A Rancher's Christmas (Saddlers Prairie)

by Roth, Ann

  With those words, Zach knew with a sick certainty that she would never change her mind. No matter what he did or said—and because of the promise to Lucky, he wasn’t about to give up—she wasn’t going to hold on to the ranch.

  “You really hate being here,” he said.

  “It’s not that bad. But there’s so much to do at work, and without Wi-Fi, working from here is difficult at best. I have to get to the office, where I have easy access to the internet and can run over and see my clients at any time.”

  Been there, done that. Only after quitting the rat race had Zach realized that most of what he’d once considered important was meaningless busywork. He doubted Gina wanted to hear that, but he could change her perspective.

  “What’s the worst that could happen if you stay here a few extra days?” he asked.

  “Probably nothing.” She toyed with her fork. “I just... There’s a lot on my plate right now.”

  “Which your capable assistant can handle. Tell her to shape up and get it done.”

  Gina gave an uncertain nod. “If I can ever reach her.”

  “Hey.” Zach tipped up her chin. “You can’t do anything about it tonight, so you may as well relax.”

  “I’ll try.” She took a deep breath, exhaled and then rolled her shoulders.

  “Feel better now?”

  “A little. I talk to you about my worries, Zach. Why don’t you talk to me?”

  He frowned. “About what?”

  “Anything. Your family, your past.”

  This was why he avoided relationships. “I told you about my family—we don’t get along. As for the past, it’s over and done with, so why rehash it?”

  “Because it’s interesting. I want to know where you used to work and what you did for a living. Why are you so closemouthed about it?”

  “Because it’s none of your damn business.” Zach crossed his arms and set his jaw.

  “All right.” Gina threw up her hands. “Forget I asked.”

  Ready to do exactly that, he stood. “Let’s get this mess cleaned up. You clear the table and I’ll wash the dishes.”

  They worked well together and finished in no time.

  Now what?

  With hours left before bedtime and no fooling around on the agenda, the rest of the evening stretched out like an empty highway.

  Zach thought of something to do that was both fun and safe. “Now and then, Lucky and I used to play board games,” he said. “How about a game of Scrabble and a couple beers in front of the fire? We can set up the card table.”

  Gina perked right up. “I used to play with Uncle Lucky, too. I haven’t played a board game for ages. I put those games in the giveaway pile and was going to take them to the charity box at the church. I’m glad I haven’t had time.”

  Ten minutes later, Zach was sitting across the folding table from Gina, with two bottles of beer and the Scrabble board between them and a dictionary and score pad within easy reach.

  They chose letters, and then drew to see who went first. Gina won that. Without hesitation she spelled the word socks.

  “That’s a double score for me—twenty-two points,” she said, looking pleased with herself.

  Zach was impressed by her speed. As the game progressed, she grew more animated, and at last the tension that had been with her for hours faded.

  Her vocabulary, competitive spirit and wit dazzled him. With the sparkle in her eyes and the flush of excitement on her cheeks, she was stunning.

  Beauty, brains and a great sense of humor—talk about a lethal combination. Zach wanted her more than ever. He wanted to kiss the smug look right off her face and make her forget all about their word competition, but he’d promised not to go there.

  He narrowed his eyes. “You never said you were an ace Scrabble player. You’re beating the pants off me.”

  “That I am,” she crowed. “I love to win.”

  “Who doesn’t?” He spelled out a thirty-pointer.

  “Not bad, Horton.” She clamped a pen between her teeth, reminding him of a gambler with his stogie. “Would you care to bet on the winner of this game?”

  Chuckling, he shrugged. “You’re on. If I beat you, you have to make me breakfast when I get back from my chores in the morning. If I lose, I’ll cook for you.”

  “Deal—and FYI, I like my eggs over easy.” She reached across the table and they shook on it.

  Things got serious then, both of them concentrating. By the time they were down to four tiles each, Gina was ahead by eight points.

  After studying the board, she sighed. “All I can do is use my t and h to make the. That’s four more points, giving me a twelve-point lead, minus two points for my last two tiles. Which means I win. Yes!” She pumped her fist in the air.

  “Not so fast. I still have a few usable tiles left.” Zach went for a triple word score. “Kiss,” he said with glee. “That’s twenty-four points, minus two points for my last tile. I’m the winner.”

  “By twelve points. Darn you.” Gina attempted a forbidding frown, but her laughing eyes ruined the effect.

  The urge to pull her close grabbed Zach hard, and it was all he could do to stay in his seat. He scooped up the tiles and returned them to the letter bag.

  Oblivious, Gina settled the lid on the box. “What time will you be back for breakfast, and what do you want to eat?”

  What he wanted had nothing to do with food. “Surprise me. I don’t know how long I’ll be. That depends on what Curly and I find once we’re out there.” He stood, went to the window and looked through the drapes. “It’s still coming down fast and hard.”

  His own words had him thinking about hard, fast sex. If he didn’t get away from Gina soon, he’d break his promise for sure. He turned from the window. “I’d best get some rest.”

  Though as restless as he was, he’d be lucky to fall asleep anytime soon.

  “I’ll get you some sheets and blankets.”

  Gina disappeared down the hall. Zach folded up the table and chairs and pulled himself together.

  When she returned, he took the bedding from her. “Tonight was fun.”

  “Yeah.”

  For a few long moments they simply stared at each other.

  By the soft look in her eyes, Zach swore she wanted him to kiss her. But she glanced away, cleared her throat and headed to her room. “Well, good night.”

  “Night.” His unwitting gaze settled on her lush behind until she disappeared at the top of the stairs.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Gina awoke to an utterly silent house, courtesy of the snow insulating the world from normal sounds. Had it finally stopped?

  She hurried out of bed and peered through the blinds. The thick curtain of falling snow gave her the answer.

  The storm was still raging.

  Wonderful. It was after seven and Zach was probably out with the animals. Gina didn’t envy him that job.

  Standing under a hot shower, she thought about last night. Zach had kept her laughing. He was smart and funny and a competitive player, and she’d enjoyed spending the evening with him. A little too much.

  She was starting to care about Zach—a lot more than was smart.

  She wanted a man with drive and ambition, she reminded herself. And though she knew a fair amount about him now, he wouldn’t answer her questions about his past. What was he hiding? Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

  Her heart didn’t seem to care.

  Dressed in jeans and a warm pullover, she headed downstairs.

  Zach had already made coffee. Grateful, she poured herself a cup and then peered out the kitchen window, hoping to catch sight of him. Gina saw only the driving snow.

  Even with the rope connecting the barn and back door, navigatin
g through the deep snow wouldn’t be easy. How would Zach ever find the cattle, let alone make his way back? She began to worry.

  To keep herself occupied, she wandered to the living room and flipped on the TV. Newscasters predicted record snowfall and warned people to stay inside.

  In the kitchen again, she rummaged through the refrigerator and considered what to make for breakfast. Then she thumbed through the phonebook and found the number for the airport. A recording announced that it was closed and all flights were canceled until further notice. The bus station had shut down, too.

  With a heavy sigh, she sat down at the table and called her family.

  After brief conversations with each of them and assurances that she would check in later, she hung up. Her next call was to Kevin. She hated bothering him on a Saturday morning, but this couldn’t be helped.

  “It’s snowing here, too,” he said after she updated him. “But nothing like where you are. What are your chances of getting here in time to go to work Monday?”

  “From what the weather forecasters say, zero.” The storm wasn’t her fault. All the same, she felt guilty.

  “When do you think you’ll be back?”

  “I wish I knew. This blizzard is supposed to last for days.”

  Kevin was silent a moment. “Make sure you get Carrie in line. Otherwise, she’s toast.”

  “Believe me, I will.” Gina wasn’t about to explain to her boss that she hadn’t spoken with her assistant in more than a week. She was ready to fire Carrie herself. “What do you want me to do about Evelyn Grant?”

  “Bring in Lise.”

  Gina preferred to keep the account to herself, but she knew her friend would do a good job. “I’ll call her today.”

  “You do that. Keep in touch.”

  As soon as Gina hung up, she dialed Carrie’s cell number. After four rings, her assistant answered. “Hello?” she mumbled, sounding sleepy.

  “I woke you,” Gina said. “Are you still sick?”

  “Not anymore. Hang on a sec.”

  Carrie covered the phone. Gina couldn’t make out what her assistant said, but she definitely heard a man’s voice.

  “I’m back,” Carrie said. “Did you get the email I sent yesterday?”

  “I didn’t get a chance to check.” Tired as she’d been from her late night at the hospital, Gina hadn’t even thought about email. “As of last night, we’re in the middle of a blizzard. The airport is closed, and I could be stuck in Montana for days. I expect you to pull your weight at work. That means returning calls to any client who asks for me, and no more coming in late.”

  “All right.” Carrie sounded sulky. “I just wish you’d read my email.”

  “What did it say?”

  “I’d rather you read it.”

  Now Gina was seriously worried. “Thanks to this blizzard, it may be a while before I’m able to drive to a place where I can access Wi-Fi. You may as well tell me now.”

  Carrie hesitated and then let out a resigned breath. “Something amazing happened to me, Gina. I’ve fallen in love with Chad, and he’s in love with me.”

  Gina wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it wasn’t this. “But you barely know him,” she said.

  “I know him better than you think. When I came down with the flu last Sunday, he took care of me. We’ve been together every day and night since.”

  Six whole days. Gina suppressed a skeptical snort. “Great, but you can’t just blow off our clients because you’re in love with some guy you just met.”

  “Chad isn’t just ‘some guy,’” Carrie fired back, indignant. “He’s the one—my soul mate. I had Thanksgiving dinner with his family, and he came to my parents’ for dessert. They adore him, Gina. We’re already talking about marriage and starting a family.”

  As incredulous as Gina was—who fell in love that quickly and stayed in love?—she almost envied her assistant. “Not just yet though, right?”

  “No, but meeting Chad has changed everything. I realize now that a career in marketing isn’t for me. I want a less stressful job, where I don’t have to work such long hours or take my work home with me. That way, Chad and I can see more of each other.”

  Gina picked her jaw up off the floor. “But he works long hours, too,” she said.

  “That’s true, but he enjoys what he does. I don’t.”

  “You could’ve fooled me—you sure acted like you did.”

  “Because I thought I wanted to be like you. But I’m not you, and I need more in my life than just work.”

  Not sure whether to be flattered that Carrie had wanted to be like her or insulted that her assistant thought she had no life, Gina frowned. But Carrie was right. Without work, Gina had no life. Which was kind of pathetic but also necessary if she wanted to get ahead. “But you’re on the fast track at Andersen, Coats and Mueller,” Gina argued. “You want to move up in the company, don’t you?”

  “I thought I did, but I was wrong.”

  Wondering if the flu had addled Carrie’s brain, Gina shook her head. “This job is the chance of a lifetime, Carrie. Don’t throw away your future on an impulse. In a few days you’re going to wake up, and I would hate for you to regret this.”

  “I don’t think I will. The truth is, I’ve been thinking about switching jobs for over a month.”

  “You never said anything. You jumped at the opportunity to take care of my clients while I was gone and assured me that you could handle the responsibility. The day after I left, you worked so hard you fell asleep at your desk and didn’t wake up until the next morning.”

  “That was awful.”

  “I’m sorry you had so much to do, but when I get back your workload will lighten up substantially. In the meantime, Evelyn Grant needs attention and so do our other clients. I’m counting on you, Carrie, to do what you promised and give the clients what they want and need.”

  “Yeah, okay. When did you say you’ll be back?”

  “As soon as the airport reopens. I’ll keep you posted. I’m going to call Lise and ask her to step in and help with Grant Industries.”

  Her assistant sounded remarkably cheerful about that. So different from a week and a half ago.

  Gina’s temples began to throb, threatening a bear of a headache. After digging through her purse for the aspirin bottle and taking two tablets, she phoned Lise.

  “Can you help me out?” she asked after explaining the situation.

  “Kevin specifically asked for me to work with Evelyn Grant? That’s so cool. I assume I’ll also get part of the bonus from the account?”

  Gina hated to give up a penny of that hard-earned money, but she didn’t have much choice. “Absolutely. The hard-copy records are in my file cabinet.” She gave Lise the password to access the information online.

  “I’ve never experienced a blizzard,” Lise said when the business part of the conversation ended. “What’s it like?”

  “Pretty, but a little scary.” Especially with Zach still out there. Gina glanced anxiously at the window. “I just wish my uncle had installed Wi-Fi here.”

  “I don’t blame you. If I had no internet and was stuck on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, I’d go nuts. How do you keep from losing your mind?”

  If it wasn’t for Zach, Gina knew she’d be pacing the house. “It isn’t so bad,” she said.

  “Let me guess—you’ve met a sexy cowboy and he’s keeping you company.”

  Her friend must be a mind reader. “Something like that.”

  “Mmm, that sounds intriguing.”

  The back door opened. With the wind howling at his back, Zach stomped his feet on the mat and stepped inside. Relief flooded her. His coat, gloves and face mask were coated in snow, but he was safe.

  “I have to go,” she told Lise. “I’ll cal
l you again soon.”

  “You better. I want the whole scoop on your cowboy.”

  By the time Gina disconnected, Zach had stripped off the face mask and gloves. His coat and boots followed.

  “You made it back,” Gina said.

  “Thanks to the rope from the barn to the house. Visibility out there is near zero, and the snow is deep. Curly and I made half a dozen trips between the barn and west pasture to feed all the cattle.”

  “That sounds like a lot of work.”

  “Yep. I’m sure glad Pete fixed the water heater and the cattle have the water they need. Otherwise, we’d be in big trouble.” Zach’s stomach growled. “What’s for breakfast?”

  “How about a cheese omelet, bacon and toast? Sit down and I’ll bring you a fresh cup of coffee while you wait.”

  Zach grinned. “I’m sure glad I won the game last night.”

  Gina put her hands on her hips. “Those are fighting words, Mr. Horton. Care for a repeat tonight?”

  “Sure. Or we could try a different game. Lucky kept several on hand.”

  “Let’s stick with Scrabble.”

  * * *

  THE BLIZZARD CONTINUED throughout Monday and Tuesday with no signs of easing up. Zach and Curly spent hours feeding the cattle and checking the water supply and did what chores they could in the barn. Mostly they holed up in their respective shelters.

  Avoiding the half-mile trek to the trailer and back every day was a relief, but staying in the same house as Gina was tough. Zach wanted her more every day, and keeping his hands to himself was torture.

  He did his best to steer clear of her when he could, and they settled into a routine of sorts. Zach spent part of his day doing chores, and Gina continued to grapple with her job responsibilities and sort through Lucky’s stuff. Zach helped her pack boxes destined for charity and fill bags with trash. Soon trash bags accumulated in the hallway, until there was hardly room to pass by.

  Evenings, they took turns cooking dinner and then played various board games, with the loser making breakfast for the winner.

  After dinner on Wednesday, the snow finally tapered off.