“That was amazing, but I have to go! I have cookies in the oven.”
She ran back to the house, the dog in front of her. When she reached the front door, and opened it, black smoke came billowing out and the smoke alarm was blaring. The dog sat at the front door and barked again.
“Thank you for coming to get me,” she said as she ran inside and grabbed potholders then opened the oven and pulled out a cookie sheet full of charcoal cookies, burned to an absolute crisp. But, aside from some smelly smoke, at least she hadn’t burned the house down. She opened all the windows on the first floor to let the smoke out and after a few minutes the smoke alarm stopped chirping.
But it wasn’t soon enough as she heard the sound of sirens and a moment later saw a fire truck coming down the drive. She stepped out onto the porch and the white dog was still there. She’d never seen it before and leaned down to see what the pretty red collar said. The only inscription was the dog’s name, Prancer.
“Well, that suits you. Thanks again, Prancer. I couldn’t hear the smoke alarms from the stable and lost all track of time.”
Cameron saw Ethan and Jake walking toward the house as two firemen got out of the truck. She walked down to meet everyone.
“Everything all right here?” One of the firemen asked.
“It’s my fault. I was baking cookies and left them in too long and set off the alarms.”
“She had good reason though, we just had a foal born, and I called Cameron to come watch,” Ethan said.
“Well, good thing for smoke alarms then,” the other fireman said with a laugh.
“Actually, I couldn’t hear the alarms from the stables. It was a dog that got my attention. That pretty white dog on the porch.”
“I don’t see anything on the porch,” the first fireman said.
Cameron glanced back toward the house and the dog was gone.
“I’ve never seen it before today. Must be a new neighbor’s dog.”
“Well, you were lucky. It could have turned into an actual kitchen fire if you hadn’t caught it in time.”
“We’ll take a quick look inside, but it seems like you have things under control.” The two fireman went into the kitchen and were back outside a few minutes later.
“You’re all set. We’ll be on our way.”
“Thank you for coming. Merry Christmas!” Cameron said as they climbed back into their truck.
“I’m going to be on my way too,” Jake said.
“Thanks again, Jake. We’ll see you and Jess at trivia tonight?”
“Yes, we’re looking forward to it.”
After Jake left, Ethan and Cameron went back inside.
“You have to try a cookie,” she said as she went back to the island and got ready to scoop another batch of cookies onto the cookie sheet.
Ethan grinned. “I need to wash my hands first.” He soaped up at the kitchen sink and once he was toweled off, he picked up one of the cookies and took a bite.
“These are great! Even if you almost burned the house down to make them,” he teased her.
“I know! Luckily Prancer came to get me.”
“Prancer?”
“That’s the name of the fluffy white dog. I wonder who she belongs to? I’ve never seen a dog around here.”
“It’s a mystery,” Ethan agreed as he reached for another cookie.
Cameron slid the tray of cookies in the oven and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Want one?”
“Sure. I can take a coffee break before I head back out to the stables.”
Cameron poured a cup for Ethan as well and brought them both to the other side of the island. They settled into the comfy chairs and sipped their coffee while the cookies baked.
“Lady’s doing fine now?” she asked.
“She is. She’s exhausted and resting with her new baby.”
“That really was amazing to watch. I see babies born all the time at the hospital and it’s always something special. The miracle of birth.”
“It’s a special time of year too. I can’t believe Christmas is less than a week away. Our first Christmas together.” He met her eyes, and she felt all warm and mushy inside. Ethan always had that effect on her now. She smiled thinking of how far they’d come. When they were children, she didn’t see Ethan that way at all. But he’d grown on her as she got to know the special caring person that he was. Now, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
“It is special. And this year is the most special because I get to spend it with you.”
“You’re stuck with me for the rest of your life now.” Ethan grinned.
“I like being stuck with you. And I’m never letting you go.” She leaned over and kissed him.
Ethan put his hand on hers. “I love you so much, Cameron.”
“I love you too, Ethan. Always and forever.”
He leaned over and kissed her this time and they both jumped when the kitchen timer went off.
“Time to take out the cookies,” Cameron laughed and went to pull them out of the oven as Mrs. Crosby came through the front door.
“You’re back early,” Cameron said as she set the cookies on a rack to cool.
“I forgot my wallet, if you can believe it. I have a pile of gifts at the shop, all wrapped and ready to be paid for and there it is, my wallet on the side table by the door. I don’t know what I was thinking.” She looked around the room and took a sniff.
“Smells wonderful. Looks like everything is going smoothly around here?”
Ethan and Cameron exchanged glances and Cameron tried not to laugh.
“Couldn’t be better!” They both said at the same time.
Epilogue
It was softly snowing as Wade Weston walked over to the spa to meet his wife Maddie. As general manager of River’s End Ranch, Wade’s days were always busy, but he tried his best to manage his time so that he could finish up early on Thursday evenings to take his wife and daughter Vivian out to dinner at the restaurant. Vivian loved the pizza there and on Thursday nights they ran a buy one get one free special. And it was fun for the adults too because all their friends liked to go and play trivia, which Vivian also thought was great fun.
Maddie was waiting for him when he reached the spa and they walked together to the kid’s corral, the daycare center at the ranch, to pick up Vivian. She spent her afternoons there after school while her parents were working and loved playing with her friends.
Vivian came bouncing out the door when she saw them, but she ran right past them and stopped in front of a beautiful, white dog.
“Mom, Dad, this is the kind of dog that I want! And her name is Prancer, look.”
“She’s beautiful,” Maddie said. She reached out and patted the dog’s head and she seemed to smile up at her.
“That’s a Samoyed I think. Not a common dog around here. She is a beauty.”
Prancer rubbed her head against Wade’s hand and then after a moment she trotted off.
“She must live nearby,” Wade said as they walked off toward the restaurant.
When they stepped inside, Jaclyn and Simon were in their usual seats at the big round table they liked to sit at. Cameron and Ethan were already there too, along with Jess and Jake, Rachel and Adiel, Melanie and Brian and Anna and Ben. They joined them and a few minutes later, Tammy and Clark arrived. It was a bigger group than usual and everyone was in a festive mood.
Once everyone ordered their drinks and pizzas, Jaclyn asked how everyone’s week was. Wade listened with interest as each couple talked about a mysterious visit from a beautiful white dog and how the dog affected them.
“I saw that dog! On the way in here. Prancer is special. I wonder who she belongs to? I told Daddy I want a dog like her.”
“Well, maybe you can come visit her whenever you like,” Jaclyn said, with a twinkle in her eye.
“You know who she belongs to?”
Simon chuckled and put his hand on Jaclyn’s. “She certainly does.”
&n
bsp; “We adopted Prancer a week ago from a shelter in Lewiston. Her owner passed away, and we knew instantly when we met her that she was meant to be ours. She’s very special.” She looked around the table.
“And the fairies told me that she’s been getting to know everyone. Thank you all for making her feel welcome.”
Wade chuckled. “Well of course she’s your dog, Jaclyn. That’s as it should be.” He raised his glass of beer and looked around the table.
“Merry Christmas all, and cheers to Prancer!”
* * *
I hope you all have wonderful holidays! Thank you so much for reading my books.
Coming next, in January, will be the first in a new series of my own. The first book, The Nantucket Inn, features Lisa Hodges, a fifty-something widow and her four adult children, twins Kate and Kristen, son Chase, and the baby of the family, Abby. To receive an email alert when this book goes live, click here, to join my email list.
Thank you!
Pam
Also by Pamela M. Kelley
Have you started our new Quinn Valley Ranch series? My first book in the series is Ryder Revisited. My next book in the series will be Calling Charlie, in April.
Nashville Dreams
The Wedding Photo
Quinn Valley Ranch
Ryder Revisited
River’s End Ranch Series
Veterinarian’s Vacation
Charming Chef
Cute Cowboy
Merry Manager
Bernie’s Birthday
Missing Melissa
Billionaire’s Baby
Teasing Tammy
Romancing Rachel
Make-Believe Marriage
Six Months in Montana
Mistletoe in Montana
Mischief in Montana
Match-Making in Montana
Winter in Ireland
Trust (Waverly Beach Mystery Series #1)
Motive (Waverly Beach Mystery Series #2)
About the Author
Pamela M. Kelley lives in the historic seaside town of Plymouth, MA near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been a book worm and still reads often and widely, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. She writes contemporary romance and suspense and you'll probably see food featured and possibly a recipe or two. She is owned by a cute little rescue kitty, Bella.
Keep in touch!
www.pamelakelley.com
[email protected]
Christmas Catch-Up VII (River's End Ranch) Page 3
