Harlequin American Romance October 2013 Bundle: Twins Under the Christmas TreeBig Sky ChristmasHer Wyoming HeroA Rancher's Christmas

by Marin Thomas

* * *

  CORB’S WORDS LINGERED in Jackson’s mind all night long. He didn’t sleep much, but when he awoke he felt oddly invigorated.

  That morning, after chores, he asked Maddie if she would mind if he did a few renovations around the place. December was a notoriously slow month on a ranch and he had too much time on his hands.

  “This place could sure use a face-lift,” Maddie agreed. She looked curious, but didn’t ask him for any more explanation. She knew when to talk and when to be silent.

  Affection for the older woman welling up in his heart, Jackson stooped to give her a hug, then headed to the hardware store to buy some supplies.

  He resisted the urge to stop in to see Winnie. He knew he needed time to let his conversation with Corb really sink in.

  Besides, this time he had to do it right.

  He had a plan.

  And only two and a half weeks to execute it.

  * * *

  “EIGHTEEN DAYS UNTIL Christmas,” Winnie sighed. “I’ve decorated our tree and baked a batch of shortbread, and that’s it. I haven’t even started my shopping.”

  Laurel had stopped in at the Cinnamon Stick after buying groceries for the week and Winnie was glad to see her. It had been a long day.

  Make that a long week.

  A couple of times a day Jackson had sent her text messages saying he needed to talk to her. She’d turned him down the first time and simply ignored the subsequent requests. She wasn’t intending to be mean, she simply didn’t think her heart could withstand seeing him again. She knew she had to stay the course. A clean break would be easier in the long run.

  And yet a part of her wondered what he’d wanted to say.

  She’d never know now, though. It had been more than a day since his last text.

  And while she ought to be relieved that he’d finally taken the hint, of course she wasn’t. She felt sadder than ever.

  “I finished my list last weekend,” Laurel admitted.

  “You always were the organized one.”

  “Let me take Bobby tomorrow afternoon and you can go shopping in Lewistown,” Laurel offered.

  “Really?”

  “Sure. It’s always fun to let the rug rats play together.” Though Bobby and Stephanie didn’t really play with each other yet, they did seem to get a kick out of being together.

  “That would be awesome. I really need to get my parents’ gifts in the mail soon or they won’t make it to Arizona in time.”

  She’d buy a few gifts for Bobby, as well. Not too many, because she had a strong suspicion his grandparents—especially Olive—would be spoiling him rotten.

  She also wanted to buy something for Laurel and for Stephanie. And gifts for her staff. And she mustn’t forget Olive.

  “My pleasure. Corb and I wanted a quiet day at home anyway. And speaking of my darling husband, I have news.”

  “Oh?”

  “Last night he went out to the bar with Jackson.”

  Winnie pulled back. “I’m not sure I want to hear this.”

  “I think you should.” Laurel leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Vince went to visit Silver Creek a few days ago....”

  Winnie nodded. She’d figured as much.

  “He and Jackson had a private chat, and Vince confessed that he’d once had an affair with Jackson’s mother.”

  Winnie frowned. She’d noticed her baker had been even more testy than usual the past few days, so she hadn’t called him out for interfering. But this was not at all what she’d been thinking was behind the covert trip.

  “Are you saying that Vince is Jackson’s father?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good Lord.” Winnie sank onto a stool and tried to process this.

  “Think about it,” Laurel said. “They’re almost exactly the same height and build. They both have blue eyes, and I’ll bet Vince’s hair was dark, too, before it turned gray.”

  Not only that, Winnie thought, but there was something about their smiles. Maybe she would have picked up on the similarity earlier if Vince’s teeth weren’t so brown from years of smoking and poor care.

  “Quite the shocking bit of news, huh?”

  Winnie nodded.

  “But there’s more. Maddie finally told Jackson the entire story of her romance with Vince. It turns out that he did ask her to marry him, but she couldn’t leave her dad alone on the ranch, so she said no.”

  “Did Maddie love him?”

  “Yes. But she felt obliged to her father.”

  “Oh, poor Maddie. And poor Vince... Do you think that’s why he started drinking?”

  “Maddie said it was. And there’s more...”

  Laurel went on to explain how it was that Bob Lambert came to be Jackson’s foster father. Maddie had been behind it all. Winnie’s head was spinning by the time Laurel finally left to go back to Coffee Creek Ranch.

  So many things that had seemed strange or coincidental suddenly made sense. As did Jackson’s flurry of text messages. He must have been trying to tell her about all of this.

  And not, as she’d secretly hoped, been hoping to woo her back to him.

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY, Corb dropped into town to pick up Bobby, as Laurel had promised.

  “How’s it going, Winnie?”

  “Fine.”

  “Really?” Corb raised his eyebrows pointedly.

  She supposed he was referring to her appearance, which she knew wasn’t great. The sleepless nights were catching up to her.

  “I really appreciate you and Laurel taking Bobby for the day.”

  “Hey, we’re his aunt and uncle. Anytime you need a break, we’re happy to help.”

  Gosh, but Laurel had been lucky, marrying a great guy like Corb. Easygoing and uncomplicated—the exact opposite of Jackson.

  And yet, underneath the layers of complex emotions, Jackson was a good man, too. She could admit it. Even if she was mad as hell at him right now.

  She bundled Bobby into his snowsuit and boots, then walked out to the truck with Corb, tucking the diaper bag into the space below Bobby’s feet.

  “Bye-bye, baby boy.” She kissed his forehead. “Have fun with Auntie Laurel and Stephanie.”

  “Fee!” He started kicking his boots against his seat, his standard move when he was excited. “Fee, Fee, Fee!”

  Corb gave her a quizzical look.

  “His name for your daughter,” she explained.

  “Ah.” Corb grinned, then touched the brim of his hat in farewell.

  Winnie stepped back to the sidewalk and watched them drive off. Then she grabbed her purse and shopping list and headed to Lewistown.

  She felt melancholic as she strolled down the main shopping street. It seemed that most of the shoppers today were couples, strolling arm in arm along the snow-covered sidewalks, pointing out items in the decorated shop windows, whispering hints about what they’d really like for Christmas.

  Winnie stuck to her list, and within two hours she had everything she needed, but felt no sense of satisfaction about it.

  Where was the joy of Christmas when your heart was broken?

  She’d been so foolish to take the risk of getting involved with Jackson. And yet, looking back on the six weeks since her return to Coffee Creek, she couldn’t decide what she would have done differently. Because if she hadn’t at least given a relationship with Jackson a try, she would have always wondered what if.

  But was it any better being left with if only?

  * * *

  CHRISTMAS WAS A major occasion on Coffee Creek Ranch. Jackson knew this well, having lived there for over seventeen years. Olive spared no expense with the decorations. He’d helped Corb and B.J. bring in a tree that had to be at least fourteen feet tall and then wa
tched as Olive, Savannah and Laurel loaded it with ornaments, garlands and lights that would do the tree in Rockefeller Center proud.

  That had been a week ago.

  And now here was B.J., knocking on the back door at Silver Creek then stepping into the kitchen where Jackson was stirring a can of paint, getting ready to put the final touch on his renovation projects.

  “Oh, boy,” B.J. said when he saw the painting supplies laid out on the floor. “I hope you don’t need help with that. Savannah wants me home this afternoon to welcome Regan back from her first term at med school.”

  “Nah. I can handle it.” He waited for the eldest Lambert son to get to the point. It didn’t take long.

  “Mom was wondering if you’re coming to Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night. And she wants you to bring Maddie. Will she come, do you think?”

  “Of course I will,” Maddie replied from the other room.

  B.J. grinned. “Well, there’s my answer. We’re having drinks at five, dinner at six. See you then!”

  And he was off, before Jackson could find a way of discreetly inquiring if Winnie would be there. But surely she would. Olive would want her grandson present.

  The big surprise was that she had invited her older sister.

  He went to the sitting room to see how Maddie felt about it. “So? What do you make of being invited to Coffee Creek Ranch?”

  Maddie was reclined on her usual chair, with her cat Ginger sleeping on her lap. Slowly her translucent eyelids fluttered open. “I’m sure it was hard for Olive to do. But I’m grateful she did.”

  “Grateful? That’s generous of you after all the years she treated you like an outcast.”

  “And why shouldn’t I be generous? It’s a good thing to be. Especially at this time of year, and at my stage of life.”

  “But isn’t it hard? I mean, don’t you feel any bitterness at all? Especially now—when you ended up with this stupid cancer. It isn’t fair.” It made him angry—really pissed—when he thought about it. Maddie was a sweet, kindhearted person who hadn’t had many breaks in life.

  Maddie smiled at him sadly. “It’s such a common expression—life isn’t fair—and yet people still seem blindsided when bad things happen to them or the people they care about.”

  “I guess you’re right. It isn’t logical to be mad. But that’s how I feel. Did you even smoke?” He had never seen any sign that she did around the house or barns.

  “No. But my father was a heavy smoker and they say secondhand smoke can be just as bad....” She shrugged. “At least I’ve had sixty-eight years. That’s a lot more than my mother had.”

  There she was. Looking at the bright side again.

  “You amaze me, Maddie.”

  “I’m not saying I don’t have regrets. Because I do. But I’d feel better if I could believe that you might learn from some of my mistakes.”

  “Such as?” he asked cautiously, not sure he wanted to hear what she had to say.

  “If I could boil it down to one sentence, it would be this. When it comes to love, you can never give too much.”

  She didn’t add anything else, certainly didn’t mention any names.

  But he got the message, loud and clear.

  And he could hardly wait to see Winnie at the family Christmas Eve dinner.

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY Jackson could tell Maddie was excited about their upcoming visit to the Lamberts. She showered and fussed with her hair, and picked out a Christmas brooch to wear with her red sweater and gray pants.

  The outfit was the gift he had given her, thanks to some online-shopping help from Laurel. The package had arrived from J. Crew in the mail last week. And the expression on Maddie’s face when she’d opened it this morning had made all his efforts worthwhile.

  She’d held the wool sweater to her cheek. “It’s so pretty. And soft.”

  “I decided to give it to you early, so you could wear it to the party tonight. If you want.”

  “Oh, thank you, Jackson. I was wondering what on earth I was going to put on.”

  Because she’d lost so much weight, she swam in all her old clothes. And he was glad he’d managed to think of something that would make her smile. And feel good about herself.

  He even took some time dressing himself, which wasn’t usual for him. But he couldn’t help wondering whether Winnie would prefer the dark gray shirt or the blue one.

  He and Maddie arrived at Coffee Creek Ranch exactly at five. Winnie’s car wasn’t in the driveway yet. He assumed she’d be there shortly.

  All the Lambert kids lined up to welcome their aunt into their home. Last was Olive. She hesitated, then gave her sister a tentative hug. “I’m glad you came.”

  “Well, thanks for inviting me.”

  The exchange was stiff and a little awkward, but it was a start, Jackson figured.

  And then came the big surprise of the evening. Vince, who’d been hanging back in the family room, hidden on the other side of the Christmas tree, came out to say hello.

  “Hope you don’t mind me being here. Olive insisted.” He shook Jackson’s hand first, and Jackson gave him a short nod.

  He was hoping, over time, that he and Vince would get to know one another better. But in his heart Bob Lambert would always be the man he thought of as a father.

  Maddie was not so sanguine about the surprise visitor, however. “Oh, my,” she whispered when she first spotted Vince. And then, when the old cowboy held out his hand, she sighed.

  “I never thought I’d see you here.”

  “I wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t been invited. It’s been too long, Maddie. Much too long.” Vince helped Maddie settle into a chair, leaving Jackson to head to the kitchen to pour her an eggnog. Laurel was by the fridge, too, filling Stephanie’s sippy cup with fruit juice.

  “So when do you think Win will get here?” he asked, not even trying to mask his anticipation.

  “She isn’t coming.” Laurel gave him a sympathetic shrug. “She phoned half an hour ago to say Bobby is coming down with something.”

  He didn’t know what to say at first. It hadn’t even occurred to him that she might not be here. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized he should have expected this.

  “Do you think there’s really something wrong with Bobby?”

  Laurel hesitated. “No. But she had to give some excuse, or Olive would have sent one of her sons to drag Winnie and Bobby over here.”

  And would that have been such a disaster? Yes. Because he was here. And Winnie would do anything, apparently, to avoid him. Including cutting herself and her son out of the family’s Christmas celebrations.

  “I wish you’d have told me this sooner. I would have stayed home.”

  Laurel looked miserable. “I’m sure Winnie wouldn’t want you to do that. That’s probably why she made the call last minute the way she did.”

  Right.

  The evening seemed to go on forever after that. The only highlight was seeing how happy Maddie looked, even giving Vince a shy smile every now and then. No question that she was the guest of honor that evening. Someone was always sitting by her side, making sure she had everything she wanted and keeping her entertained with stories.

  Even fourteen-year-old Sky, who’d come along with Farley and Cassidy for the evening, never left Maddie’s side.

  From most people’s point of view, the evening went very well. Jackson figured he was the only one who didn’t clear his plate and go back for seconds.

  But he had no appetite tonight.

  And was only waiting for the evening to end so he could come up with a plan B.

  Because he wasn’t letting Winnie go. Not without a battle.

  An hour after dessert had been served and the Christmas gifts opened, Jackson sta
rted looking at his watch. He figured Maddie must be exhausted. But he hadn’t realized how badly. When she tried to stand to leave, she fell back to the chair, overtaken by a bout of coughing which seemed to go on forever.

  He grabbed her some water while Cassidy rubbed her back until finally the coughing subsided.

  Farley, who was a large animal vet, not a doctor, ran out to his truck and came back with a stethoscope. He listened to her heart and checked her pulse. “I think she’s fine. Just tired.”

  “You’ll sleep here tonight,” Olive decided.

  “I don’t want to be a bother. It’s just a ten-minute drive.”

  “The cold air will start another coughing fit,” Olive interjected. “So don’t argue. The spare room is all made up and ready for you. If you’re not feeling stronger in the morning, we’ll drive you to the hospital in Great Falls.”

  For once no one seemed to mind Olive’s bossy nature. Even Jackson had to agree that the plan was sound, especially when Cassidy and Farley decided to stay the night, too, in case anything went wrong.

  “You sure you’re okay?” Jackson checked with Maddie before leaving.

  “I’ll be fine.” Her eyelashes fluttered as she struggled to keep her eyes open. “It’s been a wonderful day. But I’m so tired. You’ll...” Her voice trailed off then.

  “I’ll take care of things at home. Make sure the dogs and cats are fed.”

  She nodded. “Thank you,” she said, her voice trailing off on the you.

  Jackson kissed the top of her head, then went to say goodbye to the family. He could tell Olive was annoyed with him. No doubt she blamed him for the fact that her grandson hadn’t been present tonight.

  When he came to Vince, he just shook the older man’s hand. Maybe there would come a day when he felt a connection to his biological father. But it was still too soon for that.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Christmas morning, Winnie’s eyes were open the second she heard her son giving his usual morning greeting.

  “Up, Mama! Up, up, up!”

  Wearily, she rose and put on slippers and her housecoat.

  Bobby didn’t know it was Christmas, of course. Just as he didn’t realize he’d missed out on the Lambert Christmas Eve celebrations last night.