Her Last Cowboy Christmas

by Liz Isaacson

  Lance shrugged, because he didn’t want to admit he’d been paying such close attention. In a way, he already had. “I’d love to take you to dinner. We can get cake for your birthday.”

  Chapter 4

  Lance was the one bright spot in Amber’s life. Training the goats for yoga had become a chore. Color-coding the volunteer packets, which usually made her inner control freak smile, had become boring. Jewel coming into the volunteer house and asking questions, pointing out regulations that Amber had gotten lax on, and various other things had annoyed her.

  Yes, she needed to run the volunteer program correctly at Last Chance Ranch. She didn’t actually work for the ranch. Her checks came from Forever Friends, and Last Chance Ranch was their biggest rescue sanctuary in the state. They gave the ranch a lot of money, and while it wasn’t Amber’s job to make sure that was used properly, it was her job to make sure the people taking care of the animals did so properly.

  But with Lance standing in front of her, all the stress of the past week melted away. He’d remembered her birthday, the gesture so sweet and so romantic.

  “When do you want to go to dinner?” she asked, taking a step closer. She reached out at the same time she dropped her eyes to his shirt. She fiddled with the button near his throat, that heat between them still there. It had always been there, and she was so glad he’d finally acted on it.

  She supposed she could have too, but she’d never had a shortage of men asking her out. None of them had stuck though, and she wondered if anyone ever would.

  When he didn’t answer, she suggested, “Friday?”

  “I have band practice on Friday,” he said. “What about tonight?”

  Her eyebrows went up again. “Tonight?”

  “When are you done here?” He glanced around as if he’d find her to-do list posted for all to see. No, she kept that on various sticky notes behind the desk.

  Amber wrestled with herself. She wanted to go out with him, but she wanted more time to prepare. She wanted to experience the excitement and giddiness of waking in the morning with a date with the handsome cowboy on the horizon for that night. She wanted to stand in her closet and choose the exact right outfit. Put on her bright pink lip gloss and hope he’d kiss it off later.

  She stalled her thoughts there, because she hadn’t even been out with Lance yet. She shouldn’t be thinking about kissing him. She shouldn’t even be going out with him. Hadn’t she sworn off men just a couple of weeks ago?

  Go slow, she told herself.

  “I can’t tonight,” she said, though it was her birthday and it would be perfect. “But what about tomorrow?”

  “Let me check something.” He pulled out his phone and started swiping. Amber opened the envelope and peeked at the tickets. They really were for Valentine’s Day, for one of her favorite ballets. She was sure Lance had never been to a ballet before, which made his gesture that much sweeter. None of her other boyfriends had ever taken her to the ballet, though they’d all known she used to dance.

  A pang of sadness hit her, stealing her breath for a moment. Startled, she turned away from Lance, who still had his head bent over his phone. It had been many years since she’d put on pointe shoes and taken the stage. Fifteen long years. Why did it still hurt that she’d only had a few years to pursue her dreams? Would it always hurt?

  Her phone rang, and she said, “Excuse me,” though Lance could obviously keep himself busy for a moment. Her sister’s name sat on the screen, and Amber felt the weight of the world settling back onto her shoulders.

  “Hey,” she answered, thinking JJ just wanted to wish her happy birthday. Neither of her parents had called yet either. “I only have a minute.”

  “No problem,” JJ said. “Mom wants to go shopping tomorrow night for a few things. Wondered if you wanted to come.”

  “Tomorrow,” Amber said, lifting her eyes to meet Lance’s. He nodded, and she said, “Just a sec.” She took the phone from her ear. “My sister just got engaged, and she wants to go shopping tomorrow.”

  “You should go,” he said. “I can’t tomorrow night anyway. I’m doing a bunch of stuff for Dave so he and Sissy can go see their birth mom.”

  Amber nodded, knowing Dave and Sissy would be getting a baby as soon as the mother gave birth. She was due the first week of February, and Amber couldn’t wait to hold another newborn.

  “JJ, I can go tomorrow,” she said, her voice filled with defeat her sister wouldn’t hear anyway.

  “Great, meet at Mom’s at six.” JJ hung up, sticking true to making the conversation short. Amber set her phone on her desk, feeling done for the day though she still had work to do. Her sister hadn’t even mentioned Amber’s birthday, which was so like her it hurt. “So Wednesday?” She made her voice as perky as possible to hide the pain cascading through her.

  “I can go Wednesday,” he said, his gaze locking onto hers.

  “Great.” Amber smiled even as more words piled up in the back of her throat. “Lance, I—”

  He took a step toward her. Then another one. When he stood close enough to touch her, he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’m not in a hurry, Amber. I just hadn’t heard from you, and I was wondering if I’d overstepped.”

  “You didn’t,” she said, her voice sounding as weak as he made her feel. She braced her palm against the desk in front of her.

  “Great, so I’ll text you before Wednesday. We’ll set up a time and all of that. Send me your address. Stuff like that.” He cleared his throat, and Amber actually enjoyed that she made him nervous. Lance was so cool. So collected. So calm. So mature. He was unlike any of the other men she’d dated, and he actually made her nervous. So it was nice to know she made him a little anxious too.

  She nodded.

  “Do you have somewhere you like to go?” he asked.

  “You choose,” she said. “I obviously just like to eat.”

  He cocked his head, confusion running across his expression. “What does that mean?”

  Foolishness hit Amber, and she ducked her head. “I mean, I’m not—I’m not skinny, Lance. It was a joke.”

  Amber wasn’t sure what she was expecting from him, but he edged closer and slipped his arm around her waist. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered. No sooner had he spoken than he stepped back and headed for the door.

  She couldn’t keep up with what was going on, but she knew she’d felt incredibly beautiful when he said she was. Heat filled her, only leaving her cold without him nearby.

  “Talk to you soon,” he said, glancing back at her with that dazzling smile. “Happy birthday.”

  She nodded, and he left the volunteer house. Amber collapsed into her desk chair, her mind whirring with all that had just happened. Then a slow smile spread across her face.

  She had a birthday date with Lance Longcomb to look forward to—and a shopping trip with her mother and sister. The smile slipped a little, but it didn’t disappear completely.

  “No, Sugar. Get down.” Amber pointed to the ground, her fingers pinched around a piece of graham cracker. The baby goat jumped off the block and looked at her, its crazy eyes almost looking in two different directions. She fed the goat her treat.

  “You don’t go from block to block,” she said. “One at a time.” The baby goats only weighed about fifteen pounds, but they had hard hooves, and they couldn’t hop from person to person during the yoga session. They landed too hard on the second person.

  “Try again,” she said, moving around the block. She broke off another piece of the cracker and held it up. The baby goat jumped up, and Amber treated her. “Good girl. Down.”

  The goat got down, and Amber continued directing her and rewarding her when she did the tasks right. A few minutes later, she put Sugar Baby back in the pasture and said, “All right, Milky Way. Your turn.”

  This herd of baby goats was brand new, and they hadn’t done their first session of yoga with humans yet. It took weeks to train them well enough for them to get in t
he arena with people, and Amber estimated this group still had a couple of weeks to go before they could start working.

  Milky Way was much farther ahead of Sugar Baby, and Amber got down on her hands and knees, and he hopped right up on her back without a verbal cue. She didn’t have to treat him right away either.

  She lowered her forearms to the ground, and Milky balanced beautifully. She lifted herself again and raised one leg. The goat turned around on her back, but he didn’t get down.

  She snapped her fingers, and he hopped to the ground, immediately leaping onto the block a few feet from her.

  “Good boy,” she said, pride moving through her. “You’re ready, Milky. Can you get the other babies to shape up?” She grinned at him and fed him several bits of cracker. She’d move him into the yoga sessions this week and see how he did. It would be a good indication of how the others would do as well, and he’d be the center of attention for their yoga instructors.

  Still on her knees, she glanced over her shoulder to see if any of the instructors had shown up yet. They had to know all the goats too, and they had to be able to teach a yoga class to forty people while twenty goats ran around, hopping on everyone—the instructors included.

  Amber had them come up to the ranch every Tuesday morning for an hour to make sure everyone was ready for the week, and sure enough Diane walked through the gate, a smile on her face.

  “Morning,” Amber said, getting up and dusting herself off.

  “McKenna is right behind me,” she said. “Literally. I was in front of her at Brewed.” She held out a cup of coffee for Amber, who took it with gratitude.

  “Thanks.” She smiled at Diane, trying not to let herself slip down the jealousy slope. It was so slippery sometimes, and Diane was tall and lithe and thin, with the perfect skin and miles of dark hair to go with her Hawaiian complexion.

  She was also as nice as a person could be, and Amber had gotten along great with her the moment they’d met.

  “There’s a cowboy down the fence,” Diane said, bending to pick up Milky Way. “Looked like he was watching you.”

  Amber choked on the sip of coffee she’d taken. “Really?” She spun as if she’d see Lance, but she couldn’t find anyone standing along the fence.

  Diane laughed. “Are you seeing someone again?”

  Amber hated the again on that question. Really hated it. Her stomach soured, and the coffee tasted nothing but bitter, though she knew there was plenty of sugar in it. “Sort of,” she mumbled, wishing McKenna could be on time for once.

  “Good for you,” Diane said as she got out her yoga mat and started stretching. Milky jumped on her back, and she laughed.

  “You think so?” Amber asked, not quite sure why she was unsure about Lance. She wasn’t really. She just thought maybe she needed a break from dating. Honestly, getting to know a person and slowly revealing things about herself was exhausting. Texting late at night. Always making sure she looked her best, just in case he stopped by. All of it. Amber was tired of all of it.

  “Sure,” Diane said. “Why wouldn’t you go out with someone else?”

  “I don’t know,” Amber said, shrugging and shying away from the inquisitive look on her friend’s face. “I just—I had three boyfriends last year. Moved from one to the next. Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

  “Honey, I’m married.” Diane laughed. “So I’d love to have a date every once in a while.”

  Amber smiled, and thankfully, McKenna arrived in a whoosh of energy, explanations for why she was late and opening the gate so all the babies could join them in the training arena.

  Amber didn’t have much time to think about Lance standing down the fence, out of sight, watching her. He lingered nearby in her thoughts, though, and once the training session concluded, she stayed out in the goat barn for a few extra minutes.

  With her head bent, she prayed aloud, “Lord, help me know what to do. I’ve always trusted You, and I know Thou won’t lead me astray.” She paused, trying to feel something. Trying to hear. Listen.

  “Is it me?” she whispered. “What do I need to do to be different? How can I change?” Desperation filled her. Maybe if she’d just been smarter, Corbin wouldn’t have broken up with her. Maybe if she’d been thinner, Damien would still be in the picture. Maybe if she’d been more interested in concerts and rodeos, Dwayne wouldn’t have left.

  Maybe, maybe, maybe.

  And maybe none of those men were right for you, her mind whispered.

  “Is Lance right for me?” she asked, wanting God to tell her exactly what to do so badly.

  He didn’t, but Amber finally made her way over to the volunteer house anyway. She didn’t know if she needed to change or not. She didn’t know if things with Lance would work out or not.

  What she did know was that Jewel sat behind the desk when Amber walked in, and she did not look happy. Amber smothered the sigh threatening to come out and said, “I just need to wash my hands. Be right there.”

  Chapter 5

  Lance got the dog-walkers set up with their canines for the morning. He’d awakened that morning with more hope in his heart than he’d had in years. Since his marriage had ended over fifteen years ago, to be precise.

  He had no idea where Peggy was now, and he didn’t need to know. They’d been married less than year, and they didn’t have any kids when she’d declared their marriage “a mistake,” and asked him to move out.

  He’d been working ranches that came with room and board since, and he’d finally found one where he wanted to stay. It was close enough to his family to not be suffocating, and far enough away to be his own person. Make his own choices.

  He hadn’t told anyone about the forthcoming date with Amber. Not even Cache, Cook, or Ames. He wasn’t sure why not. His date tomorrow night felt like a delicious secret he wanted to keep to himself for a while longer. Maybe forever, if it didn’t go well.

  He thought about the ballet tickets and how much he’d spent on them. The show wasn’t for another month. What if Amber broke up with him before then? He’d seen her dating patterns over the past couple of years. If she didn’t like someone, she moved on pretty quickly.

  He held onto the electricity that had flowed freely between them in the volunteer house yesterday. That had to mean something.

  Lance finished spraying out enclosure three, and he left the doors open so the dogs could go back inside should they want to. They were fed and watered now, and they had water outside as well. Though it was January, it wasn’t terribly cold, and most of the dogs liked to spend time outside no matter the temperature.

  The radio on his hip buzzed, and a voice said, “Lance, it’s Amber. We have a family looking to adopt. Where can I send them to find you?”

  His heart ba-bumped in his chest, though this exact message had come over the radio before. She coordinated the adoptions when people showed up at the rescue ranch, but he took people around to meet the dogs they might be interested in.

  Most people took a canine home with them for a couple of days before deciding, and the adoption process usually wasn’t terribly fast.

  “I’ll meet them at the gate,” Lance said into the radio.

  “Great. Five minutes,” Amber said, and Lance could’ve been imagining the smile in her voice. But he didn’t think he was. He really needed to stop second-guessing everything. It really wasn’t like him, and he’d learned over the years since Peggy had left that he could only deal with problems as they came. No sense in worrying about them before then.

  A man and woman arrived at the gate to the Canine Club a few minutes later. They had a little girl with them, probably seven or eight years old, who was in a wheelchair. “Hello,” he said, shaking hands with all of them. “Did Amber send you with your dog preferences?”

  The girl handed him the pink sheet. As he started looking over it, he asked, “What’s your name?”

  “Heaven,” she said.

  Lance glanced up, a smile beaming through him. “That’s
so pretty. Is this dog for you?”

  “Yep,” she said. “It’s my birthday next week, and my dad said I could get one.”

  “We want a bigger dog,” the dad said, though Lance had already read it on the preference sheet. Amber was nothing if not detailed, and she knew what kind of animal was available, from the pigs to the cats.

  “We have a lot of big dogs,” Lance said. “It’s the little ones that get adopted quickly.” He skimmed the sheet again. “You think you might want one you can train?”

  “Our daughter has epilepsy,” the mother said. “And she suffers from some panic attacks. We’ve heard dogs can help with both of those.”

  Lance knew they could, but he felt like he should be honest with them. “They can. But a lot of our dogs here have been traumatized themselves. They’re great dogs, don’t get me wrong. But they might not be able to do what you want them to.” He scanned everyone in the family. “We don’t have the popular breeds here, like golden retrievers or German shepherds, or poodles. Those breeds are super smart and easily trained. We have awesome dogs. But it might be a lot of work to do what you want them to do.”

  “That’s okay,” the girl said immediately. “Right, Dad?”

  The dad wore a pinch of worry in his eyes, but he nodded. “Right.”

  “I’m sure Amber told you about our overnight trials.” Lance turned and started walking toward enclosure two, though the couple of dogs he had in mind might be out in the open area and hard to find. “You can take any dog for a couple of days and see how he or she does in your home. You can bring them back, no questions asked. Adoption doesn’t happen until all the paperwork is filled out and payment made.”

  “She told us,” the mom said.

  Of course she had. Amber knew how to run the adoption program on the ranch. “Well, I’ve got a few pups in mind for you. Now we just need to find them.” He unlocked the door to enclosure two and held it so the family could enter in front of him. “Oh, look. Apollo is in here. Hey, bud. Come on over.”