by Elena Aitken
“I adore them. People, food, celebrations—all of it. I’m so glad we decided to celebrate all together tonight.”
Sunshine agreed. While they’d all spend tomorrow with their families, tonight they’d join together. The plan was for an early potluck dinner at the Cruz ranch and an informal secret Santa gift exchange. Each of them had pulled a name out of a hat and there’d been a lot of speculation about who had whom. Sunshine looked forward to the look on Ned Matheson’s face when he saw the funny tie with horses on it she’d bought him. The women were supposed to play their song and the men were supposed to do their dance. Then the whole lot of them would load up their vehicles and go to church for the candlelight service. The evening sounded wonderful, although she had a few nervous pangs about performing. And really—everything was lovely now that she was engaged to Cole.
Cole, Luke and Pam came in, bringing a rush of cold air. Pam thrust her arms out toward Mia and she crossed the room to hug her baby girl.
“Just about ready?” Luke asked Mia.
“Let me change Pam and we’ll go.”
Twenty minutes later, they spilled through the front door of the Cruz ranch guest house to find the party already in full swing. In the kitchen, Autumn and some of the other women were setting out trays of food, dishes and silverware. Sunshine went to join them, helping to carry Mia’s offerings. Without a kitchen to cook in, she hadn’t been able to contribute, so she’d asked Cole to pick up several bottles of wine. Morgan handed her a corkscrew when she went looking for one and she got to work opening one of the best. She wouldn’t be able to drink any; nor would several other women attending. Good thing she and Mia had picked up some non-alcoholic wine, as well.
With toddlers racing underfoot and grownups seated and standing anywhere they could find space, the occasion was certainly festive. There were faces Sunshine didn’t know, members of her friends’ families who had come to stay for the holidays, but there were others she recognized from when she lived in town before, including the Matheson boys’ parents, Lisa and Holt. She had to smile, remembering the gruff old man who used to drop by Cole’s rifle range. Rose grabbed her hand. “Help me pass around the appetizers.”
Between making the rounds of the room, eating plateful after plateful of delicious food and laughing at the antics of the children, the time passed swiftly, until Ethan pulled out a cordless microphone, turned it on and tapped it, making everyone cover their ears.
“Howdy, folks,” he said. “I know, I know—what has it come to that I need a microphone? I knew we’d have a rowdy bunch tonight, though.” He was interrupted by cheers and catcalls. Ethan waved them down. “Find a seat if you can so we can get things started. We’re going to begin with some announcements. Apparently a bunch of you have been busy. So let’s start with babies.” A murmur of interest ran around the room. “We’ve got several expecting mothers in the audience,” Ethan went on.
Sunshine went cold as Cole moved to stand beside her. Had someone told Ethan her news? Was he going to announce it?
“The first is my own lovely wife, Autumn! We’re due in June, and I can’t wait.”
A cheer went up from the crowd. Autumn blushed becomingly and patted her belly.
“Next is Morgan. Good job, Rob! Way to go!”
Everyone laughed. Morgan beamed. “We’re due in May,” she called.
“And now we have a new mother. Bella? Stand up—when are you due?”
“July,” Bella called out, not bothering to get up from the plush sofa.
“And Fila is another first-time mom. Lots more Mathesons to terrorize the world, huh, boys?”
“You got that right,” Holt Matheson called out.
“And before you ask, we’re due in June, too,” Ned said.
Sunshine couldn’t believe how many babies were coming. She wished she’d told Cole so that they could announce theirs, too. But she was grateful no one had spilled the beans.
“And last, but certainly not least, Mia and Luke!”
Luke kissed his wife. “We’re due in May, as well. I bet we beat everyone!”
Cole slipped an arm around Sunshine. “Can’t wait until we can announce a baby of ours is coming.”
Sunshine sucked in a breath. She’d meant to keep her news a secret until the morning, but he’d caught her by surprise and his enthusiasm disarmed her. Cole turned to peer down at her. Sunshine met his gaze. She tried not to show her feelings, but her eyes stung with tears.
“Sunshine? Are you—?”
She nodded.
“You’re pregnant?”
She nodded again, then realized his words had fallen into a quiet room. Ethan had covered the mic and turned to consult with Jamie about something, so the people who stood around Sunshine and Cole had definitely overheard what Cole said.
Cole lifted her off her feet into a crushing hug. “Holy cow, you’re really pregnant?”
That caught Ethan’s attention. He turned the mic on again. “What’s that? We got another baby coming?”
“Sunshine’s pregnant! We’re pregnant!” Cole spun her around and she clung to him, her tears spilling over. She hadn’t known how hard it was to keep her secret until she’d let it go, but as Cole crowed and kissed her again and again, joy filled her heart until she thought it would burst.
“Well, there you have it—another baby!” Ethan said.
Cole finally put her down and planted another kiss on her mouth. “When?”
“July,” she managed to say. “Late July.”
“July,” Ethan echoed. “Anyone else have anything to confess?” When no one spoke up, he went on. “Well, in light of that last surprise announcement, I’m happy to be able to tell you this next bit of news. Cole and Sunshine have set a date—they’re marrying in one week! Everyone free on New Year’s? If not, clear your calendar!”
Cheers and whistles filled the room and Cole ducked down to kiss her again. In the ensuing chaos, Sunshine couldn’t take her eyes off of Cole, even as people on all sides leaned in to give them their congratulations. It took a long time for the room to settle down again. Cole found her a space on one of the comfortable couches and sat next to her, holding her hand. All through the gift exchange, Sunshine found it hard to concentrate, even when she unwrapped a set of porcelain pony candlesticks from Jamie. Cole was going to be her husband. The father of her child. This was where she’d make her life.
It all felt so good.
“And now, I’m very excited to announce that we have a special performance in store for you. Ladies—do you want to take the stage?”
“That’s you.” Cole kissed the top of her head. “Go get ’em.”
Sunshine stood up, reluctant to relinquish their closeness, but as she joined her friends near the massive fireplace and picked up her instrument, her nervousness fell away. Everyone in the audience was a friend—new or old. Besides, surely they couldn’t play any worse than the men could dance.
They plugged in, checked the tuning of their instruments and exchanged a what the heck shrug. Mia lifted her drumsticks in the air and hit them together four times. They launched into a somewhat ragged but rocking rendition of Jingle Bells and Sunshine wished she could take a photo of the grins that spread on every face in front of them.
She thought she mostly hit the right notes, but it didn’t matter; what they lacked in talent they made up in enthusiasm and soon the entire room was singing the words along with Rose and the rest of them on stage. By the time the song was over, Sunshine’s cheeks ached from smiling. They all erupted into cheers and she congratulated her friends, hugging each and every one of them as they placed their instruments back on their stands.
“Well, that was a hell of a song, ladies. Thank you!” Ethan said into his microphone. “And now the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Gentlemen, it’s our turn to take the stage.”
Sunshine collapsed back onto the couch along with Claire and Autumn as the men trailed up to the front of the room. Ethan fooled around with his cell p
hone, which he’d set into a combination charging/speaker station. When he found what he wanted he tapped the screen and music started. He hurried to his place in the front row next to Cole. Beside him stood Jamie and Rob. Ned, Jake, Luke, Cab and Evan stood in a row behind them.
They began to dance.
Sunshine let out a whoop of appreciation and was quickly joined by Autumn and Claire. Fila shocked everyone with a ululating trill that cut through the pounding country beat of the song. Jamie lost his place on stage and nearly tripped Rob, but Rob grabbed his arm, shoved him into place and the dance went on.
They were almost as ragged as Sunshine and her friends had been when they’d played Jingle Bells, but that didn’t diminish Sunshine’s admiration for them. They stomped, turned and went heel to toe with their boots as if they were at a country hoe-down. When they spun around in synchronicity the women nearly fell off their seats clapping and cheering.
“Yeah!” Claire yelled. “That’s what we like to see!”
Morgan gave her a high five.
Sunshine cheered along with the rest of them. As far as she was concerned, this was the best Christmas present she’d ever received. When the dance came to the end and the men stood in their final poses, she leapt off the couch, raced across the room and flung herself into Cole’s arm’s.
“Did you like that?” he said, lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist.
“I loved it.”
“Just wait until tomorrow. It only gets better from here.”
Chapter 10
Back in the room where they’d spent their first night in Chance Creek, Cole woke the following morning to find Sunshine smiling at him.
“Hey, there,” he said, running a hand over her silky hair. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too.” She snuggled closer. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. I’ve got some great surprises for you today.”
“I’ve got some great surprises, too.”
A knock sounded on their door. “Room service,” Autumn trilled. “I’m leaving you a tray out here. Enjoy your morning!”
“Thank you,” Sunshine called. “She is too sweet,” she said to Cole. She slipped out of bed, wrapped a robe around her and padded to the door. Coming back with a tray, she set it on Cole’s lap and climbed back under the covers.
“I could get used to this.” Cole sat back against the headboard and uncovered the plates on the tray. One plate was loaded with pancakes, sausage and hash browns. The other held fruit, a poppy-seed muffin and more hash browns. A delicate card reading “vegan” was attached to it. Sunshine beamed.
“This looks amazing.” She settled in, too, spearing a strawberry with the fork Autumn had provided. “I guess we’d better not get too used to it, though. Next Christmas we’ll be parents.”
“I still can’t wrap my head around that.” Cole sawed through his stack of pancakes and took a bite.
“I can’t, either. It was supposed to be one of your Christmas surprises this morning.”
“That’s okay. I—”
Another knock sounded on the door. “Incoming,” Ethan said. “Hope you’re decent.”
Sunshine scrambled to tug the covers up. The door opened a crack and a big, yellow dog bounded in. He gave a bark and ran in a circle.
Sunshine squealed and scrambled back out of bed, her robe flapping around her. She ran to Duke and dropped to her knees. “Duke! Where’d you come from?”
“Surprise number one,” Cole said. “Bella told me you liked him.”
“Like him? I love him. Don’t I, Duke? Don’t I?” She slipped into a cooing doggy language only she and Duke understood. Cole finished his pancakes, glad his first gift had gone over so well.
When they’d finally finished eating, pulled on some clothes and taken Duke for a short walk, they thanked Autumn for breakfast and loaded the dog into their rental truck.
“How’d you know we needed to drive to see your present?” Sunshine asked him.
“I didn’t. I’m taking you to see your other present.”
“But you already gave me Duke.”
He started the engine and pulled out into the lane. “Hold onto your hat, baby. We’re just getting started.”
Sunshine’s stomach fluttered in anticipation all the way to town, not because she was excited to see her present—she’d already gotten so much—but because she couldn’t wait to show Cole the ranch. Still, she wanted to enjoy every minute of today. She watched the country fall away and the buildings get closer together as they neared the center of town. She couldn’t imagine what would be open this morning, so when he parked at the edge of a nearly empty Main Street, she didn’t know what to expect.
Cole got out, came around to open her door and took her hand when she joined him on the sidewalk. He shut the truck’s door behind her and led her to a storefront with newspaper covering the windows.
“Give me a sec.” He went through the keys on his keyring, found what he was looking for and opened the door. “Come on in.”
“What is this place?” Sunshine asked. She followed him in, blinked when he turned on the lights and gazed at the clean, empty, tastefully decorated space in front of them. It looked like—
She turned to Cole. “Is it—” She couldn’t even put it into words. Could it be?
“It’s yours. Your new restaurant.” Cole tugged her further inside. “Do you like it?”
“Mine?” Sunshine couldn’t believe her ears. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. I bought and renovated it for you, didn’t I?”
Astonishment welled up inside her. More than any words Cole could say to her, this proved his support of her dreams. As she moved around the large space taking in the craftsmanship of the floors and the pristine condition of the fittings, she could feel Cole’s love for her in every inch of the place. “I can’t believe it. Cole—it’s wonderful!”
He scooped her up into a hug. “And we’ll work things out with the baby.”
“I know we will.” She kissed him, arching into him. She didn’t think he’d ever turned her on more.
He responded in kind and they made out like teenagers until Sunshine pulled back. “As much as I’d like to ravish you right here, I need to show you your present.”
“Can’t it wait?” Cole growled, planting kiss after kiss on her neck.
“No.” She pushed him away playfully, then caught his hand. “Come on. You’re going to love it.” But she had to take a last look around the restaurant. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“First things first,” he said, tugging her toward the door. “You need to give me my gift, and then you need to ravish me. Unless those are the same things.”
“Ha, not likely. I got you a proper gift.” She followed him outside and watched him lock up again.
Cole sighed. “I was afraid of that.”
She made him give her the truck keys. “Close your eyes,” she said when they were seated inside. “No peeking.”
He did so and blew her a kiss.
“Behave.”
“Some Christmas this is turning out to be.”
They teased each other until Sunshine turned into the rutted driveway that led to the ranch house. She’d gotten the driveway plowed so she was able to park close to the front door. “Keep them closed,” she said. She killed the engine, hopped out and went to his side. Opening his door, she helped him take off his seatbelt and pulled him to stand outside. “Okay—now!”
Cole dropped his hands and gazed around. He took in the house and turned to gaze at the fields beyond. “I don’t get it.”
“It’s a ranch! I bought you a ranch, you big dummy!” Sunshine nearly hopped up and down in her excitement. “It’s ours!”
He scanned the property again. “The house or the whole thing?”
“The whole thing. Three hundred acres. Now, I know that’s not big, but it’s got a barn and—”
Cole whooped, picked her up and da
nced around with her. “A ranch! A whole damn ranch! Holy—”
“Cole!” She covered his mouth with her mittened hands, and then kissed him. “You’re going to be a daddy. Clean up that potty mouth!”
“I love you,” he said, letting her slide through his hands until they were face to face. “Sunshine Patterson, I love you, you know that?”
“I do,” she said.
Seven days later, Cole stood by the altar in the Chance Creek Reformed Church flanked by Ethan, Jamie, Rob and Cab. His suit’s stiff lines made him distinctly uncomfortable. Still, he wanted to do this right—he was only going to do it once.
“Took you long enough,” Rob muttered from his left. “You really are a slow-poke, Cole.”
“Yeah, who would have thought you’d be the last to marry,” Cab said.
“Remember when Sunshine first came to Chance Creek? None of us had a serious girlfriend,” Jamie said.
“Except me, and I lost her anyway. Thank God,” Ethan said. They all nodded.
“Now here we are, every one of us tied down with a ball and chain,” Rob said.
“Doesn’t feel much like being tied down,” Ethan said.
“Nope,” Cab agreed.
“Life’s pretty good—”
The music swelled and the door at the back of the church swung open. Autumn, Claire, Morgan and Rose, dressed in matching moss-green gowns, walked at a stately pace down the aisle and took their places across from the men. But when Sunshine stepped through on her father’s arm in a dress that was all white and curves and billowing train, everything around him disappeared until the only thing he could see was the woman who was about to become his wife.
Cole realized that he’d gone without family for a long time and had been separated from his friends by half a world for nearly three years. Now he would get it all back. Friends, a home, a business, a wife—and a brand new family.
He swallowed against an unfamiliar feeling, desperate to keep control of his emotions, but when Sunshine met his gaze and smiled, he had to grin back. Some of the tightness in his chest loosened. He’d get through this without making an ass of himself.