A Cowboy Family Christmas

by Judy Duarte

  She had plenty on her to-do list today, like cleaning out the refrigerator and mopping the kitchen floor. She hadn’t considered her usual household tasks to be a burden until she thought about those darned letters, just waiting for a clever response.

  She’d better read them now, while she ate her own breakfast. That way, she could ponder her answers while she worked.

  After retrieving her laptop from her room, where it rested on the pine dresser, next to her prized high-definition camera, she returned to the kitchen. She wanted to be available in case the on-duty nurse or one of the men needed her, so couldn’t very well hole up elsewhere.

  She toasted a slice of sourdough bread. After smearing it with peanut butter, she poured a cup of coffee and seasoned it with cream and sugar. Then she took a seat at the table and got to work.

  Twenty minutes later, she’d chosen a couple of interesting letters. One of them gave her a perfect opportunity to share Sully’s advice about getting off the pity train and thinking about someone else for a change. But she was still at a loss when it came to providing any suggestions for the other. Sure, she always had an opinion. But what if she steered someone in the wrong direction? Or what if her words came out dull and uninteresting?

  In spite of her best intentions, she couldn’t seem to wake up her muse or stir her thoughts. So she went about her chores, racking her brain to come up with something to write.

  Darn it. Could she do this again? Heck, she hadn’t even done it last time without help.

  Once the kitchen was spick-and-span, she sat at the table again, a fresh cup of coffee beside her laptop. She tried to focus on Mr. Carlton’s praise, but even that wasn’t enough to instill a burst of confidence.

  That column you sent to me yesterday was great. It was everything I’d hoped it would be.

  Maybe so, but Lainie hadn’t done it on her own. She’d been stymied until Sully...

  Yep. Sully.

  She needed to find the retired cowboy and ask for more of his simple but sage advice. So where was he?

  He’d gone outside for a walk after breakfast, but he could be back now. She closed her laptop, scooted her chair away from the table then got to her feet. She made her way to the sink and looked out the window in search of the man who might be able to help her keep her job at the Gazette.

  Sully wasn’t in the yard, but when her gaze drifted to the cabin on the knoll, she spotted another man. A much younger one who’d shed his fancy duds for worn jeans and a long-sleeved black T-shirt that molded to his muscular form.

  Well, what do you know? Drew Madison might appear to be a country gentleman with the financial resources to hire others to do physical labor. Yet there he was, tearing apart the old porch as if he wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and get the job done himself.

  Apparently, he’d gone to the hardware store earlier this morning because a pile of new lumber was stacked off to the side. But it wasn’t the tools or the supplies that commanded her interest. It was the man in action.

  Rugged and strong.

  Masculine and focused.

  Heat rushed her face, and her tummy went topsy-turvy. But her visceral reaction only served to send up a host of red flags and set off alarms in her head.

  She couldn’t trust herself when it came to choosing a man. Neither of the two who’d struck her fancy in the past had turned out to be honest, kind or worthy of her time and affection. Not a single one. So what made her think this guy was any different?

  Instead of gawking at Drew, she studied him carefully, trying to spot the flaws he hid behind his Western wear or under his hat.

  He was handsome, that was a fact. But handsome men, especially the last one, had done a real number on her in the past. She turned on the tap water and washed her hands as if that simple act might rid her of a silly attraction to a guy who’d probably broken more hearts than wild horses.

  * * *

  Drew tore a rotted piece of wood from the porch railing, then slung it to the pile he’d made off to the side. It felt good to work with his hands for a change. And he took a sense of pride in the fact that he was, in some small way, helping out the Rocking C Ranch. Better than tackling that blog.

  As he swung his hammer to break away the last stretch of porch railing, he got a weird feeling in his core, a second sense that suggested someone was watching him. Instinctively, he turned around.

  At first, he didn’t see anyone. But then he looked at the house, where a feminine shape stood at the kitchen window.

  It had to be Lainie. Who else could it be?

  Then she disappeared from sight.

  Had he caught her watching him? Or had she merely glanced out the window in passing, a coincidence that he’d turned at just the right time to find her there?

  “Whatever,” he muttered, gripping the hammer tighter. It was hard to say for sure. Besides, it didn’t really matter. He had work to do, and now that he’d built up a sweat, he wanted to finish. He kicked a rotting board out of the way, just as a familiar voice of one of the retirees called out to him.

  “Hey, you. College boy. What’s going on?”

  Drew turned from his work and spotted Rex Mayberry, his late granddad’s old friend, limping toward him, using a cane. He wore a tattered hat over his bald head, and a wooden matchstick wiggled in the corner of his mouth. Just the sight of him was enough to draw a smile.

  “I’m just trying to pay for my keep.” Drew lifted his left arm and wiped the sweat from his brow with a sleeve. “How ’bout you? Feeling okay today?”

  “As long as you don’t count bad knees, crappy vision and dentures, I’m doing just hunky-dory.” With his wry, crotchety sense of humor, Rex was the kind of man who didn’t usually say much. But when he did, people gave him their full attention.

  At least, Drew always had. He’d been about six years old and living on his grandfather’s ranch the first time they’d met. It hadn’t taken him long to respect the wisdom behind the man’s words. But it wasn’t just his comments that had been notable. Rex had been a damn good cowboy, one of the best. So it was tough to see him now, stooped and gray.

  Rex let out a chuckle. “I’ll bet that rich, candy-ass uncle of yours would be pissed if he saw you now.”

  Drew smiled. “Yep, you’ve got that right. J.P. doesn’t think much about cowboys, rodeos or ranching. But what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

  “I’m sure as hell not gonna tell him. Not after him and me had words after your high school graduation.”

  Drew hooked his thumbs into his back pockets and frowned. “I wasn’t aware of that.”

  “Yeah, well, I figured your granddad would have wanted me to speak up on his behalf. So I did.”

  “What’d you say?”

  “I told him that you were one of the best horsemen I’d ever seen. And that you were a born rancher. You would’ve turned the Double M around—if you’d had the chance—and then you would have been able to keep it in the family.”

  “I might have. If Uncle J.P. would have loaned us the money to pay the back taxes.” Drew had only been eleven when his grandfather died, so there hadn’t been much he could do to keep the ranch going. His mother had inherited the Double M, but she hadn’t been able to make a go of it, especially after her cancer diagnosis. But that had been her secret until her health deteriorated to a certain point.

  “I thought it was lousy of J.P. to offer his help, but only if he could call all the shots.”

  Drew had hoped his great-uncle would loan them the money to pay the back taxes, but J.P. had refused, saying he hadn’t reached financial success by squandering his holdings.

  Andrew, J.P. had said at the time, you have a hell of a lot more going for you than being a cowboy. And you’re too smart to risk your neck at a foolhardy way of life. So I’ll tell you what I’m going to d
o. I’ll pay for your college tuition, which is an investment in you—and in your future.

  “It was probably just as well,” Drew said. “My mom had been in remission, but about that time, she got word that the cancer had come back. So J.P. told her to sell the ranch and move to the city with Kara Lee. Mom had access to better medical care there. And selling the ranch provided her with the money to pay for it.”

  Rex chuffed. “I know it was probably the right thing to do for her, but I’m not so sure about your sister. She had a hard time changing high schools.”

  Neither of them mentioned the fact that Drew’s mom had died anyway, leaving Kara Lee in Drew’s care until she graduated.

  “And what about you?” Rex asked. “You gave up your boyhood dreams at the request of your uncle.”

  “Yes, but not completely. I’m still a cowboy at heart.”

  And so was the old man leaning on his cane.

  “Hold on,” Drew said. “I’ll bring out a chair for you. That way, you can watch what I’m doing. I’d hate for you to think I’m too book smart for my own good.”

  “Sure, I’ll sit here for a spell. And just for the record, I never had much use for a man who thought he was too good to get his hands dirty or work up a good lather.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Your grandfather and me, we were cut from the same bolt of cloth. We thought a hard day’s work and good deeds never hurt anyone. No, sir.”

  “I might work indoors most of the time,” Drew said, “but I haven’t forgotten any of the lessons you guys taught me.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I was afraid those college professors would ruin you.” Rex lifted his worn felt cowboy hat and raked his gnarled fingers through what was left of his graying hair. “Now get me that chair.”

  Drew winked at his old friend and mentor before climbing onto the porch. He entered the cabin and returned with one of two chairs from the small dinette table. He placed it in a shady spot.

  The old man took a seat and leaned the cane against his knee. “I still think you could have been a champion bronc rider if you’d continued on the circuit.”

  “Maybe so. But under the circumstances, I don’t have any major regrets. I have a good career with Esteban Enterprises. And someday soon, I’m going to create my own company, Silver Buckle Promotions.”

  “That’s one heck of a name. I like it.”

  “Yep. I’m putting my education to good use. Besides, I still work in the rodeo world, only now I’m a promoter.”

  Drew had just turned back to his work when Rex asked, “So what’s this I hear about you interviewing us? Are you writing an article for the newspaper?”

  “No, I’m going to write a blog.”

  Rex let out a humph. “I’m not sure what that is, but I hope it’ll help keep this ranch afloat.”

  Drew tore up a piece of the floorboard and tossed it on top of the pile of old wood. “That’s just one part of the plan. And you’d better believe I’ll give it my all.” He wasn’t so sure about the blog, but he knew he’d do a good job with the rest of the promotion. The Rocking C provided the old cowboys with an affordable and familiar place to live out their last years. So it was too important not to help them get the financial support they needed.

  “That’s good to know because I like it here—especially the food. That Joy is one fine cook. I was afraid that her temporary replacement wouldn’t be worth a darn, but she’s actually doing okay. What’s her name? Lonnie? Lindy?”

  “Lainie.”

  Rex nodded. “Yeah, well, she’s been holding her own so far.”

  Drew glanced toward the house. When he didn’t spot Lainie standing at the window, a pang of disappointment struck. But he shook it off. He wasn’t here for fun and games. He had work to do.

  Only problem was, he hadn’t planned on meeting Lainie. Nor had he expected to get a glimpse of her wearing a pair of sexy panties. As the memory replayed in his mind, a smile spread across his face.

  “She’s a pretty one,” Rex said.

  Drew peeled his gaze away from the empty kitchen window and turned to his old friend. “I’m not sure I’m following you.”

  “The hell, you say.” Rex laughed and pointed his thumb at the house. “Kid, I’ve always been able to read your face like a book.”

  That might have been true when Drew was a kid, but he’d learned to mask his expressions over the years. That is, unless he was caught off guard.

  To throw Rex off course, he reached for the first excuse he could concoct. “I’m getting hungry and wondered if lunch was ready.”

  “Don’t lie to me. The food won’t be on the table ’til noon. And I watched you pack it away at breakfast. You might be working hard, kid, but not enough to want lunch at ten o’clock.”

  Okay, so he’d been caught. “If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been working my tail off here.”

  “Yeah, right.” Rex chuckled.

  Rather than let the conversation continue, Drew turned back to demolish the rest of the porch. He wasn’t going to give Rex further reason to connect romantic dots that weren’t there.

  Only trouble was, Drew couldn’t help but wonder if there actually might be a few dots that could use a little connecting.

  Chapter Four

  Lainie had no sooner whipped up a batch of corn bread to go with the chili simmering on the stove, when Sully entered the house through the mudroom, whistling a spunky tune.

  “Hey,” she said, as she continued to pour the batter into the large, rectangular pan. “You’re just the guy I was looking for. Where’ve you been?”

  “Me?” He furrowed his bushy white brow. “I was out taking a morning walk. Then Nate asked me if I wanted to ride into town with him. What’s up?”

  “Not much. I talked to my friend and shared your advice with her. She realized you were right about the jerk she’d been dating. But then she told me about another friend of ours with a problem, and we’re at odds on what to tell her.”

  Sully pulled out a chair and took a seat at the table. “So what’s troubling that gal?”

  “She’s been saving her money for nearly a year and has enough to purchase a used car, which she desperately needs. Her old one keeps breaking down, and the repairs have been costly. On the upside, she now has a new, better-paying job. She needs dependable transportation, but her kid brother wants to borrow a thousand dollars to cover his rent and the late fee.”

  Sully rested his clasped hands on the table and steepled his fingers. “Can she spare the money?”

  “Yes, if she doesn’t buy the car.” Lainie placed the pan into the prewarmed oven and set the timer. “Her brother promised to repay her next month, but to complicate matters, he hasn’t always repaid the loans she’s given him in the past.”

  “Sounds like she has every reason to turn him down this time.”

  “I think so, too, but she’s been taking care of him ever since their parents died.” Lainie could certainly relate to the woman’s love and compassion. If she and her twin hadn’t been separated, she’d feel the same sense of responsibility.

  “How old is the boy?”

  “He’s twenty-four now and living on his own. But she’s worried about him getting evicted, especially since he can’t seem to keep a job.”

  “Apparently, he hasn’t had to. His sister keeps jumping in to save the day.”

  “She means well,” Lainie said.

  “Yes, but by bailing him out every time he gets into a jam, she’s robbing him of the ability to learn from his mistakes.”

  Wow. That was an interesting way to look at it. And wise, too.

  “Listen,” Sully said. “If her no-account brother can’t come up with the money to cover his rent this month, how is he going to pay it next month and also be able to repay her as
promised?”

  “Good point.”

  “Your friend is allowing her heart to get in the way of her brains. Her brother might have one sob story after another, but it’s time for him to grow up. And it’s time for his sister to let him.”

  “You’re absolutely right. Thanks.” Lainie could work with that sound advice. She’d just have to put her own spin on it.

  The back door squeaked open. When she glanced up, she spotted Drew entering the kitchen. His hair was damp and freshly combed, suggesting that he’d recently showered. He’d changed clothes, too.

  White button-down shirt. Clean jeans. Shiny cowboy boots.

  Their eyes met, and Lainie found it impossible to look away.

  He closed the gap between them, and she caught an alluring whiff of masculine soap. Her breath caught, and her voice squeaked out a greeting. “Hey, Drew.”

  He responded with a “Hey” of his own, his deep voice rumbling through her. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to conjure a response until Sully cleared his throat, drawing Lainie’s attention away from the handsome man who stood a mere arm’s length away.

  “If you two will excuse me,” Sully said. “I’m going to rest up before the noon meal.” Then he shuffled out of the room.

  “Something sure smells good,” Drew said.

  He clearly meant the food, but by the way his gaze caressed her, she wasn’t sure. Nevertheless, she couldn’t very well stand here like a ditz. So she gathered her wits and said, “I saw you earlier when I glanced out the window and into the yard. I thought you were only going to fix a couple of steps. I had no idea you were going to replace the porch.”

  “The whole thing was shot. I wasn’t going to nail new lumber to bad.”

  “That makes sense.” But what didn’t make sense was the way her pulse was racing. Or the way he was looking at her right now. It seemed as if he could see right into her heart.

  She touched her throat to check the top button on her flannel shirt before trailing her fingers along the soft blue fabric that covered her chest. When she reached the waistline of her jeans, she realized what she’d been doing and placed her hands on her hips.