Long, Tall Cowboy Christmas

by Carolyn Brown

  “Mama would have thrown a hissy if she’d known what you and Brody did.” Kasey stripped down to her underwear and redressed. “Now I’ll show you around, but while we’re lookin’ tell me about the honeymoon.”

  “My mother would have put me in a convent if she’d known half the things we did,” Lila said. “The honeymoon was wonderful. The little resort was fabulous.”

  “And?” Kasey slung open the door right across the landing from her room. “This is going to be Emma’s room while we are here. Did you ever leave the bedroom or did you rely on room service to keep your energy up and going?”

  “What happens on a thirty-six-hour honeymoon stays in the resort. Emma will love this room, but it needs some of her toys and dolls in it,” Lila said. “How are you holding up?”

  “Not so good,” Kasey admitted. “Nash really thinks we’re married and…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Sex?”

  “The doctor helped me out by telling him there would be no sex until we go back for his checkup, so I’m sleeping upstairs until then. But that only goes so far. No sex doesn’t mean no cuddling on the sofa or kisses good night. And I feel like I’m cheating on Adam every time.” She slung open a door. “I bet the last baby in this crib was Nash’s mother and then only when they came to this part of Texas for a visit. His mother would have been a granddaughter to Minnie, who was his great-grandma. Sometimes family trees get confusing.”

  Lila nodded. “You’re changing the subject, but that’s okay. I’d be uncomfortable in your shoes, too. And, Kasey, the first time I went out on a date after I moved away from Happy, I felt like I was cheating on Brody. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Now, let’s take a look around this room. The crib looks sturdy enough to hold Silas.”

  “It only has to hold up a few weeks. Once Nash can drive and I’m sure his brain is fine, we’ll be back home,” Kasey said. “Now on to the room where I’m sleeping.” She stood back and let her peek into the third bedroom. “You’ve been in my room and that’s about it except for the bathroom. To tell the truth, Lila, I liked his kisses this morning, and when he whispered that he thought I was beautiful in my”—she made air quotes—“ ‘no hanky-panky’ getup—well, I hate to admit it but my hormones screamed like fire sirens.”

  Lila giggled. “You’re young. It’s been two years since Adam passed, and it’s okay for you to feel something when a sexy man kisses you or touches you.”

  “Then why do I feel so guilty?”

  “It’s built into us, but we can fight it,” Lila said.

  “I’m not sure I want to do battle with the guilt or that I have the energy.” Kasey sighed.

  “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”

  “But Nash is going to wake up one of these days, and he’s going to be embarrassed that he even thought we were married, and he’ll realize it was just an elusive dream brought on by his head injury.”

  Lila glanced inside the upstairs bathroom. “Emma is going to love that oversize tub. She’ll call it her swimming pool. What you said about elusive dreams reminds me of that old George Jones and Tammy Wynette song.”

  “Yep.” Kasey’s head bobbed up and down. “Granny plays that old vinyl pretty often. I bought her the CD for Christmas last year but she likes the vinyl better.”

  “Must be a memory that Granny is reliving. You ever think that maybe this whole situation has come into your life to help you and her both move on?”

  “Honey, I’m home.” The squeak of the back door hinges and Nash’s voice floated up the stairs.

  “Be right down. Lila and I are up here,” Kasey said.

  He waited at the bottom of the stairs and slung an arm around Kasey when she hit the bottom step.

  “Hi, Nash,” Lila said as if she’d known him forever.

  “Hello. You must be Lila.” His brow wrinkled as he obviously tried to remember. “Kasey said you were coming over this mornin’.”

  “Yes, I am.” Lila smiled. “I’m so sorry about the accident, but we’re all hoping that everything straightens itself out real soon.”

  Nash nodded. “Me, too, and I’m so sorry that I can’t remember you, but bear with me because I will.” His face lit up in a smile as he kissed Kasey on top of the head. “We’ve got about half an hour before we go to Amarillo to the doctor’s appointment and I should clean up a little bit. You going with us, Lila?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ve got some computer work to do this morning and dinner and supper to get ready for the guys at our ranch. Granny is going to the church to make final plans for the Christmas play. She and Rosalie have been talkin’ about it on the phone all mornin’. She’s volunteered me and Brody to be part of the live nativity that evening. Would you have ever thought that the wild child of Happy would be playing the mother of Christ?”

  “Wild child?” Nash asked.

  Kasey stood up. “I’ll tell you all about it on the way to the doctor’s office. I need to get ready to go. You sure you don’t want to go with us, Lila?”

  “Better not. Dawsons get cranky when they’re hungry, and I’m not sure either of those cowboys can cook, so I’d better go on back and make sure there’s food on the table at noon.” She turned back to Nash. “It’s mighty sweet of you to move from your side of Texas out here to the flat land.”

  “I’d go anywhere to make Kasey happy, and my grandmother thought it would be good for us to be close to her family,” Nash said.

  “Kasey does love her folks. See y’all later.” Lila waved as she left.

  While Nash was in his room getting ready, Kasey raced back up to the bathroom, applied a little makeup, and flipped her unruly hair into a messy bun, holding it there with a clip and two bobby pins. She sprayed perfume on her wrists and neck and then started back to the foyer.

  Nash was leaning against the wall beside the coat tree at the bottom of the stairs. Despite what Lila said, another wave of guilt washed over Kasey when Nash held out a hand. When she tucked hers into it, he pulled both of her hands up around his neck and began to sing an old George Strait two-stepping tune, “Oh, What a Perfect Day.”

  He was an excellent dancer and she didn’t even mind that a couple of notes were flat or that his deep voice was a hell of a lot more southern than George’s. For two minutes she left guilt behind and enjoyed the dance. But when he stopped humming, tilted her chin up with his knuckles, and kissed her passionately the moment came to an abrupt halt. She stepped back and just barely caught herself before she went up to kiss him again.

  “Something wrong?” Nash asked.

  “We’re going to be late if we don’t get on the road,” she told him.

  “Dr. Paulson can wait. Kissing you is more important.” His brown eyes glittered with happiness as he opened the door for her.

  Whistling the whole way to the truck, he kept a hand on her lower back all the way to the passenger’s side. She stopped so quickly that he took two steps before he realized that she wasn’t beside him.

  “What did you forget?” he asked.

  “What did you forget?” she asked. “You’re not supposed to be driving. So we are taking my van, since the car seats are in it and we need to pick up the kids when we get back into town.”

  “How long until I can get behind the wheel again?” He groaned.

  “Until your doctor’s visit in the middle of December and only then if you remember everything, have no flashbacks, or pass out under stress. The doctor will evaluate you when you go back and make a decision then about driving.”

  “Dammit! I hate being so dependent. Besides, how am I supposed to buy your Christmas presents if I can’t drive to the stores?” He shoved the truck keys back into his pocket.

  She kept walking toward the van with him right behind her. His hand covered hers when she reached for the handle.

  “I may not be able to drive, but I can still be a gentleman and open doors for my gorgeous wife.” He grinned. “Now about those presents? I can’t remember doi
ng any shopping at all.”

  “The children’s stuff is mostly bought and hidden over at Hope Springs. I still have to get Emma’s Santa present, but other than that, it’s fairly well done. I’ve got all the family presents already wrapped even.”

  “You’ve always been organized. When are we bringing it all to our place?”

  “When we get the tree up,” she answered after a split second’s hesitation. “And as for what we buy each other, let’s do something different this year. Why don’t we wait until the last minute and then decide whether we want to buy presents or go to that resort that Lila and Brody went to on their honeymoon? Mama would keep the kids for us, and I bet Jace and Brody would do the chores.” She hoped Nash would have all his broken brain cells back in their rightful place long before that and they’d both be glad that they didn’t have presents under the tree for each other.

  “A whole weekend with just the two of us in a resort. That’s the best Christmas ever.” He fastened her seat belt and was whistling when he got into the passenger’s seat.

  He talked about putting up the tree and asked questions about the kids all the way to the veterans’ center where the therapist’s office was located. Did they like living in the country or did they miss town life? Should he get a Santa suit? When should they invest in cattle so Rustin could groom one for the show pen?

  Kasey’s poor brain was so tired of figuring out how to answer him that she sank into a chair as soon as they were in the small waiting room. Looking around the tiny room and seeing that it was completely empty made her even happier. Thirty minutes of silence was going to be heavenly. She picked up a magazine, but before she could even open it the receptionist told Nash it was his turn.

  He took Kasey’s hand in his and pulled her up with him as he stood. “I want you to go in with me today and meet the doctor.”

  “You sure about this? I don’t think I’m supposed to be there. This is between you and the doctor.” Kasey held back.

  He tugged on her hand. “I want her to meet you.”

  “Okay, but then I’ll probably have to leave,” Kasey agreed.

  The doctor raised an eyebrow when she looked up from behind her desk. “And who have you brought with you today?” she asked.

  “My wife, Kasey. I’m sure I’ve told you all about her,” he answered.

  “Yes, you have mentioned Kasey several times. I’m glad to meet you and glad that you could join us today. Sit.” She motioned toward the two chairs across from her. “And tell me about your week, Nash.”

  “Nice to meet you as well, but I can wait out there.” Kasey turned to go to the waiting room.

  “Please stay.” Dr. Paulson smiled. “I’d like it very much.”

  Nash started talking the moment they were both seated. “It’s been an amazing week. Other than falling out of a tree and hitting my head, causing my second concussion and a little temporary amnesia, that is. But hey, I’ve got a wonderful wife and three kids to help me get my memory all back, and when I go back for my checkup the doctor will probably let me start driving again.”

  Kasey fought the heat rising from her neck to her cheeks. Why would he have mentioned her in his therapy sessions?

  “So you’re his chauffer for the next few weeks?” Dr. Paulson asked Kasey.

  “Yes, she is,” Nash answered for her. “Kasey was there just minutes after I hit the ground and she called an ambulance. She rode in it with me and they did every test there was to make sure I didn’t have a brain bleed. But I just scrambled my memories,” he said. “When we leave here today we’re going to pick up the kids, go to Kasey’s family ranch across the fence from our place to decorate for Christmas, and then tomorrow night we’re doing our own tree and decorations.”

  “I see, and how do you feel about all this Christmas stuff?” Dr. Paulson asked.

  Nash reached across the room and laced Kasey’s fingers into his. “Great. Just great. There’s nothing in this whole world that I like better than family.”

  Kasey wiggled in the leather wingback chair and scanned the office. A big desk separated them from the doctor. To her, it seemed more like they were in a bank, asking for a loan or maybe starting a savings account. This was not at all what she pictured for a psychiatrist’s office. Bookcases covered the wall behind the desk with volumes and volumes of thick tomes filling the shelves. The aroma of gingerbread coming from a candle on a fancy little stand in the corner filled the whole room.

  “And what about you, Kasey? Do you like Christmas?” Dr. Paulson asked.

  “Love it, but then I love anytime that family can be together,” she said.

  “I know we’re on the clock, but I’ve got to take a little break here and visit the men’s room. Be back in less than five.” He rose up out of the chair and headed out into the waiting room where the restrooms were located.

  “Talk fast and tell me what happened,” the doctor said. “He’s never been this talkative. I usually have to drag every word from him.”

  “After he woke up from his fall, he thought we were married and that he’s father to my three kids. Maybe because I’m the one who first found him. Or maybe because I’m still wearing my wedding band. My husband has been gone for two years now.” She went on to tell the story of Nash’s accident, making it as short as possible.

  “And his doctor encouraged you to let him live in this pretend world?” the therapist asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. Do you disagree?”

  “Not at all. He’s in a fragile state even yet. Without breaking patient/doctor confidentiality, I can say that I’ve only seen him twice, but I’ve been in direct contact with his previous therapist. This is amazing, and hopefully when he does recover his memories, he will realize that he can be happy again. So if you don’t mind doing this, then, honey, you might be helping him more than words can say,” Dr. Paulson said.

  “I have a question, though. What if he likes this world so much that he refuses to leave it?” Kasey asked.

  “That’s not likely, but how you handle the whole thing could either break or make his future. He’s been in a dark place and to see him happy is a miracle.”

  “Well, it is Christmas and—” She heard him returning and quickly changed the subject. “Nash may be part of the nativity scene at the church on the night we have the Christmas program. We’re hoping he can bring a couple of the sheep.”

  “Oh?” Dr. Paulson said. “Tell me about that, Nash.”

  He eased down into the chair again. “I’m looking forward to it. Kasey’s brother Brody and his new wife, Lila, are going to be Mary and Joseph. It will be fun.”

  “Sounds like it. Back to the concussion and memory loss. Are you having headaches?” she asked.

  “Had a stinger last night, but this morning it’s gone.”

  “You need to keep your doctor’s appointments,” she told him.

  “Kasey will see to it. She’s pretty sassy.” Nash smiled. “When do I need to come back here?”

  “Maybe in two weeks this time. December thirteenth at eleven. Does that work?” she asked.

  “Sounds fine to me,” Nash said. “We got anything that day, Kasey?”

  “Not that I know about. Your appointment with the trauma doctor is a couple of days after that.”

  “Good, then we’ll see you then.” Nash stood up and pulled Kasey up by the hand, took the appointment card, and tucked it into his shirt pocket. “Now let’s go find a good Mexican place to eat. I’m hungry.”

  “So you like Mexican food?” Kasey asked as they left the office.

  “You know I do. It’s my favorite. Hey, I remembered something else. This is a good day, darlin’,” he said.

  “Yes, it is,” she agreed.

  * * *

  Nash glanced at the menu the waitress put in front of him and then handed it back to her. “I’m having the double order of fajitas. I’d love a beer with it, but I don’t guess that’s an option, is it, Mrs. Lamont?”

  “Not until the doctor says
you can have alcohol. I’ll have the loaded nachos and sweet tea.” The idea of being anything other than Mrs. McKay sounded really strange.

  “Make that two sweet teas and some of those chips and salsa,” Nash told the waitress.

  “And a side order of guacamole,” Kasey said as she gave her menu to the waitress.

  “I liked Dr. Paulson. So what are we going to do when she dismisses you?”

  “Go back into the service is what I’d planned, but I’m not so sure about that, now that we’ve moved here. It’s really not much of a life for you and the kids, and we have the ranch now. You remember Addy, right?” he asked and went on before she could answer. “She called this morning while I was doing chores and she thinks we should settle down and make a living on the Texas Star. She says if we’ll do that she’ll deed the whole thing over to me. Would that make you happy?”

  “Addy said that?” Kasey asked. “Tell me again why you call your grandmother Addy?”

  “When I was little, they tried to get me to call her Grand-mère, which is the Cajun word for grandmother, but everyone else called her Adelaide and I picked up on that and she became Addy to me. But why are you asking? You know all that, don’t you?”

  “Of course. I was testing you again to see what you remember,” she said quickly.

  “Hey, I am remembering lots of things.” He chuckled. “Okay, then what do you think about settling here?”

  “I like living near my folks, but we should also consider your family in this decision,” she said, cautiously.

  The waitress brought their drinks and appetizers and set them on the table. “Your dinner will be out in a few minutes. Can I get you anything else?”

  “We’re good,” Kasey said.

  “Yes, we are,” Nash whispered. “Couldn’t be better, but I can’t remember a single thing that we’ve bought for the kids’ Christmas. If I don’t have it all together by then, will you make a list so I won’t be in the dark on that morning?”

  “Of course,” she said.