“Wow,” the youth said, with a glance at the crumpled bill in his hand. “Thanks a lot, mister. Merry Christmas.”
“Yeah. You, too.”
Sliding the boxes onto the counter, he met Emma’s questioning expression. “What?” he asked, trying to hide a smile.
“You seem to have had a holiday epiphany, not unlike old Ebenezer.”
“Nope. I’m just happy.” He winked at her.
“Oh. Well, that’s good, too.” Flustered, she looked away and opened a pizza box.
Stomach grumbling, he inhaled the rich scent of sauce and spices. “I went with a cheese pizza for the girls and an everything pizza for us. Anchovies are only on your half.”
Emma laughed, her eyes widening with surprise. “You remembered.” She pulled dishes from the cupboard.
“Hard to forget that you dared me to eat a salty little forage fish.”
“You said you liked them.”
“Yeah. That wasn’t exactly the truth. You challenged me.”
“See, even back then you were destined to be a hero. Courage in the face of adversity.”
“Hero nothing. I was trying to impress you.”
“Really?” She turned from the silverware drawer. “You were trying to impress me?”
“Wasn’t it obvious?”
“No.”
“Emma, I spent most of my youth trying to get your attention.”
“I never knew.” The words were a soft admission as her dark eyes met his.
He held his breath, not sure what to say.
“Want pizza!” Rachel cried.
Zach blinked, relieved at the interruption. His emotions were moving way ahead of his brain tonight.
“Time to wash your hands, little ladies,” Emma said.
Emma sat safely across from him, holding the girls’ hands, as he did from the other side of the small oak table, when they bowed their heads for grace. Whispering “amen,” he raised his head and slowly looked around. Someday, Rachel and Elizabeth would understand how fortunate they were to have a mother who loved them and put faith and family first.
The twins giggled with excitement as Emma cut their pizza into bite-size pieces. He slid two slices of pizza onto a plate and found himself staring at the scene in front of him, committing the memory to a special place in his heart.
“Everything okay, Zach?” Emma asked.
“Everything is perfect, Em.”
“Want an anchovy?” She dangled a slimy piece toward him.
“I’ll pass.” He shuddered when she bit into her slice of pizza.
“Seriously? The big navy SEAL is afraid of an anchovy?”
“Yeah, it’s my kryptonite,” he said. Like you and the girls, he silently amended.
“Good pizza,” Rachel said.
“Tell Uncle Zach thank you, girls.”
Both Rachel and Elizabeth echoed, “Thank you, Unca Zach.”
“You’re welcome, Rachel and Bit.” He picked up a napkin and wiped a spot of sauce from Rachel’s nose before digging in to his own meal.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Emma said as she finished her pizza. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking that you’re a wonderful mother.”
“Thank you, but look at yourself, handling toddlers like a pro. You’ve turned out to be a pretty great uncle.”
“No one is more surprised than me,” he said. “I should have stepped up to the role sooner.” The realization ached. He had missed too much by being stubborn.
“You’ve had a lot going on with recuperating. Dutch says you had three surgeries.”
“Dutch again.” Zach shook his head and chuckled. “Telling Dutch something is like writing it on a chalkboard in the stables.”
Emma offered a rueful smile of acknowledgment. “It’s true, right? Your knee is why you left the navy.”
“Yeah. They wanted to put me behind a desk, too.”
“Well, we’re glad you’re here. It would be nice to have you around all the time.”
Zach jerked his head up at the words. “I... Really?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
A soft thump had him turning his head. “Look,” he said with a nod toward Elizabeth. The toddler’s eyes kept closing, and her head bobbed with the effort of staying awake.
“It’s way past their bedtime.” Emma slid her chair back. “I’m going to get them ready for bed.”
Zach stood and kissed the twins on their silky heads. “Good night, ladies.”
“You aren’t leaving yet, are you?” Emma asked.
“Not until I finish KP.”
“Kitchen duty is not necessary.”
“It’s only a few dishes. I’ll be done before you are.”
Clearing the table, he washed the dishes, wrapped the pizza in foil and slid it into the fridge.
Zach stood outside the girls’ room and whispered past the partially open door. “Emma, where are your trash cans?”
The door opened and Emma hurried out, nearly running into him.
“Whoa.” Zach held her by the shoulders. “Careful.”
Emma shot him a stern expression. “Oh, no you don’t. You’ve already done too much already. Leave the trash.”
He laughed and removed his hands. “Easy there, Mom. It’s only trash.”
“Leave it. I have something to show you.”
Zach followed her to the living room, where the Christmas tree glowed in the corner, warming the room with its soft holiday lights. She pulled a box from the bookshelf and handed it to him.
“What’s this?”
“Christmas in a box.”
“Oh, yeah?” He lifted the lid. “DVDs?”
“I hand selected some of my very favorite holiday movies for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, promise me you’ll try to watch at least a couple.”
Zach flipped through the stack. “For sure the Snoopy one.”
“Snoopy? What about Bing Crosby?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He looked at her and cleared his throat, surprised to discover he now had the perfect segue to give Emma her gift. So why was he suddenly nervous? “I have something for you, too.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I know it’s not Christmas yet.”
“It will be. In four days and six hours,” Emma said.
“You have that memorized?”
“I do.”
He grabbed his coat from the kitchen chair and dug in the pocket. “This is for you.”
Her gaze went from the silver box with the fancy silver bow up to him before she hesitantly took the package from his hands. “I, ah...”
“Open it now.”
“It isn’t Christmas.”
“I know. Four days and six hours. But I promise you, this will make Christmas even better.”
Emma put a hand to her heart. “Who are you and what have you done with Scrooge?”
“He’s changing. I’ll give you that.”
“Yes, he is.” She examined the package. “Did you wrap this?”
He blew a raspberry. “Not hardly. Why?”
“I like to open my packages with abandon, but if you wrapped it with care, all by yourself, I’ll show some restraint.”
“Go for it.”
Grinning, she tore the bow off, pulling the black box from the paper before opening the flip lid.
Emma’s soft gasp was followed by a heartfelt sigh. “A Christmas watch. The one from the store window.”
He nodded. The gaudy watch with a red band and a faux-jeweled Christmas tree rested on the box’s satin lining. Tiny bits of colored glass dotted the tree, and a golden jewel rested on top.
“It’s beautiful.” She removed the clock piece from the
satin lining, fumbling when she attempted to put it on herself.
“Let me help.”
Zach was no better. His hands trembled as he circled the watchband around Emma’s slim wrist and fastened the clasp. “Too tight?” he asked.
Her gaze met his. “It’s perfect.”
His lips twitched. “Matches your ugly Christmas sweater, too.”
“So it does,” Emma murmured.
“There’s a button on the side. It plays ‘Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.’ Let me show you.”
The soft musical notes filled the silent room. Zach looked down and realized her hand was still in his.
“Thank you, Zach. This is the best Christmas present ever.”
“I’m not sure that’s true, but trust me, it comes from the heart.” He smiled. “Merry Christmas, Emma.”
He leaned down to kiss her cheek, but Emma shifted her head slightly. Her lips met his in a soft collision. It was a small kiss, yet powerful enough to ignite the tiny spark of hope that had been waiting patiently deep inside him all these years.
When she sighed and leaned against him, Zach allowed himself to hold her as though she was his, knowing only too well the risk he was taking.
Could he stay at Big Heart Ranch? Was a future with Emma and the girls really within his grasp? Or was he fooling himself again?
* * *
Emma’s head popped up when the front door of the admin building opened. The last three days she’d kept her door open whenever possible, hoping to hear the familiar sound of boots hitting the floor outside her office.
Yes, that was definitely the sound of boots.
A male voice greeted the receptionist and Emma’s heart turned over.
It was Zach. She hadn’t seen him since Tuesday night, well, except in her daydreams when she relived the lovely kiss they’d shared. Fingering her bangs into place, Emma reached for her lip gloss and straightened her red sweater.
Two kisses in all. Did they mean anything to Zach?
Or did they mean much too much to her?
He gave a rap on the door frame and stuck his head in, offering a broad grin. “Ho. Ho. Ho.”
Emma melted at the sight. Zach had transformed since he arrived at the ranch. The tightness around his mouth indicating pain had diminished, as had his limp. Now he smiled often and the cheerful expression he wore looked good on him.
“Come on in, Zach.”
He pulled the box of DVDs from behind him and placed it on her desk.
“You watched them all. Already?”
“Yeah. Not a big deal. I’ve had a touch of insomnia.”
“It is a big deal, though I’m sorry you can’t sleep.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me which was my favorite?”
“Sounds like you want to tell me.”
“A Christmas Carol.”
“That wasn’t in the box.”
“Yeah, and to tell you the truth, I was a little disappointed that you failed to include Dickens. It’s a classic. Maybe we can discuss the symbolism in the story sometime.”
“Sure. We can do that.” Emma faltered. “Symbolism?”
“Uh-huh. So, besides the good cheer about reforming Ebenezer Scrooge, how are you feeling?” he asked.
“Wonderful. I signed up to move cattle on Monday.”
“Emma, you’ve been riding shotgun on the entire Holiday Roundup. Monday is the day after Christmas. Let someone else move the herd. You deserve a break.”
“First of all, you’re the one who made the roundup a success. You stepped in on every issue that came up. I feel like a slacker.”
He crossed his arms and offered his usual dismissal of his contribution.
“Second, I just came off of a three-day break, Zach. I can handle cattle. Besides, we’re running out of wranglers.”
“I’ll do it then,” Zach said. “And you can believe that my good buddy Dutch is going to assist.” He sat down in the chair on the other side of her desk. “Can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve.”
“Yes, and I have all of my family here this year.”
“My first Christmas on Big Heart Ranch.” He fiddled with the miniature snowman on her desk. “I’m looking forward to watching Rachel and Elizabeth open presents.”
“They made you a special gift. You wouldn’t believe how excited they are to give it to you.”
“I can’t wait. You know, it means a lot that you’re welcoming me into your holiday. I’m accustomed to doors closing this time of year. Most folks don’t want a stranger in the middle of their celebrations.” He bowed his head then met her gaze. “You were right all along. It’s not hype around here. The holiday spirit is real at Big Heart Ranch.”
“Oh, Zach. It means the world to me to hear you say that.”
“It’s the truth.” He reached across the desk and caught her fingers.
Emma looked up and warmed at the tenderness in his gray eyes.
“Nice watch,” he murmured. “Very classy.”
She grinned. “I love this watch. I’ve been annoying everyone by playing the little song all day.”
“Good for you!” A smile pulled at his lips as he released her hand and relaxed in the chair.
“Have you talked to your dad? Or your mother?” Emma asked.
“Sent my father and stepmother a quick text. They’re somewhere off the Amalfi Coast. As for my mother, the day I left for college was the last day I saw her.”
“Is there a possibility you could reach out to her? It’s been a long time.”
“Emma,” he warned. “I’m sitting in the chair, but this isn’t a session.”
“I’m speaking as your friend. It seems perfectly obvious that you can’t go forward while your past is chasing you down. Big Heart Ranch is all about that. This is the place where we let go of our past. New beginnings. Like the birth of our Lord at Christmas.”
“You’re having a Christmas overdose again.”
“Not at all. All I’m saying is that forgiveness frees you.”
“Emma, with all due respect, what do you know about forgiveness?”
She inhaled sharply at his words. “I know plenty. Trust and forgiveness go hand in hand. I’ve lost everything I had twice in my life, and yet, given that, I’m willing to trust again. Willing to forgive, because I know your way doesn’t bring happiness.”
Zach rubbed the base of his hand on his forehead.
“What’s the worst that can happen, Zach?”
“You’re right, I’m handicapped in more ways than my knee. I’ll give your words some serious thought and prayer.”
“Thank you.” She leaned back in her chair, delighted at his response. “That’s all I ask.”
When Emma’s desk phone rang, Zach stood. “I won’t keep you.”
She waved for him to sit down and reached for the receiver. “It’s Beau Randall,” she said. “Hang on.”
Zach slowly settled back into the chair, discomfort in his expression.
“Hi there, Beau. Merry Christmas. Do you mind if I put you on speaker? Zach is in the office with me.”
Emma pressed the button and returned the receiver to the cradle.
“What can I do for you, Beau?”
“As I explained to Mr. Norman, I’m ready to make a deal.”
She straightened in her chair and shot Zach an excited glance. “That’s wonderful. Did Zach explain our ninety-day money-back guarantee? And I hope he gave you the information regarding the amazing service agreement we provide.”
“No. Not that kind of deal. I’m talking about a cash buyout. I want to purchase RangePro.”
“What?” Emma’s smile faded and her stomach clenched. She glanced out her office window. The sun had gone into hiding behind the clouds.
“Didn’t he tell you?”
She looked to Zach, but he wouldn’t meet her eyes. “No, but it’s been so busy here with our Holiday Roundup, and me out of the office earlier in the week. I’m sure it slipped Mr. Norman’s mind.”
Beau laughed. “Hard to let the numbers I offered slip anything, if you ask me. I’m guessing you’re a shrewd negotiator, Emma.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” she murmured. “Do you mind if I ask why the sudden interest in RangePro?”
“I’m launching my own web-based livestock management program. RangePro will be absorbed into that.”
“You mean it will go away.” Emma picked up a pen and gripped it like a lifeline.
“Semantics.”
“Do you mind if I get back to you?”
“Sure, but as I said, if you’re holding out for a better price, I’m willing to discuss the options. Just don’t sell to someone else before you talk to me.” He paused. “I like you, Emma, but the offer only stands until the end of the year. Then you’re on your own.”
“What makes you think I’m interested in selling?”
“You’d be a fool not to.”
“Have a wonderful Christmas, Beau.” She depressed the end call button and swallowed hard. “Why didn’t you tell me?” The words were a flat refrain, bouncing off the walls of her office.
“What was the point? You don’t want to sell.”
“You’re still pressing for a sale. An end to RangePro.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Oh, I’m definitely asking.”
This time he did look at her, and his eyes were hard. “I don’t care if you sell the company or keep it. My life is unchanged either way.”
The words sliced through her. She had her answer about how he felt. Two kisses meant nothing to Zach.
“Did you tell Beau that RangePro was for sale?” she asked.
Zach shook his head and released a long breath. “If you trusted me you would have never asked me that question.”
“I do trust you.”
He gave her his opinion of her words with a glance.
“Emma, Randall came up with the offer to buy RangePro all by himself. The moment I stepped onto his ranch, he made it clear that he did not intend to sign on the dotted line. He was after your company from day one, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”
Christmas with the Cowboy Page 16