“Yeah, Dad. If Celia feels up to it, I thought I’d take her into town to get a tree and go talk to the mechanic about her truck.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” Frank waited for his two boys to set the last of the food on the table and sit down before he asked Kash to give thanks. Celia listened to his strong, deep voice, caught up in the cadence of it. She almost missed his “amen” and shot her head up as the men passed bowls and plates around the table.
Halfway through the meal, Ransom glanced over at Celia. She gave him an encouraging nod, so he broached the subject of switching careers. With her there, they all seemed to be on their best behavior and refrained from shouting.
At the end of the discussion, Kash and Frank agreed that Ransom should find something that he wanted to do if he hated the stock contracting business as much as he claimed.
After dinner, Celia sat in front of the fireplace in the living room, watching the fire crackle and breathing in the scent of burning wood.
Ransom sauntered into the room and held his hand out to her. “Thanks for your help today. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” She shook his outstretched hand and smiled. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you aren’t yelling and throwing fists.”
“Amazing,” Ransom repeated and left the room.
A few minutes later, Kash walked in carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. He handed one to her, set his on the coffee table, and picked up the television remote.
“Can I interest you in a movie?” Kash asked, punching in the number of a channel running old holiday movies.
“Sure. What have you got?” Celia moved closer to him. He lifted his arm and she slid beneath it, nestling against his chest.
“I think you’ll like this one,” Kash said. He set down the remote, picked up his hot chocolate and leaned back into the comfortable cushions of the couch.
The opening scene of Miracle on 34th Street flashed across the screen.
Celia grinned up at Kash. “No way! The old black and white version and everything?” she asked.
“Only the best for you, Red.” Kash smiled down at her, mesmerized by the light shining in her big green eyes. Maybe all her talk about Christmas and holiday decorations was getting to him, but her eyes made him think of holly and cherished memories from when he was a boy.
She gave him a flirty smile. “You just wanted to watch your girlfriend, Maureen.”
He chuckled and held her a little tighter. “I’m not admitting or denying anything.”
“I knew it,” she said, turning from him to watch the movie. When it ended, she patted his chest. “Santa’s right, you know.”
“How’s that?” he asked.
“Just like he said in the movie, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind. You, my grinchy friend, need to reframe your thoughts.”
Kash glared at her. “Grinchy friend? I nearly broke my back dragging that heavy trunk out of storage and packing it in here. In the vein of holiday fun, I found this perfectly charming movie for us to watch, and now I get called grinchy? I think not, young lady. That won’t do at all.”
He feigned a wounded look and pretended to rise from the couch before grabbing her sock-covered feet and tickling them. Giggling and squealing, she squirmed against him.
Ransom hurried in from the family room to see what was going on and Frank stepped into the doorway on his way down the hall. They both smiled and quietly walked back out of the room, leaving the couple to their fun.
“Admit it. You only watched that movie to get your redhead fix,” Celia teased when Kash stopped tickling her feet and wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug.
He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her neck. “I don’t need to get my fix from a movie star, baby. I’ve got the real deal right here.” He nibbled on her ear, making goose bumps break out on her arms. “In fact, you’re far sexier than anyone I might see on the big screen.”
“Kash,” Celia whispered bracketing his face with her hands. Just before their lips connected, she turned her head and his kiss landed on her cheek.
“You’re driving me crazy, Celia. I want to kiss you in the worst way.” Kash groaned as he ran a hand over her hair.
“I want to kiss you, too,” she whispered, “but not while I’m sick. Believe me, you don’t want to catch what I have and as much time as you’ve spent with me, you’ll probably get it anyway.”
“In light of your dire predictions, you might as well end our misery and let me kiss you while I can.”
She laughed and shook her head. “No. Now, be a good boy and walk me home after the movie.”
He took her hand and led her up the stairs to the guest room. “Do you need anything? More tea? A snack? Ransom has some cookies stashed in the back of the cereal cupboard I’m not opposed to stealing.” Kash smirked. “I’d gladly risk his wrath to snitch a couple for you.”
“No need, handsome. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you need to take another shower and come back to bed wrapped in a towel. I’d be happy to tuck you in, hang up the towel for you, even help you dry off. I’m here to be of service.”
Celia smacked his arm and pointed to the door. “Mr. Kressley, you’re getting entirely too fresh and frisky. I think you better call this good night.”
“Good night, Red. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Chapter Nineteen
“That’s the one.” Celia pointed to a large noble fir tree.
Kash stood it upright and Celia walked around it, making sure it was full on all sides.
“Bounce it a few times,” she said, motioning for him to give it a good shake.
He obliged and she stared at the ground beneath the tree. Only a few needles fell off.
“It’s perfect.”
“Well, I’m glad for that. After the ninety-third tree, they all started to look the same.” Kash caught the attention of the lot attendant. He asked him to make a fresh cut on the bottom of the tree and attach one of their special no-tip tree stands.
Celia asked the teen helping them to save the branches he cut off for her then playfully swatted Kash’s arm. “We only looked at two dozen trees and you said they all looked the same after the fourth one. Get your facts straight.”
“Yes, ma’am. One fact I do know is that I’m hungry and there’s a great little barbecue place down the street. What do you say we pick up some in the drive-through and head home?”
“Great idea.” Celia took Kash’s hand as they walked over to the cashier to pay for the tree then pulled the pickup around to where the staff loaded trees for customers. Kash gave the kid who loaded their tree and a pile of branches a tip that earned a big smile along with a “thanks, mister!”
It didn’t take long to pick up the barbecue and head home with their treasures.
After Kash accompanied her to bid a fond farewell to her truck and sign the paperwork selling it to the auto center for parts, she asked him if he’d swing by a big box store. He watched as she loaded the cart with a variety of items that made no sense to him. When she finished, she made a trip down the produce aisle, selecting fresh fruit and vegetables.
Laughter spilled out of her at his grimace as she placed broccoli in a bag. “You Kressley men eat like a bunch of cavedwellers. Meat does not fulfill all the food groups and I don’t consider potatoes a vegetable. They fall into the starch category.”
“Now you sound like Barb. She’s forever shoving green stuff in our faces.” Kash wrinkled his nose and followed her to the cash register. A small battle ensued over who would pay, but he won by swiping his debit card through the card reader before she could maneuver around him.
As they turned into the driveway at the ranch, Celia glanced at the bags of barbecue. “Did you order any veggies?”
Kash scoffed. “Of course. There’s corn on the cob.”
Celia rolled her eyes. “You and I need to have a serious discussion about fruits, vegetables, and nutritional guidelines.”
“Are you saying I don’t look like a healthy specimen?” Kash flexed his arm. Celia could see the bulge of his bicep even through his coat sleeve.
Suddenly, the truck seemed exceedingly warm and Celia wondered if her fever had returned. She placed her cheek against the cool glass of the window. “I did not once even hint at that.”
He grinned and parked the truck at the end of the front walk. “You run on inside, Celia. I’ll carry all this stuff in and get Dad or Ransom to help with the tree.”
“I can help,” she said, grabbing a handful of bags from the backseat of his pickup. She bustled up the steps and in the door, meeting Frank on his way out.
“Did you get a good tree, honey?”
“Yep! Kash only complained sixteen times about it taking so long to find the right one,” Celia teased.
“I heard that!” Kash yelled from the pickup where he gathered a box of things she’d collected from her old pickup. He handed it to his dad and lifted the tree.
Ransom wandered over from where he talked to some of the hired hands and helped heft the tree out of the truck.
“What’s she gonna do with all those branches?” Ransom asked Kash as they carried the tree down the walk and up the front porch steps.
“I have no idea, but I’m sure we’ll find out.”
The three men set the tall tree upright in the front room and Celia motioned them to position it so the lights would glow in the windows facing the front porch.
Once they finished lunch, Kash and Ransom strung lights on the tree while Celia dusted the rest of the decorations from the trunk.
The guys stood back while she tucked burlap ribbon among the branches then went to work decorating the tree. “Don’t just stand there, pick up something and hang it on a branch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Frank said, selecting an ornament from the box. While he told Celia what he could remember about the vintage ornaments, Kash went out to get a step stool so he could reach the top of the towering tree. Ransom disappeared into the kitchen and returned with mugs of hot apple cider, made from packets of mix, but tasty all the same.
Kash couldn’t recall the last time he, his dad, and brother had gotten along so well. It took no time to conclude that Celia was good for all of them.
An hour later, they stood back to admire the decorated tree. It had a western flair, with the burlap ribbon and strips of bandana fabric Celia had tied on the ends of some branches. It looked perfect with the old ornaments and the big bulb lights.
“What’s next?” Frank asked, getting into the spirit of things.
“I talked to Kaley this morning and she gave me ideas for simple things we can use to decorate.” Celia said, removing a piece of paper from her purse.
“Is Kaley an authority on Christmas?” Kash asked as Celia reviewed a list of items. “Or do you hold that particular title.”
She glanced up and stuck her tongue out at him. “No, smarty. Kaley is super-talented at crafts. She can sew, quilt, paint, and hot glue anything, so watch out.” Celia added several details to her list then handed it to Kash.
“What’s this?” he asked as he looked through the items.
“If you have any of those things, can we use them for decorations?”
“Sure, honey. What do you need?” Frank took the list from Kash and read it then slapped Ransom on the back. “Come on. I think we can find most of this stuff in the storage room above the carport.”
Frank looked at Kash. “Son, run out to the tack room and get three old ropes, fetch some of that smooth wire I left in the shop, and hustle right back here.”
After his dad and brother left, Kash bent down close to Celia’s ear. “Guess you infected Dad with the Christmas spirit. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to resist.”
She grinned and pointed to the door. “Didn’t you hear your dad? You’ve got rope to fetch and wire to find.”
“I’m on it, bossy lady.”
“That’s boss lady to you, buster.” Celia smacked Kash on his fine-looking rear as he turned to leave the room.
He took a step back and buried his hand beneath her hair at the nape of her neck then leaned down until his lips nearly brushed her ear. The deep rumble of his voice caused her insides to quiver. “You keep flirting with me like that, Red, and I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”
Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, wondering what thoughts ran through his head. Coyly smiling, she decided he was teasing her once again. “I’ll count on it.”
His chuckle tickled her ears and seeped into her heart as he strode from the room and went outside.
Celia flopped down on the couch, tired, but in a happy, contented way. She closed her eyes and was almost asleep when the sound of stomping feet drew her gaze to the doorway.
“I’ve got rope and wire. If you don’t mind, I’ll take it to the kitchen.” Kash walked down the hallway. Celia got to her feet and followed him. He set the ropes on the table along with the wire and a pair of wire cutters then took off his coat.
“What do you want to do with these?”
“Make a snowman.”
“Do you, now?” Kash smirked at her. “If you break into that snowman song from Frozen, I’m out of here.”
Caught off guard, she stared at him. “How in the world do you even know that song exists?”
“Barb’s granddaughters are Frozen fanatics. She bought them a singing snowman for Christmas back in the summer and played it far too many times before she wrapped it.” He gave her a sheepish look. “By the tenth time, it gets stuck in your head.”
Celia laughed and started coiling one of the ropes. “No singing, not that you’d want to listen to me anyway. If you suddenly see your dogs pawing at their ears and howling in pain, you’ll know I’m belting out a tune in the shower.”
Kash laughed and picked up one of the ropes. “How tight do you want this coiled?”
When they finished, they had three coils of rope of graduated width. Celia wired them together and tied a red scarf she’d picked up that morning at the store between the two smaller coils. She fastened a wire at back of the small coil on top for a hanger.
“All we need is a hat.”
“What type of hat do you want?”
“Don’t suppose you have a top hat kicking around somewhere?”
He shook his head. “No top hats, but I can find an old cowboy hat or a stocking cap.”
“How about a cowboy hat? One you don’t mind getting a wire poked through.”
Kash disappeared down the hall and she heard him rummaging around in a closet beneath the back stairs.
“This should work,” he said, handing her an old black cowboy hat that had definitely seen better days.
“This isn’t some priceless antique or anything?” she asked, poised to ram a wire through the brim.
“Nope. You can damage it all you want.”
Kash watched as she wired the hat at a cocky angle on top of the smallest loop of rope.
“Can we hang this on the front door?”
“Sure can,” Kash said. He followed her down the hall. They discovered the door lacked a hook so he jogged over to the shop and came back with a sturdy bronze hook he tapped into the wood. He took the snowman from Celia and looped the wire hanger over the hook.
After she adjusted the scarf, they stepped back and admired their handiwork. It did look like a cowboy snowman and the red scarf added a hint of holiday flair.
Frank returned carrying an old wooden tool caddy while Ransom pushed a rickety wheelbarrow with a rusty milk can set inside.
Celia clapped her hands and hurried down the steps. “These are perfect! I can’t believe you actually have this stuff here.”
“We’ve got more useless rubbish than a hoarder who lives next door to a year-round flea market,” Ransom said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at Frank.
Kash snickered and Frank scowled at both of his boys.
“You two should learn to save stuff inst
ead of throwing everything away the minute you don’t use it. You never know when it might come in handy,” Frank said, setting the tool caddy on the porch. He turned to Celia. “What do you want to do with this rusty junk, honey?”
“Can you set the milk can by the door and the wheelbarrow down here at the base of the steps?” Celia watched as they positioned the items. She went over to the pile of branches Kash left on the porch and began picking through them. Artfully, she arranged several branches in the milk can then filled the wheelbarrow with branches.
She took several of the smaller branches with her inside the house.
The guys shrugged and followed her to the kitchen where she wiped all the dust off the tool caddy and lined it with the fragrant branches.
When she finished, she carried it to the front room and set it on the long coffee table. From the bags of supplies she purchased that morning, she took out half a dozen white candles and nestled them among the greens then tied a red plaid bow around the handle.
Excited, she took the ribbon outside and added bows to the milk can and the wheelbarrow.
Before she ran out of energy, she opened boxes of white lights and made the guys help her string them along the porch railing and around the old wagon wheels leaning against the front of the porch in the empty flowerbeds.
Kash found an extension cord and plugged in the lights. The four of them stood in the snow at the end of the sidewalk and admired their labors.
“That looks beautiful, honey.” Frank squeezed her shoulder and kissed her cool cheek. “Thank you for bringing Christmas back to our house.”
“Thank you for allowing me to play with the decorations. It was fun,” Celia said, as they walked back up the steps and inside the house.
Kash took her coat and hung it up. He followed her into the front room where she cleaned up the mess from decorating the tree and returned all the packing material to the trunk while he built a fire.
With a tired sigh, she sank onto the sofa, leaned back and closed her eyes.
“Did you overdo it, Celia?”
She opened one eye and glanced at him. “Maybe, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
Capturing Christmas Page 23