Would he show up this morning?
“Bubba want cookie.” Sunni hugged the rabbit tightly.
“He does, huh? Did he eat his eggs like a good bunny?” She eyed the plate of scrambled eggs Sunni had barely touched.
With wide eyes, Sunni nodded.
Leann wasn’t falling for her innocent act. “If Bumbles eats three more bites of eggs—big bites—then I think he can have a cookie.”
“Bubba not hungwy for eggs. He want cookie.”
“No cookie before eggs.”
Sunni’s bottom lip jutted out, and rather than eating her breakfast, she resumed playing with Bumbles.
After severe chills last night, Leann had fallen into a deep sleep with Sunni tucked into her side. She’d woken stiff and sore. She couldn’t put any weight on her left wrist. Thankfully, Sunni hadn’t minded holding her good hand to climb down the stairs this morning. But Leann wasn’t sure what she’d do when her daughter’s energy ran out. The child would want to be carried, a difficult task given Leann’s wrist.
She wouldn’t worry about it now. In fact, she wasn’t worrying about anything. None of her troubles mattered because she was here. Ready to start the next chapter—a good chapter—in her life. As soon as she found an apartment, she’d call the movers to bring the rest of her stuff and get settled for good, but in the meantime, she’d stay at the B and B. Leann and Sunni seemed to be the only guests at the moment.
Earlier, she’d peeked down the street, and a thrill had rushed through her at the sight of all of the snow-covered awnings above shop doors, strings of Christmas lights stretched across the road and big red bows wrapped around lampposts.
This was her new home, and it was delightful.
The owners of the B and B, Margo and her husband, Felix, had left a note stating breakfast was set up on the dining room buffet, and if she needed anything to help herself. They would be back this afternoon. Apparently, they were checking on Margo’s mother, who lived across town.
“Cookie now, Mama?”
Leann pointed to Sunni’s abandoned plate full of food. Sunni let out a loud, pitiful sigh, climbed back into her chair and tucked into the eggs. Meanwhile, Leann made a mental list of everything she needed to do in the upcoming days.
First things first. She’d call Kelli to let her know she’d arrived. In the next day or two, she planned on stopping in at The Sassy Lasso to get an overall feel for the store. Then she’d find an apartment and set up childcare for Sunni. When she’d called last week, two day-care centers in town had spots for her daughter.
She frowned. None of this would be easy without her car. Nor did it help that her left arm was basically useless at this point.
“All done.” Sunni pointed to her plate. She’d pushed the eggs to the side. Leann checked under the table. Sure enough, there were eggs down there, too.
“I don’t think so, sweetheart. Two more bites. Then you need to pick up the food you dropped. We don’t want Mrs. Dandy to have to clean up after us.”
Pouting, she dutifully ate two more bites, slid down from the chair and got onto her hands and knees to pick up the eggs.
The front door opened, and Michael entered. Leann’s heart started thumping. He’d kept his word!
“Myco!” Sunni scampered to her feet and raced to him. To his credit, he grinned and scooped her up.
“Hey, Sunni, how’d you sleep?”
“Good. Bubba get cookie now.”
“He does? I want a cookie, too.” He carried her to the table and nodded to Leann. “I checked on your car this morning.”
“Already?” Leann couldn’t get over it. He must have gotten up at the crack of dawn.
Sunni wriggled in his arms to get set down. “Cookie!”
He lowered her, and she ran to the buffet.
“You didn’t have to check on my car.” But she sure was glad he did. “You’re on vacation. You should have slept in.”
“Eh, sleep is overrated.” His smile lit his eyes.
“Not to me,” she teased.
“There’s a good auto shop here in town. If you don’t mind giving me your keys, I’ll run them over to the shop so they can get your car towed over there as soon as the roads are clear.”
One big problem solved. And by a stranger. He’d been so kind to her. “Thank you! It’s so generous of you. I’m...well... I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s nothing.” His face grew red.
“Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll get you a cup of coffee?” She gestured to the chair opposite hers.
“Oh... I...I’d better go.” He glanced back at the front door. Was he uncomfortable being alone with her?
“Myco!” Sunni bounded over to him with a cookie in each hand. She held one up to him. “Cookie!”
His expression softened. “I guess I could stay for a few minutes.” He took the frosted reindeer from Sunni and sat on a chair. She set hers on the table and started climbing onto his lap.
“No, Sunni—” Leann scolded.
“She’s fine.” His blue eyes met hers, and she caught her breath at the affection within them. He clearly had a soft spot for her little girl. Sunni rested the back of her head against his chest and happily munched on her cookie.
“Thank you.” Leann had said it several times since meeting him, and she’d say it a thousand more for the generosity he’d shown her.
“My pleasure.”
She couldn’t look away from him, and the moment grew long. Too long. Embarrassed, she rose and padded to the coffee maker. “How do you take your coffee?”
“With a little cream.”
Forgetting the pain in her wrist, Leann tried to multitask by grabbing a mug with one hand and the coffeepot with the other. Pain shot up her arm. She had to brace herself against the buffet with her good hand. She needed to have a doctor look at her wrist soon. When the throbbing subsided, she carried the mug of coffee over to him.
“So, you grew up around here?” She returned to her seat.
“Yeah. My parents and sister, Hannah, live on our family ranch.”
“I’m sure they’re thrilled to have you home for Christmas.”
“They are. Hannah, especially. She graduated from college this spring and is sending out résumés to the local schools. I haven’t seen her in a few months.”
“I’m sure it’s hard with your job.” What was it he said he did again? Wildlife something or other.
“It is. I’ve been up in Alberta, Canada, all year working on a research project, and I wasn’t able to stop in at the university to visit Hannah as often as usual.”
“Canada, huh? Do you think you’ll go back?”
“No,” he said. “My research partner wants me to join her team in Alaska.”
His research partner wanted him to join her team? A sinking feeling slid down Leann’s torso. Her ex-husband had worked closely with brilliant, beautiful Deb, and look how that had worked out. Leann had ended up divorced and alone.
“You don’t sound convinced you’re going.” She kind of hoped he wasn’t convinced. Alaska was a long way away, and he was the only person besides Kelli she knew here. But he probably wanted to get back to his research...and his research partner.
“Yeah, well, I haven’t decided yet.”
“What are your other options?” she asked.
“A buddy of mine who works for the state of Wyoming badgers me every year to become a game warden. And there are grants I could apply for to research wildlife anywhere in the world. Then there’s...ah... Never mind.”
“It sounds exciting.” What else had he been about to say?
“Exciting?” He chuckled. “I live in rustic cabins in the middle of nowhere.” His face brightened as he spoke. “I study fish and track animals in all kinds of weather, and then there are the reports I have to type up...”
“Say what you want—I can tell you love it.”
“I’ve enjoyed it.” He took a drink of his coffee. “What about you? What brings you to Sunrise Bend?”
“A new job. I’ll be starting right after the New Year. It will give me a few weeks to find an apartment and line up babysitting. I can’t wait to explore the area.”
“Just you and Sunni?” His eyebrows drew together.
“Yes, it’s just us. My ex-husband moved to Costa Rica with his new wife.”
“Oh.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She shrugged. “I was thrilled when I found out Kelli—she’s a friend from college—wanted to spend more time at home with her kids. She hired me to manage The Sassy Lasso. It’s a Western women’s boutique here in town. But you probably already know of it.”
His face went blank. Sunni had finished her cookie and climbed off his lap. The little imp ran back to the buffet.
“No, Sunni, no more cookies. Excuse me a minute.” Leann jogged to her daughter and reached down to pick her up. “Ouch!” Once again, she’d forgotten her wrist.
“Mama?” Sunni’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m fine, baby.” Take deep breaths.
“You need to see a doctor.” Michael came up beside her. “Let me make a call.” He walked out of the room swiping his phone. She couldn’t take her eyes off the tall cowboy.
He was different from her ex. Comfortable in his own skin. A man of his word. He wasn’t trying to impress her, but impress her, he did.
Really, she had to stop with the romantic crush feelings. She had enough to worry about at the moment, like getting her life lined up. And then how she was going to handle working full-time after only working part-time for so long. She’d never had a prestigious career, an outgoing personality or the allure that some women were born with. But she knew how to manage a retail store. She’d managed a clothing store before having Sunni and had been the assistant manager of one since the divorce.
He strolled back into the room. “I’ll come back at two. They can get you in then.”
For the umpteenth time she said, “Thank you.”
Michael had taken a huge burden off her back. She couldn’t thank him enough.
* * *
Leann was friends with Kelli and going to work for her? Michael’s brain had been tripping over those two facts ever since he’d left the B and B earlier.
He followed his father out of the stables. They’d finished checking the cattle and were heading back into the main house. He dreaded taking Leann to the clinic. Not because he didn’t like her—he hadn’t been able to get her off his mind all day—but the doctor at the clinic was his brother. David. Interactions between them tended to be awkward. And Leann would notice and ask questions.
Well, actually, if he were smart, he wouldn’t have to see David at all. He’d drop Leann off at the front desk and wait outside for her until she was finished.
If she was friends with Kelli, she probably already knew about the drama that went down years ago. Not a reassuring thought.
“It’s good to have you back for a few weeks, son.” His dad, lean and wiry, strode next to him on the snowy path to the house. “This year kicked me in the behind.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m sixty-five and feeling every second of it.”
“You’re not sick or anything are you?” He cast a sideways glance at his dad, but other than a few more wrinkles on his face and the thinning gray hair under his hat, the man looked as fit as ever.
“No, no. Nothing like that.” Dad chuckled. “Your mother and I have been talking about our next phase, though. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to run the ranch on my own.”
The words kicked up longings, fear and regrets. “What are you saying? Are you looking to hire a manager or something?”
“Don’t know yet.” Dad shrugged. “But I can’t do this forever.”
“You wouldn’t sell it, would you?” Michael tried to envision a future without Carr Ranch in it. His heart sank to his toes. The ranch had been an anchor for him all his life. “This is home.” His home, at least. He had no other.
“Sell it? Not while I’m still alive.” He laughed, then fell silent a few moments. “We’re trying to figure out what to do with it when I retire and after we die.”
“Die? Neither of you are dying. You can toss that thought right out of your head.”
“Any of us could go at any time. I’ve got to get prepared, and I don’t love the options. You’re doing well with your research. David’s busy with his medical practice, and Hannah’s set on teaching.”
They climbed the steps and entered the mudroom. Taking off his boots and outerwear, Michael tried to control the anxiety his dad’s words brought up. He’d been going from research job to research job for years, and he’d given little thought to his own future all that time. Worse, he’d taken for granted the fact that his parents and the ranch would always be here for him to return to.
“I smell snickerdoodles. Come on.” Dad grinned and entered the kitchen. Michael followed.
Hannah, wearing an apron over her sweater and holding a spatula in one hand, squealed. “You’re here!”
“Didn’t we already go through this last night?” Michael hugged her, lifting her off her toes. “Did you think I’d vanish into thin air?”
“No, but I’ve been missing you.” She punched his arm. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you for more than a day or two. And now we get you for two whole weeks.” Her wheat-blond hair wrapped over her shoulder in a long braid. “We’re doing all the traditions. The Christmas parade. Watching movies. Oh, and the children’s nativity play...”
“I’m with Hannah on this.” His mom beamed. “I’m glad you’re home, honey.”
After kissing his mother’s cheek, he grabbed three cookies—still warm—and shoveled one into his mouth.
“Where did you run off to this morning, anyway?” Hannah popped a fist on one hip and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Just checked on Leann’s car and stopped in at Dandy’s to see if she and her daughter were all right.”
“And are they?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah. John Fulton’s going to tow her car to his shop later.” He frowned. “And Leann seems okay, except for her arm. She must have injured it in the accident.”
“That does it.” His mom placed a sheet of cookies in the oven before straightening. “She needs to come out to the ranch. She and her little girl can stay here. If this woman’s arm is injured, she’s going to have a terrible time taking care of a toddler.”
“Ma...” He rolled his eyes. His mother took personal responsibility for every hurt thing she encountered, whether it was an owl, coyote or human.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Michael Lee Carr.” She pointed her finger at him. “I’m right and you know it.”
“She isn’t going to agree to stay here. She doesn’t know us. Well, I guess she knows Kelli.”
“Oh, she’s the one Kelli hired to manage the store?” Hannah’s face brightened. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting her.”
“Yes.” He knew he sounded like a bear and didn’t care. “She should stay with Kelli. They have a house full of kids for Sunni to play with.” Even as he said it, he wanted to take the words back. He didn’t like the thought of Leann staying with his brother.
“She couldn’t possibly stay with David and Kelli.” Mom shook her head. “Their house is chaos right now. Between their busy jobs and dealing with the baby’s colic, it’s a wonder those two are functioning at all. Which reminds me, Hannah, David called while you were in the shower to ask if you could work the reception desk for Dixie at the clinic after lunch. Her daughter has the flu.”
“Of course. I’m happy to help.” Hannah resumed scoop
ing dough onto cookie sheets.
“Have you seen your brother yet?” Mom watched him expectantly.
“No.” He wasn’t getting into this with her. His mom’s feelings were clear about his and David’s estrangement. She wanted them to be best friends—close, like the way they’d been when they were kids. How was he supposed to be close to the man who’d stolen the woman he’d loved?
It wasn’t going to happen.
“It’s Christmas,” Mom said. “The season of hope. Don’t you think it’s time to forgive and move on?”
He clenched his jaw. Easy for her to say. David had never even apologized.
Although Michael hadn’t dated Kelli long, he’d fallen for her hard. She’d been exciting, fun. Then he’d accepted a three-month research assignment in Montana. His feelings for her had grown stronger while they were apart, so strong he’d considered proposing when he’d returned to Sunrise Bend. But he hadn’t known her feelings had cooled or that she’d gotten close to his own brother.
David had stolen her from Michael.
And after six years, Michael still couldn’t forgive him. He doubted he ever would.
Chapter Three
“Is everyone able to get into the clinic so quickly?” Leann strolled next to Michael on the sidewalk leading to the entry. The rush of anticipation when he’d pulled up to the B and B in his truck this afternoon had brought her back to high school infatuations. Silly, really. She glanced his way. He carried Sunni, who was blowing kisses to the world.
“I have connections.” He opened the door for her, and she stomped the snow off her boots before approaching the front desk.
“Hey, Michael!” The pretty receptionist lit up when she saw him.
Jealousy pinched Leann’s heart. Really, Leann? She had no claim on the man.
“Hannah, this is Leann Bowden and her daughter, Sunni. Leann, my sister, Hannah.”
Western Christmas Wishes Page 11