The Holiday Gift

Joey seemed like a different kid than he’d been when he first showed up at The Christmas Ranch with Rafe, two years earlier, sullen and confused and angry...

“We’re trying to convince her to come back to Pine Gulch,” Hope said, trying to smile. “It might help her stay out of trouble, and that way we can remain part of Joey’s life. So far it’s an uphill battle, as she feels like this is where all her troubles started.”

Her sister’s turmoil was a sharp reminder to Faith. Hope might be losing the boy she considered a son, and Celeste’s stepdaughter, Olivia, still struggled to recover from both physical injuries and the emotional trauma of witnessing her mother’s murder at the hands of her mentally ill and suicidal boyfriend.

In contrast, the problem of trying to figure out what to do with Chase seemed much more manageable.

“Anyway,” Hope said, “that’s why I won’t be around Friday to help you with the kids. Sorry again.”

“Don’t give it another thought. That’s exactly where you need to be.”

“The kids are more than welcome at our place,” Celeste said. “Flynn and Olivia are having a movie marathon and watching Miracle on 34th Street and White Christmas. I’ll be writing during most of it, but hope to sneak in and watch the dancing in White Christmas.”

She used to love those movies, Faith remembered. When she was young, her parents had a handful of very old, very worn VCR tapes of several holiday classics and would drag them from place to place, sometimes even showing them at social events for people in whatever small village they had set their latest medical clinic in at the time.

She probably had been just as baffled as the villagers at the world shown in the movies, which seemed so completely foreign to her own life experience, with the handsomely dressed people and the luxurious train rides and the children surrounded by toys she could only imagine.

“That sounds like the perfect evening,” she said now. “Maybe I’ll join the movie night instead of going to a boring Christmas party with Chase. I can bring the popcorn.”

“You can’t skip the stockgrowers’ party,” Celeste said. “It’s the big social event of the year, isn’t it? Jenna McRaven always caters that gala so you know the food will be fantastic, plus you’ll be going with Chase. How can any party be boring with him around?”

Again, she wanted to blurt out to her sisters how strangely he was acting. She even opened her mouth to do it but before she could force the words out, she heard familiar young voices outside in the hallway just an instant before Barrett and Louisa poked their heads in, followed in short order by Celeste’s stepdaughter, Olivia, and Joey. Liv went straight to Celeste while Joey practically jumped into Hope’s outstretched arms.

It warmed her heart so much to see her sisters being such loving mother figures to children who needed them desperately.

“Joey and Olivia were coming to the house to hang out when I got your text,” Louisa said. “We saw all your cars so decided to stop here to say hi before we walk up to the house from the bus stop.”

“I’m so glad you did,” Faith said.

She hugged them both, her heart aching with love. “Good day?” she asked.

Louisa nodded. “Pretty good. I had a substitute for science and she was way nicer than Mr. Lewis.”

“Guess who got a hundred-ten percent on his math test?” Barrett said with a huge grin “Go on. Guess.”

She made a big show of looking confused and glancing in the other boy’s direction. “You did, Joey? Good job, kid!”

Rafe’s nephew giggled. “I only got a hundred percent. I missed the extra credit but Barrett didn’t.”

Her son preened. “I was the only one in the class who got it right.”

“I’m proud of both of you. What a smart family we have!”

Except for her, the one who couldn’t figure out how to protect the friendship that meant the world to her.

Chapter Three

As he drove up to the Star N ranch house four days after the auction, Chase couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so on edge. He wasn’t nervous—or at least he would never admit to it. He was just unsettled.

So many things seemed to hinge on this night. How was he supposed to make Faith ever view him as more than just her neighbor and best friend? She had to see him for himself, a man who had spent nearly half his life waiting for her.

He didn’t like the way that made him sound weak, like some kind of mongrel hanging on the fringes of her life, content for whatever scraps she threw out the kitchen door at him. It hadn’t been like that. He had genuinely tried to put his unrequited feelings behind him after she and Travis got married. For the most part, he had succeeded.

He had dated a great deal and had genuinely liked several of the women he dated. In the beginning, he had liked Cindy, too. She had been funny and smart and beautiful. He was a man and had been flattered—and susceptible—when she aggressively pursued him.

When she told him she was pregnant, he decided marrying her and making a home for their child was the right thing to do. He really had tried to make their marriage work but he and Cindy were a horrible mismatch from the beginning. He could see now that they would never have suited each other, even if that little dusty corner of his heart hadn’t belonged to the wife of another man.

“This is going to be so fun,” Addie declared beside him. She was just about dancing out of her seat belt with excitement. “Seems like it’s been forever since I’ve had a chance to hang out with Louisa and Olivia. It’s going to be awesome.”

The plan for the evening had changed at the last minute, Faith had told him in a quick, rather awkward conversation earlier that day. Celeste and Flynn decided to move their movie party to the Star N ranch house and the three girls were going to stay overnight after the movie.

If Lou and Olivia were as excited as Addie, Celeste and Mary were in for a night full of giggling girls.

His daughter let out a little shriek when he pulled up and turned off the engine.

“This is going to be so fun!” she repeated.

He had to smile as he climbed out and walked around to open the door. He never got tired of seeing the joy his daughter found in the simple things in life.

“Hand me your suitcase.”

“Here. You don’t have to carry everything, though. I can take the rest.”

After pulling her suitcase from behind the seat, she hopped out with her pillow and sleeping bag.

“Careful. It’s icy,” he said as they headed up the sidewalk to the sprawling ranch house.

She sent him an appraising look as they reached the front door. “You look really good, Dad,” she declared. “Like, Nick Jonas good.”

“That’s quite a compliment.” Or it would be if he had more than the vaguest idea who Nick Jonas was.

“It’s true. I bet you’ll be the hottest guy at the party, especially since everyone else will be a bunch of married old dudes, right?”

He wasn’t sure about that. Justin Hartford was a famous—though retired—movie star and Seth Dalton had once been quite a lady’s man in these parts.

“You’re sweet, kiddo,” he said, kissing the top of her head that smelled like grape-scented shampoo.

Man, he loved this kid and missed her like crazy when she was staying with her mother.

“Doesn’t their house look pretty?” she said cheerfully as she rang the doorbell.

The Star N ranch house was ablaze with multicolored Christmas lights around the windows and along the roofline, and their Christmas tree glowed merrily in the front bay window.

It was warm and welcoming against the cold, starry night.

The first year after Travis died, Faith had refused to hang any outside Christmas lights on the house and had only had a Christmas tree because Chase had decorated her Christmas tree with the kids and Aunt Mary. Faith hadn’t been up to it and had claimed ranch business elsewhere while they did it.

Last year, he and Rafe had hung the outside Christmas lights.

This year, Faith herself had hung the lights, with Barrett and Lou helping her.

He wanted to think there was some symbolism in that, one more example that she was moving forward with her life.

Addie was about to ring the doorbell again when it suddenly opened. Faith’s aunt stood on the other side and at the sight of him, Mary gave a low, appreciative whistle that made him feel extremely self-conscious.

“I should yell at you for ringing the doorbell when I’ve told you a hundred times you’re family, but you look so good, I was about to ask Miss Addie what handsome stranger brought her to our door.”

His daughter giggled and kissed the wrinkled cheek Mary offered. “Hi, Aunt Mary. It’s just my dad. But I told him on the way that he looked super hot. For an old guy, anyway.”

He felt hot in his suit and tie, but probably not the way she meant. Mary grinned. “You’re absolutely right,” she said. “Nice to see you dressed up for once.”

“Thanks,” he answered.

Before he could say more, Louisa burst into the room and started dancing around Addie. “You’re here! You’re here! I’ve been dying to see you and do more than just talk on the phone and text and stuff. It feels like forever since you’ve been here.”

The girls hugged as if they had been separated for months.

“Need me to carry your stuff to your room?” he asked.

“It’s just a suitcase and sleeping bag, Dad. I think we can handle it.”

“Let’s hurry, before Barrett finds out you’re here and starts bugging us,” Louisa said.

Poor Barrett, who until recently had been completely outnumbered by all the women in his life. At least now he had a couple of uncles and an honorary cousin in Rafe’s nephew, Joey.

“Faith only came in from the barn about half an hour ago so she’s still getting ready,” Mary said, her plump features tight with disapproval for a moment before she wiped the expression away and gave him a smile instead. “I heard the shower turn off a few minutes ago so it shouldn’t be long now.”

He tried not to picture Faith climbing out of the shower, all creamy skin with her tight, slender body covered in water droplets. Once the image bloomed there, it was tough to get it out of his head again to focus on anything else.

“It’s fine,” he answered. “We’ve got plenty of time.”

“You’re too patient,” Mary said. Her voice had an unusually barbed tone to it that made him think she wasn’t necessarily talking about him waiting for Faith to get dressed for their night out.

“Maybe I just don’t want to make anybody feel rushed,” he answered carefully—also talking about more than just that evening.

Mary sniffed. “That’s all well and good, but sometimes time can be your worst enemy, son. People get set in their ways and can’t see the world is still brimming over with possibilities. Sometimes they need a sharp boot in the keister to point them in the right direction.”

Well, that was clear enough. Mary definitely wasn’t talking about the time Faith was taking to get ready. He gave her a searching look. Maybe he hadn’t been as careful as he thought about not wearing his heart on his sleeve.

He loved Faith’s aunt, who had opened her home and her heart to Faith and her sisters after the horrible events before they came to Pine Gulch. She and Claude had offered a safe haven for three grieving girls but they had provided much more than that. Through steady love and care, the couple had helped the girls begin to heal.

Mary had truly been a lifesaver after Travis’s death, as well. She had moved back into the ranch house and stepped up to help with the children while Faith struggled to juggle widowhood and single motherhood while suddenly saddled with the responsibilities of running a big cattle ranch on her own.

“I’m just saying,” Mary went on, “maybe it’s time to get off your duff and make a move.”

He could feel tension spread out from his head to his shoulders. “That’s the plan. What do you think tonight is about?”

“I was hoping.”

She frowned, blue eyes troubled. “Just between me and you and that Christmas tree, I’ve got a feeling that might be the reason why a certain person just came in from the barn only a half hour ago, even though she knew all day you were on the way and exactly what time she would need to start getting ready.”

Did that mean Mary thought Faith was avoiding the idea of going on a real date with him? He couldn’t tell and before he had the chance to ask for clarification, Flynn Delaney came into the living room.

The other man did a double take when he spotted Chase talking to Mary. “Wow. A tie and everything.”

Chase shrugged, though he could feel his skin prickle. “A Christmas party for the local stockgrowers association might not be a red-carpet Hollywood affair, but it’s still a pretty big deal around here.”

“Take it from me—it will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved.”

He wasn’t so sure about that, especially if Faith was showing reluctance about the evening.

“Sometime this week, Rafe and I are planning to spruce up the set we used last year for the Christmas show. If you want to lend a hand, we’ll pay you in beer.”

He had come to truly enjoy the company of both of Faith’s brothers-in-law. They were both decent men who, as far as he was concerned, were almost good enough for her sisters.

“Addie’s in town right now and I feel bad enough about leaving her tonight when our time together is limited. I’ll have to see what she wants to do but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind coming out again and riding horses with Lou.”

“I get it. Believe me.”

Flynn had been a divorced father, too. He and his famous actress wife had been divorced several years before she was eventually killed so tragically.

The other man looked down the hallway, apparently to make sure none of the kids were in earshot. “I hear a certain H-O-R-S-E is safely ensconced at your place now.”

“Lou is twelve years old and can spell, you know,” Mary said with a snort.

Flynn grinned at the older woman. “Yeah. But will she slow down long enough to bother taking time to do it? That’s the question.”

Chase had to laugh. The horse and Louisa would be perfect for each other. “Yeah. She’s a beauty. Louisa is going to be thrilled, I think. You all are in for a fun Christmas morning.”

“You’ll come over for breakfast like you usually do, won’t you?” Mary asked.

He wasn’t so sure about that. Maybe he would have to see how that evening went first. He hoped like hell that he wasn’t about to ruin all his most important relationships with Faith’s family by muddying the water with her.

“I hope so,” he started to say, but the words died when he heard a commotion on the stairs and a moment later, Faith hurried down them wearing a silver-and-blue dress that made her look like a snow princess.

“Sorry. I’m so sorry I’m late,” Faith exclaimed as she fastened a dangly silver earring.

He couldn’t have responded, since his brain seemed to have shut down.

She looked absolutely stunning, with her hair piled on top of her head in a messy, sexy bun, strands artfully escaping in delectable ways. She wore a rosy lipstick and more eye makeup than usual, with mascara and eyeliner that made her eyes look huge and exotically slanted.

The dress hugged her shape, with a neckline that revealed just a hint of cleavage. She wore strappy sandals that made him wonder if he was going to have to scoop her up and carry her through the snow.

He was so used to seeing her in jeans and a T-shirt and boots, wearing a ponytail and little makeup except lip balm.

She was beautiful either way.

He swallowed, realizing he had to say something and not just stand there like an idiot.

“You’re worth the wait,” he said.

His voice came out rough and she flashed him a startled look before he saw color climb her cheeks.

“I don’t know about that. It’s been a crazy day and I feel like I’ve been running since five a.m. I’ll probably fall asleep the moment I get into your truck.”

He would love to have her curl up beside him and sleep. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

“I’ll have to see what I can do to keep you awake,” he murmured.

“Driving with the windows down and the music cranked always helps me,” Flynn offered.

“I spent too long fixing that hair for you to mess it up with a wind tunnel,” Celeste Nichols Delaney said as she followed her sister down the stairs.

Her words brought Chase to his senses and he realized he had been standing in the entryway, gaping at her like he’d never seen a beautiful woman before.

He cleared his throat and forced himself to smile at Celeste. “We can’t have that. You did a great job.”

“I did, especially with Faith trying to send three emails, put on her makeup and help Barrett with his English homework at the same time.”

“I appreciate your hard work,” Faith said. “I think I’m finally ready. I just need my coat.”

She made it the rest of the way down the stairs on the high heels and reached inside the closet in the entryway, but before she could pull off the serviceable ranch coat she always wore, Celeste slapped her hand away. “Oh, no you don’t.”

Faith frowned at her sister. “Why not? This is a stockgrowers’ dinner. You think they’ve never seen a ranch coat before?”

“Not with that dress, they haven’t. That’s why I brought over this.”

She pulled a soft fawn coat reverently from the arm of the sofa. “I bought this last month in New York when Hope and I were there meeting with our publisher.”

“I don’t want to wear your fancy coat.”

“Too bad. You’re going to.”

Celeste could be as stubborn as the other sisters. “Fine,” Faith finally sighed, reaching for the coat that looked cashmere and expensive. With a subtle wink, Celeste ignored her sister’s outstretched hand and gave it to Chase instead. It was soft as a newborn kitten. He felt inordinately breathless as he moved behind Faith and helped her into it.

She smelled...different. Usually she smelled of vanilla and oranges from her favorite soap but this was a little more intense, with a low, flowery note that made him want to bury his face in her neck and inhale.

“There you go,” he said gruffly.

“Thanks.” It was obvious she wasn’t comfortable dressing up, perhaps because so much of her childhood was spent with parents who gave away most of their material possessions to the people they worked with in impoverished countries.

“Are you happy now?” Faith said to her sister.

“Yes. You’re beautiful.” Celeste’s eyes were soft and a little teary. “Sometimes you look so much like Mom.”

“She must have been stunning,” Flynn said, kissing his sister-in-law on the cheek.

Chase cleared away the little catch in his throat. “Breathtaking,” he agreed.

Her cheeks turned pink at the attention. “I still think we’d have much more fun staying home and watching Christmas movies with the kids,” she said. She smiled at the three of them but he was almost certain he saw a flicker of nervousness in her eyes again.

“Now, there’s absolutely no reason for the two of you to rush back,” Celeste assured them. “The three of us have got this covered. The kids will all be fine. Go and have a great time.”

“That’s right,” Mary said. She gave Chase a pointed look, as if to remind him of their conversation earlier. “You ask me, these parties end way too soon. I suppose that’s what you get when you hang out with people who have to wake up early to feed their livestock. So don’t feel like you have to come straight home when it’s over. You could even go catch a movie in town if you wanted or grab drinks at that fancy new bar that opened up on the outskirts of town.”

“The only trouble is we both also have to wake up early to take care of our livestock,” Faith said with a laugh that sounded slightly strained.

“Louisa. Barrett,” she called. “I’m leaving. Come give me a hug.”

All the children, not only her two, hurried down the stairs to join them.

“You look beautiful, Faith,” Addie exclaimed. “What a cute couple you guys are. Wait. Let me get a picture so I can show my friends.”

She pulled out the smartphone he didn’t think she needed yet and snapped a picture.

“Oh! What a good idea,” Celeste said. “I want a picture, too.”

“We’re just going to a Christmas party. It’s not the prom,” Faith said. Her color ratcheted up a notch, especially when Aunt Mary pulled out her phone as well and started clicking away taking pictures.

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