Buch lesen: «Christmas With The Cowboy»

Chapter One

“Woo-hoo! Go get ’em, cowboy!”

Emma Maxwell Norman pushed a stroller with her two-year-old twin daughters closer to the Big Heart Ranch main corral, where hoots and hollers of excitement filled the air.

“Excuse me,” she murmured while nudging her way past wall-to-wall people.

Western hats shaded faces against the glare of an early November Oklahoma sun, as the staff and kids of the children’s ranch crowded next to each other atop rungs of the rail wood fencing. Eager children had even settled on the shoulders of adults to view the action in the main ranch arena.

Roars of laughter went up at intervals and heads turned left, then right, following the activity.

“Hey there, Miss Emma,” Dutch Stevens said. The weathered cowboy tipped his hat and stroked his graying handlebar mustache. “Folks, let Miss Emma in.”

The group of male and female wranglers stepped aside.

Inside the stroller, Emma’s twins, Rachel and Elizabeth, barely stirred from their naps as another excited cheer went up. The toddlers had grown accustomed to life on the Timber, Oklahoma, children’s ranch and thankfully could sleep through most of the noise inherent to a ranch that was home to sixty children.

At the far end of the corral, Emma’s big brother, Travis, drove a small ATV in figure eights while pulling a dummy steer and kicking up a cloud of red dirt and sand. A rider straddling a chestnut gelding flew across the corral in an attempt to rope the steer.

There was no surprise at seeing her brother putting on a show, but who was the rider?

“What day is this?” Emma asked Dutch.

“Sunday, ma’am.”

“That’s what I thought.” She frowned. “I didn’t see an event on the schedule for today.”

“Naw, this wasn’t planned. Your brother and his friend are having some fun.”

“They certainly drew a crowd.”

“I’ll say. That big feller on the horse is mighty good. Knows how to rope and he’s faster than small-town gossip. He ought to go professional.”

Applause went up as the horse and rider moved to the right and his lasso caught the bright green mechanical animal below both horns.

Then he smoothly dismounted, pulled off his navy blue ball cap and took a bow, displaying short neatly trimmed brown hair. There was something hauntingly familiar about the cowboy in the denim jacket and Wranglers.

When he turned to face the south side of the corral, Emma’s head jerked back. For a moment, all she could do was stare.

Zach Norman was back.

A shiver ran through her, and she grabbed the weathered wooden rail for support.

Her brother-in-law. The last she heard, Zach was headquartered with his navy SEAL team in Coronado, California. Except for a brief visit after the twins were born, she hadn’t really spent any time with Zach since the death of her husband, Zach’s half brother, Steve, a little over three years ago.

“Miss Emma, you all right?” Dutch asked. “You’re looking mighty pale.”

Emma blinked and put a smile on her face. “Yes. I’m fine.”

As she turned back to the corral, her gaze met Zach’s. She knew the instant he saw her. His grin faded and the sparkle in his eyes was replaced by a shuttered expression.

Maybe it was the fact that they had different mothers, but Zach was nothing like his younger brother.

Both Steve and Zach were tall, with hair the color of toffee, though that was where any similarity between the brothers ended. Steve had clear blue guileless eyes. Zach’s eyes were silvery gray. When he simmered with emotion, they became the color of the sky before a storm.

While Steve had literally been the boy next door, easygoing and laid-back, Zach could only be described as complicated.

Big, capable and brooding, he could steal your breath with one sweeping gaze. Although she’d known Zach since the day she and her siblings were plucked from foster care, there were times when she felt like she didn’t know him at all.

When his gaze moved in her direction, it seemed he could see her soul. No one else could do that. Even now, as their eyes connected, she felt unable to look away. Emma swallowed and willed her pulse to slow down.

As he started across the corral, she noted a limp. Had he injured himself with his wild riding antics today?

Before she realized it, Zach stood in front of her.

“Emma,” he breathed.

At five foot four, Emma had to look up over a foot to meet his gaze. When she reached out for an embrace, Zach stood stiffly, arms at his sides.

“Welcome back,” she murmured, pained at the rebuff.

“Good to see you,” he said. “You’re looking well.”

“Thank you.” She focused on his denim-clad legs. “You’re limping.”

“My knee. No big deal.” He shrugged it off.

She frowned. It certainly didn’t appear to be “no big deal.”

“You let Travis talk you into the saddle when you have a bum knee?”

“That was my idea. Once I get up there, I’m fine. Riding isn’t a problem.” Zach’s mouth formed a musing half smile. “You know, I don’t think I’ve been in the saddle since...” He paused and met her gaze.

Emma instinctively knew what he was thinking. The two of them used to ride together when Zach stayed at his father’s ranch. Steve had no interest in horses, but she and Zach shared the same passion for riding. Things were simpler in those days.

He looked away, his attention landing on the double stroller.

“Whoa! They’ve grown. Those last pictures you sent don’t do them justice.” Zach half crouched down next to his nieces, his hand bracing his extended left knee. “Who is who?”

“Elizabeth has a tiny birthmark on her right arm and Rachel doesn’t. Other than that, they’re identical.”

“They look exactly like you,” he murmured. Awe laced his deep voice.

“Yes,” she said. The girls had her dark hair and brown eyes. “Except for their noses.” As if on cue, Elizabeth wriggled her snub nose in sleep. “That’s the Norman nose.”

Zach nodded and offered a genuine smile. “So sweet.”

“Sweet in slumber, yes.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “And when awake, they’re an Oklahoma twister doubled.”

“Like me and Steve when I stayed with my dad in the summer.” Another almost smile touched his lips as he stood slowly, favoring his left leg.

“When did you arrive?” she asked when he faced her again.

“Just got in this morning. Travis invited me for the wedding.”

“The wedding was two weeks ago.” Emma’s glance went to where her older brother stood with his arm looped around his bride and assistant foreman, AJ Rowe Maxwell.

He shrugged. “I got hung up in red tape.”

“Red tape?”

“That’s right. Though, I suppose some might say that I’m trying to live up to my reputation as an absentee relative,” he murmured.

Emma would not respond to the dig. It was a reminder of their harsh exchange of words via email regarding his lack of involvement in his nieces’ lives.

“So you’re here to visit?” she asked instead.

“You sure ask a lot of questions.”

“Can you blame me? I’ve been trying to get you to the ranch for three years.”

He shrugged and offered an annoyed sigh. “I made it.”

“When are you due back?”

“I thought you were glad to see me.” His eyes narrowed a fraction. “Now it sounds like you’re trying to get rid of Uncle Zach.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.” Emma’s skin warmed under his scrutiny. Zach always managed to knock her off-kilter. She collected her thoughts. “I’m shocked, that’s all. In truth, you were the last person I expected to see in that corral.”

“Glad I could keep you on your toes.” He offered a thoughtful nod with no hint of a smile to be found. “And for the record,” he said, “the United States Navy and I have officially parted ways.”

Confused and stunned at his admission, Emma stood staring for a few seconds. “Your knee. Is that why you quit?”

“Separation, not quitting. It was time” was his flat response.

Time for what?

Aloud she simply said, “Okay.” Though, in truth, it wasn’t okay at all.

While Zach’s face remained expressionless, Emma’s gut said that something wasn’t right, and it involved his obvious injury. After all, this was the guy who ate, drank and slept navy for twelve years.

“What are you going to do next?”

“I’m tossing around a few options,” he returned.

Her eyes widened as she latched on to his response. “You have RangePro. That’s an option.”

In an instant, he tensed. Then he glanced around. “Really, Emma? You want to do this here? Now?”

“We’re only talking.”

He rubbed the dark shadow of a beard on his jaw. “Talking, huh? Feels more like an interrogation.”

“Don’t exaggerate.” She began to turn away, taking the stroller with her, when Zach’s hand caught her arm.

“Emma, RangePro is Steve’s company. Not mine.”

She eased from his touch. “Legally, you’re a partner. Fifty-fifty.”

Zach met her gaze. “I haven’t cashed a single check you’ve sent me. What part of ‘buy me out’ don’t you get?”

“Did you look at any of the paperwork I mailed you?”

“I’ve been all over the globe the last few years. I don’t have the time or desire to shuffle through paperwork about a company I don’t want anything to do with.”

She took a deep breath. “The terms of the will state we own together or we sell together.”

“Great. We sell. I’m sure the money will come in handy for you and your girls.”

“It’s not about the money. I am not selling what Steve worked so hard to build.”

“RangePro was Steve’s dream, and Steve is gone,” he returned, his voice sober.

Emma bit her lip as she glanced down at her daughters, but she said nothing.

“Come on, Em. I’m not interested in RangePro and you’ve got to be way too busy with the ranch and the twins to run a livestock software company.”

“If you’d give me a chance to show you—”

“Emma, it’s a desk job. No way am I riding the range behind a laptop.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“Not interested.” Zach raised both hands. “And not staying long enough to care.”

His eyes became steely and the set of his chin obstinate. The discussion was over. For now.

Frustrated, Emma turned away.

Three years after his brother’s death and Zach was back. Though the thought of him being around permanently unsettled her, Emma would do whatever it took to save the legacy of her children’s father. She knew what it was like to have your parents’ memory swept away as though they never existed. No, she refused to be the one to auction off Steve’s life work to the highest bidder, as though it meant nothing.

* * *

Zach tugged his leather gloves into place and adjusted the reins on the chestnut gelding. He had completely underestimated Emma. And her effect on him.

She was as beautiful as ever with dark tumbling hair that framed an oval face. If only he’d remembered not to look into her chocolate-brown eyes.

The moment he did, it was all over. He was lost. A teenager again, following her around like an overgrown Labrador retriever. The moment he realized that she had eyes only for Steve he’d respected her decision. Yet, that never stopped him from pining from afar like a sap. It wasn’t coincidence that he joined the navy soon after Steve and Emma called to announce their engagement.

Although it was a secret he kept hidden, the truth was that he had wasted too much of his life in love with Emma. He refused to allow this trip to dredge up feelings he had purposely tossed overboard years ago.

Her entreaty from this morning echoed in his head, making him feel like a jerk all over again.

He was here and Steve was gone. How was it his brother managed to shadow his life, even after death?

And why couldn’t she let it go? RangePro. Like he needed another guilt trip. The irony burned and had dogged him every single day since the car accident that claimed his half brother’s life.

The whys were doubling up on him.

Why was he still alive? Why had he made it out of Afghanistan and why hadn’t his best friend?

God hadn’t been forthcoming in the answer department of late.

Zach looked up at the jingle of tack and met Travis’s smiling face as his friend approached on a black mustang.

“How do you like Zeus?” Travis asked.

“A little headstrong. So we’re well matched.”

Travis laughed. “Our equine manager, Tripp Walker, is pretty intuitive. He paired you up with a horse that suits your disposition.”

“Quiet guy, that Tripp.”

“To say the least.”

“If you’re the boss around here, why are you working on a Sunday?” Zach asked.

“I could give you a dozen reasons.” He began to tick off on his fingers. “Getting married and going on a honeymoon put me behind on everything, for one. Then there’s fall calving season. Oh, and preparation for the Holiday Roundup. That’s gearing up here real quick, too.” Travis shook his head. “I start my days behind.”

“Holiday Roundup?” Zach asked.

“Christmas, pal. Huge around here.”

“Today is the fifth of November. Thanksgiving is two and a half weeks away and Christmas is a long way off.”

“Not when you’re planning Christmas for every child who has made their home at Big Heart Ranch. These are abused, neglected and abandoned children. Many don’t know what a real Christmas is. And I don’t mean gift giving. The true meaning of the season.”

“Who does the regular ranch chores while you’re busy making all these Christmas memories?” He knew his voice sounded cynical, but his interest in Christmas was right up there with his interest in RangePro.

Travis nodded. “Nothing changes. We add the Holiday Roundup to our regular workload. Emma spearheads the entire project.”

“Emma? Aren’t her hands full enough?”

“Both of my sisters are without boundaries when it comes to the kids and Christmas.”

Christmas. Zach squirmed. The holidays were nothing but a brutal reminder of the emptiness in his life. It had been that way since he was a kid. Pulled away from his father and half brother by a spiteful mother so he could spend Christmas all by himself. Yeah, one thing he didn’t need was another reminder of the past.

“So, how many head do you have?” Zach asked, changing the subject.

“Up to one hundred now.” Travis released a sigh. “And then there’s the bison.”

“You have bison? No kidding?”

“Definitely not kidding.” Travis raised a hand and grimaced. “It’s a long story. AJ is crazy about those shaggy beasts, and sometimes you do things you told yourself you’d never do all in the name of love.”

Zach stared at him. “Did you ever think back when we rode on my father’s ranch that one day you’d be telling me you were doing anything in the name of love?”

“I didn’t know half as much as I thought I did in those days.”

“How exactly did the cowboy who swore off love fall in love?” Zach asked.

“Not a clue. I sure wasn’t looking.” Travis offered a goofy grin.

Zach contemplated his friend’s words for a moment and hesitantly asked the question pulling at him. “How’d you know?”

“Know what?”

“That she was the one?”

“The real question is how did I not know.” He looked across the pasture to where AJ rode her horse checking cattle. As if sensing she was the topic of their conversation, his wife turned their way and raised a hand in greeting. In that moment, love shone in Travis’s eyes pure and true.

Zach ached for what his friend had found. What would it be like to have his love returned unconditionally? To find a partner to face life with? He couldn’t even imagine.

“You’ve got it real bad,” Zach murmured.

“Terminal, I hope.”

Zach chuckled.

“Quit your laughing. You might be next, so you better be careful.”

He gave a slow nod. “At all times.”

When Travis nudged his horse forward to inspect a group of heifers, Zach followed. Several had reclined in the pale brown grass and barely glanced up. “These mommas are ready for the whole pregnancy gig to be over,” he observed.

“Yeah. Got a bent tail here,” Travis said. “That cow is going to calve soon. We’ll keep an eye on her.”

Zach nodded.

“In a perfect world they’d all deliver in twenty-four hours and we’d be done counting calves before lunch tomorrow,” Travis said.

“Good to have dreams, because my guess is that in the real world they’ll be staggering delivery for the next two weeks and totally messing with your plans.”

“You’re right on.” He turned in the saddle to face Zach. “Do you miss this?”

“When I’m praying to God that I’ll make it out of a mission alive, yeah, I do.”

It was more than that. More than he could ever admit aloud. He missed those summers on his father’s ranch when he could pretend he had a normal family, instead of one where he was a bungee cord between divorced parents.

Zach leaned back in the saddle and inhaled the clean earthy fragrance of red dirt and golden autumn pasture grass. Seemed like he couldn’t get enough. “In truth, I miss quite a lot about ranch life.”

“You’ve got two months until you start the new job. What are you going to do until then?” Travis asked.

“No clue.”

“Are you staying with your father?”

“My father has leased out the Pawhuska ranch. He’s retired and is now circling the globe with my stepmother. Sort of a celebration because her cancer is in remission.”

“I knew they were traveling on and off, but hadn’t heard he’d leased. Any thoughts of taking over?”

“Never. Too many memories.”

“I hear you.” Travis frowned. “So where are you staying?”

“A bed-and-breakfast in Timber.”

“That’s no good. We have plenty of room in the bunkhouse. Why not stay with us until January?”

“Here?” Zach drew back slightly at the generosity of the unexpected gesture. “That’s not a sympathy offer, is it?”

“No way. We’re short staffed right now and having a jack-of-all-trades like yourself on staff to fill in the gaps here and there would help me sleep at night.”

Zach adjusted his ball cap as he considered Travis’s words.

“It’s not nearly as exciting as being a navy SEAL, or staying at the Timber B & B, but we are your family. The plus side would be you get to spend the holidays with your nieces.”

The mention of his nieces was enough to yank him right in. He was overdue for being a real uncle to Rachel and Elizabeth.

“I’m going to take you up on that,” Zach said before he had a chance to change his mind.

“All right.” Travis grinned. “Stop by human resources in the admin building tomorrow morning and fill out the paperwork. They’ll get you squared away with a security badge to get you in and out of the gate.”

“Will do.”

Travis snapped his fingers. “Oh, and before I forget. Monday evening, 6:00 p.m. Big meeting at the Oklahoma Rose in town. In the banquet room.”

“At a restaurant?”

“It’s the staff Christmas party.”

“Trav, I hate to beat a dead horse, but it’s November fifth. You haven’t even had a good frost around these parts.”

“You’re still not getting it. There’s no time in December. This place has nonstop holiday activities from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve.”

“I’m trying to understand,” Zach returned, tucking away the information.

“You will, firsthand, and soon enough.”

The pounding of hooves, announcing a horse and rider approaching in the distance, had both men turning around.

“Uh-oh, Emma found us.” Travis raised his brows. “Or maybe she found you. Wait until she hears that you’re staying.”

“Could we keep his between us right now?” Zach asked. “Emma has her own agenda that I’m doing my best to dodge.”

“RangePro, right?”

“How’d you know?”

“She’s done nothing but talk about turning Steve’s company over to you since you got back.”

A groan slipped from Zach.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. That said, this is a female-dominated ranch, so you know the odds of anything remaining a secret long are slim to none.”

“Yeah. I figured as much, but if I can get even a short reprieve from her trying to lasso me into her plans for my future, I’ll take it.”

“Have you suggested selling?”

“She’s convinced that if she can tie me to a chair long enough for the RangePro spiel, I’ll change my mind.” He took a deep breath. “I’m telling you, your sister is the only woman I know who’s as stubborn as I am.”

Travis gave a chuckle. “I respect the fact that you admit that.”

“That only means that one of us is going to end up very unhappy.” Zach narrowed his eyes. “I’m committed to that person not being me.”

“I hear you.” He gave a nod toward his sister and called out. “You looking for me, Emma?”

“Yes. Dutch is bringing a breech to the barn and he needs your help.” She pulled her horse up next to them and adjusted the black Stetson at the back of her head.

“Can you two monitor the rest of the herd?” Travis asked.

“I’m good.” Zach nodded.

“Then I guess I am, too,” Emma said as Travis headed back to the barn. The grim set of her lips and the expression on her face offered an uneasy détente. She’d work with him for the good of the ranch.

“Where are the twins?” Zach asked as his gaze skimmed over her. Despite the tension between them Emma was relaxed in the saddle. She wore a long-sleeve black T-shirt with the ranch logo on the front pocket. With a gloved hand, she pushed a single plaited braid of long dark hair off her shoulder. He stared, mesmerized for a moment, before returning to his senses and quickly averting his eyes.

“I’ve hired a sitter for a couple of hours every afternoon so I can help out, since Lucy can’t ride,” Emma said.

“Everything okay with your sister?”

“Apparently, you haven’t seen Lucy yet. My big sister is having a baby.”

“Whoa. Is everyone getting married and having babies around here?”

Emma laughed. “There does seem to be an epidemic, now that you mention it.”

“Her first child?”

“Her first pregnancy. She and her husband, Jack, adopted triplets last year.”

Zach opened his mouth and then closed it again. “I have no words.”