As he lifted his head, Deacon had to keep from audibly groaning at his mother’s audacity.
“Has that always been there?” Kate aimed her gaze toward the sprig of mistletoe hanging from the rustic beam directly above them.
“No. Definitely not.” Deacon reached up to pull the greenery free.
“You don’t have to do that.” Kate’s fingers busily crimped the edges of the pie so she didn’t look at him when she said it, but she nudged her chin, indicating to leave it be. “It’s sort of festive. I say leave it up.”
“Really?”
“Yeah?” She shrugged, still focused on the decorative rim of the pies. “Why not?”
“Well, for one, you might get caught under it with Cody. He does live here and the guy spends a ton of time in the kitchen rummaging through that fridge. You don’t want to fall into that trap.”
“Oh, Cody’s not so bad.”
“Not so bad?” Deacon said through a chuckle while reaching into the cutlery drawer to locate the carving knife. He found the one that belonged to his father, the very knife he’d used each Thanksgiving to carve the turkey and every Christmas to slice the prime rib and Deacon felt a pang of sadness at the long-lost memories. He shrugged off the mounting sadness and said, “I beg to differ, but that’s just my opinion. I’m sorry I abandoned you like that, but I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the boys to man the lot after what had happened with the fender bender earlier in the day. Did you at least have an okay time with him?”
“We had a great time. Honestly, Deacon, I’ve loved every minute of my time here so far.”
“Yeah, I feel like maybe you’ve already forgotten our first interaction.”
“I haven’t forgotten it, but I understand it now. This place is unique, Deacon. Your family has created something really special here and I get how protective you are over it. I’m an outsider. You were right to be wary of me at first.”
Deacon lifted his eyes from his work. “I’m cautious by nature. Can’t help it, really. But I’ve been working on it. It’s something I’d like to change.”
“I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing.” Kate took a few steps across the kitchen and bent down to pull open the oven door. She placed two expertly assembled pie crusts onto the racks. “It’s okay to guard what’s important to you.”
Lifting a stack of sliced meat onto the platter his mother had set out for him, Deacon paused. “I felt that way today. Like I wanted to guard something important to me.”
“Yeah?” She shut the oven door and turned around, pressing her backside against the counter as she gave Deacon a puzzled look. “How so?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s silly, but when that guy asked you out, I felt something I haven’t in a long while.”
“Jealousy?” A single eyebrow winged up in curiosity.
“No, not that. I don’t think it was jealousy, at least.” Deacon rested the carving knife on the tiled counter, his expression pensive. “I actually felt really grateful when you told him you were already seeing someone. It was such a relief to learn that my feelings for you weren’t one-sided.”
“They’re not one-sided at all.” Kate’s bright eyes held his for several measures before she snapped from her reverie, her hands twisting anxiously in the apron tied around her middle. “This is a first for me. I’ve never fallen for someone on the job before.”
Deacon prayed it wasn’t visible, but he startled at the words. He’d been so wrapped up in whatever was growing between them that he’d nearly forgotten Kate’s real purpose here on the farm. She did her work so effortlessly—conducted her interviews so seamlessly—that he often didn’t even notice her camera rolling. But when it all boiled down, this was first and foremost a job for her.
“Maybe I shouldn’t’ve said that,” she backpedaled.
“No.” He moved closer. “I feel the same. I wasn’t expecting you.”
Kate nodded. “Right. Your mother probably should’ve been more honest about hiring me—”
“No. I mean I wasn’t expecting you.” He motioned between them. “Or this. Any of it.”
He could feel the mistletoe hanging above them like a guiding push, its weighty presence nudging him closer.
Kate sensed it, too. Her throat pulled tight with a swallow and her eyes looked everywhere but at the taunting little bundle of green dangling overhead. “I wasn’t expecting any of this either.”
She took the step that brought them within inches of one another.
“Is it okay if I…?” Deacon gulped. “If I…?”
Kate’s shoulders rose and fell and just when she parted her lips to finish his sentence that suspended unanswered between them, a blast of mountain air whirled into the kitchen, engulfing the room in a teeth-chattering chill. The back door flew open so forcefully it nearly dented the drywall on the opposite side, crashing loudly on its hinges.
“Mom!” Deacon shouted at the sight of Cody angling through the doorway with Marla in his arms, struggling and out of breath like he’d just run a mile. “What happened?”
Deacon hauled his mother from his brother’s grasp and together they rushed into the family room to settle her onto the couch directly in front of the pellet stove.
“Mom, are you okay?”
Marla’s face retained the pallor of a ghost, but her tone remained spirited. “Oh, I just slipped and fell. Nothing to write home about.”
“Her ankle’s already swelling quite a bit,” Cody noted over Deacon’s shoulder. He scrubbed a hand down his face and paced back and forth along the wool rug. “I think there’s a decent chance it’s broken.”
“It’s not broken,” Marla snapped. “I’ve just got weak ankles. Always have.”
“We need to get this checked out, Mom.” Deacon slid his mother’s boot from her foot and lowered the shoe to the floor, then lifted her leg a touch to examine the injury. “Cody, do you think you would be able to go out front and get my truck warmed up for us? I’ll bring her out after she gets some pink back in her cheeks. You’re looking awfully pale, Mom.”
“Sure thing, bro.”
Marla’s hand flew up. “That won’t be necessary, boys. I’m not going anywhere. I’m telling you, it’s not broken. I just rolled it on that dang loft staircase. It’s just a sprain. It’ll be good as new in no time.”
A hiss slipped between Deacon’s lips. “I knew I should’ve fixed that already.”
“Well, now it really needs fixing because it’s currently missing two rungs.” Marla looked up at Kate who stood behind the two concerned men and locked eyes. “I remembered you asked about getting a few extra towels and I was just leaving them up there for you, dear. Or trying to, at least. I didn’t make it all that far before I came crashing down like Santa tumbling down a chimney.” She laughed at her own comment and then waved at her sons. “Now, help your mother up so we can get to eating that meal that smells so delicious.”
“Nope. You’re not going anywhere,” Deacon said with conviction. He nudged his mother’s shoulders back toward the couch cushions when she tried to bolt up from the sofa.
“But I’m hungry.”
“I’ll grab the T.V. tray,” Cody said to his older brother like he could read his mind. Deacon nodded, liking the idea.
“And I’ll fix you up a plate.” Kate didn’t wait for a reply before quickly disappearing into the kitchen.
Left alone with his mother, Deacon lowered to kneel next to her, just like he used to when they would say his nightly prayers at his bedside as a boy. “Mom.” Though still insistent, his voice was now coated with concern. “I know you don’t want to, but you’ve got to let me take you in to get this checked out.”
Marla’s lips buttoned in defiance and she shook her head in tight, narrow motions. “You know I can’t do hospitals, Deac. Not since everything with your dad…”
Deacon knew that. He’d hated them, too. The cold, sterile rooms that reeked of disinfectant. The clinical news from doctors lacking bedside manner
s. Of course, he knew not all hospital experiences were like that, but they’d had a terrible, life-altering one and the thought of being back in that building was enough to sour Deacon’s stomach.
But his mother’s health was still the main concern here.
She cupped her hands around his, compassion filling her motherly gaze. “I’m fine, Deacon. Honestly. It’s just a sprain. I’ve had many of them over the years. You know that. Just a couple days’ rest and I’ll be good as gold. Trust me on this, okay?”
He relented with a sigh. There was no telling this woman what to do, of that he was well aware. “Then at least let me get you something for the swelling. I really don’t like the way it looks. Do you happen to know if there’s any ice in the freezer?”
“If not, there’s an entire farm-full just outside.”
Deacon chuckled. “I supposed there is, and more coming down as we speak. I’ll go fill a plastic baggy with some snow and then help you get settled in and situated for the evening. Cody’s up in the attic looking for that old T.V. tray and Kate should be back soon with your dinner. Is there anything else I can do for you in the meantime?”
“You could get back to what you and Kate were about to do under that mistletoe before I so rudely barged in,” Marla said with absolutely no shame. “For the second time today, mind you. My timing really is terrible, isn’t it?”
“We weren’t about to do anything.”
“Sure, you weren’t.” Marla laughed but winced from the jostling movement. She reached for her ankle. “Ouch. I really did a number this time.”
“Mom, I know you don’t want to hear it, but you need to learn to slow down. Cody and I could’ve taken care of the horses tonight if you would’ve just asked. It wouldn’t’ve been an issue at all. You don’t need to add more things to your already full plate.”
“Deacon, the day I slow down is the day you put me in the ground. I like to stay busy. It keeps me right in the head.”
Of course, he understood that. His father’s unexpected death had rattled them all, his mother the most. He knew they’d each worked through and processed it differently over the years. For Marla, that meant diving headfirst into farm responsibilities by picking up where her husband had left off. She was right. Slowing down wasn’t an option. Not for the long term, at least.
But Deacon would make certain she slowed down at least for the next few days. She wouldn’t like it, but she wouldn’t have a choice.
“I want your word that you’ll try to let me and Cody take care of you. At least while your ankle’s on the mend.”
“I will try,” she agreed, but it wasn’t convincing. “But I can’t promise it won’t be met without a little grumbling on my end.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less than ten complaints per day,” Deacon quipped, ready for the swat on his arm that his mother delivered in response to his remark. “Maybe twelve.”
“Deacon Winters, show this old mama of yours a little respect.”
“I respect you, Mom. More than you will ever know.”
She flapped her hands, urging her son closer. “Come here and give me a hug. I sure could use one.”
Even though he was a grown man, there was always safety, comfort, and unconditional love to be found in his mother’s arms. This time, he sensed the embrace was more for her than it was meant for him, so he was sure to squeeze extra tightly. When he pulled back, he couldn’t help but notice the sheen of tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Marla swiped a finger under her nose and sniffed, scolding the unbidden tear away. “I really hate that this had to happen right in the middle of our busy season.”
“Will you please stop apologizing?”
“I’m serious, Deacon. This injury throws a monkey wrench into our entire operation. We need all hands on deck during this holiday rush and now I’ve gone and done this.” She motioned toward her propped up foot.
Deacon disagreed. “We’ll figure things out. One step at a time. And right now, that first step is to get you upright so you can eat the dinner you spent all evening preparing. On three. One, two,” he guided. “Three.” He took hold of her elbow to swivel her into a sitting position.
Like two staffers at a bustling restaurant, Cody and Kate simultaneously entered the room and went to work getting Marla situated with her lap table and a heaping plate of all the best comfort foods, complete with a cloth napkin that Kate had tried—and failed—to fold into what Deacon could only assume was a swan. Or a donkey. It was really difficult to tell but the effort was valiant.
He could see in his mother’s eyes that she disliked being waited upon, but she’d have to accept their help. He would make certain of it.
“Thank you all. Truly. I’m really going to try not to make myself a nuisance. You’ll hardly even notice me.”
“Please stop apologizing for something you had no control over.”
“That familiar line sure sounds like something I would say,” Marla said. “In fact, I think I have said that to you many times over the years.”
That comment felt like a sharp jab in Deacon’s side. His mother had used those same words, but the truth was, the situations he often apologized for were well within his control, like his skiing accident that resulted in a fractured collarbone and even worse off skis. And most recently, the broken stairs leading up to the barn loft. There was blame to place with that and it landed squarely upon Deacon’s shoulders.
“I’m going to fix those stairs first thing in the morning.” Deacon turned his attention toward Kate who had just taken a seat in the old leather recliner off to the side. “I’m so sorry, but I don’t think you’ll be able to get back up to the loft tonight. Not safely, at least.”
A flash of apprehension crossed over Kate’s face before she marshaled her features. “Oh, okay. That’s fine, I can—”
“Bunk with me!” Marla completed the thought for her with a tangible giddiness that couldn’t go unnoticed. “I’ve got Deacon’s empty, old room down the hall that you can stay in. Plus, I could really use the extra set of ears. You know, in case I need any help in the middle of the night. Cody sleeps like a hibernating bear, so he’s of no use to me. Wouldn’t wake up even if a freight train came barreling through his room.”
“I work hard and sleep hard.” Cody’s shoulders lifted to his ears. “What can I say?”
Kate still didn’t seem completely onboard. “If you’re sure it’s not an inconvenience.”
“I busted the only way to get up to your room and you’re worried about being an inconvenience? Kate, dear, trust me. I’d feel much more comfortable with you staying in the main house tonight.”
“I would, too,” Deacon agreed. The thought of Kate in that rickety barn while the storm raged outside made him uneasy with concern. He even worried a little about the horses, but he knew they were blanketed and tucked safely into their stalls and would ride out the storm in relative comfort. This was going to be a bad one, and he wanted everyone safe, sound and accounted for.
“Then who am I to argue?” Kate finally said. “I’ll find a way to thank you guys for your hospitality. One way or another”
Deacon grinned. “I think you already have.”
“Yeah?” Kate’s eyes slanted. “How so?”
Marla sniffed and Deacon noticed the same sharp aroma wafting from the kitchen. “In the form of two, slightly burnt apple pies,” Marla said, winking. “That’s how.”
Kate lurched from the chair. “Oh no! The pies!”
Kate
“Knit one, purl one?”
“Knit one, purl two,” Kate corrected. She glanced up from the busy needles and yarn in her hands to survey Marla’s handiwork. It wasn’t half-bad for a first time knitter. Sure, there were a few holes where the yarn didn’t get pulled quite tight enough, and there were also few saggy portions right around the middle, but all in all, it was a noble first attempt. And the perfect activity for the woman who didn’t seem to comprehend the meaning of relaxation.
They had finished up dinner an hour or so earlier. Deacon retreated to his cottage and Cody to his upstairs bedroom, leaving Kate and Marla to watch It’s a Wonderful Life that aired on the same station as Kate’s news show. She just loved that movie and knew by the time the credits rolled across the screen, she’d have a steady trail of tears streaming down her face. It didn’t matter that she watched it every year. Those ringing bells and angel wings would always be the cue to release the waterworks.
Marla couldn’t sit still, even with the movie playing. She’d fidgeted and fussed and when Kate had asked if she happened to have any yarn and knitting needles, the woman’s face lit up like a brilliant Christmas display. “I do!” She’d tried to stand to retrieve the items in question, but Kate was quick with a look that challenged Marla to stay in place. “In the hope chest in the first bedroom down the hall. They were Grandma Kay’s. Haven’t been used in years and I’m not even sure if the yarn will hold up, but it should all be in there. That woman sure loved to knit. Made both the boys stockings when they were babies. I still have them.”
“Did she ever teach you how?”
“To knit? Nah, I never had the patience for it.” Marla had tossed her head back and forth. “Anything that requires sitting still for that long makes my skin start to itch.”
“But I’ve seen you in your shop. Seems like you do okay in there for hours on end, no?”
“Only because I’ve got people to chat with. Inventory to restock. I don’t do well with silence and idle hands. Not since Joe passed, at least.”
Kate had already been moving across the room so she prayed the hiccup in her step wasn’t visible at the mention of Joe’s name. Deacon had opened up a little about his father, but this was her first time hearing Marla speak of the man. She couldn’t fathom the deep heartache his void must have created in their lives. Kate had lost people she cared about, but never a family member and certainly not someone she’d loved enough to pledge her own life to. Marla’s pain was substantial and real and Kate felt her heart break a little for the woman who she’d only known a few days.
Christmas at Yuletide Farm: A Small-Town Christmas Romance Novel Page 13
