A Cowboy's Christmas

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  That part about going from a highly structured environment to no structure at all hit home. He’d managed his trust fund well since getting control of it at twenty-five. He’d added a chunk to it while in the military. He’d never have to work another day in his life.

  But he desperately needed something to do. He recognized that fact. He just wasn’t convinced flying commuter planes out of Eagles Nest was the answer.

  To his immense relief, Ryker dropped the subject. Putting the Beechcraft through a couple of barrel rolls helped release some stress. He whooped and hollered like a kid and Ryker joined right in. He did some touch and goes on the runway and the Beechcraft proved as nimble as he’d expected.

  Becoming part of Badger Air and flying with Ryker would be fun, no question, but committing to it could end up being a huge mistake.

  He didn’t have his shit together. He didn’t know where he belonged or what he wanted to do with his life. He’d hoped the answer would come to him in the military, but no such luck.

  He’d had some vague notion that maybe he’d land in Montana and immediately bond with the place. Not so much. The scenery was spectacular but cold as hell and completely unfamiliar. The town was cute but so different from what he was used to. He had the wrong clothes.

  Maybe he did need Ryker and this airline to give him purpose, but his folks would have a coronary if he made that move. Also, if he agreed to join up with Ryker and it all went south, that would destroy their friendship. He wasn’t about to take that chance.

  Chapter Eight

  Walking into the Guzzling Grizzly each Christmas vacation was always a treat for Hayley, especially when she could enjoy lunch with her mom. The place was bustling with customers as usual, and the level of cheerful conversation almost drowned out the sound system’s cowboy-themed holiday music.

  The clever decorations likely contributed to everyone’s upbeat mood. Last year’s had been nice, but they couldn’t compare with these. Coiled lariats twined with pine and holly hung at intervals above the polished wooden bar. Christmas lights in the shape of small horseshoes surrounded the mirrored shelving behind the bar and the reflected glow bathed the various bottles lining the shelves.

  A huge wreath made from a wagon wheel dominated one wall of the large room, and a gorgeous blue spruce in the far corner of the bandstand twinkled with white lights and a garland of red and green bandanas. The ornaments were tiny Stetsons, boots and spurs.

  Last year the serviceable wooden tables had been bare, but now they were decked out with red gingham tablecloths and green cloth napkins. In the center of each table was a child-sized boot filled with small branches of pine and holly.

  Hayley sat across from her mom and left the menu closed as she continued to look around. “The decorations are fantastic. Way more elaborate than I remember.”

  “I’d be willing to bet some of this is Nicole’s doing.”

  “Who’s Nicole?”

  “Bryce McGavin’s girlfriend. He owns the bar, now, and he and Nicole perform here together. They’re really good.”

  “Cool! Will they perform Saturday night at the talent show?”

  “Oh, I’m sure they will. Everyone will want them to.”

  “I can see why they’d want to have the place looking extra good.” Hayley turned in her chair to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. A wreath made of horseshoes, greenery and red bows hung on the far wall and a miniature sleigh filled with wrapped presents sat in a corner.

  “Michael probably got into the swing of it, too. I can picture him hanging wreathes and stringing lights”

  “I don’t know who he is, either.”

  “Co-owner of the GG. He’s bartending today, in fact.”

  Hayley glanced over her shoulder and got a glimpse of a good-looking cowboy who was busy mixing drinks. He paused to exchange a comment and a smile with a customer sitting at the bar. “He seems to be having fun.”

  “He’s a sweetie. In fact, he was on my list, but I couldn’t pin him down.” She said it with a perfectly straight face.

  Hayley quickly picked up her menu to hide her smile. How lovely that she could afford to be amused, knowing she wouldn’t be having a clumsily engineered lunch or dinner with Michael or any other guy this holiday. Her mom seemed to think her efforts were subtle and they never were. Thank you, Badger.

  As if she’d summoned him, he came through the door, striding purposefully toward their table wearing a mile-wide grin. Ryker followed behind, looking pleased with himself.

  She gulped and stared. Somehow she managed to call out a greeting even though the air had left her lungs.

  Woo-eee. The man walking toward her bore little resemblance to the one who’d sat in her parents’ living room the night before. When he’d left the parsonage, he’d been a handsome Southern boy who’d borrowed a sheepskin jacket to keep warm.

  Sometime between then and now, he’d transformed into a fantasy-inducing, breath-stealing heartthrob of a cowboy. Even more amazing, he’d managed to achieve it without looking as if he’d just gone shopping for those duds.

  Might partly be the well-worn hat. It could be a hand-me-down courtesy of the McGavins, but damn, did he do it justice—brim low on his forehead, his laughing eyes slightly in shadow. Yum.

  The sheepskin jacket and jeans might be new, but if so, the manufacturer had taken pains to make them seem broken in. She didn’t have time to check out his boots before he arrived at the table.

  He tipped his hat as he glanced at her mother. “Howdy, ma’am.” His drawl made the greeting adorably playful.

  Hayley was dying to grab him by the lapels and pull him down for a long, hot kiss.

  Her mom beamed. “Badger, I almost wouldn’t have recognized you except for that gorgeous smile.” She glanced past him. “Hello, there, Ryker.”

  “Ma’am.” He tipped his hat in her direction and did the same to Hayley.

  “We did a little shoppin’ just now.” Badger’s gaze sought Hayley’s before he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Good to see you, darlin’.”

  “Ditto.” Her heartbeat had returned to normal after that dramatic entrance, but the brush of his lips ramped it up again.

  “Mind if Ryker and I join you?”

  Her mom leaped at the suggestion. “Of course not! We’d love it! What a fun surprise.”

  “I was hopin’ to catch you here. I remembered this was your plan.” He unbuttoned his coat and hung it over the back of his chair before sitting down. “Normally in this situation I’d take off my hat, too, but Ryker tells me the Guzzling Grizzly is a place where it’s best to leave it on my head.”

  “Too much danger of losing it or having it stepped on.” Ryker draped his jacket over his chair and sat across from Badger. “The former owner even decided his bartenders should wear hats. Thought it gave a more Western look to the place and Bryce decided to—well, speak of the devil, here he comes.” Ryker stood as his brother approached. “Hey! Didn’t know if you were working today or not.”

  “Always, bro, always.”

  “Bryce!” Hayley’s mom smiled at him. “I don’t think you’ve met my daughter. This is Hayley.”

  Bryce tipped his hat. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Then he turned toward Badger, who’d left his chair and rounded the table. “And this has gotta be the famous Badger Calhoun.”

  “In the flesh.” Badger shook his hand. “Ryker’s told me so much about your music. Can’t wait to hear it.”

  “Thanks for that. Welcome to the GG.”

  “Great place. I’m impressed with all the Christmas goin’ on in your establishment.”

  “You and me, both. Nicole deserves the credit. I just fetch and carry for her.” He surveyed Badger’s clothes. “Evidently you got the memo on the Eagles Nest dress code.”

  “Yep. Ryker gave me a makeover this mornin’.”

  “Nice job. I see he even contributed his sorry-ass hat to the cause.”

  “Hey!” Ryker punched his brothe
r lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t go maligning my—“

  “You mean my hat.” Badger tugged the brim a little lower. “You’re not gettin’ it back. I’ve been told it lends authenticity to my look.”

  “That sounds like Mary Jane over at the Western wear shop,” Hayley’s mom said.

  “It was,” Ryker said, “but don’t worry, ma’am. I informed her he was taken.”

  “That’s good.”

  Hayley gave Ryker a quick smile. How kind of him to go along with the charade. She had no doubt the clerk was enamored of Badger. Any woman with a pulse would flirt with him in that getup.

  “Listen,” Bryce said, “since I’m over here and I assume you’d like something to eat, how about telling me what you want?”

  Ryker grinned at him. “Now that’s what I call top-notch service, having the owner himself take our lunch order.”

  Bryce laughed. “I’m here to serve, big brother.” He turned to the women. “What can I bring you?”

  Hayley glanced quickly at the menu. “Last year my burger was terrific. I’ll have that, please.”

  “Make it two, please.” her mother said. “And hot herbal tea.”

  “I’d like coffee.” Hayley winked at Badger. “I need the caffeine to maintain my swagger.”

  Her mother’s eyebrows lifted. “You don’t have a swagger.”

  “Inside joke, Mom.”

  She smiled. “Ah.”

  After Bryce left with all four orders, Badger sat down and nudged back his hat as if he’d been doing it for years. “Did y’all get your shoppin’ done?”

  “We did,” Hayley said. “The most fun was browsing through the collectibles shop. I found The Black Stallion Returns for Luke. We both used to love that series when we were kids.”

  Badger looked intrigued. “Did you see any Hardy Boys?”

  “You know, I think they had a few of those, too.”

  “I’d like to go in there sometime and check. I was partial to the Hardy Boys but I don’t know what happened to my old books. Would be interestin’ to read one again.”

  “Then let’s plan to go.” She wanted to take him there and help him find a book from his childhood, especially after the conversation with her mother about his parents.

  “Great.” He reached over and squeezed her hand.

  She squeezed back. This was becoming easier and easier, as if they were truly lovers. Crazy.

  “I can’t get over how different you look, Badger,” her mom said. “Like a real cowboy.”

  “I’m hopin’ the horse thinks I’m a real cowboy. Ryker’s takin’ me out ridin’ this afternoon and I want to make a good impression.”

  “Sounds like fun.” Hayley couldn’t remember the last time she’d been on a horse. She missed it.

  Ryker glanced at her. “Do you ride?’

  “Used to, growing up.”

  “Did she ever,” her mom said. “She and Luke desperately wanted horses of their own, but it wasn’t feasible. Luckily there was a riding stable nearby.”

  “Even better, we could get there on our bikes. We mucked out stalls and groomed horses to get extra riding time. Loved it.”

  “You’re welcome to come out and ride with us this afternoon,” Ryker said.

  “Wow, that would be wonderful! Mom? Do you need me for anything this afternoon?”

  “Not a thing.” Her mom smiled indulgently.

  “Then I’d love to go riding with you two. I’ll need to go home and change clothes if that’s okay.”

  “Sure,” Ryker said. “Get out there when you can.”

  “And since you’re comin’ to dinner,” Badger said, “you might as well stay after the ride.”

  “All right. That’s a good idea.” She put her napkin in her lap. “How was the flight in the Beechcraft?”

  “Awesome. It’s a sweet plane. Felt good to be flyin’ again. Took a picture of the logo with my phone.” He pulled it out of his jacket pocket. “Have you seen it?”

  “I don’t think so.” She peered at his phone and grinned. A cute little badger wore a World War I leather helmet with earflaps. “Adorable. Show my mom.”

  She looked at the phone. “Very cute! I’ll bet that attracts customers.”

  “It does,” Ryker said. “Especially when I talk to people and mention that the airline is named after my Air Force pilot friend. They love knowing that.”

  Her mom nodded. “Savvy marketing on your part.” She turned back to Badger. “So you had fun up there?”

  “Big fun.” Badger tucked his phone away. “Perfect flying weather. Blue sky, mountains covered with snow. Spectacular.”

  The sparkle in his eyes told Hayley all she needed to know about what he should be doing with his life. For his sake, she hoped he was seriously considering the idea of working with Ryker.

  But that would create an interesting situation. If Badger became a pilot for Badger Air, he’d be living in Eagles Nest next time she came home for Christmas. They might need to talk about how to handle that.

  Chapter Nine

  After lunch, Badger climbed in Ryker’s big black truck. “Why’d you invite Hayley to go ridin’?”

  “You don’t want her to?” Ryker backed out and pointed the truck in the direction of the ranch.

  “I’m happy to have her along, but I sure didn’t expect you to be.”

  “It might be my only chance to ask her how she sees this thing playing out.”

  “Hey, no, that’s not fair. You can’t invite her to the ranch so you can grill her.”

  “I won’t. I’ll be gentle. But I’m damned curious as to whether you two have an end game in mind.”

  “I can’t speak for her, but it seems simple to me. After the holidays are over and we’ve both left town, she informs her parents that it didn’t work out.”

  “Will you communicate with them?”

  “Will I need to?”

  “It would be classy if you sent a note saying how much you appreciated getting to know, them, sorry it didn’t work out, blah, blah, blah.”

  “Did you do that when you and April broke up? You said you were close to her folks.”

  “Yes, I was close to them, and no, I didn’t. I was eighteen and stupid. I wish now I’d done that. They’d treated me like a member of the family and then I just blew off the relationship because I’d broken up with their daughter. I’m lucky they didn’t hold it against me when I showed up ten years later.”

  “I won’t be showin’ up later, but I see the kindness in that plan. I’ll take it under advisement.”

  “Hm.”

  “What?”

  “Sounds like you’ve decided against moving here and working with me.” The disappointment in his voice was obvious.

  “Oh, hey, no! I haven’t made that decision. I suppose if I moved here, I would be showin’ up later, possibly having contact with her folks. Didn’t think of that.”

  “You had me worried for a minute. I can tell you’re not totally sold on the idea, but I’m hoping you’ll give it more time to percolate.”

  “I will, Cowboy. That’s only fair after you invited me out here to share in your family’s Christmas.”

  “I wanted you to come. It was mostly so you could meet my family, see the plane and consider whether you wanted to make the move. But I also thought you might want an excuse not to spend the holiday with your folks.”

  “I most certainly did. And they gave me grief for makin’ that choice.”

  “Par for the course, right? Have they ever approved of your choices?”

  “For the first eighteen years I didn’t get to make many.”

  “Not surprising.”

  “There was this one time when I was ten. We went out to dinner at some five-star restaurant. I don’t think it’s even there anymore. I decided to be brave and order the catch of the day.”

  “You? The person who even hates tuna?”

  “I don’t know what got into me that night. I must have wanted to prove I could be as so
phisticated as they were. It worked. They were impressed as hell until the meal arrived and I refused to eat it. Grossest thing I’d ever seen.”

  “Can you estimate how long that golden feeling of approval lasted?”

  “Probably thirty minutes, tops. It was probably closer to twenty.”

  “That’s it? The only time you can remember them showering praise on you?”

  “There might have been others, but that’s the only one I remember for sure.” He gazed out the window.

  “That sucks.”

  “I know.” And their judgement regarding him wasn’t likely to change so he’d rather not think about it. “Do you realize how much unoccupied land there is in this area?”

  “That’s the beauty of Montana. Lots of space.”

  “And you like that feature.”

  “Love it. I’m surprised you don’t. Think of all the space around you when you’re piloting a plane.”

  “Up there you need it! Otherwise the pilots would constantly be runnin’ into one another.”

  “I personally think you need it at the ground level, too. I couldn’t live in Atlanta.”

  “Yes you could. It’s about acclimatin’.”

  “You think I could change?”

  “Sure.”

  “Then so could you.”

  “Yeah, but how long would it take? All this empty land freaks me out. When I was drivin’ into town last night, surrounded by mostly darkness and a few scattered clusters of lights, I felt like it could be the ocean rollin’ around out there.”

  “I’ve had that thought. Doesn’t bother me but I guess it bothers you.”

  “I’m just used to lights, buddy. And people. And traffic.”

  “I understand that. But in Atlanta, you can’t get a view of snowy mountains from the air.”

  “That’s a fact, Cowboy. That’s a fact.”

  Ryker folded his arms over the steering wheel and glanced at him. “So tell me. If you didn’t know what you wanted to do when you got out, why didn’t you stay in?”

  “Same reason as you. I heard your voice in my head ‘splainin’ why you’d decided to leave at the ten-year mark. Younger guys comin’ in were a split-second faster. That gap would only get wider as time went on. I didn’t want to be the idiot who stayed in too long and got somebody killed because I’d lost my edge.”