Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set

by Cari Lynn Webb, Linda Warren, Mary Anne Wilson

  “I won’t mention anything.” Except he had to tell Ethan his horse suffered from the same condition as Butterscotch. That he wanted Ethan to give Rain Dancer the same experimental treatment as Butterscotch. Maybe Rain Dancer’s outcome would be different. Either way, Zach had to try.

  He reached for the mare’s stable door and gripped the thick wood. Still, his world tipped and slanted. “I think I’ll get started with Ms. Aggie.”

  “I really appreciate your help.” Katie pulled a knit hat from her jacket pocket and yanked it over her head. “I’m going to head to the dining hall and pretend I’ve been sitting there all morning before my husband wakes up.”

  “Too late.” Chance stood in the doorway, hands on his hips, a grimace on his face.

  “Zach can vouch for me.” Katie waved toward Zach, the motion frantic. “I haven’t lifted anything heavy or climbed any ladders or even sat on a saddle.”

  Chance arched an eyebrow at his wife.

  “She introduced me to the Blackwell Ambassadors,” Zach offered. “And she’s letting me handle their morning exercise.”

  Katie gave Zach a grateful glance.

  Just like that, he’d gained a Blackwell supporter and a possible favor owed. The corrupt piece of him, honed by a childhood spent conning people for food and money, grasped on to an idea. Could he earn enough Blackwell supporters and favors to convince Ethan to treat Rain Dancer?

  Selfish. His mother had hurled that word at him often growing up. Past girlfriends, too.

  Selfish. Ruthless. That and desperate. Desperate to keep his one last connection to his brother alive. As long as he had Rain Dancer, he hadn’t really lost everything—and everyone—that had ever meant something to him.

  He’d help where he was needed. When he was needed. He wouldn’t insert himself where he wasn’t wanted. Man had to keep some boundaries uncrossed. If he tallied favors owed in the process, all the better. He had to try. He couldn’t give up.

  “Thanks for the help, Zach.” Chance wrapped his arm around Katie’s waist. “If you do see my wife doing anything that appears to be against doctor’s orders, feel free to tell on her.”

  Katie curved her arm around Chance’s back. “Once our baby is born, I’m getting back to my usual life, along with our child.”

  Chance kissed her cheek. “Never too early to learn the family trade.”

  Katie and Chance walked toward the stable entrance, their heads touching and their low voices swirling together. If Zach had a pregnant wife, he’d be as protective as Chance. Zach checked the mare’s water bucket and considered dunking his head inside. A wife had never been on his radar. And a pregnant one, at that… He needed to work extra in the stables to remind himself where he truly belonged.

  “Hey, Zach,” Chance called out. “Don’t forget to eat and enjoy yourself. You’re a guest, not an employee.”

  “Working with the horses is the best kind of enjoyment.” And the best escape.

  Wade McKee, the manager at his ex-girlfriend’s family ranch in Colorado, had hired Zach on as a hand that first summer. His mother’s death two years later had forced Zach to drop out of college and care for his brother full-time. Wade had hired Zach permanently and had given Zach and Cody a cabin to live in on the property. The free room and board had allowed Zach to pay for his brother’s treatments. The ranch work had taught him how to survive.

  “We sure could use someone with your experience.” Katie tucked her arm around Chance.

  He’d always worked alone. His mentors, Wade and Marshall Yates, the horse trainer, had both been steadfast bachelors. Yet now, watching Chance and Katie together, Zach considered the appeal of a partner. He shook off that thought like a horse scattering the flies from its face. He was dishonest and selfish and better on his own.

  “Katie is really a good boss to work for.” Chance laughed. “Don’t let her gruff, know-it-all manner fool you.”

  “Don’t listen to him.” Katie pushed on her husband’s chest. “But please remember to get something to eat.”

  “I promised to head back to Dorothy’s place for bourbon cinnamon French toast.” Zach touched his stomach. He planned to work up an appetite and work off his guilt. “I tasted the bourbon vanilla syrup and spiked whipped cream before I left, and that was incredible.”

  “Grandma Dot’s made her homemade bourbon cinnamon French toast?” Accusation echoed around the stables. Katie added, “This morning.”

  Zach paused and considered Katie’s frown, then glanced at Chance. “Is that a problem?”

  Chance rocked back on his boot heels. He shook his head and his burst of laughter slipped free. “Katie has been requesting Grandma Dot’s special French toast for a while now.”

  “Grandma Dot has been refusing to make her specialty, claiming the bourbon isn’t good for the baby.” Katie’s frown slipped into a pout.

  Zach refrained from mentioning he already planned to have two helpings. “It will probably be just okay.”

  Katie glared at him. “You’re lying.”

  “Of course he is.” Chance released another gust of laughter. “Everyone knows Grandma Dot’s bourbon cinnamon French toast is the best in the state. She has a first-place ribbon from the state fair proving that very thing.”

  “I can’t believe she made it.” Katie rounded on her husband. “Did you get invited over there, too?”

  “First I’ve heard that she made it.” Chance touched his chin. “But now that I know…”

  “If I can’t have the French toast, neither can you.” Katie grabbed Chance’s hand.

  Zach had done the same thing with his brother. Zach had never eaten anything Cody couldn’t during his brother’s treatments. He’d never wanted his brother to feel left out.

  “That hardly seems fair.” Chance kissed Katie’s cheek. “But for you, I’ll wait.”

  Zach had stood by his brother the same way Chance backed his wife. Zach and Cody had been at Rain Dancer’s birth. During Cody’s remission, they’d trained the colt together. Later, on his good days, Cody had ridden Rain Dancer around the small pasture. The joy on his brother’s face had surpassed Zach’s. Zach and Cody had been a team. The only team Zach had ever known and ever trusted.

  Zach swallowed back his grief. He knew what he had to do. “I won’t mention the French toast again either.”

  “Did she make anything else?” Katie asked.

  Chance shook his head at Zach, a warning on his face.

  “Not that I can recall.” Zach opened the stall door and slipped inside.

  Katie and Chance walked outside, Chance promising all the French toast and bourbon whipped cream his wife could eat after the baby arrived.

  Babies. Weddings. Family celebrations. Traditions. The Blackwells embraced life and had opened their world to Zach. Now he planned to use their compassion and kindness for his own gain.

  Guilt filtered into him. He lived his life without regret. Without apologies.

  And already he wanted this family to forgive him.

  Perhaps if Grandma Dot’s morning hugs weren’t the kind that lingered.

  Perhaps if he liked Georgie a level below a stranger.

  Perhaps then he’d walk away without remorse. He only wanted to walk away with a chance to save Rain Dancer. With hope again. Was that so wrong?

  But this was Georgie’s family. People she loved.

  Yet Zach had given his word to Georgie to be her pretend boyfriend.

  A man is worth nothing if his word can’t be relied on. Zach’s dad had always kept his word. Taught his son to do the same. He’d continue the ruse.

  Maybe if he helped Georgie get to know her Blackwell family, that would be the positive to balance the negative. Balance made the difference between lasting the full eight seconds on a bucking bronc or dropping off in two seconds. There was value in balance, whether on a bronc
or in life.

  He’d give Georgie her family and save his own in the process.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  PLEASE, LET THE dining hall be empty. No Blackwells. No more new family members. Georgie quickened her pace across the gravel path leading from Dorothy’s house to the guest building.

  Okay. Not empty. Even Georgie recognized that would be impossible with a ranch the size of the Blackwells’. Georgie hunched her shoulders against the cold wind and hoped only her sisters would be waiting for her inside the dining hall.

  Thanks to Zach, she’d survived her first night at the Blackwell ranch. He’d remained by her side the entire evening, from dinner to dessert, absorbed the overwhelming presence of her new and extended family gathered together in one place and maintained his humor. She’d fallen asleep listening to his even breathing on the floor in front of the fireplace. She’d woken alone and disoriented. A note on her pillow requested her presence in the dining hall at nine o’clock.

  Georgie was five minutes early. She wore a snowflake-and-reindeer-patterned sweater she’d borrowed from Lily. The thick-knit sweater peeked out from beneath her coat, giving away its too-large size. Her scarf clashed with the ice-blue color and her socks did not match.

  Georgie tapped the snow from her boots and lingered outside the dining-hall doors. Too many voices and too much laughter swooshed around for the occupants to be her sisters only. She gripped the iron door handle and searched for her backbone. This was her family, after all.

  A blast of welcome heat surrounded her. She eased inside, seeking more of the warmth, and plotted how to slip unnoticed to the coffee station on the other side of the hall. Then she could quickly down a cup for a bit of caffeinated courage and finally face her cousins, their spouses and kids…

  The doors had barely eased shut behind her before her sisters spotted her. Plan interrupted.

  “Georgie, come and see.” Lily waved to Georgie, ending Georgie’s chance at remaining unnoticed in the massive hall.

  Several Blackwells called out good-morning greetings. Georgie smiled and nodded, then joined her sisters at the Christmas tree collection. Closer to the coffee station, but not close enough.

  “Conner found the perfect tree topper for our Harrison family tree,” Lily explained. “I was telling him how I couldn’t find one anywhere.”

  Georgie lifted her gaze to the top of the ten-foot Christmas tree. A double starfish had been placed on top. Burlap and aqua tulle surrounded the two starfishes, one white, one orange, to transform the topper into something elegant and Christmassy. Conner couldn’t have picked a better topper for the Harrison tree. He’d understood Lily’s vision for the tree. Even more, Conner understood her sister and put her happiness first.

  Georgie massaged her neck. That was something couples who’d been together, dating seriously for more than a year, did. Couples who’d taken the time to get to know each other on a deeper level and learned to listen to each other. Listening wasn’t a relationship skill picked up and perfected in only a few months.

  “Peyton sent these beautiful ornaments.” Fiona held up a small globe. A palm tree decorated in colored Christmas lights had been painted over the glass, and the bottom had been dipped in real beach sand. “There’s one for each of us with our name on it.”

  Their oldest sister, Peyton, would be arriving from California in a few days. Clearly, Peyton had lost focus, too, now that she’d fallen in love with Matteo Santos and his son, Gino. The old, single Peyton would not have been wandering through boutique shops and picking out beautifully handmade Christmas ornaments. Peyton would’ve been concentrating on closing deals for the Fortune 500 tech company she worked at. Georgie and Peyton loved their work and their jobs. Neither had ever apologized for that.

  Now Peyton loved Matteo. And Georgie resisted the urge to apologize for her outfit and for not being like the others.

  “Isn’t it all perfect?” Lily stepped back, linked her arm through Georgie’s and sighed.

  It really was quite perfect. The Harrison family tree—beach themed to represent their childhood home in San Diego—was nestled in among the six Blackwell family trees. Turquoise ribbon extended like waves from the top tree branch to the bottom tree branch. The seahorse and coral ornaments and the soft blue lights should have made the tree stand out among the others. But the unconventional Harrison tree looked as if it belonged between Katie and Chance’s Whimsical Candyland tree and Ben and Rachel’s Winter Wonderland tree. How was that possible so soon?

  “Next year, Conner and I get our own tree.” Lily pressed her hand over her heart. “Then Fiona and Simon.”

  “Peyton and Amanda, too, if they want one.” Fiona wrapped her arm around Georgie’s waist and squeezed. “You and Zach.”

  Georgie swallowed to reset her dry throat. “Zach and me.”

  “Of course, you and Zach,” Lily said.

  “Wait. Yesterday you didn’t believe we were dating.” Georgie discovered her voice despite her sudden confusion. “Now we get the honor of our own family tree at Blackwell.”

  She’d learned last night that the Blackwell family tree tradition had started after Big E and Dorothy remarried two years ago. Now, when a Blackwell married, they were given their own ten-foot tree to decorate. It was an honor and a tradition. But tradition did not extend to those who deceived their own families. Georgie swallowed again. This time to push the guilt away.

  “You wouldn’t have brought a guy home if you didn’t have really strong feelings.” Fee squeezed Georgie again.

  Each hug from her sister only pressed against Georgie’s guilt, shoving it to the surface.

  Georgie had strong feelings about keeping the peace in the family. About them not worrying about her. She also had very strong feelings about her work and her career path. Such strong feelings that she was willing to deceive her own sisters. Unfortunately, the deception was leading to even stronger feelings of remorse. And strong feelings for Zach…

  “Zach told us this morning how you two met.” Lily smiled and rubbed Georgie’s arm. “So sweet.”

  There’d been nothing sweet about it. Georgie had backed him into her scheme with one outburst. She shifted to search the dining hall for Zach. Where was he? She’d never excelled at making up stories. He’d made one up, but she didn’t know the details. Where was he?

  Lily tugged on her arm, pulling Georgie’s attention back to her. “I still can’t believe you started going to rodeos.”

  Was that how they’d supposedly met? At a rodeo? He couldn’t have mentioned a coffee shop or a grocery store? Someplace Georgie went often. Someplace her sisters would believe. “There was a rodeo in town. I went with friends.”

  “You always claim your lab is your friend.” Lily laughed.

  “And that your colleagues work longer hours than you,” Fee added.

  “You can’t believe everything I say,” Georgie said. There. I warned you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you guys.

  “It’s refreshing that we’ve all stepped out of our comfort zones lately.” Lily set her head against Georgie’s and grinned. “And we’re better for it.”

  “Who would have thought we’d find our happy places?” Fee added.

  Georgie would be truly happy stepping into her new lab in London. Georgie knew where she belonged. Where she fit in.

  She touched the glass ornament from Peyton, traced her finger over the cheerful lights on the palm tree. She’d loved to read, propped against a palm tree on the beach. In the North Carolina mountains, she’d traded palm trees for tall oak trees in the park. But never forgot her book. Surely in England she’d find a new favorite place to read.

  Doubt flickered through her, chasing her sudden uncertainty like the colored Christmas lights on Katie and Chance’s tree. She shoved aside her doubt, blaming it on her lack of caffeine, and grabbed her sisters’ hands. “You both are happy? Truly happy, right?�
��

  A wide smile blossomed across Fee’s face. “Yes. Very much.”

  “I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.” Lily’s smile highlighted the spark in her gaze.

  Georgie wanted to be happy for her sisters, yet she worried about their getting hurt. It was so sudden. So soon. Yet a part of her believed them. That was only her heart inserting itself. She’d relied on reason and common sense too long to listen to her heart now. Besides, the practical side of her knew that her sisters being in blissful moods when she delivered her job news would better serve Georgie. She wrapped her sisters in a group hug. “I really missed you guys.”

  Lily wiped at her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get back to Georgie’s new man and the fun stuff.”

  He’s not my new man. Georgie forced herself to smile. There was nothing fun about the guilt pulsing inside her.

  “Zach is really funny and kind.” Fee smiled. “He even adjusted Grandma Dot’s rocking chair this morning to make it more comfortable for her. Then he put together a breakfast plate for you, Georgie, of foods that wouldn’t need to be reheated.”

  “He mentioned how you don’t like rewarmed eggs or cold toast.” Lily laughed. “Clearly he’s been paying attention to your quirks. He’s good for you, Georgie.”

  Zach was good for her now. For one week. “I don’t have quirks. I have preferences. Nothing wrong with preferring my food hot.” And her men as friends only.

  “We can see why you like him,” Lily said.

  Because Zach agreed to be her pretend date. Because he agreed to be a placeholder to stall all the matchmaking madness. All her sisters were in love. Georgie was the last holdout and she intended to remain that way.

  “It’s so sad about his brother.” Fee frowned, then found her smile. Optimism wound through her words. “But now he has you and all of us to make sure this Christmas is extra special.”