Love Inspired December 2013 - Bundle 2 of 2: Cozy ChristmasHer Holiday HeroJingle Bell Romance

by Valerie Hansen

  “Good. I’ve heard a lot about this place. It’ll be nice to finally see it.” Jake glanced at Josh. “Do you want to take Buttons?”

  “Can I?”

  “Sure. Let’s go.” He stood to the side while Emma and Josh left their house, then he followed them to his car, opening the front passenger door for Emma. “Josh, you can hop in with Shep in the back. I figure you can keep the dogs entertained. I hear you’re good at working with them.”

  Josh blushed but drew himself up tall. “I wanna train them like Mom.”

  When Emma settled herself in the car, she glanced back to make sure Josh sat between the two dogs. Shep was thoroughly trained, but Buttons had only started. She lay down and placed her head on Josh’s lap as if staking her claim to him.

  “Josh was telling me the lesson this morning went well. I know the other parents are happy with what you’re doing.”

  He glanced at her then backed out of her driveway. “The boys are eager to learn.” His gaze slid to her again, a gleam in his eyes. “I’ve been enjoying it.”

  “Did you ever hear anything back from the police about your window?”

  “They managed to pull a print off one of the smooth rocks, but nothing turned up in their database.”

  “That’s because it was Liam,” Josh said from the backseat.

  “What makes you think that?” Jake stopped at a red light, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel.

  “Because I heard him bragging about toilet-papering someone’s house where he used to live. He likes to do stuff like that,” Josh answered.

  Emma twisted toward her son. “That’s not the same thing. I don’t want you saying anything without proof.”

  Josh tilted up his chin. “It was him. I know it.”

  Emma chanced a look toward Jake, trying to read his expression. Tension poured off him, but she wasn’t sure whether it was because they were talking about the other night or the fact he was driving. She shouldn’t have brought it up.

  He’d warned her that driving for him was hard. Did a piece of trash in the road hide a bomb? Would stopping at a light invite a sniper’s shot? He had to keep reassuring himself he was home and safe.

  His chest rose as he dragged in a deep breath. Jake started across the intersection. “Josh, I’m pretty sure it was Liam or one of his friends, too. Since the police haven’t found them, they’ll start to get reckless and mess up. They’ll be caught. Until then I wouldn’t waste any energy thinking about it. I refuse to let someone like Liam ruin today.”

  “Okay,” Josh said. “But when do ya think he’ll get caught?”

  “In time.” His tight grip on the steering wheel loosening some, Jake turned onto the highway that led out of town. “So what are we going to do first?”

  “Caring Canines,” Emma and Josh said at the same time.

  “Not the horses? I’ve heard that Dominic Winters is building up his herd.”

  “When I go to the ranch, Madi and me like to ride. Once we went to the factory Dominic built on part of the ranch.”

  Emma frowned. “You never told me. That’s pretty far from the barn.”

  “We just went to the hill overlooking the factory. Chad went with us. I think Madi bugged him until he did.”

  “Who’s Chad?” Jake drove through the gate to Winter Haven Ranch, the stiffness in his shoulders relaxing.

  “The foreman. Madi has him wrapped around her finger. He lets her do a lot of things.” Josh’s forehead creased. “Maybe I should find out how from her.”

  “Maybe I should say something to Abbey,” Emma said with a chuckle.

  “Mom! You better not. Madi will get mad at me.”

  With laughter in his eyes, Jake looked at Emma. “So how old is this Madi you keep talking about?”

  “Ten. She’s not like most girls. She’s cool.”

  When Jake parked in front of the building that housed Caring Canines, Josh grabbed Buttons and scooted out of the back of the car.

  “He likes coming out here.” Jake watched Josh hurrying into the building.

  “Yeah. Madi and Josh have grown closer since Abbey and I have been working together to get this place going. Don’t tell my son, but Abbey says that Madi has a crush on him.”

  “Probably a good idea. At that age, I didn’t have any interest in girls.”

  She shifted toward him. “So, Jake Tanner, when did you acquire an interest in the opposite sex?”

  “Oh, about eighth grade when the most popular girl asked me to the dance at the end of the year. How about you? When did you become interested in boys?”

  “Ah, I remember it as if it were yesterday. Keith Chambers moved to Tulsa, and the first day he walked into my sixth-grade class, I thought it was love at first sight. Sadly, he didn’t. We did become friends by the end of the year.”

  “See? Girls seem to be into that much earlier than boys.”

  “Because we figure out way before you all that love makes the world go around.”

  His laughter filled the car. It wrapped around her as though his arms embraced her.

  “What a cliché.”

  “But true. I’m not just talking about a man and a woman. I’m talking about friendship, family, the Lord. Love is what it’s all about. Even when I become attached to a pet, that’s a form of love. I don’t want to do anything halfheartedly.”

  “So you either love something or someone or what—hate? Isn’t that the opposite of love?”

  “I don’t think there has to be an either/or. I look for ways to heighten my good feelings about something—someone.” Is that why my feelings for Jake are shifting?

  He leaned toward her, hooking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, then cupping her face. His brown eyes delved deep into hers, assessing, probing for answers. Where do I stand with you? Her heartbeat picked up speed.

  “My grandma used to tell me that God is love and love is God.” The rough pad of his thumb made circles on her cheek, sending chills through her.

  She swallowed hard. “She’s right. Marcella and your grandmother were good friends. I can remember when she died last year how heartbroken Marcella was.”

  “I didn’t get the news of her death until a week later. I was on assignment behind enemy lines. The first thing I did when I came here to live was go to her grave site and say goodbye.” He glanced away. “I fell apart when I saw it. She understood me and was always there to support my decisions. I refused to go to West Point the way my father, her son, wanted. My dad and I had a huge fight over it. That summer between high school and my first year in college I stayed with Grandma. My dad didn’t speak to me for months. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into the service. I was eighteen and needed more time to think about my future. In the end, after I completed my bachelor’s degree, I did sign up but my father was always disappointed I didn’t go to West Point.”

  “I’m so sorry. I know it’s hard when parents have one vision for us and we have a different one. Mine didn’t want me to quit college so I could work and put Sam through his last year. I don’t regret doing that one bit, but they thought I was putting my dreams on hold.” She covered his hand, and his look connected with hers. “I love what I’m doing, and I might never have stumbled across training dogs if it hadn’t happened the way it did. Now my parents understand, especially when they see how Ben is with his service dog.”

  “I wish I could say the general will understand one day. He won’t. The army is his life, and he thinks one way or another it should be mine, even with this injury.” His hand tensed under hers.

  “What are you doing about the medal they want to give you? Veterans Day is only a couple of weeks away.”

  “I don’t know if I can accept it. I…”

  Someone banged on the window next to Emma and she jumped, swiveling around to find Abbey and Josh standing next to the car. “A lot of things can change by then. Give it some more time. I think we’re being summoned.” She pointed her thumb at the two. “I’d like to introduc
e you to my best friend.”

  When she started to open the door, he grasped her hand and stopped her. “Thank you. I appreciate what you’ve done for me.”

  I want more than gratitude. The words were on the tip of her tongue, and she swallowed them. Being friends was all that Jake could handle or want. She would have to settle for that, especially since she wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore.

  When she climbed from the Ford and Jake joined her, Emma made the introductions while Abbey and he shook hands. Then Josh grabbed him and tugged him toward Caring Canines.

  Abbey gave a low whistle. “Good thing I already found my man, or you’d have competition.”

  “For what? We’re friends.”

  “Girlfriend, what I saw on his face when I approached the car didn’t look like friendship to me.”

  Emma blew a breath, lifting her bangs on her forehead. “No, it was only gratitude. Nothing else.” Then she walked after her son and Jake before her best friend had them engaged and the wedding planned.

  *

  Jake watched Madi and Josh racing toward the black barn with a bichon and terrier right beside them. Josh wasn’t going full speed probably in order to allow Madi to keep up. All around Jake were green pastures, black fences and horses. He spied a foal next to its mother nursing in the paddock next to him. There was something about the scene that calmed him.

  “From what you’ve told me about Madi, she’s doing remarkably well since the plane crash.” Emma walked beside him, and Jake fought the urge to slip her hand in his. It would send the wrong message. All he could handle was the friendship she offered.

  “Her injuries involved both of her legs. She had to really work to get where she is today, but she was determined. I have been amazed, but then I think a lot of it had to do with Cottonball, Abbey and Dominic.”

  “So that fluff ball of fur was her therapy dog?”

  “Yeah, a stray Dr. Harris found. She hadn’t been on her own long, thankfully. Madi fell in love with her and the rest is history.”

  “I see a black Lab at the barn. I think there are as many dogs here at the ranch as horses.”

  Emma chuckled. “Not quite but who knows in the future. Abbey has ambitious dreams about Caring Canines. She wants her dogs to help people not only around this area but all over the region.”

  A tall, dark-haired man came out to greet the children. “Is that Chad, the foreman?” Jake slowed his step, his leg aching from walking so much this afternoon, as well as the self-defense lesson in the morning. He wished he’d brought his cane.

  “That’s Abbey’s husband, Dominic. She told me he’d meet us down here. She thought it would be fun for the kids to go riding.”

  “And us?”

  Emma smiled. “Yes, unless you want to stay back.”

  His expression brightened. “I haven’t ridden since I was a teenager, but I used to love it when I went to my grandparents’ farm in Virginia.”

  “Your mother’s parents?”

  “Yes, my mom’s father was an army man, too, but he was in only four years. Not like my dad’s family who all made long careers in the military.”

  “Was your dad’s father a general, too?”

  “Yes.” Jake came to a stop.

  Emma stepped in front of him, and her gaze drew his. “You did your part for eight years. You did all you could. You’ve done nothing wrong. Isn’t the army wanting to give you one of its highest awards an indication of that fact?”

  Shep planted himself right next to Jake, his body pressing against him. Automatically, Jake’s hand went to the top of Shep’s head. His throat thickened. His eyes blurred when he peered into Emma’s beautiful face. “Why was I one of the soldiers to survive? I rarely leave my house. I…” As usual, he couldn’t completely express what he was wrestling with deep inside. Although it hurt his leg, Jake knelt to stroke Shep’s back, relishing the calmness that washed over him when he did.

  Emma stooped next to Jake, laying her hand on his arm. “You aren’t the only one who feels guilty about surviving. Ben went through the same thing when the soldier he was with died. My husband should never have died. He shouldn’t have been up on that ladder. He—” Emma clamped her lips together.

  “He what?”

  She closed her eyes for a second. “This conversation is about you. Not me.”

  Like Jake, she could share only so much before she shut the door on what was going on inside. But that didn’t stop him from wishing she would say more.

  “Mom, aren’t you two coming?” Josh called from the entrance into the barn.

  She rubbed her hand up and down his arm. “Are you up for riding?”

  Jake glimpsed over Emma’s shoulder the eagerness in the kids’ eyes. “Actually, it’ll be a relief not to walk for a while.”

  “Okay. I see Abbey coming.” Emma rose.

  “I’ll be there in a moment.” Jake watched her move away from him, the whole time his hand gliding over Shep, the soft feel of fur beneath his palm.

  He cared for Emma. He needed to pull back emotionally from her. He didn’t want to hurt her. He had nothing to give a woman, and she deserved so much.

  He struggled to his feet as Abbey neared. He’d talked to her earlier about the PTSD therapy group but hadn’t said he would do it. He was nervous. Accepting the dog was one thing but once he participated in a group specializing in PTSD, he was admitting out loud that he needed intensive help.

  Abbey smiled at him and paused. “Are you going to ride with us?”

  “Yes.” He started toward the barn with her. “You have quite a nice training facility with Caring Canines.”

  “I couldn’t have done all of it without Dominic, my father and Emma. They all helped me tremendously. Have you considered joining our group on Monday evenings?”

  “I have and…” The word no wouldn’t come out of his mouth. In that moment he realized he would deeply regret not going. Exhaling a deep breath, he murmured, “Yes, I want to.”

  “Great. Will you start this Monday night?”

  “No, not until next week. This Monday is already full for me.” He realized he should jump right in, but he couldn’t go that far—not yet, but he hoped by next Monday evening he would be able to.

  When Jake neared the barn with Abbey, Josh and Madi came out with their saddled horses, followed by Dominic, leading two others behind him.

  He approached Jake and shook hands with him. “I’m Dominic Winters. Welcome to the ranch.”

  “I hear you’re one of the driving forces behind Caring Canines.” Jake took the reins of one of the geldings.

  “I don’t take any credit for it. That’s Abbey and Emma and their hard work.”

  “Not according to the two ladies.” Jake smiled.

  Dominic threw a look at his wife, his eyes softening. “Supplying the money is the easy part. Josh said something about showing you the stream and woods. It’s Madi’s special place.”

  “Sounds nice.” Jake caught sight of Abbey and Emma bringing their mounts out, their heads bent together as they talked.

  He drew in a long breath, full of the scent of horse, earth and leather. What tension still lingered from driving to the ranch vanished.

  Madi challenged Josh to a race, then both kids climbed onto their mares and spurred their horses forward. Dominic scrambled onto his gelding and hurried after the children.

  Abbey laughed. “We’ll spend the whole ride to the stream trying to keep up with the kids.” Then Abbey mounted her horse and left with Jake and Emma still standing in front of the barn.

  While Shep sat nearby, Jake swung up into the saddle and grinned. “I hope you know where this stream is.”

  “Yes, I’ve been there many times.” Emma mounted her mare and came up beside him. “But I’d rather take it nice and easy.”

  By the time Jake and Emma arrived at the stream with Shep trotting alongside, Josh and Madi had rolled up their jeans and were walking in the water that came up to their calves. Dominic and Abbe
y had spread out a blanket under a large oak tree. For a few seconds Jake looked at the couple and envied their idyllic relationship. There had been a time when he’d wished to have what they had. At the moment that dream seemed unattainable.

  He dismounted and tethered his horse to a branch, petted Shep for a few seconds, then made his way with Emma to the blanket. “You’ve got a beautiful place,” he said as he eased down, using the trunk to help him. Shep stretched out near him. “Emma told me you’re trimming your cattle herd and adding horses. How do you manage your ranch and a big business?”

  Dominic exchanged a warm glance with Abbey. “I have a wife who looks the other way when I have to work long hours. But mostly I’ve got good people who work for me, which lets me grab time with my family now and then.”

  As Jake sat and listened to the others, their conversation occasionally sprinkled with laughter, his dream taunted him. It would never happen if he didn’t admit to his problems and do something about them. Coming out to the ranch had shown him he couldn’t remain hiding in his house if he wanted to get better.

  *

  “I had the best time today,” Josh said from the backseat as Jake pulled out onto the highway leading into Cimarron City. “What about you, Jake?”

  His headlights sliced through the darkness, making Jake realize he had stayed longer at the ranch than he had intended—and had enjoyed it. The quiet had appealed to him. “My favorite part was the ride. I’d forgotten how nice it was to be on the back of a horse.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. And the barbecue dinner was great.” Josh yawned. “How about you, Mom?”

  “I always love coming to the ranch. It was nice seeing Nicholas at dinner. He’s growing so fast. Before Abbey knows it, he’ll be one.”

  Jake looked at Emma. In the soft lighting she appeared content, relaxed, luring him to join her—let everything go and relish the moment. He sighed, loosening any tightness gripping him. Today he’d come the closest to feeling normal since the ambush. His hands gripped the steering wheel. The second he thought that word a picture of the mountain village crept into his mind. He shoved it away—not wanting to go down the path that led to memories.