A Rancher's Christmas (Saddlers Prairie)

by Roth, Ann

  “For the last time, we’re not fighting—he’s taking me to the airport in the morning, remember? I’ll ask him about moving into the house then.” As soon as he dropped her off and drove away, she would push him from her thoughts—and her heart. “Tonight I wanted to have dinner with just us,” she added.

  “Well, I missed him,” Sophie said. Gina pulled to a stop in front of the house. “What time is your flight?”

  “Eight a.m. We’ll leave the ranch at five-thirty.”

  Gloria opened her door. “Wait for me,” Gina ordered. Taking care not to slip, she headed around the car.

  “I don’t need any help.” Gloria’s mouth tightened, but she allowed Gina to take her arm. “Have a safe trip home, and call to let us know you made it.”

  “No matter what time you get in,” Sophie added, grasping hold of Gina’s other arm.

  As they made their way slowly toward their front door, Gloria shook her off. “The walkway is just fine, Gina. I’m not a doddering fool. I’m quite capable of—”

  Her words died as she lost her footing and slipped. Gina grabbed for her, but it was too late. Her cousin fell hard on the walkway.

  Gina covered her mouth with her hands. “Are you okay?”

  “I skinned my palm and twisted my ankle, but I’m all right.”

  As Gina extended her arms to help her cousin to her feet, Uncle Redd exited the car. “Let me give you a hand,” he called out.

  The last thing Gina needed was for him to slip and fall, too. “It’s okay,” she called out. “Please wait in the car.”

  “I’m fine,” Gloria insisted.

  Pulling a two-hundred-pound woman to her feet was no easy task, and Gina grunted with the effort. Gloria leaned heavily on her and limped slowly forward.

  Gina frowned. “You’re in pain.”

  “I’ll live.”

  “Maybe we should call Dr. Mark,” Sophia suggested, looking worried.

  “I’m not going to bother the poor doctor on a Saturday night. I’ll clean my palm, ice the ankle and take two aspirin, and everything will be fine. Go on now, Gina. Drive Redd home and drive yourself back to the house so you can get a decent night’s sleep.”

  “You’re sure?” Gina asked as Sophie opened the front door. “Let me come in and take a look at your ankle.”

  “You’re not a doctor, and I don’t need a nursemaid.”

  Her cousin set her jaw and Gina knew that arguing was pointless. “Okay.” She hugged both her cousins. “I’ll miss you both so much.”

  “Us, too, cookie,” Sophie said. “Don’t forget to call when you get home.”

  * * *

  ANTSY TO LEAVE, Gina was up and dressed early Sunday morning. As she sipped coffee and waited for Zach, she glanced around the kitchen. Without the clutter, it looked bigger. A couple of coats of paint and some new curtains would do wonders for it.

  Would she be able to stay there this spring, or would new owners already be living in the house?

  Saying goodbye to the place where she’d spent many happy weeks every summer of her childhood made her heart ache, and she half wished she could stay. Which was ridiculous. Her life was in Chicago, and she could hardly wait to get back to work. Back to the comforts of her own apartment. Wi-Fi, a great music system and a flat-screen TV. Entertainment and good restaurants within walking distance. She filled a Thermos with the coffee she’d made and washed out the pot. And really good coffee.

  Footsteps thudded on the back stoop, followed by a knock. Zach.

  He was freshly shaved, wide-awake and so handsome that her heart lifted at the sight of him.

  “Morning,” he said in a gruff voice, sounding as if they were his first words of the day. He wiped his feet on the welcome mat and stepped inside. “Ready to go?”

  “Almost. I want to ask you something.”

  That earned her a wary look.

  “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of prying into your past.”

  His eyes narrowed a fraction. He didn’t like that. She hurried on. “I was talking with my family last night, and we think that you should move into the house until it sells. It’s not good for it to be empty.” But it was more than that. For reasons she couldn’t define, she needed Zach to stay here.

  “I cleaned out most of Uncle Lucky’s junk and the fridge is empty,” she went on, “but the towels, linens and kitchen things are still here.”

  She sucked in a breath and waited.

  “Sure, I’ll stay here.”

  Overcome with relief, she exhaled. “That’s great.”

  Her gaze collided with his. The warmth she saw there confused her and made her want to cry. Uncomfortable, she held out the Thermos. “This is for you to drink on the way to the airport.”

  “I could use more coffee. Why don’t you hold on to it while I load your bags into the truck?”

  When the last suitcase disappeared from the kitchen, Gina shut off the light. She thought about locking the door, but as far as she knew, Uncle Lucky had never locked up. She left it as he would have. It was still dark outside, and now the house was dark, too.

  After buckling up, she handed Zach the keys to the house.

  He pocketed them and pulled out of the driveway. “I’m ready for some of that coffee now.”

  “Sure.” Gina opened the Thermos and filled the cup.

  He was quiet for a while, sipping and keeping his eyes on the deserted highway.

  Tension filled the truck, not much different from the night they’d met. But so much had happened since then. She couldn’t leave things like that.

  “Zach, I—”

  “I don’t want—”

  They spoke at the same time.

  “Go ahead,” Zach said.

  “You first.”

  He nodded. “I left a little abruptly the other night. I... It wasn’t anything you did. I enjoyed being with you—all of it.”

  His eyes were warm again, and she all but melted. “Me, too.”

  The next stretch of silence was far more relaxed.

  “Shoot,” she said. “I left the hat you loaned me in the house. It’s in the coat closet.”

  “Okay. How was the dinner with your family last night?” he asked.

  “Fine, until the end of the evening. I was helping Gloria up the walk, but you know how independent she is. She shrugged me off and, of course, slipped on black ice. She twisted her ankle. I was able to get her inside, but she wouldn’t let me examine her ankle. She promised to take a couple of aspirin and ice it. I think she’ll be okay.”

  “She’s tough. What’s on your agenda when you get back?”

  “If my flights are on time—please, God—and I get home at a decent hour, I’ll probably stop at the office and get ready for Monday. I’ll be touching bases with all my clients and visiting a few in person.” Starting with Evelyn Grant. If she’d even see her. Gina had spoken with Lise several times. She and Ms. Grant seemed to be getting along well, but Gina wanted the woman to give her another chance.

  “I’ll bet the people you work with will be glad to see you back.”

  “I’ll be glad to see them, too.” Except for Carrie. According to Marsha, she’d been coming to work on time but leaving at five o’clock sharp. Employees at Andersen, Coats and Mueller rarely left at five, and it was obvious that her heart was no longer in the job. Either she was going to quit, or Gina would have to let her go.

  “I’ve been wondering, Zach. When the ranch sells, where will you go?”

  “Maybe you’ll keep it and I won’t have to go anywhere.”

  “Very funny. I can’t keep it. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

  “Hey, I’m just doing what I promised Lucky I’d do.”

  She couldn’t help admiring him for his pe
rsistence. “You should’ve been in sales,” she teased. “You’re great at refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

  “But not so hot at closing the deal.”

  “Not this deal. So what are your plans for after the ranch sells?”

  “Haven’t thought much about that yet.”

  Of course he hadn’t. Which just underlined how different he was from Gina.

  Suddenly her cell phone rang. Before 6:00 a.m.? She pulled it from her purse and glanced at the screen. What she saw worried her.

  “It’s a call from Flagg Memorial Hospital.” She bit her lip. “Don’t tell me Redd had another attack of indigestion. He needs to get that physical.” Zach shot her a worried look before she answered. “Hello?”

  “It’s Sophie.”

  “Hi, Sophie. What are you doing at the hospital?” Gina asked. “Before you answer that, I’m putting you on speaker so Zach can hear.”

  “Hi, Zach.”

  “Hey, Sophie.”

  “We missed you at dinner last night. In case Gina didn’t tell you, Gloria slipped on black ice and twisted her ankle on our own walk. She skinned her hand pretty bad, too, trying to break the fall. It’s not your fault, though. You did a fine job clearing off the snow and ice. I guess Gloria found a patch you missed.”

  “But she swore she was all right,” Gina said. The sun wasn’t close to rising, and outside it was still pitch-black. She frowned. “You shouldn’t drive in the dark, Sophie, especially on the slippery roads. Why didn’t you call and let me come get you?”

  “Because you have a long travel day ahead of you, and you needed your rest. But don’t worry, cookie, I wasn’t about to drive. I called Uncle Redd instead.”

  “He isn’t supposed to drive in the dark, either,” Gina said. “That’s why Zach is driving me to the airport instead of Uncle Redd.” She realized that her uncle was just as invested in her getting together with Zach as her cousins.

  Zach shook his head. “Tell us what’s going on, Sophie.”

  “Gloria’s hand is pretty banged up, and X-rays showed that her ankle is broken. They’re keeping her in the hospital for a few more hours. She’s sleeping right now, which is a blessing, if only because she’s stopped complaining.”

  Despite the seriousness of the situation, Zach’s lips quirked. Gina couldn’t stifle her smile, either.

  “When we get her home, she’s supposed to stay off her foot and rest her hand for a few days,” Sophie went on. “Can you imagine? Gloria hates for other people to take care of her.”

  “No kidding,” Gina muttered.

  “The nurse says she’ll need crutches, but with her poor hand, how is she supposed to use them?” Sophie sighed. “I just wish we had an extra bedroom downstairs so she could sleep on the main floor. Hold on.” She covered the phone for a moment and then returned. “I have to go—someone else needs to use the phone.”

  “Call us back,” Gina said, wishing her cousin owned a cell phone.

  “If I can. Have a safe flight.”

  “Bummer,” Zach said when Gina disconnected.

  “Oh, man, a broken ankle. I could’ve taken Gloria to the hospital last night, only she insisted she was fine. I don’t see how Sophie will be able to take care of her.”

  “She’s an Arnett, and Arnetts always manage,” Zach said. “That’s what Lucky used to say.”

  Manage or not, Gina couldn’t leave her family, not like this. Praying that Kevin would understand, she glanced at Zach. “Please take me to the hospital.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Zach was more than a little surprised by Gina’s request to go to the hospital. Just as he was starting to relax. Keeping his distance the past few days hadn’t been easy, and knowing he was taking her to the airport and wouldn’t see her again for several months had been a big relief.

  But now... “Are you sure?” he asked. “Your flight leaves in ninety minutes.”

  “I wasn’t around for Uncle Lucky. I’m not going to make that same mistake again. I’ll have to fly out later.”

  He gave her a sideways look. “Will your boss be okay with that?”

  “He’ll have to be.”

  Zach wasn’t okay. He understood about Gloria, but he wanted Gina far away, out of temptation’s reach.

  Thirty minutes later, he and Gina were headed down the hospital hall toward Gloria’s room. Even before they reached the room, he heard Gloria’s querulous voice. “I want to go home.”

  “You know we have to wait for the doctor to discharge you,” Redd replied.

  “That’s right,” Sophie said. “Be patient.”

  “Don’t you boss me around, little sister.”

  Gina rolled her eyes at Zach. “They don’t sound any different than they always do.”

  Pasting a smile on her face, she entered the room. “Hi, Gloria.” She bent over the hospital bed and kissed her cousin’s cheek.

  Not wanting to interfere, Zach hung back.

  Instead of seeming glad to see her niece, the older woman glanced from Gina to Zach and frowned. “What are you two doing here? You should be on your way to the airport.”

  “I’ve decided to stay for a few more days,” Gina said. “Until I know you’re okay.”

  Sophie looked relieved, but Gloria’s lips tightened. “Of course, I’m okay. It’s not like I’m dying. How are you, Zach? We missed you at dinner last night.”

  “So your sister said. How’s that ankle?”

  “I’m on pain meds and I feel pretty good. I just wish people would stop fussing over me.” Gloria wore a stubborn look that reminded Zach of Gina. “I want to go home.”

  Her younger sister let out a fed-up sigh. “Yes, you keep telling us that. You—”

  Redd quickly cut in. “Once we leave, we have a bit of a problem. Glo needs crutches, but with her sore hand she’ll only be able to use one.”

  “I’m afraid that’s true,” Gloria admitted. “But I’ll make it work.”

  Zach had his doubts. She wouldn’t be able to get around easily. As independent as she was, she wasn’t going to like that.

  Suddenly Gina’s stomach grumbled.

  Gloria raised her eyebrows. “Skipped breakfast, did you? You better head on down to the cafeteria and get yourself something to eat.”

  “But I just got here,” Gina said. “I don’t want to leave you, except maybe to talk to the doctor.”

  “There’ll be time for that after you’ve eaten. You must be hungry, too, Zach. Both of you—go. And bring us back something. Hospital food is dismal, and we’re all running on empty.”

  “What would you like?” Zach asked.

  “A cinnamon roll or doughnuts would be nice.” Sophie looked hopeful.

  “Not for me.” Redd rubbed his chest, as if remembering his bad case of indigestion. “I better stick with a bagel and jam.”

  “That reminds me,” Gina said. “You need to schedule a physical.”

  Moments later, Zach and Gina entered the empty elevator. He smelled her perfume. His body stirred and he wished to hell that Gloria had never slipped and that Gina was on a plane that would take her away.

  “Gloria seems in decent spirits,” he said.

  “As argumentative as ever. This isn’t going to be fun for her—or any of us.” She tapped her finger against her lip. “Gloria needs a place to sleep where she doesn’t have to climb the stairs. I’m thinking she should stay at the ranch and sleep in the downstairs bedroom.”

  “Good plan—if you can convince her. I’m happy to continue staying in my trailer.” Which would help him keep his distance. If he had to see Gina, he would make sure he wasn’t alone with her.

  The elevator dinged and opened its doors on the lower level and they stepped off.

  “I’m going to
call my boss now,” Gina said. “I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.”

  Zach was selecting a variety of bagels and sweet breakfast treats when she joined him.

  “Did you talk to your boss?” he asked.

  “He didn’t answer, so I left a message. That’s a lot of food.”

  “We’re a bunch of hungry people.”

  “We better get back upstairs and feed my cousins before they bicker to death.”

  * * *

  “PLEASE GIVE ME the remote,” Gloria said. It seemed to be her umpteenth demand since Gina had helped her to the living room sofa. “Then I want some tea. I have tea bags in my purse.”

  Gina handed her cousin the remote. “I’ll go heat up the water and add tea to the grocery list.”

  She headed for the kitchen, wishing her family would hurry back. Zach had taken Sophie to get her car and pack some of Gloria’s belongings. Uncle Redd had gone home to feed Sugar and Bit.

  Gina microwaved a mug of water. She brought the mug, a tea bag from her cousin’s purse and a bowl of sugar to the living room. Busy channel surfing, Gloria took one sip and then yawned and set the mug down. “I think I’ll take a nap.”

  “But what about your tea?”

  “I’ll drink it later.”

  Gina nodded. “I’ll get you a blanket.” When she returned with a quilt, Gloria was snoring away, her foot propped on a pillow on the coffee table.

  After tucking the cover around her, Gina tiptoed out. She needed to drive to Spenser’s and stock up on groceries, but she wasn’t about to leave Gloria alone.

  She was sitting at the kitchen table, making a grocery list, when her cell phone rang. It was Kevin.

  Before answering, she closed the door between the kitchen and hallway.

  “That’s too bad about your cousin, but we need you at the office,” Kevin said after she explained the situation.

  “I know, and I really want to be there, but this can’t be helped. She’s in a lot of pain and her sister can’t care for her by herself.”

  “There are nurses and licensed caretakers for that sort of thing.”

  True, but if Gina so much as mentioned hiring someone to take care of Gloria, her cousin would have a fit. “For now, it’s best that I’m here,” she said. “Just give me a few more days.”