Christmas With the Mustang Man

by Stella Bagwell

  “And what will you do in the meantime?”

  Dallas hesitated, but only for a moment. “I’m staying here on the ranch with the Barnett family.”

  “You’re okay with that?”

  The memory of Boone’s kisses was suddenly all she could think of and she had to clear her voice before she could answer in a normal tone. “Sure. It’s beautiful out here. And the family is nice. I’m actually enjoying it. So don’t worry. I’ll be home in a few days.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I am,” she replied. They talked a few more minutes about things going on at the ranch, then she wound up the conversation by giving Boone’s landline number to her brother and advising him to leave a message if no one answered.

  As she hung up the phone, the sensation that she was cutting all ties with her home and family hit her hard. And she quickly tried to counter it by telling herself how silly she was being. After all, she’d been away from home on numerous occasions before and even with this truck breakdown she wasn’t going to be gone very long this time. But it was nearly Christmas and just the thought of not being on the ranch, celebrating with her family and friends, was enough to put her in a wistful mood.

  Restlessly, she left the family room and walked out to the kitchen and stared out the single window situated over the sink. The sun was sinking low on the western horizon, bathing the flat sweep of land in streaks of pale yellow and purple. Slightly to the north, bald rolling hills rose up from the desert basin, then even farther in the distance there was a line of jagged mountains that appeared to be capped with snow.

  When she’d told Liam that the White River Ranch was beautiful, she’d meant it. There was a majestic sort of awe to this land of Boone’s. Yet admitting such a thing, even to herself, had been a surprise. She’d always believed no place could compare to the Hondo Valley, where the Diamond D sat nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Blanca Range and Capitan Mountains. The Rio Hondo cut a path through the valley, where tall, cool shade trees followed its path. During the summer, farmers tended rows and rows of fruit trees and along the twisting highway, stands would appear to sell the sweet, succulent produce. Her grandmother Kate would always buy apple cider and in the winter, Opal, the ranch’s cook, would spice it with cloves and heat it for a holiday drink.

  Sighing wistfully, Dallas turned away from the window and the memories that were tugging on her emotions. Now wasn’t the time to stand around pining for home. Right now she had to make the best of the situation and show Boone that she wasn’t a helpless, ungrateful guest.

  A half hour later, she was standing at the cookstove, stirring a skillet of hamburger hash, when the back door opened and Hayley came rushing in with a burst of cold wind. Dallas looked over her shoulder just in time to see Boone stepping through the doorway and as her gaze collided with his something yanked on her heart.

  “Dad, look! Dallas is fixing dinner! And it smells so good!” the girl exclaimed.

  While she hurriedly tossed her books onto the rolltop desk, Boone took off his jacket and hung it on a peg near the door.

  “I see,” he replied, then sauntered over to where Dallas stood with a wooden spoon in her hand. “You didn’t have to do this, you know.”

  She looked at him and was amazed at how familiar his face had already become to her. Already she’d memorized the faint lines fanning from the corners of his brown eyes, the slight dent in his chin, the chiseled cheekbones and hard curve of his lower lip.

  “I know. But I wanted to. Besides, it’s not much. And once you taste it, you might want to run to the wastebasket and spit it out.”

  “I don’t believe that, Dallas!” Hayley said as she joined the two adults. “I’ll bet it tastes as good as it smells. How long ’til it’s done?”

  “Five minutes,” Dallas said with a smile for the girl. “How’s that for timing?”

  “Gee, that’s great!” Her gaze switched over to her father. “Can you believe it, Dad, I don’t have to do anything except sit down and eat.”

  He leveled a pointed look at his daughter. “Oh, yes, you do. First you’ve got to go wash up and after supper, you’re going to have the whole job of cleaning up.”

  “Okay,” she said with a negligible shrug. “Whatever you say, Dad.”

  She whirled on one toe and scurried from the room like a ballerina exiting the stage.

  “She seems happy enough,” Dallas commented as she watched Hayley disappear through a doorway on the opposite side of the room. “Has school let out for the holidays?”

  “Yes, as of today, she’ll be out until the Monday after New Year’s.” He looked past her shoulder to the bubbling meat mixture on the stove. “If that stuff will be ready in five minutes, I suppose I’ll have to wait until after dinner to feed the horses.”

  “It can be reheated if you’d rather do your chores now. But if you’ll wait until after we eat, I’ll be glad to help you with the feeding.”

  “No! That’s my job,” he said quickly.

  She arched a brow at him, then turned and switched off the flame from beneath the skillet. “Feeding horses is not a job to me. It’s a joy. Don’t deprive me.”

  “Dallas, helping out in the kitchen is one thing, but—”

  Before he could say more, she twisted her head around to face him. “What do you want me to do, Boone? Go hide in my bedroom and not come out until it’s time for me to go back to New Mexico?”

  “No. But—”

  “You can tell by looking at me that I’m not too delicate to lift a feed bucket,” she interrupted. “And if you’re worried about being alone in the dark with me, forget it. I promise not to get too close or try to seduce you.”

  A deep blush crawled up his throat and onto his jaws. “Damn it, Dallas, I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

  A faint smile curved her lips. “And I’m promising to be a lady. So the way I see it everything is settled nicely.”

  He frowned with frustration. “I don’t need your help.”

  “No, but I’m giving it to you anyway,” she countered. “And while I am you might discover it doesn’t hurt to share things with someone, even work.”

  And even a kiss, Dallas wanted to add, but out of respect for his wishes, she kept the last thought to herself. He was clearly trying to keep a cool distance from her. And though that idea should have been reassuring, it wasn’t. It stung. Deeply.

  “I have Mick. And Hayley,” he said in a low, clipped voice.

  Her gaze dropped from his eyes to his lips. “Are they enough?” she asked softly.

  A muscle twitched in his cheek. “They have to be.”

  The solemn conviction in his voice was so stark and lonely that tears were suddenly burning the inside of Dallas’s throat. Dear God, what was happening to her? Keeping her hands off this man for the next three days was not going to be easy. But that was no longer her main worry. Now she had to find a way to stop herself from falling in love with him.

  Chapter Six

  Later that night, Boone sat with his head resting against the back of the stuffed armchair and his long legs stretched out in front of him. Except for two narrow slits, his eyes appeared to be closed, but he was having no problem seeing his daughter and Dallas as they sat several feet away from him on the couch.

  At the moment, Hayley was doing most of the talking and punctuating every other word with a hand gesture. He’d never seen his daughter so animated before and though it was nice to see her clearly enjoying herself, he was worried.

  Even though she often tried to play the tough girl with him, he knew there was an overly sensitive side to Hayley, and no one had to tell him that Joan was the cause of it. While his daughter had been only a very young child, Boone had tried to dodge her innocent questions as to why she didn’t have a mommy like the rest of her friends. But as Hayley had grown old enough to understood, there’d been no way of getting around the issue and he’d had to be as honest as he could be. Joan simply hadn’t been capable of being a nouris
hing mother to a child. Yet that didn’t make up for the brutal fact that her mother refused to take any interest in her daughter’s life.

  Four days wasn’t a long time, his thoughts continued. But it was long enough for Hayley to build a bond with Dallas. Hell, he was a grown man who knew better than to let his feelings get wrapped up in a person who would only be in his life for a very brief time. Yet she was slowly drawing him to her, even though he was fighting to keep his heels firmly stuck in the ground. What would it do to Hayley when the woman left? What would it do to him?

  Today, as Dallas had worked beside him with the horses, it had given Boone a glimpse of how it might be to have a woman by his side, one who understood and appreciated his lifestyle. Joan had never been an outdoor person. In fact, she’d been too timid to even pet a horse, much less ride one. Cows had horrified her and dogs had disgusted her. Before they’d divorced, she’d described living on the ranch as being locked away in solitary confinement.

  Looking back on it now, he wondered how or why they’d ever married. And looking forward he realized he couldn’t make the mistake of confusing compatibility for love.

  A few feet away on the couch, Dallas was completely aware of Boone’s presence, yet she was making it a point to catch every word that Hayley uttered. The girl had opened the floodgates and so far showed no sign in shutting them.

  “Do you like music, Dallas?” she asked as she absently twirled a strand of hair around one finger.

  “Sure. I like all kinds of music. Why? Do you have a new CD you’d like for me to listen to?”

  Hayley’s shoulders scrunched upward in a bashful gesture. “Not really. I was wondering…well, if you’d like to hear me sing?”

  Totally surprised, Dallas turned slightly toward the girl. “You sing?”

  Hayley’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Well, I’m not great at it or anything. But I take choir in school and tomorrow night I’m going to be in the Christmas play at our church and I play the part of a singing angel. Would you like to come?”

  Just when Dallas had practically come to the conclusion that Boone and his daughter must practice some sort of religion that didn’t involve celebrating Christmas, Hayley came out with this pleasant surprise.

  “Oh, I’d love to attend,” she assured the girl, then after a quick, guarded glance at Boone, she lowered her voice and added, “I’ve been wondering why you don’t have any decorations around the house. Do you ever have a tree or anything like that for Christmas?”

  Sighing, Hayley’s expression turned glum. “Not since my grandma Elsa died. We used to have a tree then. But that was a long time ago—when I was seven.”

  To say that Dallas was shocked and disgusted was putting it mildly. “And you’ve not decorated for Christmas since then?”

  Hayley shook her head. “Dad says since it’s just me and him that there’s not much point.”

  Dallas’s lips pressed to a thin line as she looked directly over at Boone. “Well, I think it’s high time we did something about that,” she said to Hayley. “We’ll drive—”

  Her words came to an abrupt halt as it suddenly dawned on her that she couldn’t drive anywhere. As far as transportation went, she was at Boone’s mercy.

  “I was about to say we’ll drive into town and buy decorations,” Dallas continued. “But seeing that my truck is on the blink, I can’t do that.”

  Excitement was suddenly dancing in Hayley’s eyes. “We have some old decorations in the attic, Dallas. They’d be better than nothing! Do you think we could get them down? Maybe we can talk Dad into getting a tree!”

  “Would you like that?” Dallas asked gently.

  “Ooooh, would I! We could have a real Christmas then!”

  A real Christmas. Dallas’s heart was suddenly aching as she studied Hayley’s sweet little face. The child had been missing out on so much. And why? she wondered. Just because Boone wanted to hide from life didn’t mean that his daughter wanted to, also.

  Determined now, Dallas rose to her feet and reached for Hayley’s hand. “C’mon. Show me where we can find these decorations.”

  “Yippee!” Hayley blurted as she jumped to her feet.

  The commotion caused Boone to open his eyes and look at the two of them. “What’s going on?” he asked Hayley.

  Bouncing on her toes, she turned to her father. “Me and Dallas are going to get the Christmas decorations from the attic. She thinks we need a tree and so do I!”

  His gaze settling on Dallas, he scooted to the edge of the chair. “Oh, she does, does she?”

  Not waiting for Hayley to answer, Dallas spoke up. “That’s right. It would make the place more festive. Besides, where will Santa leave the presents if there isn’t a tree?”

  Hayley rolled her eyes. “Santa doesn’t bring gifts. Dad just gives me money.”

  Dallas leveled a disapproving glare at him. “Is that right? You only give your daughter money?”

  His eyes widened as though he couldn’t believe Dallas had the audacity to question him about such personal things.

  “She likes it,” he said curtly. “Is that a crime or something?”

  Dallas blew out a long breath. “It’s a crime for you to be so indifferent. You—” Realizing that Hayley was standing at her side and taking in everything being said, Dallas stopped the sermon she would have liked to preach to the man. “Well, it’s your business, not mine.”

  “I’m glad you realize that.”

  “What about the tree, Dad? Can we get one?”

  Boone rose to his feet. “Hayley, it’s dark outside.”

  The girl groaned with frustration. “They have lights in town.”

  Grimacing, Boone darted a look-what-you’ve-started glance at Dallas before he turned his full attention to Hayley. “We’re not about to drive into town at this hour, especially since we have to make the drive tomorrow evening. If you want a tree that much, we’ll go cut one here on the ranch.”

  The incredulous look on Hayley’s face told Dallas that his concession was obviously a big deal that didn’t happen often.

  “Oh, Dad, really? Tomorrow?” Not waiting for him to answer, Hayley flung herself forward and wrapped her father in a tight hug. “Thank you! Thank you! This is going to be the best Christmas we’ve ever had!”

  Whatever he might think of Dallas and her interference, he was clearly touched by his daughter’s display of affection. He hugged her close, then after stroking a hand over her hair, he set her from him and looked at Dallas.

  “Okay,” he said. “If you two are so set on this, let’s see if we have any luck finding those decorations.”

  The next morning Boone was sitting at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee and staring out the window at a black sky when Dallas walked through the open doorway.

  She was still dressed in pajamas and a robe and her thick red hair was a tumble of waves upon her shoulders. It was only a quarter past five, but she didn’t appear to be a bit groggy as she looked at him and smiled.

  “Good morning,” she greeted.

  “Good morning.”

  She walked straight to the coffeepot. After she’d poured herself a mug and added cream, she joined him at the table.

  Even before she took a seat Boone felt his pulse quicken, his senses go on high alert. She was definitely a beautiful ray of sunshine on a cold winter morning.

  “There wasn’t any need for you to get up so early,” he said.

  “I’m usually up earlier than this,” she explained.

  “Is that necessary? I mean, you surely have ranch hands to deal with things?”

  “Oh, yes. I have help. But I’ve always been full of energy and I love what I do, so I’m always eager for the day to get started.”

  Sipping his coffee he tried to imagine her home and family. “Are your sisters anything like you?”

  As she contemplated his question, her eyes softened with affection. “Somewhat. We’re all energetic and outgoing. But my sisters are petite and soft and a lo
t brainier than me. I’m the physical one of us. I take after my grandmother Kate. She’s eighty-four and still rides a horse nearly every day.”

  If the plane crash hadn’t taken her, his grandmother would have been eighty now. How Boone wished she was still here to guide him when he felt lost, scold him when he made mistakes, love him when he was lonely.

  “You’re very lucky.”

  Something like guilt crossed her face and then her gaze dropped to the tabletop.

  “I think I should apologize to you,” she said.

  “Why? You break something in your room?”

  She smiled wanly. “No. Everything in my room is still in one piece. I was talking about last night and Hayley.”

  “What about her? She was happier than I’d ever seen her.”

  She blew out a heavy breath and shoved her hair off her forehead. “Well, that’s good, but not if it’s at your expense. And last night I got the feeling that you weren’t keen about the tree and all that stuff.” Her eyelashes fluttered as she lifted her gaze to his face. “I’m sorry if I’ve forced you to do something you’re not comfortable with. And what you give your daughter for Christmas is your business and I shouldn’t be poking my nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  “That’s quite a speech.”

  “It wasn’t a speech. It was an apology.”

  Boone had spent most of the night awake with his mind on this woman. She stirred him physically and reminded him how empty and cold his bed had been for the past ten years. She also made him think about himself, his daughter and the blind way he was stumbling through fatherhood.

  Suddenly the urge to reach out and touch her was so strong he pushed himself to his feet and moved away from the table just to keep from giving in to it.