The Rancher's Best Gift

by Stella Bagwell

  Her eyes full of questions, she asked, “And now?”

  “Now I can see how right he was about everything. I do belong here on Red Bluff, Camille. This is where you’re happy and I’m happy. It’s where we need to raise our children and live out our lives. I don’t want you to give up The Lost Antelope. Not for me or any reason.”

  Her head swung back and forth. “But I don’t want you to give up Three Rivers just to make me happy.”

  “Oh, my little darling, Red Bluff is a part of Three Rivers. And Blake and Maureen have already been planning on turning it into a larger, full-time operation. Who do you think is going to run the place for them if I don’t? Together, TooTall and I will turn this ranch into the jewel of Cochise County.”

  Sighing with contentment, she leaned down and kissed him. “I’ve never been so happy.”

  He took her by the shoulders and pressed her down on the pillow. “I want you to stay right here until I get back.” He pulled the cover up to her armpits, then climbed out of bed and reached for his clothes.

  “Where are you going?” she wanted to know.

  He grinned at her. “This time I’m going to cook something for you and the baby. A cowboy can cook, you know—for the woman he loves.”

  Her joyous laughter followed him all the way down the stairs.

  Epilogue

  Several weeks later, on Christmas Eve, the hacienda on Red Bluff was ablaze with lights on the inside, while on the outside, decorative lights adorned the lawn and the back courtyard. Not only was the holiday being celebrated, but this evening the last Hollister sibling had married the man of her dreams.

  Inside the living room, baskets of red-and-white flowers accented with evergreen had been added to the many poinsettias, while dozens of tall, flickering candles flanked the fireplace and the windows overlooking the mountains.

  Once Camille and Matthew had decided they wanted to be married on Christmas Eve, Maureen and Vivian, along with Peggy, had all pitched in to help with the planning. Camille had made a whirlwind trip to Tucson and found the perfect dress of blush pink lace that brushed the floor and exposed most of her back. Instead of a veil, she’d adorned her upswept hair with a cluster of lily of the valley blossoms.

  Vivian had stood as Camille’s matron of honor, while Emily-Ann and Peggy had served as her bridesmaids. Blake had acted as Matthew’s best man, with Holt and TooTall being his two groomsmen.

  The men had all ribbed Matthew about finally being out of his chaps and jeans. Holt had even warned the crowd that the sight of Matthew without his spurs on might just cause the ceiling to fall in. Actually, Camille had never seen him in dress clothes, and when she’d gotten her first glimpse of him in a dark Western cut suit and bolo tie with a turquoise slide, his handsome image had very nearly taken her breath away. His untamed mane of blond curls glistened like gold in the candlelight, and as Camille had gazed into his gray eyes and repeated her vows of love, she could only think how far her life had come and what a blessed circle it had made to put her at Matthew’s side.

  So many friends and family had traveled from Three Rivers and Dragoon to watch Camille and Matthew exchange their wedding vows that the room was bulging at the seams. Now that the matching gold bands had been exchanged and Matthew had placed a meaningful kiss on his new wife’s lips, the champagne was flowing and Christmas music drifted over the joyous crowd.

  “For my beautiful daughter and new son-in-law,” Maureen said as she thrust a pair of fluted glasses at the newly married couple.

  “Thank you, Mom, but I can’t drink the champagne,” Camille told her.

  Maureen looked at Matthew and winked. “Just like I’ve forgotten that she’s carrying your baby.” She forced the drink in Camille’s hand. “It’s ginger ale, honey. So enjoy.”

  Camille leaned forward and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thank you for remembering, Mom.”

  She laughed. “How could I forget? You two have made me so happy. And by the way, Matthew, I have a bit more good news for you. Blake has finished the negotiations for the land. If all goes smoothly he’ll be signing the papers next week. Ten thousand more acres to go with the thirty-five thousand you already have here. Even if it’s across the northern boundary road, it will still be Red Bluff property. Unfortunately we couldn’t talk the owners of the adjoining east property into selling, but who knows, if we keep offering them a good enough price they might come around.”

  “That is good news,” Matthew told her. “So I guess this means more barns, more cattle and cowboys, and plenty more horses for Red Bluff.”

  Maureen affectionately patted his arm. “More everything. I’m going to miss the heck out of working with you every day, Matthew. But I’ll get over it. Especially knowing how happy you’ve made my daughter.”

  Matthew slipped his arm around the back of Camille’s waist and pulled her close to his side. “I’m going to do my best to keep her that way, Maureen. As for Red Bluff, it’s going to be a pleasure to help it grow.”

  Before Maureen could say more, Vivian rushed up and took her mother by the arm. “Mom, I hate to do this to you, but Reeva needs you in the kitchen for something.”

  Maureen rolled her eyes. “I told Reeva we should’ve had the wedding dinner catered, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She just had to do the cooking herself.”

  Vivian shared a knowing glance with Camille and Matthew before she said to her mother, “She was insulted that you even mentioned such a thing, Mom. Camille is the last Hollister to get married and you think she’d let some other cook do the dinner? Only over her dead body.”

  Vivian tugged her mother away and Matthew used the moment to draw Camille to an empty corner of the room where the noise of the wedding crowd wasn’t quite so loud.

  “I know, I know,” Camille teased. “We should have made the trip to the courthouse in Bisbee and let the judge marry us in his chambers. I admit it would’ve been a lot easier and quieter.”

  Bringing his mouth close to her ear, he said, “And miss seeing you looking so gorgeous and having all our friends and family here? Not for anything. You deserve this celebration, my beautiful wife.”

  She turned her head just enough to kiss his cheek. “Have you looked in at the dining room?” she asked. “The tables are decorated with flowers and candles and crystal, and Mom brought her best flatware and china down from Three Rivers.”

  He smiled at her glowing face. “I could eat Reeva’s prime rib off a granite plate and be just as happy.”

  She laughed and then looked back out at the crowd. “Peggy and Gideon and Edie seemed to be enjoying themselves. I’m glad. I want them to feel like a part of the family.”

  “I believe they do,” Matthew commented. “And Emily-Ann seems to be especially enjoying herself. I’m glad she could make it to the wedding. I know you two have been friends forever.”

  “Yes. And she caught my bouquet! You know what that means,” she said, her eyes twinkling suggestively.

  Matthew chuckled. “Now you sound like TooTall making predictions.”

  “Well, Emily-Ann deserves to have someone in her life. Like we have each other.”

  Sighing, she turned and was about to place a kiss on Matthew’s lips when Holt suddenly strolled up with a short glass of bourbon and cola in his hand.

  “Uh-uh. None of that, little sis,” he teased. “You’re an old married woman now. You can forget the hanky-panky.”

  She gave her handsome brother a tight hug. “What are you doing with that stuff?” she asked, pointing to the tumbler. “In case you didn’t know, you’re at a wedding. You’re supposed to be drinking champagne!”

  He laughed and winked at Matthew. “My system couldn’t stand the shock. And speaking of a shocker, we just got one from Mom a few minutes ago. Did she mention anything to you two?”

  “You mean about the land purchase to add to Red Bluff?” Matt
hew asked, assuming that was the only thing Holt could be talking about. “She told us the deal was going through and that Blake would sign the papers in a few days.”

  “Actually, it’s been ages since I’ve seen Mom this happy,” Camille told her brother. “Something has definitely lifted her spirits.”

  Matthew cast his wife a tender look. “I like to think she’s happy about us and the baby. I realize that we surprised her, but she seems to be content with having me for a son-in-law.”

  “Oh, there’s no doubt that she’s over the moon about you two and the baby. But there’s something else going on,” Holt said. Then, moving closer, he lowered his voice. “She just told me and Joe that Uncle Gil has just retired from the Phoenix police force. And that’s not the least of it. The man is moving to Yavapai County to live.”

  Wide-eyed, Camille glanced at Matthew, then back to her brother. “Is this for real, Holt? Or have you been downing too much of that bourbon?”

  Frowning, Holt lifted his glass, “This is my first and last. And what I’m telling you is very real. Seems as though Uncle Gil called Mom this morning to wish her a Merry Christmas. That’s when he gave her the news.”

  “Hmm. Wonder if this has anything to do with the investigation of your father’s death?” Matthew pondered out loud. “After all, the man was a detective for the police force for years.”

  Holt shrugged. “All of us brothers are wondering the same thing. But Mom refuses to discuss the matter with us anymore. If Uncle Gil has solving Dad’s death on his mind, then he’s not going to get any help from Mom. On the other hand, she seems thrilled that he’s going to be living close by.”

  “How close?” Camille asked, picking up on the suggestive tone in Holt’s voice. “On Three Rivers?”

  “I have no idea. But I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  Beyond Holt’s shoulder, not far from the Christmas tree, Camille caught sight of Isabelle standing with Gabby and Sam. Isabelle’s baby bump was clearly evident beneath her bottle-green dress, and Camille could only hope she looked that lovely once her pregnancy grew to the advanced stage. Next to her, Gabby was close to Sam’s side, and as Camille studied the old cowboy from afar, she realized she’d never seen him looking so dapper in pressed jeans, a white shirt and a dark vest. Cupid had obviously struck him with an arrow, Camille thought. And considering the man’s much younger fiancée, he and Gabby were a testament that love wasn’t always conventional. Which made Camille wonder even more about her mother and Gil.

  “Excuse me, you two,” Holt spoke up. “I’d better go find Isabelle. I promised to dance with her tonight.”

  Camille laughed. “Where are you going to find the space to dance in this crowd?”

  Holt gave her a wicked grin. “We don’t need much space. As long as I have my arms around her and we sway a bit, she’ll consider it dancing.”

  As he walked away, Camille let out a good-natured groan and Matthew chuckled.

  “Wow, it’s still hard for me to picture Holt married and with a baby on the way,” she said fondly, “but I’m so happy for him.”

  “And he’s happy for us,” Matthew thoughtfully replied. “Our sons or daughters will be cousins close to the same age. Who would have ever guessed that would happen?”

  She gave her new husband a clever smile. “Uh—TooTall might have already guessed it. You think?”

  With another chuckle, Matthew plucked the glass from her hand, and after depositing it on a nearby table, he pulled her into his arms. “I think Holt had a very good idea. We need to dance.”

  He maneuvered her backwards and through the door leading into the dining room. The space was blessedly empty of people and Matthew took the opportunity to place a lingering kiss on her lips.

  “Merry Christmas, my beautiful wife,” he whispered.

  She smiled up at him. “Merry Christmas, my darling husband.”

  He gently moved her to the music and she rested her head against his shoulder. “Matthew, do you think Mom is romantically interested in Uncle Gil?”

  He was silent for so long that she finally lifted her head to see a sheepish expression on his face.

  “What?” she prodded. “Tell me.”

  “Okay, I can’t really say how Maureen feels about Gil or any man. But Holt and Chandler seem to believe she’s fallen in love with the guy.”

  Camille regarded him with mild surprise. “Hmm. Uncle Gil? I wouldn’t have expected him to be on Mom’s mind. Not in that way.”

  “Does the idea bother you?”

  Shaking her head, she touched her fingers to his cheek. “A few months ago it might have. But now that I have you and our baby on the way, I understand what love really means and how it’s made my life truly whole. If Mom can find that again with Uncle Gil, then I’ll be the first to congratulate her.”

  He rubbed his cheek against hers. “I’m very proud of you, sweetheart.”

  Her heart overflowing with happiness, she held him tighter. “Our baby truly is a Christmas miracle, and tonight on our wedding night, nothing is going to dim the bright star shining down on Red Bluff.” She brought her lips next to his ear. “You’ve given me the best gift ever, Matthew. Even if I have to wait a few months to unwrap it.”

  “I’m glad you think so. But how am I going to find you a gift for the following Christmases that will match up to this one?”

  Easing her head back, she gave him a pointed look. “You don’t think we’re going to stop with just one, do you?”

  Laughing, he whirled her in a full circle. “Camille, living with you is going to make every day seem like Christmas.”

  * * *

  Be sure to look for Stella Bagwell’s next book,

  Fortune’s Texas Surprise

  the second book in the Fortunes of Texas:

  Rambling Rose continuity,

  available February 2020.

  And for more Men of the West stories,

  try these great books by

  Stella Bagwell:

  Home to Blue Stallion Ranch

  His Texas Runaway

  A Ranger For Christmas

  Available now wherever

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from It Started at Christmas... by Jo McNally.

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  It Started at Christmas...

  by Jo McNally

  Prelude

  Three days after Christmas...

  Big fat snowflakes swirled through the air at the cemetery, making everything look fuzzy three days after the worst Christmas ever. Zachary watched the people walk back to their cars. Big piles of flowers surrounded his mother’s grave.

  “Do you think Mom sent the snow?”

  “What?” Uncle Blake looked down at Zachary and frowned.

  “Maybe...maybe Mom sent the snow. Like a message or something. She taught me how to catch snowflakes on my tongue, like this...” Zachary stuck his tongue out. A white flake landed, melting in a quick, cold burst. Uncle Blake’s face screwed up like he’d just stepped on a Lego, but Zach rushed on. “Remember how much she loved Christmas, Uncle Blake? Maybe she’s still here, but you can’t see h
er...like the ghost of Christmas future in that story—”

  “No.” His uncle’s voice sounded rough and scratchy. “She’s not here, Zach. Your mom isn’t a ghost. She’s just...gone.”

  He meant Mom was dead. Zach wasn’t stupid. He knew what dead meant. What he didn’t get was, why wouldn’t people just say it?

  Uncle Blake looked up at the snow for a minute. “She loved Christmas so much because it’s for little kids, and she never stopped... She never really grew up.” He knelt in front of Zach, one knee in the snow. “I know this was a lousy holiday, and I’m sorry. I miss her, too. But you’re going to have to be a man now. You need to leave make-believe for the little kids, okay?”

  Zach straightened his shoulders. He missed his mom. She was funny, and she gave the best hugs ever. Hugs that made him feel safe, even in the middle of another move or if she was changing boyfriends again. And now he’d never have another hug from her. He blinked his eyes. Would anyone ever hug him like that? Probably not. Hugs were like Christmas—for little kids only. He looked into his uncle’s eyes and nodded.

  He wasn’t really sure how to be a man, but if that’s what his uncle wanted, he’d try.

  Chapter One

  “This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

  “What? The shopping or the job?”

  Amanda Lowery juggled the bags in her hand, laughing at her cousin’s question.

  “Both, I guess. There’s no way I’ll get the job after Mr. Randall meets me tomorrow, which means I won’t be able to pay for any of this stuff.”

  The two women stood on the sidewalk in Gallant Lake, New York. Like so many upstate villages, a lot of the brick or clapboard storefronts were empty. There were still a few businesses left, and they’d managed to shop in every one of them. There was just a hint of color starting to show in the mountains surrounding the lake, which glittered in the afternoon sun. Labor Day was just over a week away. Soon those trees would be ablaze in the reds and golds of autumn. Amanda and Mel were standing in front of a colorful coffee shop directly across the road from a tiny park overlooking the lake.