Christmas Gifts: Cinderella and the Cowboy / The Boss's Christmas Baby / Their Little Christmas Miracle

He liked seeing her happy and made a mental note to tell Tom that his shopping trip had been a good one.

He too was pleased when Elizabeth sat down to breakfast. “I didn’t know you’d be eating with me. It’s a treat. Usually I eat alone.” He dug in to the eggs and hash browns. “What do you have planned for today?”

“Some cleaning, in addition to cooking and taking care of my children.”

“Aren’t you going to church?”

“Of course, but I don’t think I can take Jenny to Sunday School. Tom mentioned last night that he’d get up and go to Sunday School with Brady. He said you might—” she suddenly lowered the lids on her big blue eyes “—might take me and Jenny to church.”

“I’d enjoy that. I don’t always go to Sunday school, but I try to make it to church.”

“We’ll be ready on time.”

He stared at her, wondering about her agreeableness. Then he said, “We’ll be going out to lunch today, so you won’t have to cook dinner.”

That’s when her agreeableness ceased. Her head snapped up and she retorted, “But that’s my job!”

“Tom and I usually go out to eat on Sunday.”

“Yes, but now I’m here. That’s what Tom is letting me do to pay him back for all he’s given me.”

“Tom thinks he’s being nice because you gave him a reason to keep going.” When she gave him a quizzical look, he explained. “Elizabeth, you and the kids are the reason he’s getting out of bed. Before you came, he’d lost all hope.”

She blinked, trying to deny the tears that clouded her voice. “He shouldn’t have to pay for hoping. That’s—that’s sad.”

“I agree, but that’s how it was. I couldn’t talk him out of bed half the days. He wanted to die. First his wife passed away, then Reggie left the ranch. He felt he had nothing left, no reason to keep the ranch going. He felt his life was over. But once you came, with the kids, he felt he finally had something to live for. Some hope for the future.”

She whispered, “Brady.”

“Yeah, Brady, but Jenny, too. He wants to regain his health, for both kids.”

“What’s wrong with him? Is there anything I can do?”

Jack shook his head. “That’s the thing. Nothing’s wrong with him. No medical problems at all. He’s sixty-two and healthy as a horse. Except for his emotional malaise.”

“But how can I help?”

“By giving him a chance. He’s got plenty of money. That isn’t important to him. Not like his grandchildren.”

She smiled faintly. “I’m glad he feels that way. Brady’s quite taken with him.”

“I’m sure the feeling’s mutual.”

In fact, Jack had to admit the little boy had won him over too.

Just as his mother had.

When Jack came in from the morning chores, he quickly showered and changed into his church clothes. When he called down to Elizabeth and got no reply, he looked out the window and found her carrying Jenny to the pickup.

Grabbing his coat, he strode out to the trunk, eager to see her again and bask in her good mood. But when he saw her through the window, he came to an abrupt halt.

Something was wrong.

“What’s the matter?” he asked as he got behind the wheel.

She didn’t look at him but he could see the sadness on her face. It was mixed with confusion and anger and regret. “You tell me,” she replied.

“What do you mean?”

After a moment she turned to him and he noticed her eyes were rimmed with red, as if she’d been crying. “Tom told me this morning you were planning on buying the ranch from him. Now he doesn’t want to sell. He wants to keep the ranch for Brady.”

He thought about his reply, then finally decided to tell her the truth.

There was no reason not to be honest.

He looked at her intently then, and on some level he noticed she was wearing one of the dresses he’d bought for her. She looked beautiful.

“Jenny is sure lucky.”

That statement confused her. “What do you mean?”

“Jenny looks like you. That’s why she’s lucky.”

“Thank you, but I want to know why you’re being so nice to me when I’ve ruined your life!”

He snickered and said, more to himself than to her, “I haven’t figured that out yet myself.

“Look, Elizabeth, the land isn’t going anywhere. And I’m still making the decisions about it. Tom doesn’t have much interest anymore.”

“But you won’t own it!”

“I’ve been Tom’s manager for almost ten years. I’ve been planning on buying it for five years. When I realized Reggie didn’t have any interest in the place, it seemed like it was a prime property to buy.” He shrugged. “It obviously didn’t work out. Maybe I’ll find another place and move on. I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”

“But Tom can’t manage without you!”

“That’s not true. There are a couple of good cowboys who can manage the property.”

“But Tom depends on you.” Her voice hitched on a sob. “It just doesn’t seem fair that his grandchildren and I have come into his life and now he has to lose you.”

Jack nodded. He knew the feeling.

Chapter Four

RATHER than listen to the preacher, Elizabeth let her mind wander back to the conversation with Jack. She worried over Tom’s decision to hold on to his property so he could give it to Brady.

She also worried about Jack.

It didn’t seem fair for him to put in all that time on the ranch and then be denied it because a three-year-old arrived two days ago.

She thought she should do something for Jack. After all, he’d done his best for her.

When the congregation stood for a final song, she joined in then took Brady’s hand and led him out of the church. “You behaved very well this morning, sweetheart. And you look so handsome.” Dressed in the sport coat and slacks Jack had picked out, Brady looked like a little man. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Yes, but it was kind of long, Mommy. And I’m real hungry.”

She smiled at his candid assessment. “Jack said we’re going out to eat.” Though she didn’t know why. She could cook a perfectly good meal at home. Maybe she’d talk to Tom.

When they got outside, Elizabeth waited for Tom and Jack to catch up with them.

“Tom, I don’t mind cooking if you want to go home,” she said.

“Nonsense, girl. It’s a Sunday tradition for me and Jack. There’s a good restaurant nearby we always go to. If we hurry up, we can get a table before they fill up.” He leaned down to his grandson and ruffled his brown hair. “You ready, Brady?”

“Sure, Grandpa, but…what do you do when you eat out?”

“You tell the waitress what you want to eat, and she brings it to you.”

“Wow! That sounds great.”

“Actually, the food’s not as good as your mom makes, but eating out is a nice change.” He held out his hand and Brady put his hand in his grandfather’s. But he sent a questioning look to his mother.

“You can go with Grandpa, sweetie. I’ll ride with Jack and Jenny.”

“Okay, Mommy.”

She stood there watching him walk away with Tom, tamping down the emotion that threatened to overtake her. It was a welcome sight she feared she’d never get to see.

“Come on. We want to get a table.”

She looked up in surprise at Jack. “Do we need to hurry?”

“Yeah, we do. And I need to tell you something else, too.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you once we get in the truck.” He reached down and took the baby carrier from her.

Once they were in the truck, she said, “What do you need to tell me?”

“Did you see the woman on the other side of Tom?” Jack asked as he started the truck.

“No, not really.” The woman’s car was on the far side of Tom’s, hidden by his vehicle. She took Jenny out of the carrier to change her diaper.

“Her name’s Carol. Tom was sitting with her in church. She’s the lady who comes to clean our house. Tom doesn’t want to stop that service. He wants you to not have to work so hard. And he knows Carol needs the money. She lost her husband about six years ago. That’s how she supports herself.”

“I see. I wouldn’t want her to lose her job.”

“Good. That will give you some time off.”

She didn’t think she needed time off, but arguing was useless.

Minutes later Jack turned into the parking lot of the restaurant. He came around to open her door. “I’ll get the baby.”

“That’s okay. I can carry her.”

“I’ve got her.” He reached out with his other hand and caught Elizabeth’s hand as she shut the door.

Having Jack hold her hand felt a little funny. At the same time she had to admit it felt good. Right. Exciting.

Brady was waiting in the lobby, sitting between his grandfather and the woman from church. Tom introduced Elizabeth to Carol Johnson, an attractive blonde with a warm smile. Carol was eager to commend Brady on his behavior.

“I’m glad he behaved himself. I was sick most of my pregnancy with Jenny, so we didn’t go to church much.”

“I can understand that.” The fifty-something woman nodded.

“How many children did you have?”

Carol shook her head. “I lost two babies mid-pregnancy.”

“I’m so sorry.” Elizabeth’s heart went out to the woman. She couldn’t imagine her life without her two babies.

Just then the hostess called their party.

“Come on, everyone,” Jack said. As if it was a habit, he reached out and took Elizabeth’s hand.

When he pulled out a chair for her at the table, Elizabeth had to admit this was a side of Jack she could easily get used to.

She sat down and reached out for the baby. However, Jack put Jenny in the upturned chair on the other side of his seat.

“But I need Jenny beside me.”

“I’ll take care of her today. Besides, that’s where Brady is going to sit.”

Before she could protest, Brady slid into the seat to her left, calling out to his grandfather to sit beside him.

Elizabeth studied the menu. “Everything sounds so good. I don’t know what I want.”

“I think you need a steak. You need some protein.”

Irritated, she shot Jack a narrow-eyed look. “I do not!”

“Yes, you do. You need to gain some weight.”

Darn that man! He had no idea how hard her life had been. From as far back as she could remember she’d had to be the responsible one, not only during her marriage but her childhood too. She’d taken care of her mother—who never knew Elizabeth’s father—while the woman was strung out on crack. A habit she picked up working the streets of Oklahoma City.

Not much changed when she got married.

Even when she was terribly sick during her second pregnancy, she’d made sure to care for and feed Brady. Sometimes it was oatmeal with bananas—what she could make during the limited time she could stand up. One minute.

Jack Crawford had no right to judge her.

While she was stewing, the waitress arrived at their table and Jack immediately ordered a steak for her and for himself, too.

After the orders were in, Jenny made her presence known with a fussy cry. Elizabeth started to get up, but Carol, sitting beside Jenny at the circular table, asked her, “May I pick up the baby?”

“Yes, of course, Carol. But I can come get her when you want.”

“Oh, I’d love to hold her. She’s so little.”

Jack assisted her in picking up the baby. “She may be little, but she’s got healthy lungs.”

“I didn’t realize she was disturbing you,” Elizabeth snapped.

“Come on, Liz, she’s not bothering me. Not at all.”

Elizabeth stared at the table, ignoring him.

“We love having little Jenny around. She reminds us about how lucky we are to have you and the kids come to our house.” Tom looked at Brady. “Right, Brady?”

“Right, Grandpa.”

“Do you have a bottle prepared?” Carol asked.

“Yes.” Elizabeth bent down to the diaper bag and brought out a bottle for Jenny.

Carol fed the baby, cooing to her, smiling and obviously enjoying every moment of it.

“If you ever need a babysitter, Elizabeth, keep me in mind.”

“Thank you, Carol, but I don’t think I’ll need a sitter.” She had no intention of going anywhere without her children. Besides, where would she go?

“You never know,” Jack said.

What was that supposed to mean? She was about to ask when the waitress appeared with their meals.

Elizabeth had had enough of this lunch and she hadn’t even eaten yet. Still, she forced herself to eat, not wanting to hear any more of Jack’s comments. He watched her throughout the meal as closely as she did Brady, only he made her uncomfortable.

She couldn’t endure the ride back to the ranch with him.

“Tom, may Jenny and I ride back home with you and Brady?”

Jack heard her. “Aw, come on, honey, that’s mean. That would leave me all alone.”

“I’ll ride with you, Jack,” Brady said as he ate his ice cream for dessert.

“Good. I didn’t want to ride alone. Thank you, Brady.”

She couldn’t very well forbid her son from riding with him. Especially not when the boy was so proud of his thoughtful gesture.

She sat back and drank her coffee.

When they finally got up from their meal, Jack picked up Jenny’s carry-all.

“I’ll take Jenny,” she protested.

“Don’t worry. I’ll carry her to Tom’s car.”

Then he reached out to take her hand with his empty one, but Elizabeth sidestepped him. Instead she called out to her son. “Brady, be sure to wear your seat belt.”

“I will, Mommy.”

Carol said her goodbyes to Elizabeth, adding, “Feel free to rest today, Elizabeth. I’ll be there tomorrow and I can pick up the slack.”

“Thank you, Carol. It was so nice to meet you.”

After they got in the car, Tom thanked her.

“For what?” Elizabeth asked.

“For being nice to Carol. She’s a real friend.”

“She seems very nice.”

“She is. I’d marry her if I thought I’d be around long enough.”

“I think you should marry her no matter how much time you have left. It’s clear she cares about you. And she wouldn’t be alone if she married you.”

Tom seemed to give that some thought. “That’s true, and I could leave her enough money, even if I keep the ranch for Brady.”

Elizabeth realized this was the perfect opportunity to bring up her concerns. “Tom, I don’t think you should worry about Brady. Jack—”

“You’re right, Elizabeth.” He nodded as he looked at her. “I can’t forget about little Jenny. She wouldn’t be happy with her grandpa.”

He wasn’t getting the point. “Tom, I can take care of my children.”

“Yes, Elizabeth, you can. But I need to think about their future.”

In Jack’s pickup the two males were bonding.

Brady had numerous questions about Jack’s life as a cowboy. “Can you ride ahorse and shoot a gun?”

Jack laughed at the boy’s version of a cowboy from the Wild West. “Yes, I can,” he said. “Would you like to ride with me one day?”

“Can I?” His eyes were big as saucers.

“If your mom says okay.”

Brady practically squirmed with excitement.

“Now it’s my turn to ask you a question,” Jack said. “Do you remember your apartment before you came to the ranch?” At the boy’s nod, he continued. “Did you always have enough to eat then?”

“Oh, yeah. Mommy always made me eat.”

“I’m sure she did. But did your mommy eat?”

Brady gave it some thought, tapping his finger against his head in the exaggerated gesture of a child. “Sometimes. But sometimes she didn’t eat anything. Like when she had Jenny in her belly. She said she didn’t want to throw up.”

Just as he suspected, Jack thought. “That must’ve been hard. It’s a wonder Jenny is all right.”

“I asked Mommy if Jenny made her sick, but she said no.”

“I think I’d better keep an eye on your mommy. Would you mind?”

“Nope, that’s okay.”

“I don’t think your mom had a very good husband.”

“Is that my daddy?”

“Yeah, buddy, that’s your daddy.”

“But my mommy said we needed him.” His expression turned serious, and he turned his little body toward Jack. “She said we wouldn’t have Jenny if we didn’t have him.”

The boy was right. And Jenny was worth it.

Jack shut his mouth and concentrated on his driving, laughing to himself at the irony. The rough-and-tumble cowboy had been taught a lesson by a three-year-old!

“Whose car is that?” Brady tore off his seat belt the minute the pickup came to a stop at the ranch.

“I don’t know.” Jack eyed the red Mercedes with Texas plates. “Why don’t you go on in and change out of your best clothes, son?”

Brady didn’t even give the woman getting out of the car a look. He was on his way to wearing his jeans.

Jack stepped over to the young woman, dressed in tight designer jeans and a fuzzy vest and high-heeled boots. Clearly she was not from around here. “Are you lost, ma’am?”

“Is this the Ransom ranch?” she said with a Texas drawl.

“Yes, it is.”

“Well, I’m looking for Mr. Tom Ransom.” She smiled at him and gave him a once-over. “Is that you?”

He took a step back. “No, it’s not. Here comes Tom now.”

“Too bad.”

When Tom’s car stopped in the driveway, Jack went around to the passenger side and reached in for Jenny.

“Who is that?” Elizabeth asked him.

“No one you need to concern yourself with. Go on in the house.”

Something in his gaze must have told her to believe him because she didn’t argue. “I’ll take Jenny up and change her before she naps.”

“I’ll be in in a minute.”

After she went in, Jack went around to Tom. “I think this lady is looking for you. I got a bad feeling about her.”

“Is it someone I know?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

Tom got out of his car. “You looking for me, miss?” he asked.

“Are you Reggie’s daddy?”

“Yeah.”

She stepped forward and shot him a smile. “Then, yes, I’m looking for you. You see, our Reggie is—was my husband.”

Chapter Five

TOM and Jack stared at each other, their mouths agape.

Tom recovered first. “I see,” he said in an even tone that belied the shock Jack knew he must have felt.

“It’s too bad we didn’t have more time together.” She drew in a sharp breath and fluttered a manicured hand at her chest.

“Well, it was kind of you to come pay me a visit. Why don’t we go in the house and get my housekeeper to serve us some cake. Don’t you think that’s a good idea, Jack?”

Jack couldn’t help thinking Tom was making a big mistake. The woman gave off some nasty vibes. But it was his ranch. “I guess.”

“I’m sure it’s a good idea. We have to offer something to this nice lady.”

Jack followed behind them into the house. Once in the kitchen he offered to get Elizabeth. He found her upstairs in Jenny’s room, patting the baby who lay on her belly in the crib. He touched Elizabeth on the arm and motioned to the door. She nodded and went out, pulling the bedroom door behind her after picking up the monitor.

“What is it, Jack?”

He could think of no way to explain the woman downstairs, so instead he said, “Tom wants you to come down and serve us all cake. Do you still have that chocolate cake?”

“Yes. But how could he want to eat again after that big lunch?”

“It’s for…our guest. And don’t be surprised when Tom doesn’t introduce you.”

She shot him a quizzical look but said, “Okay.”

In the kitchen Tom was sitting at the table, along with the young woman from outside. Elizabeth tried not to stare at her as she got out the cake and plates. She cut three pieces of cake and served Tom, Jack and their guest.

“Aren’t you going to have some cake, Elizabeth?” Jack asked.

“No, I’m not—”

“I think you should, Elizabeth.” There was something in Tom’s voice that intrigued her.

She sat at the table with a plate.

“I must say, you’re very kind to offer your help, Mr. Ransom,” the young woman said as she fluffed back her long, blond-streaked brown hair.

“Yeah, I’m a softhearted guy.”

She leaned in closer to Tom and added, “Actually, though, you’d do better not to let her join us. They can get above themselves, you know.”

“Oh, I don’t think Elizabeth would get difficult.”

Elizabeth said nothing, swallowing her anger with her cake.

The guest wasn’t to be denied, however. “Was that her baby outside? I wouldn’t think she’d be much good with a tiny baby. Surely, Mr. Ransom, you could find better help.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea. You can come live with me and be my housekeeper.”

The woman nearly choked on her cake. “That’s a joke, right?”

“No, I think it’s a wonderful idea. You know, I don’t feel very good sometimes. You could help me feel better.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“You know, cook me a good dinner, clean the house and do other things.”

“I think you should keep—” she shot an affronted look at Elizabeth “—what was your name?”

“Elizabeth,” she said.

“Why don’t you use your full name, honey?” Jack interjected.

Elizabeth looked at him. What was going on here? Who was this woman?

Jack nodded his head, and Elizabeth went along. She turned to the young woman. “My name is Elizabeth Ransom.”

“Tom’s your father? I didn’t know Reggie had a sister.”

“He didn’t.”

“But you have to be his sister if your last name is Ransom.”

“He was my husband.”

The woman dropped her fork. “Don’t be ridiculous!”

“I don’t think I am,” Elizabeth said with more calm than she felt. “He was my husband.”

“When did he divorce you?”

“He didn’t.”

“He had to have. I mean, he went out with every woman who lifted her skirt!” She sized up Elizabeth with a glance. “Any woman with pride wouldn’t have anything to do with him.”

“So when did you marry him?” Jack asked the stranger.

Marry him? Elizabeth could feel her head spinning.

Beside her, Jack put his hand on her thigh under the table and patted her. What was he trying to tell her?

“A while ago,” the woman replied.

“Before he married me?” Elizabeth asked.

“Well, I—”

Tom took over the questioning. “You weren’t with him when he died, were you? But someone was with him. Another woman. That’s a pretty short time to marry you and already have dumped you.”

“He liked his freedom.”

Tom nodded. “So I’ve heard.” A few moments went by before he asked, “So why’d you marry him, then?”

“I hoped he’d settle down.”

Elizabeth could understand that. Hadn’t she fallen into the same trap?

The woman sounded almost pathetic when she added, “He even gave me a key to his apartment.”

“Why?” Elizabeth asked.

“We were—we were in love.”

Jack finally spoke up. “And did the key do you any good?” Jack asked.

“No, but maybe in time he would realize what—In time he would come around. I could feel him changing.”

Elizabeth just stared at her, feeling sorry for her.

Jack apparently didn’t share her emotion. She could detect a faint note of sarcasm in his tone when he told the woman, “Say, your car is nice.”

The stranger obviously didn’t pick up on it. “Thank you. Reggie gave it to me.”

“He’s got good taste. When did you get it?”

“I picked it up a week ago today. They had to verify that Reggie’s check was good.”

“Good to know you’re not left broke,” Jack said casually.

“Yes, it is,” she said with a smile.

“How nice. But I guess the payments are high.”

“Oh, no. Reggie bought it outright. He wouldn’t want me to have to pay it out.”

Jack nodded as he took in the information. “Say, Elizabeth, what car do you have?”

Elizabeth stared at him. “I didn’t have a car.”

“You mean Reggie left you with no car? How did you take Brady to the doctor?”

“We took a bus.”

“Is Brady Reggie’s kid?” the woman asked.

“Yes. And Jenny—the baby—is his, too.”