A Country Christmas

by Debbie Macomber

With a silent groan, Vaughn turned toward Natalie.

  “You didn’t answer my phone messages.” She set aside her coffee, glaring at him. “When I couldn’t find you, I drove straight to Buffalo Valley, where I spent the night at some hole-in-the-wall. Merry Christmas, Natalie,” she said bitterly.

  She didn’t appear to expect a comment, so he sat down across from her and waited. When she didn’t immediately continue, he figured he’d better take his stand.

  “I’m finished with Value-X.” Nothing she could say or offer him would influence his decision. “You aren’t going to change my mind.”

  “I’ll say you’re finished. I’ll be fortunate to have a job myself after this.”

  Vaughn doubted that. Natalie was the type who’d always land on her feet. Yes, she’d recommended Vaughn to the company, but they couldn’t hold that against her.

  “You intend to go through with this...this craziness, don’t you?”

  No use hedging. “Yes, I do. I’ve resigned, and since I hadn’t officially started work yet, I didn’t bother to give any notice.”

  She sighed and stared down at her coffee. “I wonder if I ever knew you.”

  Vaughn said nothing. He’d let her say what she wanted, denounce him, threaten him, whatever. She had cause; he wasn’t exactly blameless in all this.

  “You think I don’t know what this is about?” she challenged. She stood, crossing her arms. “It all has to do with you and me.”

  Vaughn didn’t know a kind way to tell her there wasn’t any “you and me.” There’d probably never been a “you and me.” Not with Natalie. Looking at her, Vaughn wondered how he could ever have believed he was in love with her. The very traits that had once attracted him now repulsed him. Her ambition blinded her to everything that was unique and special about Buffalo Valley.

  “Say something!” she shrilled.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s a good start.” Her stance relaxed somewhat.

  “It doesn’t change anything, though.” He wasn’t being purposely cruel, only frank. “I’m going to do everything I can to keep Value-X out of Buffalo Valley.”

  “You’re mad at me,” she insisted. “All this craziness about moving to some backwoods town is a form of punishment. You’re trying to make me regret what I said. Vaughn, you simply don’t understand how important Value-X is to me and to our future.”

  “Natalie—”

  She ignored him and started pacing. “We’ve always been good together, Vaughn, you know that.”

  “Have we, Natalie?” he asked, hoping she was capable of admitting the truth.

  “I can’t let you do this,” she said, clenching her fists.

  He shook his head. “It’s done.”

  “But you’re destroying your career!”

  “I don’t want to work for a company like Value-X. Not now and not in the future.”

  “What are you going to do, then?”

  “I don’t know,” he told her, and it was true. He’d fight the big retailer for as long as his money held out, but after that...he didn’t have any answers.

  “I can help you,” she said. “You’re this rough-and-ready Airborne Ranger, trying to be a hero. But you’ve got to face reality. No one goes against Value-X and walks away a winner. This will cost you more than you can afford to lose.”

  He ignored her threat. “Thanks but no thanks,” he muttered.

  She looked crestfallen.

  Vaughn had a few questions of his own. “Why did you tell Carrie we’re engaged?”

  “Because we are!” she cried. “Did we or did we not discuss marriage?”

  He didn’t respond. She already had her answer.

  “Oh, I get it,” Natalie raged, her eyes spitting fire. “You found yourself a little side dish while you were away visiting Mom and Dad. You forgot all about me. Is that it?”

  “We aren’t engaged and we aren’t getting married.” She couldn’t seriously believe he intended to continue this relationship when it was obviously a dead end for both of them.

  “But we did discuss marriage on more than one occasion, and I never said I wouldn’t marry you. We both understood we’d get married someday.”

  “I didn’t see it that way. Yes, we talked about marriage, but there was no commitment—and very little interest on your part.”

  “Now you’re lying, too.”

  He bristled, but bit his tongue before he said something he’d regret.

  “Well...it’s sort of a lie.” Natalie lowered her head. “I made a mistake, but not once did I say anything about breaking off our relationship.”

  “It’s over.” He didn’t know how much plainer he could be.

  “I know.” She sighed. “Well, if you insist on this lunacy, you’re on your own.”

  He nodded.

  “We could’ve been very good together,” she whispered.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know, and you’ll be a whole lot sorrier once Value-X is through with this town.” She rallied then, jerking her head up, chin tilted. “If you want to freeze your butt off in this horrible place, then go right ahead.” She reached for her coat and yanked it toward her.

  The sound of several car doors closing distracted Vaughn. He glanced out the window to see all four of Carrie’s brothers standing in the driveway. He could only surmise that they’d come en masse to finish him off.

  “Who’s here?” Natalie asked.

  “The firing squad,” Vaughn answered.

  “Terrific. Can I fire the first shot?”

  Vaughn didn’t respond to her sarcasm. He headed toward the front door, opening it for the four men who marched, single file, into the house. Soon Carrie’s brothers stood in the middle of the room, looking from Vaughn to Natalie and then back.

  “What happened?” Chuck demanded. “You left town without saying a word.”

  “I didn’t meet with Heath,” Vaughn started to explain, but wasn’t given the opportunity before another question was hurled at him.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your sister?”

  “I’m Natalie Nichols.” She introduced herself, stepping forward and offering each of the Hendrickson brothers her hand. “And I’m not Vaughn’s sister.”

  “Then who are you?” Ken asked, frowning.

  “His fiancée. Or I was,” she said, “until recently, but now Vaughn’s met someone else. He just told me that he no longer wishes to marry me.” She appeared to be making a brave effort to hold her chin high and keep her lower lip from trembling. He’d never realized what a good actress Natalie was.

  Vaughn resisted rolling his eyes. He remained silent, preferring not to get drawn into a theatrical scene in which he was identified as the villain.

  “Someone will need to give me directions back to my hotel.” She pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes, being careful not to smear her mascara.

  “I can get you there.” Ken stepped forward. “I’ll be happy to help.”

  Tom’s gaze narrowed on Vaughn. “Did she have something to do with the fact that you didn’t see Heath?”

  Vaughn shook his head, surprised the Hendrickson brothers hadn’t already heard. “The land sold.”

  “What the hell?”

  All four brothers started speaking at once. As luck would have it, Vaughn’s parents chose that precise moment to reappear.

  “I thought I heard voices,” his mother said as she came into the living room.

  Tom motioned with his head toward Natalie. “You’d better have a good explanation,” he muttered. “You’d better not be engaged to her and seeing Carrie.”

  “Yeah,” Pete agreed. “This is all some kind of misunderstanding, isn’t it? Didn’t I tell you I’d make you pay if you hurt my sister?”

  “He was never actually enga
ged,” his mother said, hurrying to defend Vaughn. “What he told us is—”

  That was when his father stepped into the fray. “Barbara, let Vaughn answer for himself, would you?”

  This was impossible. Everyone talked at once. Part of the conversation had to do with the land; everyone was clearly upset about that. Then Pete and his mother got involved in a debate about whether Vaughn should be dating Carrie. In the meantime, Ken and Natalie had apparently struck up a friendly conversation. They sat next to each other on the sofa, so close that their knees touched. Vaughn could only guess what she was saying, but frankly, he couldn’t care less.

  Before everything blew up in his face, Vaughn walked through the kitchen, grabbed his coat and stepped out the back door. He got into his car, which fortunately hadn’t been blocked by the other vehicles. Glancing toward the house, he saw everyone gathered in front of the big window in the living room, staring at him. They must have been dumbfounded, because no one seemed to be speaking.

  When he reached the end of the long driveway, Vaughn had to make a decision. He could go searching for solitude, a quiet place to recover his dignity. Or he could drive back to Buffalo Valley.

  He chose Buffalo Valley. When he’d finished breaking Hassie’s heart, he’d do what he could to mend Carrie’s.

  He’d never meant to hurt Carrie, but that didn’t discount the fact that he’d misled her. This wasn’t exactly his finest hour.

  When they’d first met, he’d found her charming. Later, when he got to know her, he’d been enchanted by her warmth, delighted by her love of family and home. Those were qualities that had come to mean a great deal to him. Carrie was genuine, and she was authentic in her relationships. Unlike him...

  Vaughn wanted to kick himself for not being honest with her from the start. He didn’t have a single excuse. All he could do now was pray that she’d be willing to accept him—and that she’d give him an opportunity to prove himself.

  The hour’s drive into town passed in a blur, and practically before he knew it he’d pulled off the highway and turned onto what were now familiar roads. Buffalo Valley stretched before him, but he viewed it with new eyes. He recalled his first visit, recalled how stark and bare the town had seemed, almost as if it were devoid of personality. He’d soon recognized how wrong he was.

  While the buildings might be outdated and the lampposts antiques, the town itself represented the very heart of the country. The heart of America’s heartland. It was where he wanted to be, how he wanted to live.

  His mind was clear now. Easing the car into a parking space on Main Street, Vaughn forced himself to consider what he’d say to Hassie. It wasn’t a task he relished.

  All his talk of opening a feed store had done nothing but build up her hopes. Now he was about to disillusion an old woman who’d invested her whole life in a town that couldn’t be saved. Whatever happened, though, he was staying in Buffalo Valley; he’d be part of its struggle and part of its future.

  He dared not put this off any longer, and drawing a deep breath, he walked into the pharmacy.

  The instant she saw him, Hassie cried out his name. “Vaughn, oh, Vaughn.” Tears streaked her weathered cheeks as she hurried across the store, her arms stretched out toward him.

  Apparently someone had already brought her the news. Holding open his own arms as she came to him, he hugged her, the sound of her sobs echoing in his ears.

  “I’m so sorry,” Vaughn whispered, wondering what he could say that would comfort her.

  “Sorry?” Hassie eased back, gazing at him through watery eyes. “In the name of heaven, why would you be sorry? This is what we’ve hoped for all along.”

  Vaughn stared at her, not knowing what to think. “The land sold, Hassie.”

  “Yes, I know.” She clapped her hands, eyes sparkling with delight. “This is better than anything I could’ve imagined.”

  “I’m...confused.”

  “I know.” She patted his back and led him to the soda fountain. “Sit down,” she ordered. “If there was ever a time for one of my chocolate sodas, this is it.”

  “What about Value-X?”

  “They lost the land. The women of Buffalo Valley got to Ambrose before he signed the deal with Value-X and they bought it out from under the company. The ladies convinced Ambrose he’d be making a mistake.”

  Vaughn knew that several of the women in town owned businesses; he knew they had a big stake in the community. It floored him that they’d managed to do what no one else had deemed possible.

  “But how...when?”

  “Do you recall when the women got together?” Hassie asked, leaning over the refrigeration unit, scooping up the ice cream.

  “I remember a cookie exchange.” Carrie had mentioned something along those lines earlier in the week.

  “The meeting took place after that,” Hassie said. “Then a committee of six paid Ambrose a visit. I don’t know everything they said, but apparently they convinced him to sell them those twenty acres. I hear they twisted his arm by appealing to his vanity—promising to name the school after him. He liked that. He also liked the fact that he could sell his land at the same price Value-X offered.”

  “Is Value-X seeking out any other property?”

  Hassie grinned. “They can try, but there isn’t a single person in this area who’d sell to them—not at any price.”

  Vaughn nodded, still feeling a little numb. “What do the women intend to do with the property?” he asked.

  Hassie’s grin widened. “You mean you don’t know?”

  He didn’t. Since they were all capable, business-minded individuals, Vaughn suspected they already had plans.

  Hassie chuckled softly. “You’ll have to ask them, but my guess is they’d be willing to sell you a portion of it—that is, if you’re still inclined to settle in Buffalo Valley.”

  Vaughn could barely take it in. “You mean that?”

  “Talk to Sarah Urlacher and she’ll give you all the details.”

  “I need to see Carrie first.”

  Hassie set the glass on the counter. “Ah, yes, Carrie.” She made a tsking sound and plunked a paper straw into the thick chocolate soda. “You’ve got your work cut out there.”

  Vaughn wrapped his hand around the glass, feeling the cold against his palm. “I assume she’s upset.”

  “That’s one way of putting it.”

  Vaughn slid off the stool. He didn’t want to offend Hassie by not drinking the soda, but he’d feel worlds better once he resolved the situation with Carrie. “She at home?”

  “Doubt it.” Hassie reached for the soda herself and took a long sip before she continued. “My guess is she’s sitting on the swings over in the park. I found she likes to go there when something’s troubling her. Look there first and if you can’t find her, then check the house.”

  Vaughn thanked her and left immediately. He jogged across the street to the park. The snow forts he’d helped build on Christmas Day—was that only yesterday?—were still standing, a little the worse for wear. Following the freshly shoveled walk, Vaughn made his way toward the play equipment.

  Hassie had, as always, given him the right advice. Carrie sat in the middle swing. Her face was red from the cold, and he wondered how long she’d been there.

  Vaughn ached to tell her how sorry he was, but he feared that if he said or did the wrong thing now, he might lose her forever.

  As he approached, Carrie glanced up, but she didn’t acknowledge him. Vaughn, needing to gather his thoughts, didn’t say anything, either. Instead, he settled into the swing beside her and waited for the words to come.

  “I hurt you, didn’t I?” he asked after an awkward moment.

  “Were you engaged to her when you came to town?”

  This was the difficult part. “No. No, I wasn’t.”

  “She seemed to think so
.”

  He gripped the chain and shifted sideways to see Carrie more clearly. “Before I left Seattle, Natalie and I talked about marriage.”

  The words seemed to hit her hard.

  “She wasn’t interested.”

  “Apparently she’s changed her mind.”

  Vaughn saw that Carrie was staring straight ahead, as though mesmerized by whatever she was watching. “So have I.”

  Carrie turned toward him, but when their eyes met, she turned away again. “Why?”

  “I met someone else.”

  “You must be a very fickle man, Vaughn Kyle, to ask one woman to marry you and then, while she’s making up her mind, start seeing another.”

  “I realize how bad it sounds.”

  “Sounds, nothing! Underhanded and unfair is more like it.”

  “You’re right,” he said simply. “I have no excuse.”

  “You must’ve really enjoyed hearing me spill out my heart.” She covered her cheeks with both hands and closed her eyes, as if remembering the things she’d said. They seemed to embarrass her now.

  “Carrie, no! It wasn’t like that.” He thought about the afternoon she’d told him about her ex-husband. He didn’t know how to put into words what her trust had done for him. How her straightforward devotion had wiped out the cynicism he’d felt after Natalie’s opportunistic approach to love and marriage.

  “You’re certainly not the kind of man I’d want in my life.”

  “I need you, Carrie....”

  “For what, comic relief?”

  “We’ve only known each other a short while. Who can say where this relationship will take us? Maybe you’re right. After you get to know me better, you could very well decide you don’t want any more to do with me. If that’s the case, I’ll accept it. All I’m asking for is a chance.”

  “To break my heart?”

  “No, to give you mine.”

  She didn’t answer him for the longest time. Finally her mouth twisted wryly and she said, “You’re afraid of what my brothers will do to you once they learn about...Natalie, aren’t you?”

  “No man in his right mind would voluntarily tangle with your brothers,” he replied, deciding this was not the moment to tell her they’d already met the woman in question. “However, I figure I can take them on if it comes to that. What I’m telling you now has nothing to do with your brothers. It’s how I feel about you.”