A Texas Holiday Reunion

And they would have. It was just like Juan to know that. To worry about it.

“You just do what you need to do. When is the surgery scheduled?” Her ranch hung on his response.

“My doctor had a cancellation, so he can get me in Thursday. Or I wait for three months.”

Breath clogged in her chest. As in four days away. “I know how much pain you’ve been in. I don’t want you to put this off.”

“I need to go on leave as of now. Doc wants me to take six weeks afterward. I’m so sorry, Miss Resa.”

For a total of seven weeks, starting now. And what if the surgery wasn’t a success? What then?

But she tried not to let her distress show. “We’ll figure it out.”

“I took the liberty of doing that for you.” Juan turned to Colson. “I called Mr. Mac when I got the news.”

And that had what to do with Colson?

“Colson has agreed to fill Juan’s spot until your folks return. And if needed, until Juan can come back.” Mac’s tone was confident. As if all her worries were taken care of.

Colson. In Bandera. At her ranch. For three weeks. Maybe more. Her heart took a nosedive.

This could not be happening. She couldn’t let it.

Chapter Two

Resa’s mouth opened, clamped shut, opened again. “But what about your job?”

Colson was certain her anxiety came from being stuck with him for the foreseeable future.

“I’m on leave.” He tried for a reassuring tone. “King’s Ranch can handle my absence.” But could she handle his presence?

Curiosity sparkled in her eyes, her question clear—why was he on leave? “There’s no need for you to come here.” The muscles in her throat worked overtime. “Don’t we have a hand who can take care of things, Juan?”

“They’re not ready, and we need to move fast while prices are down and invest in more cattle. I planned to make the trip to Fredericksburg next week. We need someone who knows good stock when he sees it.”

“The timing is perfect, with Colson’s experience as a foreman at the largest ranch in Texas for the last two years. And he’s available.” His dad focused on Resa, probably pondering her panic.

“Are you on medical leave?” Her gaze bounced back to Colson’s. “Because if that’s the case, we can’t put you to work here.”

“No. Nothing like that.” The horse Felicity had died riding flashed through his mind. The one he’d supposedly broken. After the incident, memories of her death had caused him to be constantly distracted and that inattention had almost cost a ranch hand his life when Colson had underestimated a longhorn. “My boss thought I needed some personal time.” To get his head and heart together.

“Oh.” Compassion was mirrored in the blue depths of her eyes. Clearly, she thought he was still grieving Felicity. More like wallowing in guilt.

“But where will you stay?”

“Since Mac and his wife, Annette, will be house-sitting while your folks are gone—” Juan stretched his leg, as if he couldn’t get comfortable “—Colson could stay with them.”

Resa’s eyes went wide, empathy obviously forgotten.

“I can get a room here at the dude ranch if you prefer.”

“Nonsense.” Juan flexed his knee. “There’s plenty of room at the big house.”

“Good thinking.” Dad tapped his chin. “Colson can help keep an eye on the place while I’m at the store.”

“But I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on things,” Resa fisted her hands.

“I won’t bother you or disturb your space.” It was the least he could do. Watch out for her.

“All right. I guess.” Uncertainty hung in her words. “But once my parents return, Dad can handle the ranch while I see to the store. Can you stay and continue in the workshop until Juan’s return, Mac?”

“Whatever you need me to do.”

“Good.” She focused on Colson. “You’re only here for the next three weeks then.”

“Give or take a few days.” The muscle in his jaw flexed. Obviously she didn’t want him here any longer than he had to be.

“I need to go help take down decorations.” She stood.

His dad rose to his feet, as did Juan and Colson.

“You go home and rest that knee.” Resa pointed at Juan. “Don’t worry about a thing.”

“Yes, Miss Resa.” He bobbed his head and hobbled out of the room.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Mac.” Resa hugged the older man. She was so at ease with everyone—except Colson.

“If anything goes awry while your folks are gone, we’ll figure it out together,” his dad said.

“I’ll take you up on that.”

He gave Colson a warm hug next, with lots of back clapping. “You be a blessing here, son.”

“I will.” At least he’d try. If Resa would let him. “I’ll walk out with you.”

“I remember where I parked. Help Resa with cleanup.” Dad exited.

Resa shot from the room as if bloodhounds tailed her.

Colson followed her to the great room. All the chairs, pillars and candles were gone. Boxes full of red roses and ribbons lined the area.

There was a steady buzz of a vacuum, which Resa manhandled from another woman, taking over the chore.

“Can you help me move the furniture back in?” A familiar-looking man gestured toward a side room.

“Sure.”

“Great. Follow me.” He stopped after a few paces, turned and offered his hand. “Sorry. Chase Donovan.”

“As in Chasing Eden Dude Ranch. I remember you and your sister from high school. You were older than me and your sister was younger. Is she still around these parts, too?”

His mouth tipped down. “Eden died a year and a half ago.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“You’re Colson Kincaid, right? Your dad’s a business partner of the McCalls?”

“Right. I’m filling in as ranch foreman while Juan has knee surgery.”

“Nice. Need a place to stay?”

“I’m staying at the McCalls’.”

The man’s eyebrow lifted.

“Not with Resa. At her folks’ house. My dad and stepmom are house-sitting while they’re gone.”

He noticed Chase visibly relax at that explanation. “You’ll have to forgive me. Resa and Eden were friends, so I’m a bit protective of her. Good to know she won’t be rambling around alone over there. Your dad’s a stand-up guy.”

“Is Emmett not staying?” Colson held his breath.

“Headed back to Dallas as we speak.”

He let out a lungful of air. If Emmett had stayed, there would’ve been no way Colson could have.

“I’m not sure why her mom thought he’d stay. But I guess moms only see the good in their children.”

Not his mom. She hadn’t seen anything in him worth staying for.

Colson surveyed the feminine room stuffed with wall-to-wall furnishings. “What needs to be moved?”

“Everything frilly stays. My grandmother decorated this room. And my wife insists it stay this way. Grandpa did the rest. Everything rustic goes back into the great room.”

“So which lady is your wife?”

“The strawberry blonde in the green dress is Landry.”

“Did she go to our school?”

“No, but she, Eden and Resa were college friends. Not from around here. Didn’t you get married?”

“To Felicity Birmingham. But she...” Guilt jabbed him in the gut, the way it always did when he was forced to talk about her.

“That’s right. Sorry to hear it.” Chase lifted one end of the sofa as Colson grabbed the other and backed into the great room.

Leaving Colson to ponder what Chase had heard about Felicity’s death, exactly.

They deposited the bulky cowhide piece against one wall and Landry directed them on placement. Chase’s smile turned sappy at his wife’s nearness.

Oh, brother. How long would their bliss last?

A dozen more trips and the great room was put back together.

“Thanks for all your help.” Landry flashed him a grin.

“No problem.” Colson glanced at Resa. “If we’re done here, I’ll head to the house.”

She ignored him.

“Um, I’m not sure if that’s where Dad went.” And Annette had mentioned taking Cheyenne out for ice cream. “I might need a key.”

“Oh, of course.” Resa grabbed her purse from a small closet, dug around in it and handed him the key.

Their fingers grazed. His pulse kicked up a notch. And just for a moment, he wished she’d look at him the way Landry did Chase. But Colson had ruined that possibility six years ago and he didn’t need to fix it, because women couldn’t be trusted. Even if a few stuck around, it wasn’t worth taking the chance. Especially with his daughter in the equation.

For the next three weeks, he had to help Resa with the ranch. Buy livestock, stay on top of upkeep and make sure everything ran smoothly. But that was all. He couldn’t let himself get involved with her on a personal level. His heart was reserved for Cheyenne. And after what he’d done to Felicity, he had no right to anything more.

* * *

As the door shut behind Colson, Resa relaxed.

“Do tell.” Landry was on to her.

Resa shrugged. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“You might as well spill.” Devree sealed the last box of silk flowers with a screech from the strapping tape dispenser. “My sister won’t leave you alone until you do.”

“She’s right.” Chase pecked his wife on the cheek. “I’m off to do something manly to make up for all this wedding fluff.”

“You know you love it.” Landry shot him a wink.

“No. But I love you.” He blew her a kiss and exited.

Maybe Landry would go all to mush and forget about Colson.

“So?”

Wishful thinking. “His dad is my parents’ business partner. We went to school together. He was a year ahead of me.”

“Is he the friend you mentioned once?”

Why did Landry have to have such a good memory? “We were friends once.”

“More than friends?”

“I thought we were. But it turned out he wasn’t who I thought he was.”

“Really? He seemed so nice.”

“Yeah. I thought so, too. But I learned my lesson.” After he left third-degree burns on her heart.

“Hmm.” Landry huffed. “I take it back. I don’t like him at all. But you’ll have to tell me why I don’t like him someday.”

“Trust me. Not everyone is destined for happily-ever-after.” Devree rolled her eyes.

“Says the hardened wedding planner.” Landry tsked as if there was no hope for her sister.

“I can’t change the facts.” Devree dragged the tape across a box of twinkle lights with another screech. “I bet out of all the weddings I’ve done, only a dozen couples, maybe less, are still married.”

“That doesn’t mean you should give up.”

“It means why bother?” Resa held her hand up for a high five and Devree slapped it.

“Well, while you two spend your lonely evening bemoaning the state of happily-ever-afters, I have a wonderful husband to cuddle up to.” Landry smirked.

The very thing Resa had once dreamed of. But her dream had died. A slow, painful, tormented death. And now she was stuck with Mr. Dream Killer himself.

“That’s it.” Landry stashed the last of the boxes in the closet.

“The ceremony was perfect and I never could have done it without you, Devree.” Resa hugged Landry, then crossed the foyer. “I’ll see you soon.”

The waning sun greeted her as she stepped outside. She was bone tired. The chore of keeping this day secret for months, while contacting her parents’ friends and relatives without letting Mom find out, had been daunting.

For the next three weeks, she’d have her hands full overseeing the store and the ranch, plus her designs. Dealing with Colson only added to her chores. If someone had told her this morning that she’d spend half her day with him and end up with him as a neighbor at home and work, she’d have laughed. And possibly cried.

Surely once Dad returned, he’d agree to cut Colson loose and let Mac stay until Juan could come back. Maybe she’d move her work to the store in the meantime.

But she’d tried that fresh out of college. The windowless office in the back of the store sapped all her creativity. While whinnies, stamping of hooves and the low murmur of ranch hands stoked her productivity.

She’d just have to pull up her big-girl boots and ignore his presence.

* * *

Most people moaned and groaned through Mondays. But Resa saw the first workday of each week as a new opportunity, filled with possibilities. Except today, she had to avoid Colson.

Nearing the barn, she darted to her office at the side door. A bright sunny morning. Nickers and whinnies, a freshly weaned calf bawling. The smells of hay and animals. No sign of the cowboy.

Tense muscles relaxed as she unlocked her office door, flipped the light switch and stashed her purse. Another flip of a switch brought to life the Christmas tree and the string of multicolored twinkle lights framing her picture window.

Blueprints for a massive cowhide-lined desk were where she’d left them on her drafting table. A desk for Colson’s father-in-law. Or would that be former father-in-law now? When the order came in, she’d never imagined Colson would be here. At her ranch. She picked up her pencil, adjusted her T-square ruler and shaded along a few lines.

A new sound, like a child’s giggle, interrupted her. She looked out the window. A little girl stood on the bottom rail of the fence, wearing boots and a hat almost as big as she was. Not an adult in sight. A daughter of one of the hands? Resa didn’t mind employees bringing their kids to the ranch, but not leaving them alone. A child could get hurt or lost.

Resa stood, hurried for the back door, pushed it open. And nearly whacked Colson with it.

“Whoa, what’s your hurry?” He stepped aside.

“That child. No one’s watching her?”

“Hello?” He raised his hands, palms up.

“Oh. Well, you should stick close to her. She’s so little, she could slip through the fence before you could get to her.”

The little girl paid them no attention, her gaze transfixed on the mare heavy with her colt in the barn lot.

“But she won’t.” He crossed his arms, leaned against the barn, the sole of one booted foot planted against it like a plywood cowboy silhouette. “She’s been raised on a ranch her entire five years of life. She knows that under no uncertain terms is she supposed to put one toe inside any fence.”

“Who did she come here with?”

“Me. She’s my daughter—Cheyenne.”

Her gaze swung to his.

A mixture of emotions battled it out in his green eyes—regret maybe. Pride definitely.

Everything shifted into focus, made sense. Five years old.

That spring he came to work for her father. Almost six years ago. Realizing he wasn’t as wild as he’d been in high school. Becoming friends. Inviting him to church. Watching him commit his life to Christ. Falling for him. Six weeks of sweet, fairy-tale romance.

And the next thing she knew he’d gone back to San Antonio without even saying goodbye, and married Felicity Birmingham. His on-again off-again girlfriend since high school. The one he’d told Resa he’d broken up with when he came to work at the ranch that long-ago spring. And maybe he had. But Felicity had obviously been pregnant.

With his child.

Chapter Three

Colson watched her do the math and saw the moment she realized he’d fathered a child out of wedlock. But he hadn’t realized during their brief relationship that he had a pregnant ex-girlfriend waiting in the wings.

More worrisome than Resa believing he was on shaky moral ground would be if she recognized the truth in Cheyenne’s eyes.

“Your folks never told you?”

“We don’t really talk about you.” Resa’s mouth formed a tight line. “I’ve been much too busy to keep up with your life.”

Of course. “Can you say hello, Cheyenne?” The little girl didn’t budge—nor make a sound. She was back in her shell. He should have known uprooting her might be jarring.

“Shouldn’t she be in school?”

“She only turned five last month, so she won’t start kindergarten until next fall. Missing a few weeks of preschool before Christmas break won’t hurt anything.” He’d just reinforced the fact that only a matter of months after he’d romanced Resa, Felicity had given birth to Cheyenne. A child he’d thought was his.

He saw her swallow hard. A bitter pill?

“She’s a great kid. Won’t be any trouble.”

“My only concern is you being distracted by work and her wandering off.”

Back to business. “She won’t. Dad’s wife agreed to babysit. Annette’s really good with her.” Colson’s gaze went back to Cheyenne. “She’s everything to me.”

“I can see that.” Resa turned toward the barn. “I better get back to my office.”

“What time does the store open?”

“Ten. But my office is here.”

“Here?” As in at her house? He hadn’t seen that coming.

“In the barn.” She gestured to the door she’d almost taken him out with.

“You design furniture for Rusticks—in the barn?” He’d thought it odd when he’d seen the huge picture window on the back of the wood structure.

She chuckled. “I’m not really the corporate, windowless-office type. I have a conference room at the store where I meet with clients. But I do my drafting and designing here.” Her gaze went past the fence to the horses grazing in the distance, the massive expanse of clear blue sky. “The sounds of the ranch, the smells.” She drew in a deep breath. “I’m inspired here.”

This wasn’t what he’d signed up for. The reasons he shouldn’t be here just kept stacking up. He’d expected her to be at the store from dawn to dusk. Instead, she’d be right here with a massive window on his world. On his daughter.

Lord, don’t let her see what I see when I look into Cheyenne’s eyes.

But did he see the evidence only because he knew the truth? He’d been clueless for several years. Maybe Resa would be, too.

He’d held on to this secret too long for it all to fall apart now.

“See ya later.” She opened the barn door, stepped inside.

Would working in such close proximity stir up his old feelings for her? He’d just have to man up and make sure it didn’t.

Because no matter how beautiful she was, how vulnerable or how caring, she was a woman. And women couldn’t be trusted.

Not when she represented a very real and present danger for Cheyenne. And at all costs, he had to protect his daughter.

“Ready to go inside, princess?” He strode to the fence, sidled up beside her. Baby shampoo and innocence untied the knots in his insides.

“Un-uh, Daddy.” Dark silky hair tumbled with a decisive shake of her head.

And hearing her call him Daddy melted him like butter.

“See how big that mare’s belly is.”

Huge blue eyes met his—a tinge of fear in their depths. “Is there a baby in there?”

“There sure is. She should have a foal sometime while we’re here.”

“I don’t wanna pet it.” Her chin trembled.

He scooped her up. “You don’t have to. But it’ll be really small, so you might change your mind.”

“I won’t.” Her arms locked around his neck and she buried her face in his shoulder.

“It’s up to you, princess.” If only he could take away her fear. Take away her memories. No child should watch her father kill her mother.

* * *

The blueprints blurred and Resa’s traitorous gaze bounced up to the window.

Colson was holding her now. The little girl’s knees were clamped at his waist, arms tight around his shoulders, her face hidden in his neck. He had a child.

How had she not known that?

Because her parents knew how badly he’d hurt her, and his name had been off-limits since she’d learned he’d married Felicity.

She should have at least said hi to the little girl. But she’d been too shocked to think. And the child had never even looked her way, she’d just focused on the mare. So quiet and withdrawn. Was she shy, or somehow traumatized by her mother’s death?

Colson kissed the top of his daughter’s head and Resa’s heart did a flip. Why did a cowboy with a little girl make her go all warm and fuzzy?

Because he wasn’t just any cowboy.

The Bonanza theme song started up on her cell phone. Mom.

“Hey. Are you on the boat yet?”

“About to board.” She sounded happy. “All our guests got home safely?”

“I haven’t heard any different.”

“It was so nice seeing everyone. Everything okay there? Emmett’s not giving you trouble?”

The least of her worries and long gone. “Everything’s fine.” Except Juan’s having surgery. Colson is here to take his place. And he has a daughter y’all never warned me about. But if they knew any of that, they’d be on the first plane back. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

“I know you do. Your father and I have complete confidence in you.”

“So, stop worrying about me and have fun. I love you.”

“I love you. Your father wants to say hi.”

“Hey, Dad. Go have fun. And don’t call me again.”

His warm chuckle eased her tense shoulders. “Don’t you want to know when we get on the boat?”

“Text me pictures. But don’t check in. Everything’s fine here. Enjoy your cruise. I love you. And goodbye.”

“I love you, Miss Bossypants.”

“You’re the one who left me in charge.” She ended the call, looked back to the window.

Deep, rich laughter. Colson held his daughter belly up, tickling her tummy. She writhed and cackled with glee. Okay, maybe she wasn’t so withdrawn, after all. At least not with her father.

The realization that Cheyenne even existed was still sinking in.

Maybe tonight, Resa would fix them a meal, make a point to get to know the child and prove to Colson she really was over him.

* * *

It was suppertime, but food was the last thing on Colson’s mind. He’d let Cheyenne spend an hour with him this morning to get her acclimated to their temporary home. But his day had stretched long after Annette retrieved her. His heart did triple time as he let himself in the McCalls’ house, the way it always did when he’d been away from his daughter, even if only for a few hours.

Last night he’d seen that the house was much as he remembered. Large, but not as grand as the McCalls could have afforded. Massive beams, rustic design, a veritable showroom full of Rustick’s furnishings. A lot like his dad’s. He could hear Dad’s voice, Annette’s, and a child’s giggle that warmed him from the inside out.

Cheyenne lay on the yellow pine floor, her dark curtain of hair framing her face, a frown of concentration there as she colored a princess’s hair pink. Dad and Annette were smiling on from the nailhead log couch.

Colson plopped down beside Cheyenne.

“Daddy.” She shrieked, pushed up and barreled into him.

“How’s my little beauty? Do you like the new digs?”

“It’s okay.” But she only had eyes for him.

If he could just bottle these moments...

“Wanna color?”

“Can’t wait.”

She wiggled out of his arms, returned to her coloring book, pointed to the prince next to her page. “You can do him.”

“What color hair should he have?” He lay flat on his belly beside her.

“Blue since he’s a boy.”

“Blue it is.” He grabbed the crayon and went to work. He looked up when he felt his dad’s and Annette’s scrutiny. They were holding hands, both of them grinning at him. Married four years, they were obviously still crazy about each other. “What?”

“Adorable.” Annette shot him a fond wink.

“Thanks for helping out with her.”

“We had fun. I felt like a teacher again. Cheyenne will keep me in practice for subbing again next year.”

Though Annette clearly loved teaching, she didn’t seem to regret going from full-time to being a substitute when she’d relocated to marry his dad. At first, Colson had been leery of the new woman in Dad’s life. He hadn’t wanted to see his father get hurt again. And his hackles had gone up when Annette had gently suggested Cheyenne needed counseling last year.

But she’d been right. He’d watched his little girl slowly come out of her shell over the last few months. Annette had been good for Dad. Good for all of them. Colson had sympathized when he’d learned her first husband had cheated on her, left her for another woman. She’d been just as wounded as Dad, so Colson had gotten to know her. Trust her even, which was rare for him.