry. But that was a completely different—”

  “Anna,” Jake said in his emphatic tone, “this could be really good for everyone. The vets, my dad, Great-Gran, me… Maybe even you. So can’t you convince him this is a great idea?”

  Jake stared up at her with that pleading in his eyes that was almost impossible to resist. But Anna didn’t want to get her hopes up any more than his. “Jake, you’re going to have to let this one go. Bit of a stretch, kid. A serious stretch.”

  She rounded the island and collected her cell phone and some necessities and then retrieved her fully stocked medical bag and went into the foyer. She bundled up as Nick and Jake joined her. They headed out to the side yard where a few snowmobiles were parked, though Nick and Jake doubled up, since Jake had never ridden before.

  Anna let the whole wounded warrior project flit from her brain as they rode through the drifts, wound through the trees and crested rolling hills. She knew all the trails that led to her neighbors and easily navigated them. Nick was well aware, too, and kept pace with her.

  They stopped to see the hens first. Then the heifers. Took a twenty-minute sleigh ride. Treated a horse with initial signs of arthritis. On their fifth drive-by, John Morley flagged them down as he alighted from his barn.

  Anna pulled up alongside him and cut the engine. “Something wrong?”

  “One of Melissa’s goats got tangled up in some loose barbed wire buried under the snow. She’s kicking like crazy and making it worse. I called over to your clinic just a few minutes ago and Hunt said you were on rounds, so I’ve been waiting for you. Hey, Nick. Great to see you.”

  “You as well.” They shook.

  Anna said to Jake, “It’d probably be best if you went up to the house.”

  “He can handle it,” Nick assured her. “Tough as nails, remember?”

  She glanced back at Jake. He nodded. “I can help, maybe. Small hands, you know?”

  “Give him a shot, angel.”

  Anna couldn’t waste another second debating. She headed straight to the barn, Nick and Jake following her in. The terrified goat was bleating, eyes wide, as two of John’s ranch hands tried to hold her steady so she didn’t injure herself further. Anna opened her bag, knelt before the distressed animal lying on her side and administered a sedative. But she needed to unravel the goat quickly, so she glanced at Nick over her shoulder and asked, “You recall how to do this?”

  “Of course.”

  He was beside her in the next instant. She whipped out a pair of wire cutters and started in on the thin metal strips. With his gloved hands, Nick gently peeled away piece after piece.

  He said to his son, “Find the antibiotic in Anna’s bag and the sterilized swaths. We want to make sure an infection doesn’t set in. Dab the goat’s legs slowly and carefully so that she doesn’t thrash more and you don’t get hurt.”

  “Got it.”

  The ranch hands kept the doe from kicking and biting, though they couldn’t do much about the screeching.

  Jake had been right—he did prove an asset with his smaller limbs because he could more easily maneuver between Anna and Nick to get the antibiotic on the wounds.

  It took some doing, but they freed the doe and Anna deftly wrapped her legs in bandages, since the cuts weren’t quite deep enough to require stitches. The goat was already in a stall, on a level pile of hay that was covered with a blanket. So there was no need to move her at the moment.

  They all cleaned up, then Anna told John, “Have someone keep an eye on her so she’s not gnawing at the bandages, though she’s succumbing to the sedative, so she’ll be still for a few hours.
I’ll leave more, plus the antibiotic and dressings. Change them routinely. You know the drill.”

  “Yeah.” He looked hugely relieved. “My wife will be so grateful. Thankfully, she’s over at the Bransons making Christmas Eve tamales, so she didn’t have to see this. Or hear it.”

  Anna peered at Jake. “You okay?”

  He looked a little green around the gills. Was standing close to Nick, who draped an arm around his son’s shoulders.

  “She was really freaked out,” Jake said.

  “Yes, she was. But you did an excellent job,” Anna told him.

  “Thank you. Dad taught me CPR and basic first aid. I can make a tourniquet if you have a compound fracture.”

  Anna bit back a smile. “Well, let’s hope I don’t.”

  “I just meant—”

  “I know. I was teasing.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  “Actually,” Anna said, “you have a very steady hand. I’m impressed.”

  “Thanks for letting me help.”

  “We’re lucky you were here,” she said.

  Jake stared up at Nick. “Not too bad, huh?”

  “Just as good as the snowboarding.”

  “I’d do pretty well in Montana, wouldn’t I, Dad?”

  Anna gaped. Her eyes widened.

  Nick didn’t take the kid’s bait, though. Simply said, “You do well everywhere, Jake. You listen and follow instructions. Get a little lippy from time to time, but overall, you’re okay to have around.”

  “Ha, ha.” With his elbow, Jake gently nudged Nick in the ribs.

  “Ow!” Nick doubled over in mock-pain.

  Anna laughed. But deep in her heart, there was a distinct ache. She chose to ignore it—and Jake’s misguided optimism that his father might consider staying in Starlight Bend to build a wounded warrior village.

  Never gonna happen.

  They said their goodbyes to John and his men and made two more stops before the fat flakes and fog ribboning through the forest turned into a near whiteout, creating low visibility.

  As soon as they arrived back at Anna’s house, Jake was on his phone to one of his friends, regaling the tales of the day.

  Nick said, “He’s been doing that regularly since we got here. You’d think he’s never been out of New York.”