Christmas with the Cowboy

by Tina Radcliffe

  “You’re telling me we have to check every single string of lights in all these boxes?”

  “Someone has to,” Emma said.

  “Yeah, they have companies that do this. Professionals.”

  “For a price.”

  “This is going to take a chunk of my life,” he groused.

  “You’re a navy SEAL. Don’t you get more done by noon than most people do all day?” She pulled out her phone. “It’s only 7:00 a.m.”

  “That’s the army.”

  “What do navy SEALs do?”

  “Last time I checked we don’t do redundant,” he muttered. “Can we plug them in after we hang them?”

  “No.”

  “Why not? Seems simple enough. Hang them and then replace the ones that aren’t working.”

  “The cherry picker is rented by the hour.”

  “So it takes a little longer. In the end, it will save someone’s sanity. Mine.”

  “Zach, we’re a private charity. We get zero state or federal funding. Our administration consists of about five salaried staff. Then there are the wranglers, the house parents and various other part-time staff.”

  “Your point?”

  “We don’t hire out that which we can do ourselves.”

  “An Emma-ism?”

  “Are you making fun of me?” She glared at him.

  “Okay, sorry, that was a cheap shot, especially since you made muffins.” He couldn’t help but smile. This banter was like old times and he sort of liked it.

  “Look, Zach, we check the lights first to save money on the cherry picker rental and we don’t pay someone else to do the setup because that would defeat the purpose. We’re all working together to create Christmas memories along with celebrating in the true spirit of the holiday.”

  Zach groaned. “Again with the spirit of the holiday.”

  “Okay, I’m serious this time. When did you become such a Scrooge?”

  He flashed to the last miserable Christmas before he turned eighteen and left home. Without answering Emma, he lifted the lid of a bin and inspected the neatly wrapped bundles of green cord and lights. “Where did you get these lights?”

  “I think they were donated.”

  “They’re prehistoric.”

  “Vintage.”

  He fingered the strands. “How many lights are there?”

  “I don’t know. Thousands?”

  “More like millions. You do realize that LED string lights are far more energy efficient, right?”

  “This is what we have. Deal with it.”

  Deal with it? He had to give the woman credit. Even in a plaid Western shirt and Wranglers, Emma Maxwell managed to look all sweetness and sugar despite having the quick wit and sharp tongue that would have put his recruit-training navy chief to shame.

  “What’s the plan for the lights?” he asked.

  “We decorate every single tree along the main road through the boys’ ranch, including the gazebo and the stage we set up in front of the pond. The front gate, as well.”

  Zach frowned. “All that? Seems to me that I do not have a complete understanding of the scope of this mission.”

  “Mission?” She raised her brows. “What don’t you get about this mission, Sergeant Norman?”

  Zach snorted at the title. “It’s Lieutenant Norman.”

  “Your question, Lieutenant Norman?”

  “Why all the lights?”

  “We deliver the complete holiday experience here at Big Heart Ranch. Besides the living nativity, there’s live music at the gazebo and in front of the pond. The schedule alternates bell ringers, carolers and an ensemble of musicians from the ranch staff. Visitors may walk or take a horse-drawn carriage through a portion of the boys’ ranch to enjoy the program. In addition, at the end of the route, we provide gingerbread and hot cider or hot coffee for our guests. Fair trade only.”

  “You sound like a travel ad.”

  “I have to talk to all the businesses in Timber and surrounding towns to get them to support the roundup. I can recite that spiel in my sleep.”

  “What do you charge?”

  “It’s free.”

  His head jerked back. “Free? How do you make any money?”

  “The Timber community donates plenty to make this happen. Plus we have the Christmas trees.”

  “Christmas trees?”

  “Yes. Lucy is in charge of the tree sales. She has an entire team rotating each day from noon to 7:00 p.m.”

  “I’m stunned.”

  “I don’t see why. This is our fifth year and we’ve pulled it off every year without any major glitches.”

  “Maybe we could improve the process with the purchase of state-of-the-art lights.”

  “New lights are not in the budget. It would eat into our profit margin. The money from the tree sales goes toward gifts for the children of the Pawhuska Children’s Orphanage. Each family here at Big Heart Ranch adopts several children for the event and our families go out and buy the presents with the tree sales money. Think of it like an angel tree.”

  “Who buys presents for the children who live here at Big Heart Ranch?”

  “Zach, the families on the ranch are like regular families out in the world. They have their own exchange, but we suggest one gift each. Christmas isn’t about receiving, it’s about giving. It’s about the greatest gift giver of all. The present that came to us on Christmas morning.”

  Zach frowned.

  “Now what?” Emma released an exasperated sigh.

  “All this sounds great in theory, but in my experience, Christmas is hype.”

  “No, the world does hype. We don’t do hype here at Big Heart Ranch, Zach. Wait. You’ll see.”

  Her eyes sparkled with an excitement that might make even the most cynical believe. Might.

  “What if it snows?” he asked.

  “We’re hoping for snow. The ranch literally becomes a winter wonderland. We can bring out the sleds.”

  “And how long does this fun last?”

  “From the Friday after Thanksgiving until December twenty-third. Then we close up shop and the ranch is on vacation for nine days until January second.”

  Zach cocked his head. “Ranches don’t close, Emma.”

  “I know but the administration building does and the phones are sent to voice mail and we only do the chores necessary to keep the ranch running. No lessons, no therapy appointments, no school.”

  Zach’s phone rang, and he glanced at the screen and grimaced. Ian’s family.

  “Do you need to get that?”

  “I’ll call them back later.”

  Emma nodded. “I have to get moving anyhow. I still need to call the generator and lighting company to confirm reservations I made months ago.” She looked at him. “Can I leave you with the lights?”

  “What you mean is can you trust me with the lights?”

  She put a hand on her hip. “Two weeks, Zach. That’s all we have.”

  “Am I allowed to recruit a light team?”

  “A strictly volunteer team.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Benjie and Mick?”

  “I don’t know anyone else,” he returned.

  A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “This is going to be interesting.”

  “Wasn’t that the point of all this?”

  “Not quite, but I have faith you’re going to understand the point of all this before we’re done.”

  “It’s good to have hope.”

  “Let me know when the lights are ready and I’ll get the cherry picker scheduled.”

  “When do they need to be ready to go?”

  “We have a lights-on practice the day before Thanksgiving and go live for the staff and children on Thanksgiving Day. Oh, and d
on’t forget the greenery. Wreaths, garlands and swag will need to go up at the same time as the lights.”

  “Greenery?”

  “I’ll pick up the greenery at the nursery. They should be calling any day now.”

  “Is there a map or some sort of schematic on how the lights are to be put up?”

  Emma pulled a sheet from the clipboard. “Here you go. Everything you need is right here.”

  He glanced through the computer-generated 3-D landscape map. “Impressive.”

  “Thank you.” She grabbed her coffee. “I’ll check back with you later.”

  “Much later, if you don’t mind.”

  “The lights have to be ready to go by the day before Thanksgiving.”

  “I got that part. And that we have two weeks.”

  “That’s right.” She started down the stairs, one hand on the wall, the other balancing her clipboard and coffee cup.

  “You forgot the muffins,” Zach called.

  “Those are for you.”

  He paused, touched by the gesture. “Thank you. Need help getting down those steps?”

  “I’ve got it.”

  “Emma,” he murmured.

  She stopped and turned slightly.

  “I can do the lights any way I want to just as long as it doesn’t cost the ranch anything, right?”

  “Zach, what are you up to?”

  “Was that a yes?”

  Emma shook her head and continued down the stairs. “It was a yes. A very nervous yes.”

  Now all he had to do was locate millions of LED outdoor lights and get them delivered ASAP. Zach grinned. Man, he loved a challenge.

  * * *

  Emma checked on the girls and wandered to the living room, where the weather report flashed across the muted television screen. Frost warning tonight. The possibility of snow on Thanksgiving.

  That should have made her deliriously happy. Instead, melancholy filled Emma, and she didn’t know why. She should have gone to bed an hour ago but an odd restlessness stirred inside tonight.

  Stepping into the kitchen, Emma almost pulled out her cookbook, until Zach’s words from earlier today floated back to her.

  Therapeutic baking. Okay, yes, she had made an inordinate amount of chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies since the party on Monday. The staff was thrilled. But perhaps she did need to deal with what was bothering her. Except that she suspected Zach was at the root of everything keeping her awake.

  She hadn’t slept much at all since the Christmas party. Her mind continued to do a slow-motion play-by-play of the evening every time her head hit the pillow. First, there was dancing with Zach, and then that awkward moment when she nearly fell from the chair. Emma cringed just thinking about the incident.

  Why couldn’t things be simple like they used to be?

  Her gaze went to the coffee table and the framed picture of herself with both Steve and Zach, taken years ago. So much happiness on that day.

  A deep ache circled her heart and squeezed.

  Though a solitary tear found its way down her face, a smile curled her lips, paying homage to this particular memory.

  Every single day she missed Steve. He was her husband, but long before that, he was her friend. Being around Zach only reminded her that she had lost both Norman brothers. The fact was, not a day went by that she didn’t miss Zach, too.

  Now that he was back, she found herself confused by the feelings he stirred in her and the spark of awareness that was always present when he was near.

  When the doorbell rang, her gaze went to the mantel clock. 10:00 p.m. She checked the peephole and blinked with surprise. Zach was on her porch.

  Emma unlocked the door and pulled it open, reaching for the screen. “Zach?”

  “Travis has been trying to reach you.”

  Anxiety tensed her fingers, and she fumbled with the lock on the screen door. “Come in. Come in. It’s cold out there.”

  He wore a long-sleeve black sweater and jeans, and his hair was tousled, as though he’d dressed in a hurry.

  Emma grabbed her phone from her tote bag hanging on the back of the dining room table. Dead. “I’m so sorry. Such a crazy day. The girls were crying and hungry and I tossed my purse and forgot about it...”

  “Take it easy, Emma. It’s okay.”

  “But Travis. Is Travis all right?”

  “He’s fine. He asked me to check on you.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s still working. Lucy tried to call you.”

  “Wait a minute.” She shook her head and looked up at him. “Lucy is the one trying to reach me?”

  “Not anymore. AJ went over to watch the triplets and Jack took Lucy to the emergency room.”

  Emma looked around the room, trying to figure out what to do next. “Can you stay with the twins and I’ll go—”

  “Hold on, let me finish.” Zach put a hand on her arm. “Lucy is home now. Everything is fine. She’s been put on modified bed rest as a precaution.” He pulled his phone from his back pocket. “Travis wants you to call. Here, use my cell.”

  The tearful cry of one of the twins had Emma moving toward the hall.

  Zach stepped in her path. “Call Travis. I’ll look in on them.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Emma, I got this.”

  She took the phone and punched in Travis’s number.

  “Emma. Everything okay at the house of twins?”

  “Dead cell. So sorry. Lucy?”

  “Lucy’s fine. The baby wants to make an appearance early, and the doctor is trying to slow things down. He’s ordered what they call modified bed rest.”

  “You’re sure that’s all?”

  “Yes. AJ talked to Jack and Lucy. Everything is under control, but I’ve forbidden her from coming to the ranch except for Thanksgiving dinner. She can work from the comfort of her couch at home.”

  “She listened to you?”

  “I threatened to deactivate her security badge if she tried to come to work.”

  Emma laughed. “I’m so sorry I missed that conversation.”

  “Could I talk to Zach real quick?” Travis asked.

  “Just a minute.”

  Emma moved quietly down the hall toward the girls’ room and peeked inside, her eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness illuminated only by the soft glow of a night-light. Her heart tripped at the sight of the big navy SEAL hovering over the guardrail of her daughter’s toddler bed. Zach had leaned down to rub Elizabeth’s back in little circles and she murmured softly in sleep.

  Was he humming? He was. Zach Norman was humming her baby to sleep.

  Her hand went to her throat and she bit her lip at the unexpected tenderness of the scene before her.

  “Zach?” she finally whispered. Emma nodded toward the cell in her hand, and he followed her to the living room.

  “Travis.” Emma spoke into the phone. “He’s right here.”

  “Can you put the phone on speaker?” Travis asked.

  Emma looked to Zach as she complied. “He wants the phone on speaker.”

  “I hate to ask,” Travis said, “and I’m sorry to put you on the spot, but I don’t have much choice. With Rue Butterfield gone and Lucy on bed rest, we’re down two staff members. Do you and Emma mind taking over Lucy’s team?”

  “What was Lucy in charge of again?” Zach asked. “Tell me it wasn’t the live nativity, because Dutch said...”

  Emma and Travis both started to chuckle.

  “I didn’t even finish telling you and you’re already laughing. What’s so funny?” Zach asked.

  “Dutch got you with that mustache story,” Travis said.

  Zach blinked. “Are you saying that old codger pulled one over on me?”

  “Dutch does it every year,” Emma said.
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br />   “That cowboy better sleep with his eyes open.” Zach shook his head. “But yeah, I’m happy to pick up the slack. Whatever you need. You can fill me in tomorrow.” He looked to Emma. “I guess I should have asked Emma first. She’s the one who has to work with me.”

  “It will be fine,” she said. Because it had to be—the entire program depended on him.

  “Great. Thank you,” Travis said. “And Zach, you’ve probably saved the Holiday Roundup.”

  Zach’s gaze met Emma’s, and he rolled his eyes at the irony.

  “Okay, I’ll let you go. By the way, Emma, Lucy said the greenery is ready to be picked up tomorrow.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Her team assignments for the tree sales are in her office.” He chuckled. “Hope you can find them in that mess.”

  “Iris can dig them out for me.”

  “Great. Night, folks.”

  Zach turned to her. “Greenery tomorrow?”

  She handed him his phone and nodded. “Yes. Baxter Farms. It’s a nursery and fresh produce market between here and Pawhuska. You’re welcome to come along.”

  “What time?”

  “Right after lunch? I’ll be bringing the girls because there’s a petting zoo for children.”

  “You have animals on the ranch.”

  “Not sheep or donkeys.”

  He nodded. “I’ve got a lesson with Mick at four. Will we be back in time?”

  “Oh, yes. This will take maybe two hours, tops.”

  “Then I’m in. Do you mind if we take my truck? There’s more room for my knee.”

  “Not a problem, except that means I get to navigate.”

  Zach’s eyes widened.

  “I saw that.”

  “Emma, it’s a documented fact that you’re genetically direction challenged.”

  “This is only a few miles down the road.”

  “Yeah, that’s what you said when we were going to the State Fair.”

  Her mouth dropped open for a moment and she stared at him. “That was years ago and it was in Tulsa. A town I was not familiar with.” She huffed. “I can’t believe you pulled that out of your saddlebag like it was yesterday.”

  “Some memories refuse to die.”

  “Well, relax. My cell phone provides excellent directions. No worries.”

  “If you say so.” He moved toward the door, hands in pockets, then turned and glanced around. “Nice little house.”