The Cowboy's Christmas Plan

by Shanna Hatfield

  Her face flushed five shades of red and she buried her head against Trey’s broad chest.

  “I’m going to go home and pack, and you’ll never see me again,” she said, without looking up.

  Trey stiffened and jerked his head up, convinced he’d misheard Cadence.

  “I can’t face anyone again after all that. I’m too embarrassed to be seen in town again.”

  Trey’s heart resumed beating after her announcement caused it to stop temporarily. He chuckled and hugged her again.

  “Cady, we’ve all slid around on the ice before and you don’t have any experience driving in it. As for our kiss, don’t let it bother you. I’m sure it isn’t the first time they’ve seen people kiss in public and I know it won’t be the last.”

  “How do you know? Do people often stand out in front of the café kissing?” she asked.

  “Nope.”

  “But…”

  Trey pulled her close and kissed her again - a light, teasing kiss then offered her a wicked grin as he closed her car door and escorted her inside the café.

  Speechless, Cadence let him drag her inside, take off her coat, and nudge her into a booth. Mortified, her cheeks felt like they were aflame.

  Trey removed his hat and coat, sat across from her, and smiled.

  Viv came over and sat down beside Cadence, putting her arm around her and giving her a squeeze.

  “Honey, you about scared me half to death,” Viv said, swiping at her eyes. “Someone was watching over you and that little car of yours for sure and certain, or you’d be decorating the grill of that truck.”

  Viv turned to Trey and pinned him with a reproving glare.

  “And you, Casanova…” Viv shook her finger under his nose. “Who gave you permission to go around smooching my niece like that in public?”

  Trey looked somewhat chastened, although instead of saying anything he winked at Cady.

  Cadence sat up and started to push Viv out of the way.

  “Someone needs to get Cass,” she said, her voice panicked. “She shouldn’t be running across the road on this ice.”

  “I’ll get her.” Trey grabbed his coat and hat then hustled out the door. He carefully walked across the highway and up the street toward Micki’s house. He soon returned, carrying Cass. The child glowed with happiness at the attention from the handsome cowboy.

  Cadence retrieved the paper chain from the car, along with a little present for Cass. She sat next to Viv with a cup of tea by the time Trey came back in with the little girl.

  “Look who I found rolling in the snow,” Trey teased as he set Cass down in the booth and slid in beside her.

  “I wasn’t rolling in the snow,” Cass said with a giggle as Trey helped her take off her coat. “I couldn’t walk on the street. It made my feet slipper-slide.”

  “I bet it did,” Cadence said. “It made my whole car slipper-slide.”

  “It did?” Cass asked, taking a bite of a cookie.

  “Yep, and everybody watched it, didn’t they Miss Viv?” Trey teased.

  “They watched something, that’s for sure.” Viv frowned at Trey.

  Cass chatted away, enjoying her afternoon treat. Cadence handed her the paper chain and she took off two, one for Friday and one for that day, then helped Viv hang it by the counter where she could reach it.

  She came back to the table and gave Cadence a hug.

  “Thank you for sharing your chain with me, Cady,” she said, holding tight to Cadence’s neck.

  “You are so welcome, sweetie-pie.” Cadence hugged the child lovingly then removed a small box from her coat pocket and handed it to Cass.

  “Is this a present? For me?” Cass asked, her blue eyes growing wide.

  “Yes it is. Just for you.” Cadence adjusted Cass as she sat on her lap. “Go ahead, open it.”

  A little snow globe with a moon and stars inside sat inside the box. Gingerly, Cass lifted it from the box and gave it a shake, watching snowflakes dance around the inside of the glass ball.

  “When you feel sad, Cass, I want you to hold this in your hand and remember that we love you all the way to the moon and back again,” Cadence said, giving the little girl another hug.

  “That much?” Cass looked at Cadence over her shoulder.

  “That much and more.” Cadence tapped Cass on the nose and kissed her cheek. Tamping down her emotions, she set Cass on her feet and stood up. “Now, let’s get you bundled up and Trey will help you home.”

  Cadence helped her put on her coat and wrapped the scarf around her head. Viv handed Trey Cass’s daily box of “scraps” while the little girl carefully put the snow globe in her pocket and zipped it shut.

  “Bye, Cass. Stay off the ice and promise not to cross the highway if the road is slick,” Viv said as she walked Trey and Cass to the door.

  “I promise, Miss Viv. Bye, Cady!” Cass waved as Trey picked her up and carried her across the street and back to her home.

  “I think I better head for home, too,” Cadence said, putting her coat on.

  “Are you sure you should, honey? It’s getting worse out there instead of better.”

  “I know, Aunt Viv, but I have to learn how to drive in this at some point and my first lesson was to not forcefully apply the brake,” Cadence said as she pulled on her gloves and zipped up her coat. “See, I’m learning already. I’ll be fine.”

  Cadence gave her aunt a kiss and went out to her car. Thankfully, no traffic was coming so she pulled onto the road and headed toward the Triple T. Long before she needed to make the turn onto the Triple T road, she began slowing down. Rather than touch the brakes, she was able to coast into the turn and only slid a little before the car straightened out and she drove the rest of the way to the house without any problem.

  ><><

  Trey stomped his boots before he went back into the café. It was really starting to cool down and the road looked worse than before. That was when he noticed Cadence’s car was gone. Concerned, he pulled open the café door and stared at Viv behind the counter.

  “Cady didn’t try to drive herself home, did she?” Trey asked, unable to comprehend that she would do something so stupid.

  “That’s what she said she was doing,” Viv said as she wiped down the counter.

  “That crazy woman! Is she bent on killing herself today?” Trey said as he stomped to the door.

  Since they were the only ones in the café, Viv hollered out to him. “Just cool your spurs a minute there cowboy.”

  Trey stopped and turned to look at her. She rounded the counter and marched right up to him, shaking a finger in his face.

  “You and I both know every gossiping tongue in a fifty-mile radius will be talking about the kiss you gave our girl in front of God and everybody. What exactly are your intentions toward my niece?”

  Slumping down on a barstool, Trey took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not exactly sure myself.”

  “Well, what kind of answer is that?” Viv asked, sitting down beside him. “Either you have feelings for her or you don’t.”

  “Oh, I’ve got plenty of feelings for her,” Trey said. “I just don’t know if she feels the same. You said she came here because she was left at the altar. I don’t want to be someone she takes an interest in because she’s on the rebound.”

  Viv laughed, actually laughed, at him.

  “Cadence never loved that half-wit she nearly married. She was infatuated with his position, impressed by his fancy talk, dazzled by his success, but she never loved him,” Viv said with a knowing look on her face. “She has more than a passing interest in a certain cowboy round these parts.”

  Trey’s head snapped up and a look of raw jealousy crossed his face. “Who? Who’s she been seeing?”

  Viv laughed again. “No one, you big dolt. It’s you. Whether she knows it or admits it, she’s in love with you.”

  Trey let out a sigh. “I hear a ‘but’ in there, Viv. Spit it out.”

  “She thinks
she can’t trust her own judgment because of her past experience. The two situations couldn’t be any more different, but she is going to have to tell you that story herself. If you want my niece, you’re going to have to figure out a way to convince her that she’s in love with you. She isn’t going to allow herself the luxury of admitting she’s head over heels for one Trey Thompson without a little coaxing.”

  “Really, Viv? You think she’s really in love with me?” Trey asked, surprised and thrilled.

  “I guess you’re going to have to figure that one out for yourself, cowboy. Now get out of here and make sure she made it home in one piece. And no funny business.”

  Trey gave Viv’s cheek a quick peck and hustled to the door. “Thanks, Viv. No funny business.”

  ><><

  Trey kept watch as he drove home, half-expecting to see Cady’s car in the bar ditch, but when he didn’t see her or any signs of her having an accident. He turned down their lane and breathed a sigh of relief.

  He drove into Moro earlier that afternoon to take care of a few errands and was on his way back home when he watched Cady’s car slide across the highway and into the path of an oncoming semi. It was nothing short of a miracle that her car slid back out of the way. He felt like he witnessed the entire thing in slow motion as he waited for the truck to smash into her car.

  Trey knew, in that moment, he would do anything in his power to protect Cady and keep her safe.

  Despite his best intentions of not getting involved, his heart and head were wrapped up in Miss Fancy Pants Greer.

  After pulling up at the house, he sauntered in the back door, calmly removed his hat, coat and boots, and strolled into the kitchen. The sights and smells that greeted him hit Trey with a pang of nostalgia.

  Cadence put out all of his family’s old Christmas decorations exactly like their mother used to. Soft white lights glowed from the gathering room mantle, entwined with pieces of fake greenery. He could smell the bayberry scent that seemed to cling to the oldest decorations along with the spicy cinnamon smell that floated around some of the newer pieces. A fire blazed in the big fireplace and candles glowed from the kitchen table.

  Everything looked festive, wonderful, and homey.

  Trey didn’t realize how much he had missed all the trappings of the holidays in the years since his mother moved out. He and his brothers usually went to her house in town for Christmas so she and Nana didn’t have to drive out to the ranch. Maybe this year, they could have a big family holiday here again. Somehow, with Cadence under his roof, family seemed to be more important than ever.

  Laughter and music from down the hall drew his attention. Trey followed the sound to the parlor and listened to Cady play a rousing rendition of Deck the Halls on the piano.

  “Hey, bro,” Trent said as Trey entered the room and sat on one of the antique chairs. All three Thompson boys had been warned to play nice in this room full of old antiques and family treasures. “Did you know Cady could play?”

  “Somehow it doesn’t surprise me,” Trey said, leaning back in the chair. “She seems to be able to do just about anything she sets her mind to.”

  Cadence’s fingers fumbled on the keys at Trey’s praise and she gave him a look of surprise over her shoulder. He grinned and nodded for her to continue.

  She played a few more carols, listening as Trey and Trent recalled past Christmas celebrations and family traditions.

  “Remember how Dad used to put on the Santa suit every year for the school Christmas program?” Trent asked.

  “He made a great Santa. No one has quite been able to fulfill the role, especially of going door-to-door on Christmas Eve,” Trey said.

  “Door-to-door? What’s that mean?” Trent asked.

  “You didn’t know?” Trey smiled as he looked at his brother. “Dad was the guy who went around to some of the neighbors’ homes pretending to be Santa. You remember from when you were little, Santa would come to the door Christmas Eve and we’d sit on his lap and tell him what we wanted and then he’d tell us to be good, give us a candy cane and leave. What we asked for was always under the tree the next morning.”

  “That was Dad?” Trent looked a little teary-eyed. “I can’t believe I didn’t know. How did you find out?”

  “I drove him around the last couple years he did it,” Trey said, recalling the wonderful time he spent with his dad.

  “Doesn’t anyone else carry on the tradition?” Cadence asked from the piano, where she played softly.

  “They’ve tried. The kids just have a hard time accepting someone else as Santa,” Trey said, looking thoughtful.

  “Maybe you should be Santa this year.” Cadence directed her comment to Trey. “From the photos I’ve seen, you look the most like your father and I saw the suit in the boxes this morning. Why don’t you play Santa?”

  “I… um… I don’t,” Trey spluttered.

  “I think that’s a great idea.” Trent excitedly got to his feet. “Where did you say the suit was?”

  “In one of the boxes in storage. If you dig it out, I’ll get it cleaned. We may need to make some repairs to it or get some new padding. Trey will need to practice wearing it and laughing and…”

  “Just hold your horses, both of you. I never said I’d be Santa.” Trey didn’t like the way they planned everything without his consent, like he wasn’t in the room. They couldn’t force him to play the jolly old elf.

  “Come on, bro,” Trent said, kicking at Trey’s foot playfully. “Cady’s right, you do look the most like Dad and you’re the closest to his size. I’m too tall to pull it off and Travis isn’t home. Why not see how the suit fits before you say no?”

  “First, I’ll try on the suit, followed by the beard and hat, and before I know what has happened, you two will have me standing down at the café waving to tourists and passing out candy canes.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Cadence said, trying not to smile. “I bet Aunt Viv would reserve a booth just for you and everyone could come in and sit on your lap and tell you what they want for Christmas.”

  Trent broke out laughing and Cadence giggled. Trey felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth.

  “I know when I’m licked. Find the suit, get it cleaned, and we’ll go from there.”

  ><><

  “Nana, just once could you let me win?” Trent asked his grandmother as she whipped him at another round of Scrabble.

  Nana smiled, her eyes sparkling. “Now, what would that teach you if I let you win? You’ll work harder to best me the next time we play.”

  “Sure, Nana,” Trent said. “You trick me into thinking I’m finally going to beat you and then you shoot me down. Every time!”

  Nana laughed, along with Denni and Trey. “There’s always next time.”

  Trent helped Nana up and on with her coat then offered to drive her home. She lived in a nice retirement center not far from Denni’s home, which made it convenient for everyone. Nana didn’t need much assistance yet and liked her independence, yet Denni could keep a close eye on her without encroaching on Nana’s freedom.

  While Trent was gone, Trey helped Denni wash the lunch dishes.

  “Son, I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a day more than Friday. That Cady of yours is something pretty special,” Denni said, washing dishes and handing them to him to dry.

  “She’s not my Cady, Mom.” Frantically trying to think of a way to end the conversation before it started, he avoided making eye contact with his mother.

  Denni raised her eyebrow in a look that said she wasn’t at all convinced.

  “Is that so?”

  “Yep.”

  “She’s just your employee.”

  “Yep.”

  “And a good cook.”

  “Yep.”

  “And a great housekeeper.”

  “Yep.”

  “And the girl you’re in love with.”

  “Yep.” Trey wished he could snatch the word back as soon as it left his mouth. His mother alway
s knew how to get the truth out of him.

  “Thought so,” Denni said smugly as she washed the last dish and handed it to Trey. Drying off her hands, she sat down at the table and studied him. “She’s a lovely girl, honey. Sweet, caring, funny, smart, and hardworking. I got the idea she is more than a little interested in you. So what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is that less than two months ago, she was left at the altar by some jerk and Viv told me to take it slow and easy. She said Cady doesn’t trust her own judgment and it will take a while for her to come around to the idea of loving someone again.”

  “How do you know she loved the guy?”

  “Well, wouldn’t you have to be in love to accept a proposal and plan a wedding?”

  “Not necessarily.” Denni gave him a thoughtful look. “Maybe she was in love with the idea of being in love. Regardless of all that, Trey, how do you feel? Do you love her?”

  “I do, Mom. More every day.” Trey traced a pattern on the tablecloth and decided the conversation was some form of parental torture.

  “Do you think it’s the smartest thing to live under the same roof, considering your feelings?”

  “Probably not, but no one ever said I was the smartest Thompson. As difficult as it may be to believe, I can behave like a gentleman. My mother taught me well.” Trey offered Denni an endearing grin. “Trent is around and the hands are there. It isn’t like we’re living across the hall from each other. Besides, I don’t know that I could rest at all if Cady wasn’t there.”

  Denni smiled and patted his hand. “You’ve got it bad, baby. Nearly as bad as your daddy had it for me when we got married.”

  Before she could tell him the story, Trent walked in the door, flicking water off his hat. “Starting to rain, bro. Let’s hit the road.” Trent stood just inside the door to keep from getting Denni’s floor wet.

  Quickly pulling on his coat and hat, Trey gave his mother a hug.

  “Thanks for the talk, Mom. I’d like to hear the rest of that story another day,” Trey whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek.