Christmas with the Cowboy

by Tina Radcliffe

  Zach paused. Unless they were right. If so, he wouldn’t be much use to Travis on the ranch either, would he?

  Once again, the urge to leave rose up strong. What was he doing here anyhow? Had the Lord led him here or had he come to Oklahoma simply to clear his conscience?

  Twice he had changed his mind during the long drive from California. The only thing that kept him from making a U-turn on I-40 eastbound was the promise made to Ian’s folks. He was determined to keep that promise. Their son was gone and they needed closure only Zach could provide. He was willing to relive the anguish of that mission to do that.

  Besides, where would he go? He didn’t have a home anymore. His apartment in California had been cleared out and his few possessions put into storage until January.

  Zach took a ragged breath and ran a hand through his hair. His gaze landed on last year’s photo Christmas card Emma had sent him that peeked out of his duffel. Elizabeth and Rachel.

  His brother’s children. Family. They deserved so much more from him. He owed Emma and Steve that. In truth, he was long overdue for facing the past. It was time to man up. Maybe if he did he’d find the path to his future, however uncertain that future might be.

  Chapter Three

  “Candy canes?” Emma asked.

  Lucy Maxwell Harris held up the plastic shopping bag that dangled from her right arm. “Check.”

  Emma pulled open the door of the restaurant for her sister, who waddled past and headed into the Oklahoma Rose with a protective hand on her large abdomen.

  “Whew.” Lucy ran a hand through her dark cap of hair and adjusted the Santa hat on her head. “Is it hot in here?”

  “No. The female air-conditioning system is a little overworked during pregnancy.”

  “Is that it?”

  Emma nodded. “Any success finding mistletoe?”

  “Got that, too. I bought extra to take home to Jack.”

  “Isn’t Jack coming?” Emma asked.

  “I wish. He’s in charge of the papier mâché volcano the kids are making for the science fair.”

  “Hmm.” Emma shook her head. “Difficult to say who got the better assignment.”

  Lucy sniffed appreciatively and glanced around. “Oh, this place smells wonderful. Is that steak? You know, I haven’t had anything to eat in over an hour.”

  A hand to her mouth, Emma stifled a chuckle while grabbing a menu from a nearby empty table. “Here you go. We won’t let you starve. I promise.”

  “They have sweet potato fries.” She shot Emma a conspiratorial glance. “Do not tell Jack, but it’s apparent that I got the better deal tonight.”

  “May I help you?” the smiling hostess asked.

  “Big Heart Ranch Christmas party,” Emma said. “I was here this morning. The manager said you could unlock the room for us.”

  “Christmas? And here I thought that was a typo,” the woman murmured.

  “We like to get a jump on the holidays at Big Heart.”

  “I guess so. Do you want to schedule Groundhog Day now, as well?”

  Emma choked on a laugh. “I’ll get back to you on that.”

  They followed the woman through the restaurant, weaving past tables toward a banquet room. As they passed the small dance area where a band was setting up, Emma nudged her sister.

  “Look. Live music tonight,” she said.

  “Those are the Dixie Hens,” the hostess said, excitement lacing her voice. “They’re almost famous around these parts. Last year they went on tour with L.C. Kestner.”

  “Who?” Lucy mouthed to Emma.

  Emma shrugged and rolled her eyes.

  “I’m happy to ask the band to play Christmas dance tunes for your group,” the woman continued.

  “Thank you. That would be great,” Emma said.

  “Planning to dance?” Lucy asked.

  “Perhaps. I am, after all, highly skilled at the hokey-pokey. Ask my daughters.”

  Lucy grinned as the hostess unlocked the door to a private room. Taking a step in, she paused to look up at the ceiling where glittering snowflakes suspended on clear fishing line gently swayed.

  “Emma, this is beautiful.”

  Emma peeked over her sister’s shoulder at the long tables covered with red tablecloths. Burlap runners decorated the center of the tables and were dotted with mason jars tied with red and green ribbons and filled with berried greenery. In the corner of the room, an artificial Christmas tree complete with ornaments and twinkling colored lights stood proudly. Red and green envelopes with the staff’s holiday stipends tucked inside also hung from the branches.

  “I love Christmas.” Emma sighed with pleasure and inspected the room once again. “It did turn out nice, didn’t it?”

  “Come on, Em. Nice? This is perfect. Rustic and Christmassy. This is the perfect way to launch the Holiday Roundup.”

  “That’s what I thought, too.”

  “What’s in those shiny silver favor boxes next to each place setting?”

  “My secret recipe truffles to take home.”

  Lucy did a double take. “You’re amazing. When did you have time to decorate if you were baking?”

  “I snuck over here this afternoon after the cutout cookies were done.”

  “Of course you did. I forget that you inherited the family gene for OCS.”

  “What?”

  “Overcommitted syndrome. Emma, do you ever relax?”

  “Sometimes.” Relaxing only gave her time to think. She didn’t need more time to think than she already had.

  “Try to remember the D word that Jack taught me when he hired Iris as my admin.”

  “D word?”

  “Delegate, Em. Delegate.”

  “Delegate, huh? That certainly sounds odd coming from the queen of micromanaging.”

  “Be nice. I’m still a work in progress.” She glanced at Emma. “What happened to your admin?”

  “It turned out she was allergic to the ranch. I’ll get around to hiring a new one, soon enough,” Emma said. “So did you bring your gift to trade?”

  Lucy gasped. “The gift exchange!”

  Emma reached into her tote bag and handed Lucy a wrapped box. “No worries. I brought several in case someone forgot theirs.”

  “Okay, this time your OCS saved the day. What’s inside?”

  “I can’t tell you. That spoils the fun of the exchange.”

  “Ow,” Lucy moaned. “Junior just kicked me.” She placed one hand on her belly and one on her lower back.

  “How are you feeling, Luce?”

  “Large.” She sighed. “And don’t you dare laugh.”

  “Trust me, you are not large. Not like I was, expecting twins.”

  “Tell that to my lower back. And my feet are so swollen that I can’t wear my red cowboy boots.” She grimaced. “Aren’t you glad you asked?”

  “Think positive. You’re having a Christmas baby.”

  “I am thinking positive. I’m positive that my back is killing me.”

  “Turn around.”

  Lucy obliged and Emma massaged her sister’s lower back with the heel of her hand.

  “Bliss,” Lucy murmured. “Oh, look, our staff are arriving.”

  The band began to play an upbeat and popular Christmas tune at the same time the front door of the restaurant opened and the party guests began to pour in to the small foyer. The scene seemed straight out of a holiday movie. Everyone was smiling, laughing and carrying gaily wrapped presents. Snow falling outside would have made things complete, but the November weather continued to be unseasonably warm.

  “Look,” Lucy said. “Dutch is already on the dance floor.”

  “It’s hard to resist a rousing chorus of ‘Frosty the Snowman.’”

  Shivers swept through Emma and she immediately
turned her attention back to the front door of the restaurant. Zach had arrived. He wore a nondescript gray dress shirt and charcoal slacks. Nondescript on anyone but Zach.

  “Zach is here,” Lucy commented.

  “I see him,” Emma murmured. She swallowed and put a hand to her chest where her heart beat wildly.

  Lucy tilted her head and blatantly stared at the tall former navy SEAL. “Why was it you fell for Steve instead of Zach?”

  For a brief second the answer stumped Emma. Then she remembered. Steve had courted her. Zach had never made a single overture beyond friendship. She’d fallen for the Norman brother who’d first loved her.

  “I’ve always preferred my life simple,” Emma said aloud. “Zach is anything but simple.”

  “He’s simply handsome.” Lucy sighed.

  “Definitely hard to ignore,” Emma admitted.

  “Yes. Which would be why every woman in the restaurant is checking him out,” Lucy said.

  “The man is completely oblivious.”

  Lucy grinned. “Just like my Jack. I like that in a man.”

  Emma laughed. “You’re incorrigible, Lucy.”

  “Do you ever think about dating, Em?”

  “Women with small children don’t have time to date. What is dating anyhow? It’s auditioning husbands. I’m not looking for another husband.”

  “That’s not all it is. It can be cultivating a friendship with someone with the same interests as you.”

  “I don’t have time to cultivate anything but dirty laundry and mold in my refrigerator.”

  “While I can relate to that, I’m guessing your house is spotless.”

  “All the same, the last thing I need is a man in my life. I’m not ready for that kind of challenge. I may never be ready.”

  “Zach was always your friend. You could do worse than Zach Norman in your life in any capacity.”

  Emma’s hand froze. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “Well, don’t. Zach is like a brother to me.” She silently corrected herself. He was never a brother to her. A best friend? Yes. Though that bond had disappeared once she married Steve. She had struggled many times over the past few years trying to figure out why they couldn’t at least be friends.

  “Zach? Like your brother?” Lucy echoed Emma’s words. “Um, not exactly.” She turned and met Emma’s gaze, then released a small gasp. “You’re afraid.”

  Emma glanced away and didn’t answer her sister.

  “Em,” she said softly. “Steve died in a car accident. Three years ago. You’re entitled to grieve in your own way and in your own time, but please, don’t let fear get a foothold in your life.”

  “I won’t have the rug pulled out from under me again. I might not survive the next time.”

  “There are no guarantees for any of us, Emma. You and Travis and I know that firsthand. In fact, every child on Big Heart Ranch knows that lesson.”

  “Lucy,” Emma warned.

  The eldest Maxwell sibling was silent for a long moment staring across the restaurant at Zach. “Do you ever wonder why Zach has stayed away?”

  “I assumed it was something between him and Steve. I’ve asked. The man circles any sort of substantial answer with vague responses.”

  “You have eight weeks to find out what’s going on in that navy SEAL head of his.”

  “Eight weeks?” Emma’s hand shot to her lips, setting the decorative red and green sleigh bells on her bracelet into tinkling motion. “What are you talking about?”

  “He’s here until January.”

  “Says who?”

  “Me. I signed off on his HR paperwork this morning.”

  “I’m confused. Why would Zach have paperwork with Big Heart Ranch?”

  “Travis hired him.”

  Emma’s jaw dropped. “Zach?”

  “Yes. He picked up his security badge this morning.”

  “Why would Zach...? Why would Travis...?” she sputtered.

  “Uh-oh. Don’t look now, but Mr. Navy SEAL has his eye on you,” Lucy said.

  “What?” She turned toward the door.

  “He’s sort of lost out there in the crowd. Go save him,” Lucy said quietly.

  Emma blew a soft raspberry. “Zach Norman does not need saving.”

  “Everyone needs saving, Emma.”

  “Fine. Whatever.” She started across the room, pausing at intervals to greet the staff.

  Zach’s gaze followed her the entire time.

  “I heard you’re staying until January,” she said when she was finally standing in front of him, looking up at all six feet five inches of solid muscle.

  Zach offered a silent scrutiny, his expression shuttered.

  “Well?” she prompted.

  “Hi to you, too, Emma.” He nodded and stared at her. “Blinking reindeer earrings, huh?” His gaze moved to assess her holiday party outfit. “Interesting sweater.”

  She glanced down at the knit vest with the ornament embellishments. “Ugly sweater contest.”

  “I’m guessing you’re going to win.”

  When Zach winked, Emma’s eyes widened with surprise.

  Focus, Emma.

  She pushed the hair back from her face, setting her jingle bell bracelet into motion. The sound was a welcome distraction.

  “Nice bracelet,” he said.

  She began to smile and then remembered that she was annoyed. The man had bested her. Again.

  “So is it true? Are you staying?” she asked.

  “Who told you?”

  “The source is really not important.”

  “I’m working for Travis.”

  “You are so stubborn. You’ll work for Travis, though your knee says otherwise, but you refuse to even discuss RangePro.”

  When Zach just stared at her, Emma almost backed down from the stormy gaze. Instead, she stood her ground and refused to look away.

  “Could we call a truce on this whole RangePro thing? At least until the holidays are over?” he finally said. “I mean, isn’t this time of year supposed to reflect peace on earth? Goodwill to all men?” Zach paused. “Even me?”

  Emma wilted at his quote from the Bible. Suddenly, she recalled the kid next door forced to return home to an apathetic mother for the holidays when he longed to stay at his father’s ranch for Christmas.

  Ashamed of herself, she took a deep breath. Why was it the man brought out the cranky and uncharitable in her?

  Big Heart Ranch staff continued to enter the restaurant, pushing Emma closer to Zach as they tried to make their way to the banquet room.

  Emma stepped back, struggling to overcome with a smiling face and a positive attitude. “You’re right. I apologize.”

  “A holiday truce, then?”

  When Zach held out a hand, she nodded and stared at his hand, afraid to actually touch him. “A truce it is. The party is this way.” She started toward the back of the restaurant.

  “Excuse me, Emma,” a woman said from behind her.

  She turned. “Oh, Zach, this is Josee. One of our wranglers.”

  “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

  “Zach, is it?” the pretty blond-haired woman asked.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Would you like to dance?”

  “Pardon me?” Zach’s eyes widened as his gaze skimmed the dance floor.

  “I wondered if you’d like to dance,” Josee repeated.

  “I’m so sorry, ma’am. I already promised this dance to Emma.”

  “Another time, then.” Josee smiled and looked from Zach to Emma with curiosity before she turned away.

  “You didn’t promise me this dance.”

  “I fully intended to.” Laughter filled his gray eyes. “Besides, isn’t this yo
ur favorite song?” he asked.

  Emma cocked her head. “That’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’”

  He held out his hand. The hand she’d avoided only minutes before.

  “As if you really want to dance,” Emma mumbled.

  “Are you going to turn me down in front of all these people?”

  Emma glanced around at the speculative gazes turned their way. He had her and he knew it.

  Leaving her no choice, Zach took her hand. “It’s a two-step,” he said. “Your other hand goes to my shoulder and then you step.”

  “I know how to dance.” She hesitantly placed her left hand on his shoulder. “What about your knee?”

  “Let me worry about my knee.”

  “But...”

  Zach shook his head. “You’re a substitute mother to sixty some kids at Big Heart Ranch. That’s plenty, don’t you think? Besides, I don’t need a momma.”

  “I... I...” What was he saying? Didn’t he realize that she could not concentrate on the conversation while her hand was enveloped in his?

  A long silence stretched between them as Emma worked hard not to tangle her feet and fall on her face.

  When Lucy walked past the dance floor and her gaze connected with Emma’s, her sister stopped and did a double take.

  “Lucy sure looks, um, ripe,” Zach said. “When’s she due?”

  “Christmas.”

  “Christmas. Everything seems to revolve around Christmas.”

  “Only for eight weeks of the year.”

  “Only eight weeks,” he murmured.

  Emma turned her head and stared at her hand in his. His hand was so large, yet hers seemed to fit perfectly.

  “This is quite the crowd,” he observed.

  “This is nothing. Wait until Thanksgiving.”

  “Was I supposed to bring a present?” Zach asked with a nod toward the guests who walked past with gifts tucked under their arms.

  “They’re fun white elephant exchanges. I brought extras.”

  He glanced toward the banquet room filling up with people. “Tell me about this Christmas party.”

  She shrugged. “It’s a party. Eat food, make merry. Mingle.”

  “I don’t—”