Was it really that weird to spend Christmas with a woman you barely knew?
Mallory got out of the car.
“Hello,” she said, reminding herself that it cost her nothing to put a smile on her face and act pleasantly to the people around her.
Which is what she’d done for the past two weeks since John announced he was selling the company for more money than he’d ever dreamed. Everyone would be out of jobs effective immediately, and oh, by the way, had they met Courtney, the daughter of the new CEO, and John’s fiancée?
Some women might have gone into hysterics or confronted him. But not Mallory. She pasted a pleasant look on her face, where it had remained — through her meeting with HR, when they’d explained her very generous severance package, with a bonus if she cooperated and left without a fuss. The pleasant expression remained fully in place when she tried John on his cell and found it disconnected. She’d even maintained the calm when John’s secretary very firmly told her that he was unable to speak directly to former employees.
Which was why now, when this older woman that Mallory had never met wrapped her arms around Mallory, Mallory couldn’t understand the overwhelming urge to cry.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” Aunt Ernestine said, giving her a tight squeeze before holding her at arm’s length to stare at her.
“You are the very picture of your mother, do you know that?”
Mallory honestly couldn’t remember what her mother looked like, even though it had only been six years since she’d died.
But Mallory wasn’t prepared to deal with the emotion of thinking about her mother. Not when she was already feeling way more than she typically allowed herself.
So she smiled and said, “Thank you.”
“How was your drive?” Aunt Ernestine asked, looking slightly uncomfortable. Apparently, Mallory hadn’t given her the answer she wanted about her mother. But Mallory wasn’t going to say any more on the subject than she had to.
Before she could open her mouth to answer, a man came out of the house. No, not a man. At least not one like any she had ever seen. Tall and well built, he stood like a mountain between her and the house. Which was funny, since the whole place was surrounded by mountains. But mountains didn’t wear cowboy hats, so clearly her brain was addled from the stress of the past few weeks, as well as the long drive to this ranch. It had only been five hours from her home in Denver to this tiny spot in rural Colorado that Mallory barely knew existed, but it seemed like it had taken forever.
Yes, that was it. She knew she was going to the ranch, saw a cowboy, and he was what she pictured a cowboy to be. No man could possibly be this good-looking.
Mallory rubbed her eyes.
Nope, he was still hot.
“Oh dear.” Aunt Ernestine came and put her arm around Mallory. “You must be exhausted with all that driving. Come inside where you can take a load off.”
Mallory nodded slowly. “This is where you live?”
She looked around, wondering why being here made her feel so strange. Almost like she was Alice falling through the looking glass, only everything seemed normal – except the old feelings bubbling up inside her.
The cowboy laughed. “I thought you said she used to come here all the time, Ernie.”
Ernie. It was familiar. More familiar than Ernestine.
Wait.
Why was she now thinking about Sesame Street?
Bert and Ernie?
She looked at the cowboy. “Are you Bert?”
His face darkened, and Mallory knew she’d said the wrong thing.
“He died five years past,” Ernestine said. “You sent a lovely flower arrangement.”
She had? Probably her secretary. Jocelyn was amazing like that. Of all the people she’d miss most with the layoffs, it would be Jocelyn. Jocelyn had been the only person who knew about Mallory’s relationship with John. When she heard the news about John’s engagement, Jocelyn had even asked Mallory if she was going to be okay. Of course, in true Mallory fashion, she simply smiled and said yes. Maybe that had been the wrong thing too.
In some ways, Mallory supposed that her secretary had been the closest thing she had to a friend. But calling her former secretary and asking if they were friends seemed even more pathetic than spending Christmas with a relative you barely knew. Especially since she wasn’t paying Jocelyn to be nice to her anymore. Wasn’t that what you did when you had a secretary? Or, Mallory should say, when one was a secretary? You were nice to the person you worked for, and the person you worked for was nice to you.
Which was why, when Aunt Ernestine and the strange cowboy stared at her, Mallory didn’t have the capacity to say anything other than, “I’m sorry.”
She looked at the ground, wishing a tornado would sweep her up and take her to Oz. At least that would make more sense in all this. “I must have forgotten. All the stress these past few weeks.”
Ernestine made a sympathetic noise. “Of course. It was all over the news, what happened with your company. I’ll admit, I’ve selfishly been glad you’ve finally not been so busy with work that you could come, but I suppose I hadn’t thought about what you must be going through. Forgive me for being so insensitive.”
Forgive her? Mallory was the one who clearly was in the wrong, not remembering all these things she should remember.
“I assure you, I took no offense,” Mallory said, remembering to paste the old familiar smile back on her face. “I hope you can forgive me for all of my oversights.”
The cowboy snorted. “And there are many.”
“Nolan!” Ernestine turned and gave him a withering glare.
At least Mallory figured it was withering from the way he took a step back.
“What? I’m sorry, but it’s suspicious that after all these years, she’s finally decided to grace us with her presence. Now that she’s out of a job, she’s probably looking for a handout. Well, guess what? Joke’s on you. Ernie is just the housekeeper here. This is all Grant money you see here. They were just nice enough to let Ernie have you come here, rather than have to try to find her cabin on your own.”
“Nolan, that’s enough.”
At the beginning of his tirade, Mallory had remained silent, still letting his anger flow over her. Though she was pretty sure she betrayed nothing on her exterior, inside she felt… Something. What, she didn’t know, but it certainly was nothing compared to the expressions on Nolan’s and Ernestine’s faces. Still, she hadn’t allowed herself to feel anything for a long time. Maybe she should feel angry, but mostly she felt relief.
Mallory squared her shoulders and took a step forward. “It’s all right, Aunt Ernestine. I have been very distant for the past few years, and I’m sure I have much to apologize for. I’ll do my best to make it right.”
She turned to Nolan. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I received a very nice severance package. And with the stock I’ve accumulated over the years, I ended up with an even better payout. I wouldn’t call myself rich by any means, but I do have enough that I don’t need to prey on elderly women.”
Ernestine laughed. “Yes, you are your mother’s daughter. Your memories of me might be dim after all these years, but you’ve been in my prayers every single day. You’ll have to forgive Nolan. He’s been hearing about my baby sister’s girl for so long that it’s probably inconceivable to him that you wouldn’t have a similar affection.”
This woman prayed for her? Every day?
Tears filled Mallory’s eyes. “No one’s ever prayed for me before. That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
She wanted to cry. Mallory McPherson never cried. She hadn’t even cried when her parents died.
But here she was, holding back tears as she felt herself being hugged by this older woman.
“Did you pray for my parents?” Mallory blurted, not sure where that question had come from.
“Not as I should have,” Ernestine answered. Keeping her arms around Mallory, she
turned her toward the house. “Let’s get you inside, and I’ll make some tea.”
No one would have ever described Mallory as meek, but that’s exactly how she felt as she passed Nolan, the hot cowboy, and went inside. Whatever this place was, it was turning Mallory into someone she didn’t recognize. She should have turned around when she had the chance.
But just as quickly as that thought hit her, a tiny voice inside her told her that this was the first hug she’d had in many years, and perhaps all of the strangeness would make the risk she’d taken in coming here worth it.
*
Who was Mallory McPherson? Nolan Masters still hadn't figured it out, even after he'd watched her have tea with Ernie. If she'd been emotional going into the house, by the time she was seated at the kitchen table, the mask she'd been wearing when she arrived had been put firmly back in place.
He heard the sound of a car pulling up. Donna Grant must be back from her shopping trip. Ernie started to get up to help her. But Nolan shook his head at her. "You stay and enjoy your visit with Mallory. I'll help Donna bring her things in."
Anything to get out of the weird oppressive feeling he got from the woman. What a letdown.
for the past fifteen years since he came to live with Bert and Ernie when he was a teen, Nolan had heard nothing but how great their niece was. Their place was so plastered with pictures of the girl; you’d think Ernie saw her all the time, except this was the first time Nolan had met her. In the beginning, Ernie had said that Carol, Mallory's mother, wasn't able to bring her daughter out. Then Mallory's parents died, and still, Mallory never came to visit. She hadn’t even come for Bert's funeral. Just sent a bunch of flowers that didn't do anyone any good, especially since the notice said no flowers.
If Nolan didn't think Ernie was a woman of highest integrity, he'd have thought she'd made Mallory up.
His version of that made up Mallory was sure better than this one. At least if she was a figment of his imagination, she could be in the Peace Corps or something noble instead of a spoiled brat who didn't care that she was the only living relative of a woman getting too old to work. Ernie was too old to do a lot of things but especially too old to deal with a broken heart.
Which was why he needed to know what Mallory's game was. He didn't care if she was going to stick around to take care of Ernie as Ernie continued to age. Nolan might not be Ernie's biological son, but she'd been the closest thing to a mother he'd ever had. Since his job as ranch foreman came with room and board, he saved most of the salary. It would be enough to take care of her. But he wouldn't mind a little help with giving her some love and attention. It would be nice for Ernie to have her niece spend more time with her. As long as Mallory was the dear girl Ernie thought.
When he got to the car, Donna already had the back of her SUV open.
"I thought I'd give you a hand so Ernie could spend more time with Mallory."
"Well, aren't you sweet," Donna said, handing him a box. "I want to get all the stuff in before Franklin sees. All necessities with the holidays coming up, but you know how he goes on."
Donna grabbed another box, and Nolan lifted his a bit higher to hide his grin. It was a common but good-natured argument between the Grants, especially when it came to entertaining. Donna always bought enough food to feed a small country ten times over, so the criticism wasn't entirely unwarranted, but she had a way of making everyone feel at home. Especially during the holidays, when she made sure everyone got their favorite dish. Nolan couldn't help peering into the box.
"Do I spy chocolate chips?"
A grin filled Donna’s face. "You might, but I can't for say for sure what I'm using them for."
Her eyes twinkled, and Nolan knew that she'd be making his favorite chocolate chip cookies. While Ernie took care of most the cooking and cleaning for the Grants, Donna was an excellent cook who liked to prepare her favorite dishes from time to time.
Between Donna and Ernie, Nolan knew he was one spoiled man. He was grateful for it, but it also didn't mean he couldn't give back as good as he got.
"Well, I hope you make up your mind soon because I haven't made up my mind yet what size tree I'm chopping down this year."
He winked at her, then adjusted the box in his arms as he shoved open the door.
Donna followed, chuckling. "Well I guess we're going to have to do some negotiating then. I've decided that this year, I'm only making my chocolate chip cookies for the man who marries one of my daughters."
It was common knowledge that Donna despaired of the three Grant girls ever having a wedding, since none of them gave any indication of dating anyone, letting alone getting married. The dating pool here was rather thin. But as thin as it was, he wouldn't be jumping in.
"You know I can't marry a girl who's like my sister. You'd never get those grandchildren you want so badly."
He turned and grinned at Donna, who gave a fake pout. "Can't you do one of those test tube things?"
He didn't bother hiding his disgust. Donna would be expecting it.
"Surely you want better for your girls. I know I want it for all of us."
Donna sighed. "I know. I just really hope to be a grandma while I'm still young enough to enjoy it."
Then she turned and gave him the annoyed look she always did when she had matchmaking on her mind. "What about Mallory? Does Ernie’s niece have a chance at your heart?"
Nolan groaned. He should've known he was walking right into that one.
“There is about as much of a chance of that happening as there is of me willingly eating that fruitcake you and Ernie have been working on.”
He couldn’t help grinning at Donna’s horrified look. “Our fruitcake has won several awards I’ll have you know.”
“Award-winning or not, that stuff is nasty.”
Donna gave him a disappointed look. “Is she really that bad?”
“Worse.” Nolan sighed. “She’s pretty enough, I guess. If you’re into all that war paint and fancy clothes you can’t get dirty. But that fruitcake of yours has more personality than Ernie’s niece.”
As they walked into the laundry room, Donna put her finger to her lips. “They’ll hear you.”
Nolan nodded. “I’ll be good, I promise. Ernie is happy, and that’s all that matters. Of course, if that changes, the gloves come off.”
“And that’s the Nolan we all know and love. I would expect nothing less. If it comes to that, we’ll be right beside you. She might not be blood, but Ernie is family. And no one messes with family.”
Her response warmed Nolan’s heart. Some folks thought he was crazy, staying in Spruce Point when there were so few options for people to get ahead. Others didn’t want to work for the Grants because they thought the Grants too high and mighty. But none of them understood the way they cared for Ernie. As far as Nolan was concerned, that made them the best people in the world, living in the best place in the world.
To make Ernie happy, he’d do what he could to be nice. But he meant what he’d said about not letting Mallory hurt her. For now, as much as the silly girl irritated him, he’d stay as close as he could to Mallory to figure out what her game was.
Chapter Two
Mallory’s ears burned as she overheard Nolan talking to Donna in the other room. She tried concentrating on Ernie’s words, but it was hard after hearing what Nolan had said about her. What she really that bad? He didn’t even know her, and yet here he was, judging her. Aunt Ernestine, no, Ernie, as Mallory had come to know her, seemed like a sweet woman, who was understanding and kind. After two cups of tea and three sugar cookies, she was grateful she’d accepted the older woman’s invitation. No one had ever made her feel so welcome before. At least not since her mother had died.
Once again, Mallory felt the old emotions bubbling up inside her. Maybe this was why she’d avoided all contact with Ernie until now. She hadn’t had the capacity to deal with the feelings bound to come up. Ernie was her mother’s sister after all, and the longer Mallory was here,
the more she could see the resemblance.
Maybe she’d made a mistake in coming.
Were some cookies and tea all it took for her to lose control of everything she’d fought so hard to keep under wraps?
Nolan entered the room, and Mallory forced her well-learned smile back upon her face. The way Ernie lit up at seeing him, it wasn’t fair for Mallory to show anything but the most pleasant of emotions regarding Nolan.
Another woman followed, and Ernie immediately stood. “Donna! Come say hello.”
So this was Donna Grant. Though Donna was old enough to be Mallory’s mother, she appeared much younger than Ernie. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, she hardly seemed like she could be married to one of the wealthiest ranchers in Colorado.
“It’s a pleasure,” Donna said, coming forward and holding out her hand. “Ernie is like family to us, and you must make yourself at home.”
She shook the older woman’s hand and smiled. Nolan might have told Donna about how horrible he thought Mallory was, but she had been in enough hostile board meetings to know how to manage people’s perceptions. It was just too bad she and Nolan had gotten off on the wrong foot.
“Thank you so much for having me. I find it wonderful to know how many loving, supportive people my aunt has in her life. I’m grateful you’ve included me in your welcome.”
It was tempting to turn and stick her tongue out at Nolan, but that would only betray more of the emotion Mallory was so desperate to hide.
“You are welcome anytime,” Donna said. Then she turned to Ernie. “Nolan has been blackmailing me into making him chocolate chip cookies. If we’re going to have a decent tree this year, I’m going to have to do some baking. But I know you’ve got quite a bit planned already, so let me know when I can have a turn in the kitchen.”
Ernie chuckled, then turned to Mallory. “I know I invited you for the holiday, but I hope you understand that I’ve got my job to do. Still, I want to spend as much time together as we can. I got most of what I needed done already, but there is still more baking and preparations to be made. You don’t mind, do you?”
Cowboys Under The Mistletoe: Five Christmas Christian Romance Novellas Page 7
