Merry Christmas, Cowboy

by Janet Dailey

  “I can haul just about anything in it.” He was proud of his new wheels; she could hear it in his voice.

  “Including me.” She laughed, her annoyance with him gone. “I love to sit up high.”

  “Go for it.” Zach clicked the unlock button on the key-ring remote. He maneuvered around her to open the door.

  Paula stepped onto the chrome running board and hiked up her shimmering dress to get in, demurely swinging her long legs into the footwell.

  A few passersby stared. Zach was a little more discreet about it. His appreciative gaze ran over her from head to toe before he closed the door.

  In the several seconds it took him to walk around the truck and get in, Paula investigated the dashboard and radio and electronic gizmos.

  “What do you think?” Zach swung up into the driver’s seat.

  “I love it. Has everything.”

  He touched a couple of buttons once the engine was running, and soft music filled the cab. “That’s the idea. You can change the station if you want.”

  Paula shook her head and buckled herself in. Another great thing about the dress: The soft velvet didn’t wrinkle. She set her clutch on the padded armrest and smoothed the seat belt over her middle, remembering the sensation of his hands holding her there.

  It was going to be an interesting evening.

  “Where to again? Same hotel?” Zach asked as he drove away.

  “No.” Paula got her invitation out of her clutch and studied it. “The Brevet.”

  “Okay. I know where that is.”

  It didn’t take long to get there. The valet waiting at the hotel’s main entrance stepped forward as the pickup rolled under the protective canopy.

  Zach got out and handed him the keys, then went around to Paula’s door to open it for her. She took his hand and stepped down gracefully.

  “People are staring again,” he murmured. “You look like a movie star.”

  They were. Paula avoided the curious looks, feeling a little awkward. It was one thing to play the temptress behind closed doors for Zach and quite another to attract so much attention in public.

  Zach took her arm again, and she drew close to him as they walked through the lobby toward the ballroom.

  A white glow emanated from the open doors. The décor dazzled her as they went inside. Waterfalls of light poured down the walls in an enchanting illusion of motion. Unusual ice sculptures shone in the changing light.

  Every table was set with white pillar candles placed in real snow. There had to be ice underneath to keep it from melting, but Paula couldn’t see it. Brocade tablecloths and napkins in a more creamy white gave warmth to the room. Fairy lights were everywhere.

  “Your names?” The question startled her.

  A man in evening wear had asked it. He seemed to be in charge of welcoming the arriving guests and directing them to their tables.

  “Zachary Bennett and Paula Lewis.”

  She was fine with letting Zach do the talking. Paula was still drinking it all in. The catering staff had begun to serve champagne, and trays of hors d’oeuvres were making the rounds. No cherry tomatoes, no tiny tacos, no garlicky green pesto. Even the food was mostly white.

  “Shall we?” With a nod, Zach indicated their assigned table and took her arm to escort her there.

  They were among the first to enter the ballroom. All eyes were on her. There were looks of frank admiration from the men and assessing looks from the women. She could hear their thoughts. Where did she get that gorgeous dress? How did she land that gorgeous guy?

  Paula held her head high. She set her clutch on the table. Zach pulled out her chair, and she managed the sitting-down-scooting-in business like a debutante.

  She and Zach began to chat politely, as if the sensual embrace in her apartment had never happened. They drank champagne and nibbled on a few hors d’oeuvres, watching the ballroom fill up.

  Paula recognized some well-known Denver faces: socialites, financiers, ski champions, and musicians. But no one she knew was here.

  “Where is Edith?” Zach asked, looking around.

  “I’m sure she’s coming. You usually hear her before you see her.”

  The increasingly animated conversations in the ballroom were punctuated by the clink of glasses and lively hellos. The noise level rose to the point where they might not notice Edith’s entrance.

  A waiter explained the different entrées as new arrivals joined them at their table. Choices were made and introductions taken care of. The dinner was swiftly served. Paula made small talk and picked at her food, though it was excellent.

  Finished with their meals, the other guests dining with them politely declined the waiter’s offer of coffee and got up to walk to the dais, where a brocade-draped table was set up with microphones and pitchers of water.

  “And now for the speeches.” Zach didn’t seem too thrilled. He put his cloth napkin on the table and leaned back in his chair, gazing at her and not the dais.

  “I didn’t know they were important people,” Paula said.

  “Me neither.” Zach smiled. His intense blue gaze moved over her and stopped on her lips for a second. Then his eyes met hers.

  “What?”

  “You wouldn’t want to get a breath of fresh air before we’re trapped in here, would you?”

  Paula shook her head. “No sneaking out. Let’s do this right. There’s going to be a big announcement at some point. I don’t want to miss it.”

  “They could drone on for hours before that happens.”

  The master of ceremonies got everyone’s attention, starting off with tame jokes that got scattered applause and moving on to introduce the VIPs on the dais. The conversations died down as people started to listen.

  Then the speeches began. Paula saw Edith edging along the ballroom’s paneled wall. The hush in the room prevented her from trying to get the older woman’s attention.

  “There’s Edith,” she murmured to Zach.

  Zach glanced in the same direction she had. “No Brandon.”

  “Maybe he’s coming later.” Paula smiled at the other guests at their table. “Friends of ours,” she explained.

  Edith took a table not far from theirs, but she didn’t see them. Her face seemed drawn and tired, but her golden gown made up for it.

  One VIP after another came to the mike to talk about the Christmas House and encourage the guests to continue their support. Then the MC invited up a stocky man in a baggy suit and unfashionable tie. He unfolded a spreadsheet and cleared his throat.

  “The bean counter,” Zach whispered.

  “Just listen.” Paula wanted to hear what the numbers were.

  “I am pleased to announce that the Christmas House not only covered its costs but also turned a profit within two weeks. And your combined donations will make it possible for the board to install new electrical wiring and renovate the interior. There may even be enough to purchase a new boiler.”

  Edith hooted with happiness and pumped her fist in the air, her multiple rings flashing in the white light.

  Zach winked at Paula. “Good. Whoever is in the attic room after I go home won’t turn into an icicle.”

  His joke stopped her cold. She hadn’t thought about him returning to the ranch. But it was inevitable. She nodded without smiling.

  The last speaker, a beautifully coiffed blonde, took over and got right to the point. “Thank you, Thom.” The baggy suit retreated to his chair as she looked out over the audience.

  “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and artists and good folks who helped make it happen, as well as those of you who gave so much. As you may have guessed, Denver’s newest tradition is coming back next year. We are buying the mansion!”

  Loud applause echoed around the ballroom as the speaker glanced down at the paper she’d brought to the microphone.

  “Now. In round numbers . . . exactly how much money did we raise?” she asked when the ruckus died down.

  T
here were whoops and even louder applause. “Tell us!” someone shouted.

  “Seven hundred thousand dollars!” The blonde waved the piece of paper like a flag. “How’s that for a fabulous Christmas present?”

  The band launched into a swinging arrangement of “Jingle Bells” as many stood up and cheered. The MC wrapped it up and thanked the VIPs as the guests continued to celebrate. More trays of champagne flutes were served to all takers, small plates of dessert—white coconut cake and powdered sugar snowballs—were slid onto tables, and the party started rocking.

  “Dance with me?” Zach looked like he was enjoying himself.

  Paula was a lot quieter, her hands in her lap. She managed to smile at him. “Let’s wait for something slower.”

  “Okay.” He stuck a fork in the coconut cake and took a big bite.

  “How is it?”

  “Very good,” he mumbled. “Try it.”

  She picked at a shred of coconut and left the rest.

  Zach stopped eating. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Nothing, really.” Paula stopped and took a breath before starting again. “I was just thinking that . . . it’s almost over. The Christmas House, I mean. Taking apart the installations and packing up all the sparkly stuff is going to be depressing.”

  “Coming back next year. Bigger and better than ever, I’d bet. You heard the lady.”

  Paula looked toward the empty dais. The VIPs were mingling with the other guests. The number of dancers on the floor increased. She saw Edith chatting with the blonde.

  Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the white waterfalls of light began to dim. Only the candles stayed lit as stars appeared in the ballroom’s ceiling, which darkened to a deep, rich blue.

  The band segued into slower music. Many guests returned to their tables, winded, but those who had sat out the jolly melody rose with their chosen partners.

  Zach stood. “Come on.”

  She took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor, threading through the tables.

  The ambient light continued to dim as the stars twinkled more brightly than before. Zach took her in his arms.

  “Soft stuff,” he murmured as his hand rested at the waist of the glamorous dress. “What do you call that material?”

  “Iced velvet.”

  “Really?” he said quietly. “It’s so warm. But that’s because you’re in it.”

  The sensual rush of the embrace in her apartment echoed in her body but only faintly. She just wanted to be held.

  They swayed to the soft melody, their steps careful, avoiding the other dancers. The band segued into a medley of different songs with the same slow rhythm. Zach and Paula didn’t talk, lost in the music for a while.

  Then he bent his head and murmured her name in her ear.

  She came out of her reverie. “Yes?”

  “What we did at your apartment—I think we should wait on going farther than that.”

  “Why?” she whispered. Until she knew they really had a future together, she felt the same way but she hadn’t expected him to.

  “I don’t think you’re ready. I’m not sure I am.”

  Paula lifted her head to look up at him. His deep blue gaze was hard to read. If only she could trust him. “You could be right,” she said softly. “Sorry I’m so moody all of a sudden. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “Christmas blues?”

  “Maybe.”

  They danced a little more and stopped when the music did, standing under the stars hand in hand. Zach gently pushed her flowing hair back over her shoulders. “Hey, what are you doing New Year’s Eve?”

  “That old song. Don’t sing it.”

  “You know I can’t sing. I just forgot to ask.”

  “Nothing.” Paula didn’t add anything more. She didn’t want to do anything if the first night of the new year was going to be their last together. This time she led him back to the table.

  The celebration began to wind down after another hour or so. Paula looked around for Edith, who hadn’t come over once. It wasn’t like her.

  She sighed, catching Zach’s concerned gaze.

  “Do you want to leave?” he asked. There was no one left at their table to hear him or urge them to stay.

  Paula nodded. “Might as well.”

  “Do you have to work tomorrow?”

  “Let me check my phone. If there’s a change in the shifts, we get texted.” She took it out of her clutch and held it so he couldn’t see the screen. Paula tapped it, not glancing up at him. “Yeah. They moved me to bacon and eggs.”

  “What?”

  “Early shift. Very early.”

  If he sensed she was lying, he didn’t seem inclined to call her on it.

  “Okay. I was thinking we could go somewhere for a quiet drink but not if you have to get up at dawn.”

  “No. I probably had too much champagne anyway.”

  They rose and left the ballroom, occasionally stopping to chat with a few volunteers they knew. They didn’t spot Edith.

  But when they crossed the lobby and went out under the hotel’s protective canopy, they saw her. Edith was huddled inside a bulky coat.

  “There you are,” Paula said. “We never got a chance to talk to you.”

  “Oh, I was in the lounge for a while, honey. Hi, Zach.”

  “Hey. Don’t go away. Just have to deal with this.” He turned to the parking valet and searched his inside breast pocket for the ticket.

  “You okay?” Paula asked.

  “I’m still not feeling that well,” the older woman admitted. “That touch of flu turned out to be the real deal. But my doc said it was okay for me to be here if I didn’t stay late.”

  “It was a wonderful party. And it’s great news about the Christmas House.”

  Edith clutched the collar of her heavy coat more tightly. The rings on her fingers sparkled but not as much as her eyes. “Isn’t it? I’m glad you two were there to hear it.”

  “It was quite a moment.” Paula shivered and rubbed her upper arms.

  “Don’t you have an evening wrap or something?” Edith tsked at her.

  “Nope. I wasn’t thinking too clearly when we left,” Paula said. Which was totally true. “I rushed out and there was Zach’s new truck right at the curb. Have you seen it?”

  “Here it comes now,” Zach said, returning to where they were standing.

  The young valet behind the wheel looked small in the pickup’s huge cab, but he was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Need a lift anywhere, Edith?”

  For a fraction of a second, he and Paula exchanged a glance. She got it. They wouldn’t ask about Brandon.

  “No, no. I’m waiting for a friend. You two head out.”

  The valet had jumped out and run around to open the passenger side door. Zach handed the kid a five and came back.

  He opened his arms. Edith chuckled behind the collar. “You animal. Go ahead.”

  He wrapped her up in a huge hug. “You’re the best, Edie. Never change.”

  “You neither, kid.”

  Hug over, Edith turned to Paula for another one, not as mighty but even more heartfelt.

  “Get some rest,” Paula said. “Don’t make me come over there.”

  “I will. Now you get her home and turn up the heat in the cab,” the older woman said to Zach.

  “You didn’t say you liked it,” he grumbled.

  “Like it? I want one of my own. Drive safe.” Edith watched with amusement as Zach helped Paula into the truck’s cab and waved good-bye as they rolled out.

  Edith had to stand in the cold longer than she’d expected. Many of the departing guests stopped to chat with her, which made it easier not to think about how dizzy she felt. She gave them all the same line about waiting for a friend.

  Her expression turned somber as she peered into the darkness. A taxi pulled under the canopy. The driver, who had a lit cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth, peered through the windshield as Edith stepped
forward and opened the back door for herself.

  “Where to, lady?” He rolled down his window and tossed the butt out, giving her a bored look in the rearview mirror.

  “The hospital.” She waved the lingering smoke away, coughing. It was an effort to think of the name of the nearest. She told him which one.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m going to see a friend.”

  “Visiting hours are over.”

  “Just take me there.” Edith leaned back and closed her eyes.

  Chapter 18

  The emergency room was packed. Edith sat down on a chair provided near the intake line. She got up when her turn came to go to the window and gave the busy clerk basic information. She would have to wait again to talk to the triage nurse on duty.

  Edith moved to a different chair. She held tightly to her purse and kept on the heavy coat as if it would protect her from the unavoidable noise and chaos of a big-city emergency room at night.

  Perhaps it wasn’t wise to have attended the party. But she wouldn’t have missed it for anything. The emergency room was on the cool side. She shook a little inside the coat, feeling sick to her stomach.

  A young woman in scrubs with a stethoscope and clipboard stopped near where Edith was sitting. Had to be the triage nurse.

  “Clayborne. Edith Clayborne,” the woman called.

  “That’s me,” Edith said.

  “I’m Jill Atkinson. Let’s see . . . it’s a little more private over there.”

  The nurse turned to lead the way to an alcove with two chairs, not seeing Edith rise unsteadily.

  “Okay,” she said as Edith sat slowly. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I had the flu. It never really went away.”

  “Any shortness of breath? Fever? Headaches?”

  “Yes to all three.”

  Jill Atkinson made notations on the clipboard. “And you came in alone.”

  “I didn’t want to go home, not feeling like this. There’s no one there.”

  The nurse paused. “I see.”

  “I really don’t mean to be a bother, but I just felt so unwell. I was leaving a party and waiting outside and not even the cold air perked me up.”