by Debra Holt
His defense mechanism had been to keep her away… to keep a distance. To remind himself and her, that nothing was to be permanent. But he had changed somewhat. And to hear the words Mae had spoken earlier that evening… and the fact she had mentioned the word love… that had opened so many doors in Emma’s thoughts. Could she have fallen so easily and so fast? She certainly hadn’t come to McKenna Springs looking for love. But maybe the saying was true… love is where one least expected to find it. And if Cole was really lowering the walls around his heart? Maybe he was changing that attitude… maybe it was possible?
Another moment from the past week filtered into her mind, a conversation in the car… a couple of days before Cole had left on his trip. It had come about because of Charlie’s sudden and intense interest in Christmas and angels. It had begun benignly enough with her question.
“Do you think we can have a big Christmas tree this year at our house?”
Emma glanced in the rearview mirror at Charlie. They hadn’t even made it to Halloween yet. Her unexpected question caught Emma off guard. Emma hadn’t given Christmas much thought. She wasn’t certain what the child meant. “Don’t you have a big tree each year?”
Charlie shook her head. “Nope. Daddy says since we go to Granny and Grampy’s house for Christmas, and Santa comes there with the packages, we just need a little tree at our house. But I want to have our own tree, a big one this year. With an angel on the top of the tree just like Granny has on hers. Do you think we could find an angel like that one?”
“We can ask Granny where she got hers.” Emma could see in the child’s eyes and hear it in her voice, how important that angel seemed to be to her whole idea of a Christmas tree. “Why is the angel so special? Why not a Christmas star?”
“Granny told me that Christmas angels are special. Sometimes if you ask them for a wish and believe with all your heart, then your wish will come true. I want to ask the angel for my wish.”
“It must be an important wish.” Emma tried to prompt the child to share, but it was clear Charlie was going to keep her wish close to her heart.
Emma smiled at the child’s simple belief. “You can ask your daddy tonight at dinner about the tree.”
Charlie did just that. After being more quiet than normal for her during dinner, Emma gave her a little nudge. “Charlie made an interesting request today when I picked her up at school. Would you like to share it with your dad?”
“It would be really, really good if we can have a tree like Granny has at her house. Not a little tree but a big one. I could help decorate it and we can ask Granny where we can get the angel for the top of it. And it would really be fun to have our own tree like that. Pleeeeese, Daddy? Can we have a big tree this time?”
Cole studied his daughter’s pleading face. It was hard to read what his thoughts were, and Emma had a swift moment of doubt… surely, he couldn’t have an issue with the tree request? Then Cole’s gaze fell on her. “And how do you feel about Charlie’s request? Are you a big tree lover at Christmas time?”
“To be honest, all we ever had when I was growing up was this little three-foot tall silver tinsel tree. I always thought it would be nice to have a real tree, though.”
“See, Daddy? Emma needs a real tree, too… a big one… with an angel.”
Cole’s eyes warmed as they regarded Emma for a moment or two longer, then they fell on his daughter. A smile creased the handsome face. “Then I suppose we should have a big, fresh tree this Christmas.”
Charlie jumped off her chair and ran around the table, her arms going around her daddy’s neck. “Thank you, thank you, oh, thank you! It’s going to be the best tree ever. I can’t wait. When can we get it?”
He laughed, scooping her up in his lap. “When it’s time, maybe we can go pick one out from Wellman’s lot. They always have the best available. But let’s get through the other holidays first. Okay?”
“Can I call Granny? I want to ask her about the angel. And tell her about our tree.”
“Go for it, princess.” He dropped a kiss on her cheek and the child was off in a flash to the phone in the living room.
“You made her very happy.” Emma stood and began clearing the table.
Cole did the same. He followed her into the kitchen and began stacking dishes on the cabinet, while she readied the dishwasher.
“Well, it’s time to have a proper tree in this house. And I’m glad it’ll make you happy, too. I think this Christmas might be one of the best. It’s time we put life back where it belongs.”
She remembered her mother once saying when she was small and they had gazed upon their small little tree with its meager one gift underneath it. All sorts of miracles can happen at Christmas, Emma. You just keep believing… one day they will… you’ll see. She hadn’t thought about those words in a while. Somewhere along the way, she had stopped believing. Maybe this Christmas would bring a possibility of a miracle with it. Maybe it was time to believe again. Maybe.
*
There was a slight smell of bacon drifting past her nose. Coffee, too? Was she dreaming? Emma turned over in her bed and her eyelids opened a bit. It was early. The clock read seven. There was the burning smell again. Her eyes flew wide and the covers were tossed off her and the bed in nothing flat. Something was burning in the house! She flew down the stairs. She wasn’t in the kitchen so what in the world… she needed to call the fire department… get Charlie… and then she came to a screeching halt between the kitchen and the living room. She was framed in the doorway. Her eyes blinked a time or two as she tried to get her heart rate to a semi-normal pace. Two pair of male eyes blinked back at her. Cole and Grampy.
“I smelled something… I thought there was a fire or something in here and…” She noted the way Cole’s eyes were moving down her body and the upturn of his mouth as if something was amusing. Grampy coughed a time or two and studied his coffee mug. Then it dawned on her. She scrambled back up the stairs and did not stop until she was in her room with the door shut.
She had run down the stairs with just her short nightgown on and nothing else. When would she learn? She needed to invest in some long, granny-style pajamas that covered from neck to toe. Her face burned with embarrassment… mostly because of Grampy. Cole was used to seeing her in such a state… on occasion. What must Vernon think? And he’ll tell Mae. Oh, dear.
She didn’t return to the kitchen until she was fully dressed. That meant jeans, long-sleeved cowl-neck navy blue sweater and her hair and makeup presentable. She wore a pair of soft boots she had invested in the previous week. Charlie had joined Grampy at one of the bar stools and they all smiled when she walked in. Going to the coffee pot, she took her time pouring a cup for herself. Taking a sip, she then put a smile on her face and turned to face the three.
“Good morning. Sorry about earlier. I smelled something burning and assumed the worst. I had no idea anyone would be in the kitchen cooking. Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t call the fire department before racing downstairs. And I don’t usually come down before I’m dressed properly.” Enough. Too much.
Cole stepped over and placed a plate with a short stack of pancakes and crisp bacon on it in front of her. Very crispy bacon by the looks of it. He had a sheepish grin on his face.
“That would have been my first batch of bacon you smelled. It didn’t turn out so well. This batch is still a might crisp, but there’s no more so you’ll just have to try to pretend to eat it. Guess my surprise really was one.”
“I think it’s great. I haven’t had so much excitement in a kitchen in a long time. I think I might need to come by for coffee on the weekends more often.” Vernon grinned at them, a slight wink added for good measure.
“Isn’t it awesome, Emma? Daddy made it home in time to help with the pumpkin. Grampy and daddy and me… we’re going to have the best one ever.” Charlie was so happy at the turn of events.
Emma had to smile. “Well, that is awesome indeed.” She finished the last bite of pancake a
nd did manage to do justice to at least one strip of the crispy bacon. “I’m going to have to get a move on. I said I’d be at the school to help set up and then get back here, change and be back to take in the cakes as they drop them off.” She looked at Cole then and he had that same strange smile on his face. He must have had a good trip. “If you’ll just pop things in the dishwasher, I’ll do the rest when I get back.” She stood and placed her dishes on the cabinet next to the sink. She slid her purse over her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about things here. We’ve got it covered.”
“Mae’s already on the road herself this morning with her errands.” Vernon spoke up. “That reminds me, she gave me something to bring over and I left it in the backseat of the truck. I’ll go get it.”
Before he could rise, Cole stopped him. “You sit and make sure Charlie finishes her milk before we think about that pumpkin. I’ll go get it.”
Emma went out the door ahead of him and she was aware he was right behind her. They reached her truck first. Cole was quick and opened the door for her. She stepped into the space and placed her bag on the passenger seat. Why did she feel like an awkward school girl alone with her first boyfriend? That was the closest analogy she could come up with in the moment.
“Thank you and thanks for breakfast. I can’t believe you made it home in time. I thought your flight couldn’t get out until late this afternoon?”
He grinned and she marveled at the transformation. He was good-looking before but this new version of Cole Drayton was downright awesome. His smile went straight to her heart.
“It couldn’t, but I could. I rented a truck and we drove on through.”
“But the storm and all…”
“No storm was going to keep me from such an important night for Charlie. And there’s some unfinished business you and I need to discuss that’s pretty important. I’ve thought about that a lot while I was gone.”
“Me, too.”
“I would hope for at least a smile when you said that, so now I’m worried that your thoughts might not be in line with mine.” He had stopped smiling, too.
“I had a talk with Mae earlier this week. She told me about everything… Charlie’s mom… your brother… everything. It explained a lot about your attitude when I first came. At least, it did to me. I’m sorry about the way I behaved when I found out about the background check, and however else I might have come across. I know you’re protecting your daughter and family… and you, from anyone or anything else that might bring another heartbreak.”
“That was a bad time. It was a conversation I thought you and I needed to have this weekend. But I’m glad Mom was able to talk about it.”
“She lost a son in all of it. There’s just so much hurt to go around. But you must know I would never do anything to hurt them or Charlie. They mean too much to me.”
“And should I ask if I figure into that equation?” His silver-gray eyes locked on hers and she felt that drowning sensation.
The realization came that she had already gone under for the third time. She was a goner in just three months. You were right, Mae. She had fallen in that foreign malady called love… and with a Texas lawman. Worst of all, she had no idea what to do about it.
“If you must take that long in thinking of an answer, I think we should forget that—”
“No!” The word came out a bit louder than she planned. “Don’t get the wrong idea. You do figure into it. I… I just think we have things to talk about and maybe this isn’t exactly the perfect place.” She smiled and waved at the little girl watching from the window.
Cole understood and nodded. “You’re right. We’ll postpone this conversation for another time when we are truly alone.” She slid into the driver’s side and he shut the door, leaning in through the open window.
A swift kiss went on her check and she felt the warmth rise like a tide through her body. His gaze locked on hers.
“Be careful and hurry home.” He stepped back and waited for her to back out and head down the drive. She glanced in her mirror and he was still watching as she drove away. That brought a wide smile to her whole being. It’s possible. It’s really possible.
Chapter Ten
The silly phrase kept repeating itself in her brain all through the day. It’s possible. She was being ridiculous. She needed to concentrate on other things. But it was hard to do whenever she looked up, it seemed Cole was always someplace in her viewing area. Of course, the courtyard and gym and cafeteria were all pretty much in the same area so it would be hard to not see the same people two or three times… or more. And the fact that he was taller than most, and he was looking very hot… in the good sense of the word… in the deep blue western cut shirt and black jeans, black boots, and black Stetson… yep. He was hard to overlook.
“Isn’t it childish how some females just make a ridiculous spectacle of themselves whenever a single, good-looking man comes in the room?” Darcy’s words brought Emma out of her thoughts and she straightened from the counter and looked at the woman lining up the next selection of cakes and pies to go on the auction block. Darcy had brought a few of the baked goods from her diner and she had volunteered to help Emma, also. They were having a good time of it, too.
“What are you talking about now?”
“Some of the females in this town, who become simpering idiots over some guys when the rest of the time they’re usually smart women. I don’t understand it. And when the guy is clearly not interested and has already set his sights on some other female, they just don’t give it a rest. Pathetic. Shoot me if I ever exhibit any of those symptoms.”
“Can you be more specific, or dare I ask?”
Darcy nodded toward three women standing across the room at the dart throw. Emma looked that way and then her attention was caught and held.
“Jennifer, Chloe, and Ashley. They are making fools of themselves over our sheriff there.”
Cole was standing with an older couple and the three women were smiling too brightly and fluffing their hair and acting foolish a few feet from him. Emma could certainly agree with Darcy. Her gaze stayed on Cole. To his credit, he wasn’t being taken in by their acts.
“They just don’t stand a chance, you said? Why do you think that?” Emma dared to ask the question but she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.
She felt confusion. Was Cole interested in someone? Did Darcy know who it was? Did Emma want to know?
“Because the man clearly is taken. And we both know by who… or is it whom?”
Emma’s gaze swung to Darcy. “We know who?”
Darcy looked at her and then a grin spread on her face. “Are you serious? You really don’t know, do you? The guy is taken. I never thought I would say that. But I agree with his selection, so I’ll say it. It’s you. Cole Drayton has eyes only for you. Case in point… he’s looking this way right now. And it isn’t one of these fine cakes that he’s eyeing.”
Emma swung her head around and met the silver-gray eyes locked on her. Was she blushing? There was a warmth creeping up her neck and her cheeks were feeling a bit heated. Why couldn’t she play it off and be more sophisticated about it? She picked up a roll of tickets and began re-rolling them. She needed something to do.
“I think you’re mistaken.”
“So, you don’t like him. I can let those ladies know they might—”
“I didn’t say that, did I?” Then she saw Darcy’s smile and knew she had been caught easily enough. “It isn’t amusing, Darcy.”
“I know. It’s sweet. And I think it’s perfect.”
“You do? What makes you say that?”
“Because I’ve known him practically all our lives. He’s a good, decent man and they are rare these days. And I know what he went through with Charlie’s mom and all. He deserves someone good this time. I think you deserve each other. And that is all I will say on the subject. Except… if you ever need someone to listen about anything… or anyone… you know where I live. Now, let’
s sell some cakes.”
Ten minutes later, Davis McKenna came by the booth with a pretty lady he introduced as his wife, Stacy. “Just warning you ladies, I intend to win that last lemon meringue pie over there. I’ve had my eye on it ever since Darcy took it out of the box.”
“Then you better buy your tickets and take your chances,” Darcy said, holding out her hand for her brother to drop some cash into it. He did just that.
“Do you think you really need that pie?” His wife gave him one of those looks that have specific meanings between married couples.
Emma smiled at how different the tall ranger seemed around his wife. And it was obvious to see that he was quite taken with her.
“I may not need it, but I want it.”
“Emma, you may not know it, but my brother married up. Stacy is a best-selling author. She writes great romances. You’ll have to try one.”
“That’s amazing,” Emma said. “I’d love to read one.”
“And I should have worn my t-shirt.” Davis added.
Darcy rolled her eyes and Stacy looked to the ceiling. “Here it comes.”
Emma was mystified. Then Davis clued her in. “I have a shirt that says on the front… ‘I married a romance writer.’ On the back, it says… ‘yes, I am the inspiration for paragraph two of chapter four, page eight’.”
Emma burst out laughing. The others joined in.
“He must have told the one about his t-shirt.” Cole had walked up to join the group, standing closest to Emma at the counter.
“So, this is a legendary story in these parts?” Emma grinned at the ranger.
“That’s one way to put it,” Stacy replied. “While you work on getting that pie, I’m going over to the quilt exhibition. I have my eye on that yellow, rose petal one.”
