Boughs of Holly

by Shanna Hatfield

  “It’s still delicious, honey,” Sam said, scowling at Seth across the table.

  Seth ignored his grandfather and finished his meal in silence.

  Before Holly could get up to do the dishes, Seth was already setting them in the dishwasher. He poured the leftover soup in a big bowl to cool then wiped his hands on a dishtowel.

  “We’ll try to get your car dug out, Holly, but I can’t make any promises. Are you okay staying here for awhile?” Seth asked, leaning against the counter as she helped Sam use the walker to get to his feet.

  “I can stay as long as needed. My supervisor gave me the okay. I just need to figure out a way to get a few clothes and personal items.”

  “Seth can take you into town and buy whatever you need. Or, he can take you home if you want. Won’t you, son?”

  “Not today I won’t, Pops.” Seth proceeded to tell his grandfather about Ivy and her baby, the foot of new snow they’d received, and the fact he had no plans to drive all the way down the mountain for Holly to retrieve some personal items.

  “But you can’t expect this poor girl not to have a few of her things for days on end,” Sam argued.

  “It’s okay, Sam. I’ll make do,” Holly said, glad she at least had a comb and mascara in her purse. Otherwise, she would really be in dire straits.

  “No, you won’t. Seth can fix this and he will. Right now.” Sam glowered at Seth, daring him to argue.

  “Fine. I’ll fix it.” Seth stormed out of the room. He returned to the kitchen speaking on his cell phone. She couldn’t make heads or tails of the one-sided conversation, as she and Sam slowly made their way to the family room where Sam collapsed in his recliner.

  Seth followed them as he disconnected the call. He was doing something on his phone as he glanced at Holly. “Can you get someone to pack a few things for you and drop them off here?” he held his phone out to her.

  She glanced at his phone, familiar with the photo of the gas station she’d passed on her way up the mountain. “I think so. What time?”

  “I have a friend who’ll be driving past there at three. If you have someone who can either meet them there or leave your things inside at the front counter, he’ll pick them up.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Holly took her phone from her pocket and went to the guest room to make the call.

  She returned to the family room to find Seth and Sam engaged in a staring showdown. Both men were so stubborn, she had no idea who might win, but she didn’t care to find out. Instead, she stepped between them and smiled at Seth. “Someone will leave my things there by three. Thank you so much, Seth.”

  “No problem. He’ll call when he’s close to Faraday and I’ll run into town to pick up your stuff.”

  Holly nodded, wishing she could go with Seth into town. Faraday appeared so quaint and charming, especially with a camel living there.

  “She should go with you,” Sam said.

  “Oh, I think it’s best I stay right here with you.” Holly took a step back and placed her hand on Sam’s shoulder.

  “Nope. I’ll be fine for the time it takes the two of you to run into town. Besides, I’m not used to having people fuss over me all the time. Too much attention might just go to my head.”

  Holly smiled and kissed the old man’s leathery cheek. “No chance of that happening.”

  Seth chuckled. “You’d be surprised,” he said, earning another irritated glare from his grandfather. “On that note, I’ve got work to do.”

  Holly watched him disappear into the kitchen, admiring how well he filled out his jeans and pondering how she’d make it through Sam’s recovery without losing her heart to the two Stafford men.

  Chapter Six

  Seth dressed in a pair of insulated coveralls before he headed out to the barn to check on Ivy and her baby.

  He looked into the stall, pleased to see the calf already starting to perk up. Ivy glanced at him and mooed. He reached over the stall door and rubbed a hand over her head and along her neck. “Next time don’t be so dad-blamed stubborn about coming to the barn, Ivy, girl. Or maybe have your calf earlier, like you were supposed to, so he isn’t born in a snowstorm. Hmm?”

  The cow mooed again then nuzzled her baby.

  “You keep a good eye on him, Ivy. I’ll be back to check on you soon.” Seth left the barn and attended to several chores that had been neglected between the Thanksgiving holiday, his grandfather coming home then running off the first nurse, and the snow.

  He’d asked Andy to plow down the driveway first thing that morning, which was part of the reason Holly’s little car was completely buried. She’d parked it in a place where Andy couldn’t help but plow snow over it when he was clearing the driveway. They’d worry about digging it out later. If that obstinate woman thought he’d let her drive anywhere in her ridiculous toy car, she better think again.

  Not that he cared what she did, he rushed to remind himself. In fact, he couldn’t even think about spending the next two months with her around. She was annoying and irritating and had no clue about life on a ranch. Good grief, she wouldn’t even eat meat! What was he supposed to feed her? If she thought he’d stock up on tofu and weird milk made from nut juice, it wasn’t happening. She could eat what they ate or leave.

  Briefly, he considered grilling thick, juicy steaks for dinner. Would she take one look at the beef and run back to Portland?

  Somehow, he doubted it. She’d actually been very helpful today. The last person he expected to see in the barn earlier was Holly, but she’d done everything he asked without question. He supposed part of that might come from her training as a nurse. And although it pained him to admit it, the soup she made for lunch was tasty, even if it could have used some tender pieces of flavorful beef.

  Seth loaded the feed wagon, letting his thoughts drift to early this morning when she’d wandered into the kitchen looking sleep-tousled and entirely too alluring wearing his T-shirt and those fuzzy socks. He recalled her shapely long legs that went on for miles and the untamed riot of hair that fell down her back. And those eyes, all soft and inviting. Normally, Seth didn’t like gray because it reminded him of fog, but Holly’s eyes were amazing and far too mesmerizing.

  As tempted as he was to march back in the house, haul her into his arms, and kiss her just to see if she’d taste as luscious as he imagined, he had to get a handle on his thoughts where she was concerned.

  His interest in the nurse was probably a completely rational reaction to an attractive woman. After all, his last date had been so long ago, he could barely recall when it had taken place.

  A sudden thought struck him. He never bothered to ask if Holly was single, married, in a relationship or anything else. He had no idea if she had siblings or parents in the area. She could be a mother with five kids at home.

  For some reason, thoughts of her as a mother, of having kids who’d miss her while she was stuck on the ranch, made his conscience prick with guilt. He could put a little effort into getting her on her way home.

  But I don’t want her to go.

  Stunned by that revelation, Seth slammed the door on it and bolted it shut for good measure. Holly was nothing but trouble. Trouble he had no time or patience for. He’d do well to remember that the next time he started envisioning those long legs of hers or the adorable smattering of freckles dotting her pert nose.

  An hour later, Seth watched a pickup park by the barn and a beautiful woman step out.

  “I’m glad you could make it,” he called waving to Angela Carol, Faraday’s veterinarian.

  “Hey, Seth. I’m glad I could, too. Thanks for plowing the driveway. Even in four-wheel drive, it was a bit of a rough trip.” She smiled at him as she took a bag from her pickup and followed him inside the barn.

  “I had Andy plow this morning. We should probably do it again today, but there seems to be too many things requiring attention all at once.”

  “Isn’t that how it goes on a ranch?” Angela asked with a teasing grin. “Now,
let’s see Ivy’s baby.”

  Seth led her to the stall at the back of the barn. Angela went inside and checked the little one then gave Ivy a once over. “Just keep drenching this little guy with the electrolytes until he gets over the scours. He should be much improved in a day or two.” She patted Ivy on the back. “You shouldn’t be so sneaky with your babies, Ivy.”

  “I tried telling her the same thing,” Seth said, directing Angela to the sink in the barn. They both washed up then he walked her out to her pickup. “Would you like to come in for something hot to drink? You could meet Pops’ new nurse.”

  “I heard the first one missed her calling as a tank in the Army.”

  Seth chuckled. “Something like that. Come on in for a minute. Pops will be happy to see you.”

  Angela glanced at her watch and nodded. “I can spare a few minutes, but then I need to head back to town so I can pick up Nick after school.”

  “How’s he doing? Drake said he enjoys having him in his class.” Seth held the back door while Angela stamped the snow from her boots and stepped inside.

  “Nick’s great,” she said with uncharacteristic stiffness. She removed her boots and coat, leaving them by the door. Her face held some unreadable expression Seth didn’t take time to interpret as he hurried to shuck out of his boots and coveralls. He led her through the kitchen then on into the family room.

  Holly was helping Sam with the basic exercises his doctor wanted him to start doing. She glanced up and smiled. “Oh, hello.”

  “Angela Carol, this is Holly Jones, Pops’ nurse.”

  Holly reached out a hand to shake the one Angela had extended. “It’s so nice to meet you. Are you the veterinarian?”

  Angela smiled and moved over to where Pops shifted so he sat upright on the couch. “I am. Welcome to Faraday. Is your patient being cooperative?”

  Sam grinned at Angela. “I can’t believe you even have to ask. I’m a model patient, aren’t I, honey?”

  “You have been, so far,” Holly agreed, giving Sam an indulgent smile.

  Angela rolled her eyes and took a seat on the couch while Holly followed Seth to the kitchen.

  “What can I help with,” she asked, startling him as he reached up to lift mugs out of the cupboard.

  Holly grabbed the one he dropped before it hit the floor.

  “Good catch. Thanks.” He nodded at her in approval. “I’m just making something hot to drink. Would you like some hot chocolate?”

  “That sounds great. Do you have marshmallows?” Holly took down the rest of the mugs while Seth retrieved a canister of cocoa mix from the pantry.

  He jiggled a bag of marshmallows at her then tossed them on the counter. “You might as well not have the chocolate if you can’t stuff the cup full of marshmallows.”

  She gave him a long glance. “Be still my heart. I’ve finally met a man who knows the proper way to drink hot chocolate.”

  His grin broadened as he spooned mix into the mugs then she added the hot water. He stirred while she added marshmallows. Seth set cookies from a tin on top of the fridge on a tray he retrieved from the pantry then added the four mugs. Holly grabbed napkins from a basket by the microwave and followed him to the family room.

  He attentively listened as Angela asked Holly about her family. He already knew Holly was an only child, raised by a free-spirited mother who uprooted them every few months. But he learned she wasn’t married, and shared a house with three other nurses. He was shocked to discover the past year she’d spent in Portland was the longest she’d ever lived anywhere. Seth couldn’t even imagine having such a nomadic lifestyle. He loved every square inch of Stafford Ranch and had no desire to ever leave it. What would it be like to have no roots, no family to speak of, no one to worry if you didn’t make it home one evening?

  Angela had barely left when Seth received a text from his friend that he’d be in Faraday in half an hour.

  “I need to head into town to pick up your stuff, Holly,” Seth said, interrupting the conversation she was having with his grandfather about the merits of eating a meat-free diet.

  “Take her along, Seth. She needs to see a little of the town.”

  Seth wanted to argue, but the hopeful look on Holly’s face made him clamp his jaw shut. Slowly he nodded his head in agreement. “Be ready to go in five minutes.”

  He went out and started his pickup, backing it out of the garage. The nice thing to do would be to clean off Holly’s car and park it inside until the spring thaw, because other than hauling it out on Rhett’s tow truck or a flatbed trailer, he had no idea how she’d make it back to the highway in that thing. Maybe he’d see about digging her car out tomorrow.

  Maybe.

  Holly rushed outside, bundled into her coat, pulling on her gloves as she strode down the back walk he’d had Brian shovel off after lunch. Pistol and Bullet both ran over to greet her. She stopped mid-stride and froze as the dogs sniffed her. Bullet nudged her hand, wanting a pet, while Pistol leaned close, whipping her with his stubby, wagging tail.

  Seth chuckled. “You’ve just been Pistol whipped and lived to tell the tale.”

  She looked up at him, eyes bright with curiosity, and smiled. “Pistol whipped?”

  Seth hunkered down and scratched behind the ears of a cream-colored canine with reddish brown spots on his coat and a dark brown circle around his right eye. The dog lifted eyes nearly the same pale hue as his owner’s and licked Seth’s cheek. “Hey, now, Pistol. Save your kisses for the pretty ladies.” Seth looked at Holly as he continued to pet the dog. “This is Pistol. The one forcing you to pet him is Bullet. They’re brothers.”

  “Nice to meet you Pistol and Bullet.” Holly let her hand trail over the silver-furred dog with dark black freckles and a white stripe running down his face. “Are you good boys?”

  The wagging accelerated, drawing out her laughter. The sound threw Seth so far off guard that he almost fell over in the snow. Snatching his composure together, he tamped down his interest in making Holly laugh again just to hear the delightful sound of it.

  Abruptly, he rose to his feet. “We better get going.” His voice sounded harsh and cool even to him.

  Holly shot him an odd look as she hurried around his pickup. Before she opened the door, Seth rushed to do it, remembering his manners. He gave her a hand as she climbed inside and then closed the door, wondering why he’d ever agreed to let her come along. If the roads weren’t too bad, the round trip should take less than an hour.

  He could survive for sixty minutes.

  Holly remained quiet as Seth navigated the driveway and pulled onto the highway. Enough traffic had gone up and down the road after it had been plowed to break up the snow and keep it from freezing over.

  “Who are we meeting?” Holly asked as they drove toward Faraday.

  “I have a friend who works evenings at the ski resort. He usually drives through Faraday around four each afternoon, so I figured I’d try to catch him.” Seth glanced over at Holly, wondering how she could look even lovelier than she had earlier. The fresh air appeared to invigorate her, as her cheeks glowed pink and her eyes swept the landscape, trying to take everything in at once.

  Seth slowed as he drove past Rhett’s place so she could get a gander at Lolly.

  The camel wasn’t in her pasture, but wandered across the yard of the house next door.

  “Is she supposed to be over there?” Holly asked as Seth tooted his horn and Lolly lifted her head, looking around, as though she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.

  “No, she isn’t supposed to be over there, but Rhett has tried everything to get her to stay in. We’re convinced she has magical powers of transportation because she can be in the middle of the pasture one minute and on the neighbor’s porch the next time you blink.”

  “And the neighbor doesn’t like her?”

  “Oh, I think she does, now.” Seth didn’t mention the one the neighbor appeared to loathe was Rhett, not the camel.

  “
Is she good-tempered?” Holly asked

  Seth grinned and swiveled his head toward her. “The camel or the neighbor?”

  Holly smiled. “Both, now that you asked.”

  He chuckled. “Then I’d say they are except when crossed, lied to, or angered beyond reason.”

  Holly frowned. “Are we still talking about the camel or is it the neighbor?”

  Seth looked out the window again. “Both.”

  As they headed into Faraday, he pointed out some of the businesses and stores. He showed her the café owned by the Miller family, the hardware store, the post office, bank, and the antique store.

  He drove to the gas station with a large mechanic’s garage. A sign that read “Faraday Garage” was painted in block letters across the top of the building by the bay doors. In a glass-fronted waiting area, lights twinkled and glowed in the dusky light. Seth parked the pickup and opened his door as a big SUV pulled up beside him.

  Seth got out and shook hands with a man who looked like a ski bum, from his wind-chapped cheeks to the light-reflective ski pants and coat he wore. “Hey, dude! How was the drive?”

  He thought Holly would stay inside the pickup where it was warm, but she hurried around and held out a hand in greeting. “Hi. I’m Holly.”

  “And I’m jolly,” the guy said, giving her a toothy grin.

  Seth should have known Dave would start flirting within seconds of meeting her. “Holly, this is Dave Runyon, ski bum extraordinaire. Dave, this is Holly Jones, Pops’ nurse.”

  Dave smiled again, still holding onto Holly’s hand. “I’d willingly break or dislocate something if you’d take care of me.”

  “Man, take it down a notch,” Seth growled, scowling at his friend. They’d known each other since high school, although he sometimes wondered if Dave didn’t think he was still eighteen with the grown-up world waiting just a step ahead of him.

  Holly pulled her hand back from Dave’s clasp and stuffed it in her coat pocket.

  “I’ve got her things in the back,” Dave said, opening the back of the SUV.

  Seth expected a suitcase, maybe two. He did not anticipate four pieces of luggage, a garment bag, and a large lidded box. He glanced at Holly. “Travel light, do you?”