The Cowboy's Christmas Plan

by Shanna Hatfield

  Well, nearly home.

  After taking a taxi to an auto dealership where the Thompsons had done business for years, he bought a new four-wheel drive pickup, loaded up his bags and drove to a mall.

  He sat in the food court and ate a sampling of the food he had missed while he was deployed overseas. He couldn’t think of a better time to come home than when all the stores were decked out for the holidays and the sights and smells wrapped around him in a warm welcome.

  Looking at his watch, he decided he better get some shopping done before heading home. Since his last phone call to the ranch ended abruptly, he wasn’t sure if Trent understood that he was coming home a week early.

  After six years in the service and two tours of duty in Iraq, he was ready to work side by side with his brothers and return to the tranquility of the Triple T Ranch in Grass Valley.

  As he strolled through the stores, he found gifts for his mother, Nana, Trent and Trey. He wondered if his brothers had found a new housekeeper, but decided if they had, someone surely would have told him.

  He wasn’t looking forward to the three of them sharing cooking duties, but maybe they could talk their mom into spending a few days at the ranch.

  The stores made a last call before closing as Travis left the mall and started the long drive home.

  He would have stopped in The Dalles to see his mother if it hadn’t been so late. He knew she’d be at church the following morning, though, and kept driving.

  It was past midnight when he drove up to the ranch and parked near the back door. All was dark and quiet in the house except for a light in the kitchen. Bob and Bonnie ran out from their doghouse and stopped mid-bark when they recognized him. He ruffled their ears, gave them both warm pats on the head, and told them to go back to bed.

  Quietly going in the back door, Travis left everything but one small duffle bag in the mudroom, took off his boots and outerwear, and went into the kitchen. The house was warm and inviting with the scent of cinnamon hanging in the air. Travis wondered if his brothers had resorted to burning candles that smelled like food.

  He decided to sleep in the north wing so he wouldn’t wake up Trey and Trent and went to the door of the large guest room. Lois, their previous housekeeper, had always used the room across the hall. Travis assumed if a new housekeeper had been hired, she’d be set up in the room Lois vacated.

  When he opened the bedroom door, Travis didn’t bother turning on a light. The moon shining through the window provided just enough light he could see a vague outline of the bed. He set down his duffle then quietly took off his socks, shirt, and pants, dropping them in a trail on the way to the bed. Lifting the covers, he climbed in and was surprised the sheets felt toasty. A fresh, womanly scent floated around him.

  As he rolled over, he encountered a warm, soft body. Surprised, he let out a gasp at the same time a woman’s scream pierced the air. A light flicked on and Travis stared into the face of a very frightened, very lovely young woman.

  It took them both a moment to react. Cadence grabbed the sheet up under her chin and kept screaming while Travis rolled toward the edge of the mattress.

  Entangled in the covers, he tried to scramble to his feet but ended up falling out of bed. He was still sprawled on the floor with a blanket holding his feet captive when Trey barreled into the room followed by Trent.

  With a baseball bat held in a death grip at his side, Trey looked from Cady to the intruder in his camo-print briefs struggling to extricate himself from the twisted blanket and get to his feet. Ready to do him bodily harm, Trey suddenly dropped the bat and grinned.

  “Cady, I’d like you to meet my baby brother,” Trey said, reaching down to give Travis a hand before engulfing him in a brotherly hug.

  Cadence, stopped screaming with Trey’s arrival. She sat in bed with her chest heaving, eyes wild and her long, wavy hair mussed into an alluring tousle. Although she had the sheet pulled up, a thin dark-green spaghetti strap dangled across an exposed creamy shoulder.

  Despite his attention focused on Travis, Trey took note of Cadence’s disheveled state. After releasing Travis, he walked over to the bed, pulled the strap up on her shoulder, and tugged the covers around her.

  Trent hugged Travis and the three brothers grinned at each other. Travis seemed to realize he was still in his underwear, turned around, and quickly pulled on his pants and shirt.

  “Dude, what are you doing here?” Trent asked with one arm hanging around his younger brother’s neck. “I thought you weren’t going to make it home for Christmas.”

  “No. I called to tell you I’d be home a week early. You must not have heard me with all the static on the phone,” Travis said, somewhat pleased to have surprised his family. “Now that I’ve got my pants on, will you introduce me to your lovely houseguest?”

  Cadence eyed Travis who looked so much like his brothers she could have picked him out of a crowd as a Thompson. He was taller than Trey, but not as tall as Trent, and shared the same broad chest and impressive physique.

  Embarrassed at her rumpled state, her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink as Trey introduced her.

  “Travis, this is our housekeeper and cook, Cadence Greer,” Trey said, as Travis shook Cadence’s free hand. The other was too busy clutching the blankets up under her chin. “Miss Greer can cook like nobody’s business, but she tends to take herself too seriously, so we call her Cady.”

  Cadence glared at Trey, irritated and hurt. Was that all she was to him? A housekeeper and cook? Someone to tease? Someone to kiss when he was in the mood?

  It would have been nice if Trey had thought to introduce her as his girlfriend, or special friend. Someone other than just an employee. Maybe that was all she really was to him. Anger oozed out of every pore but she pushed it aside and shifted into caretaker mode, pointing toward the door.

  “Since we’re all awake anyway, why don’t I fix a snack and the three of you can visit a while.”

  “Are you sure, Cady?” Trey asked as he walked with his brothers out the door.

  “I’m sure. I’ll be right out,” she said coolly, trying to hold back her temper as the three of them disappeared down the hall.

  Cadence found the three men sitting at the bar in the kitchen. “What can I make for you, Travis?”

  “Don’t go to any bother on my account,” he said, studying their new housekeeper. She looked too young and pretty to know how to cook.

  “I’m happy to make anything you like.” Cadence smiled. “Within reason.”

  Travis laughed. “I’d love a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, if it isn’t any trouble.”

  “That’s no trouble at all, but you’ll have to settle for canned soup.” Cadence started setting out cheese and bread for the sandwiches.

  “That sounds perfect.” Travis offered her a heart-stopping grin.

  “You two want a sandwich?” Cadence asked with a pointed look at Trey.

  He wasn’t sure what he’d done to get on her bad side, but the cool glare she gave him made him squirm in his seat.

  This wasn’t like Cady at all. Maybe she was upset by waking up to find Travis in her bed. That would certainly surprise anyone.

  “Yes, please,” Trey said and Trent nodded.

  While the cheese melted on the sandwiches and the soup heated, Cadence made a pot of hot chocolate and set out a plate full of cookies and candy.

  While the men carried their food and drinks into the gathering room, Cadence plugged in the tree and sat in the rocker listening to the conversation, sipping a cup of hot chocolate.

  It was easy to see a close bond existed between the three brothers.

  She wondered what it would have been like to grow up with a sibling. Someone she could have shared secrets with or gone on fun adventures. Someone she could sit talking to until the wee hours of the morning.

  When her eyes grow heavy, Cadence pushed to her feet and bid the men good night. All three of them stood.

  Travis stuck out his hand and
gave her another handshake. “I’m very sorry, Cady, about coming into your room. I guarantee it will never happen again.”

  “Simple mistake,” Cadence said, with understanding. “It could happen to anyone. I’m just glad you’re home. These two were quite disappointed when they thought you weren’t going to make it. I know your mother will be thrilled.”

  “I can’t wait to see her tomorrow,” Travis said. “Thanks again. I appreciate the food and Trey’s right, you’re a great cook.”

  “You’re more than welcome. Good night.” Cadence turned to walk out of the room. Trey stepped behind her and attempted to place a kiss to her cheek. Before he could, she stiffened and hurried toward her room. He gave his brothers a bewildered shrug and followed her. He caught up to her just before she shut her bedroom door.

  “What’s wrong, darlin’?” Trey asked, stepping into the door to keep her from shutting it in his face. “Did Travis accidentally hurt you?”

  “No. Travis wasn’t the one who hurt me,” Cadence snapped, not looking at Trey, feeling tears sting her eyes. “I’m fine. I am, after all, just the cook and housekeeper.”

  “Just the cook and housekeeper? What’s that supposed to mean?” Trey’s irritation grew at Cadence’s response. He had no idea what had her all riled up. He really wanted to get back to visiting with his brother, but he wasn’t moving until he found out what had her teary-eyed and cross with him. “Why don’t you tell me what put a burr under your blanket? We had such a nice evening and you were fine when we went to bed. Are you sure Travis didn’t hurt you?”

  “I’m positive. Travis did nothing to hurt me. Surprise me, yes, but he didn’t hurt me. Someone else took care of that. As to that burr under my blanket, as you put it, I guess you’ll have to figure out who put it there.”

  “Cady, you’re not even making sense.” Trey ran his hand through his hair and trying to keep his own temper in check.

  “I’m sorry. I guess that’s all you can expect from someone who is just the cook and housekeeper.” Cadence would have slammed her door if Trey hadn’t been standing in it. Instead, she turned her back and stepped into the room, trying to blink back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.

  “Just the cook and housekeeper? Why do you keep saying that? You know you’re more than that to us all, especially to me. Why would you think that’s all you are to us? No one thinks that. No one has said... Oh.” It suddenly dawned on Trey that was exactly how he had introduced Cady to Travis.

  As the cook and housekeeper.

  Not as his girlfriend.

  Not as the girl he loved. Or the woman he planned to marry. Or the person who made him feel alive in ways he’d never felt before.

  No wonder she was mad.

  Quietly stepping into the room, Trey wrapped his arms around Cadence. “I’m sorry, Cady. I didn’t mean to make it sound like you are just the hired help to Travis. You know you are much, much more than that to me.”

  “And I would know that how?” Cadence mumbled, her head pressed against his chest.

  “Because I… because you… I…” Trey realized although he had thought it hundreds of times in the last few months, he had never once told Cady how he felt. He tipped up her chin with his index finger and smiled down at her. “Cady, I love you. Before you came along, I didn’t realize how empty and lonely my life had become. You’ve changed all that. I love you, darlin’, with all my heart.”

  “Oh, Trey,” she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I love you, too.”

  “Well, that’s a very good thing, then.” Trey lowered his head to hers. “It makes doing this even more special.” He placed his lips to hers softly, tenderly. When she ran her hands up his shoulders, he gathered her closer in his arms and kissed her so thoroughly, he wanted nothing more than to keep doing it the remainder of the night.

  Finally breaking apart, she created a breath of space between them and smiled.

  “I’m going to bed and you are going back out there to visit with your brother,” Cadence said, walking to her bed, straightening the covers and making a shooing motion at Trey with her hands. “Go on, mister boss man.”

  Instead of leaving, Trey walked over to the bed and put his hands on her shoulders. Slowly turning her around, he tugged on her robe.

  “What are you doing?” Cadence asked in surprise, looking over her shoulder at him.

  “Tucking you in.”

  “I think not.” Cadence pulled the tie on her robe even tighter. Faster than she could react, Trey reached around her and tugged it loose.

  “I think so,” he said, shooting her a devil-may-care grin. “I’ll turn my head.” Trey turned his head to the side and closed his eyes. As soon as the robe loosened in his hands, he popped open his eyes and felt desire slam through him with the force of a run-away team of horses.

  He expected Cady to wear prim and proper nightgowns or even flannel pajamas, not the lovely little silk number that glided smoothly over her womanly curves. Her mussed hair beckoned to his hands to while her pink cheeks begged for his kisses.

  “Cady, you are a temptress in disguise as a cook.” Trey growled in her ear. “Do you have any notion how incredibly sexy you look right now?”

  Trey ran his finger lightly along the line of her spaghetti strap, igniting little tendrils of fire everywhere his skin made contact with hers. Goose bumps broke out on her arms and she felt a tremor race through her.

  Since her robe no longer provided a layer of protection from the cowboy standing behind her in his t-shirt and flannel pajama bottom, Cadence jumped into the bed and yanked the blankets up around her. Trey placed a knee on the bed and tried to tug them down, but Cadence held them in tightly in her fists.

  “You’re darn lucky my brothers are here or I’d have a very hard time keeping my promise to Viv.”

  “What promise is that?” Her eyes were wide and dark.

  Trey could see the pulse pounding in her neck and pressed a hot kiss there. “No funny business.” He gave her a wicked grin, slid off the bed, and walked toward the door.

  “Sweet dreams, Cady.” He closed the door behind him and stopped in the hallway for a moment to let his erratic pulse calm. Trey decided it was a good thing he’d be up visiting with Trent and Travis for a while. He was going to have a hard time sleeping. When he shut his eyes, a picture of Cady looking tousled and enticing with one thin strap of her satin gown sliding off her shoulder would haunt his dreams.

  It really was perfect timing to have his baby brother home. He needed all the distraction from Cady he could get.

  ><><

  Travis looked at Trey as he returned to the room and grinned. “So that’s the way the wind blows.”

  “What way?” Trey asked as a broad smile covered his face.

  “You’ve got it bad for the cook,” Travis teased. “About time you fell in love. Trent and I thought you’d end up married to the ranch, a shriveled up old bachelor.”

  Trey frowned at his brothers. After pinning Trent with a disgruntled glare, he turned to Travis. “Why don’t you ask him how his romance with Miss Lindsay, the school teacher, is progressing?”

  Trent sat up, annoyed. “No need to get personal, Trey.”

  “Is that right? Seems to me you don’t mind getting personal with my love life.”

  “That’s because it’s happening right here under my nose. Besides if you don’t want public speculation you shouldn’t be kissing Cady in front of the café or hanging mistletoe all over the house or cozying up to her when you think no one is looking. Believe me, bro, we’re all watching.”

  “And what exactly are you seeing,” Trey asked, indignant and irritated. Was nothing sacred around the ranch anymore?

  “A man in love,” Trent said with crooked grin.

  Chapter Eighteen

  We must let go of the life we have planned,

  so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.

  Joseph Campbell

  Cadence stood in the church vest
ibule with the three Thompson boys, waiting for their mother to arrive with Cass. She held the little girl’s dress and shoes in one hand and her purse in the other.

  Everyone who came in the door either shook Travis’ hand, gave him a hug, or slapped his back good naturedly. It was obvious Travis had been missed in the small community.

  Cadence felt Trey’s presence behind her as she watching the crowd with interest. When he placed a hand on her waist, she leaned back against him, enjoying the solid warmth at her back.

  Denni breezed in the door with Cass a few minutes before the service began. When she saw Travis standing next to Trent, she dropped Cass’s hand and threw her arms around her youngest son, sobbing with joy and relief.

  “My baby’s home,” she said, to anyone who cared to listen, which was most of the congregation.

  Cadence whisked Cass off to the restroom to help her change into her dress. When they returned, Denni was still hugging Travis fiercely and mopping at her tears.

  Trey put a hand to Cadence’s back and picked up Cass. They led the way to a pew, followed by Trent, Travis and Denni.

  “Who’s that?” Cass asked in a loud stage whisper to Cadence when they sat down. “He looks like Trey and Trent.”

  “That’s their brother Travis. He’ll be living at our house, too.”

  “He will?” Cass asked in surprise. “Will he give me horsey rides like Trent? Or read me stories like Trey?”

  “Maybe.” Cadence held a finger to her lips, letting Cass know it was time to be quiet as the service started.

  At the end of the service, the pastor invited everyone to stay for coffee and cookies to celebrate Travis’ return home. Cadence brought a few dozen cookies, like she did every Sunday, and was glad she hadn’t forgotten the treats with all the hubbub that had taken place at their house in the last twenty-four hours.

  They stayed until Cass got tired and went to Trey, leaning against his legs and asking to go home. He decided it was time they could all use some lunch. Trent retrieved Cass’s booster seat from Denni’s car and put it in the pickup then Travis drove Denni to the ranch while the rest of them followed in the pickup.