High Country Christmas

by Joanna Sims

  London placed the large box of condoms on his leg. He could have protected sex for the next several years without ever running out.

  “They were all out of green?” he asked.

  “You should take that comedy act on the road,” she retorted, but she smiled a small smile as she inventoried the rest of the bag’s contents. “Prenatal vitamins and caramels.”

  “Prenatal vitamins?” Tyler frowned at her. “You didn’t take a test while you were in there, did you?”

  “No. I got them just in case.” She gave him a funny look. “What would it matter if I had, anyway?”

  “I want to be there when you take the test. If you are pregnant, I want to find out with you.”

  London stuffed the items back into the bag. “God help me, you’re a romantic, aren’t you?”

  “My parents have been married for a long time. So, yeah...” he said a little bit defensively. “I do believe that some people get to marry their soul mates.”

  “Sorry...I can get really cranky when I’m tired. I do think it’s nice that you want to be there.”

  Tyler nodded, accepting her apology. After a minute of silence, he asked her pensively, “Do you think you’re pregnant, London?”

  “Honestly? My gut says yes. But then again, I’ve been really stressed-out lately about coming up with tuition money for my last semester. Stress could be making me late.”

  But, until she took the test, speculation was the best either of them could do. Yet a woman’s intuition wasn’t something to take lightly. Tyler started the engine but didn’t pull out of the parking space. He glanced over at London, who looked back at him curiously.

  “We drove all the way into Helena. It seems like a waste for us to just turn right around and head back to the ranch.”

  “I don’t have anything else to do here.” London said. “Do you?”

  “No. But for the sake of argument...let’s just say that you are pregnant,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if I had taken you out to dinner at least once before we become parents together?”

  “All right,” London agreed.

  Surprised, Tyler asked, “Have you ever been to the Silver Steak Company downtown?”

  “Uh-uh,” she said. “But a steak dinner does seem like an appropriate way to say, ‘I’m sorry I got you pregnant with my expired green novelty condom.’”

  Tyler smiled as he shifted into gear. “That was funny.”

  “Well...it’s funny now. It might not be so funny after I take the test.”

  “No...” Tyler pulled out of the parking space. “I think it was funny either way.”

  * * *

  Once they were seated in a booth and handed their menus, Tyler took off his cowboy hat.

  “Be honest...” Tyler said. “Do I have hat hair?”

  London smiled at him. “No. You’re fine.”

  Tyler always looked good. He reminded her of a young Robert Redford—tall, rugged, nice shoulders, charming smile and bright blue eyes. And it didn’t matter if he was covered in mud and sweaty from a long day of work or if he was cleaned up, like he was now. He was hands down the best looking man she’d met in Montana. She’d thought that when she first met him a year ago during her junior-year internship at the ranch. And her opinion hadn’t changed now that she had taken a summer job at Bent Tree to earn tuition money for her last semester of classes in the fall. Tyler was everything a cowboy should be.

  They both decided on sweet teas and steaks. Tyler ordered the filet mignon with caramelized onions for her and the restaurant’s famous cowboy coffee steak for himself. While they waited for their main course, they shared a plate of baked brie.

  “Oh, sweet baby Jesus...” London said after her first bite of the cheese-filled pastry. “The almond butter should be illegal.”

  “My mom orders this appetizer every time we come here.”

  “I love your mom. She’s such a cool person.” London dipped another piece of baked cheese into a small bowl filled with huckleberry port sauce.

  “I know she likes you, too,” Tyler said. “You know... I’m sorry about the circumstances, but I’m not sorry that we’re finally having our first date.”

  “I wouldn’t really call this a date,” she objected.

  “What would you call it?”

  “Two people eating food at the same table.”

  “Well...” Tyler took a drink before he continued. “Then I’m happy that you’re eating your food at the same table with me.”

  And he was. He was really happy to finally be sitting across the table from her. He was also proud. They had walked in the restaurant and every male eye was immediately on London. She just drew that kind of attention without even trying. Her height, her hair, her naturally pretty face... She stood out. And it was more than just her beauty that made her noticeable. It was also the self-assured way she carried herself. She wasn’t cocky. She was comfortable in her own skin, unpretentious and confident. The looks and the attitude were a potent combination. He could admit to himself that he’d been hooked since the get-go. A lot of women in the area considered him to be a great catch, especially since he was in line to take over Bent Tree Ranch when his father retired. But London had always been able to resist his credentials and his cowboy charm. Would she be here with him tonight if they hadn’t had to come into town on a separate mission? No. Yet it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the fact that she was here. It was a place to start.

  Their steaks quickly followed the appetizer. London devoured her filet; she hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she started to eat. Her plate was spotless, not one caramelized onion or piece of steak left behind. She wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin and then covered her plate with it. She leaned back, hands on her stomach, and groaned.

  “I can’t believe I just ate that much food. You must think I’m a real piglet.”

  “I appreciate a woman who isn’t afraid to eat in front of me on a date,” Tyler said, still working on his steak.

  London felt so full and content that she decided just to let the date comment go. “Trust me...when I’m not working like I am on the ranch, I don’t dare eat like I just did. All of the women on both sides of my family are overweight. I can’t ignore the fact that I’ve got fat genes.”

  After their meal, they both agreed that it was time to head back to the ranch. It was another quiet trip from Helena to Bent Tree. They didn’t feel like listening to music and they didn’t feel like talking. As darkness fell, they were both caught up in their own thoughts. It wasn’t until they turned onto Bent Tree’s private drive that they both realized the whole ranch was awaiting them at the end of the road.

  Tyler pulled over and stopped the truck. “I’m not quite ready to deal with everyone at the ranch. Are you?”

  “Actually, no. Not really.” London shook her head. “What do you have in mind?”

  “If you’re up for it, there’s something I’d really like to show you.”

  Chapter Three

  Tyler drove a little farther up the gravel road and then turned right onto a dirt road that was overgrown with brush. Slowly, they made their way through large dips in the road and tall grass until they came upon a locked gate. Tyler left the headlights of the truck on and aimed at the gate. He jumped out of the cab, picked his way through the tall grass and then unlocked the combination lock. It took some brute strength and determination, but Tyler managed to push the gate open wide enough for the truck to drive through.

  Once they were safely through the gate, he locked it securely behind them. And then they forged deeper into a part of the ranch she had never seen before. London loved an adventure and it felt as if Tyler was taking her on one now. She loved how dark it was. The only light around them was from the full moon overhead and the truck headlights. She had no idea where they wer
e going and she didn’t care. It had been a really long time since she had felt this excited and filled with anticipation.

  “I’ve always wondered where this road went,” London said to him.

  “I’m taking you to a special spot.” He glanced over at her. The light in the cab was dim, but he could see that she was smiling, genuinely smiling, for the first time that day.

  They headed farther down the darkened path until they reached a fork in the road. Tyler turned to the left, driving the truck up a steep hill.

  “Keep looking up there.” Tyler pointed ahead. “You’ll see it in a minute.”

  At the top of the hill, there was a small plateau where Tyler stopped the truck. Straight ahead, two giant cedar trees were growing side by side.

  “Do you see it?” he asked.

  London leaned forward and squint her eyes. With the help of the headlights, she could see a staircase that led up into the twin cedar trees.

  “A tree house?” she asked excitedly.

  “That’s exactly what it is.” Tyler leaned closer to her, opened the glove box and grabbed a flashlight.

  “I used to have a tree house when I was a kid! I love them!” When he leaned closer, she caught the scent of his skin. It reminded her of the night that they had made love, and her body naturally responded.

  “Me, too.” He opened the driver’s door and got out. “But I doubt you’ve seen one like this before. Wait here for me while I check it out. I want to make sure it’s safe for you.”

  London could track his movements as he climbed the staircase and entered the tree house. A soft yellow glow from a lantern being lit illuminated the interior. This wasn’t just a makeshift tree house thrown together by amateurs. This was a tiny house built high up in the cedar trees by expert hands. She couldn’t wait to get in there and see it for herself.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked when he returned. She already had her seat belt off and she was ready to go.

  “It’s safe. You want to come check it out?”

  London pushed the passenger door open. “Just try and stop me!”

  The area surrounding the tree house was relatively clear. The root system and the wide canopy created by the ancient trees prevented plants and grass and other trees from growing nearby.

  “This is so cool.” London followed Tyler up the narrow staircase that wound up the tree to a small deck. “How come I didn’t know this was here?”

  “It’s really only for the family.” Tyler opened the front door of the tree house, let her walk through first and then followed.

  London felt as if she had walked into a magical world, secretly tucked away, like a hobbit house hidden in a hillside. It was a real house, complete with a small kitchenette, a cozy living room with a fireplace and a spiral staircase leading up to a second floor.

  “What do you think?” Tyler made sure the front door was secured.

  “It’s...” She turned around slowly in a circle, looking up at the tin ceiling. “It’s incredible.”

  “My father had it built for my mom for their fortieth wedding anniversary.” Tyler started to open some of the windows to the let the fresh night air stream into the space.

  London sat down on the love seat and put one of the pillows on her lap. She breathed in deeply through her nose. “It smells so good in here...just like a cedar closet. If I had this, I’d use it all the time. Do your parents still come here?”

  Tyler joined her on the love seat. “Not as often as they used to. If they do come up here, they come here on horseback.”

  “I’d love to ride horses here...”

  “Next time,” Tyler promised.

  London tossed the pillow to him and left the love seat to explore. “Where does this staircase lead?”

  “To the bedroom.” Tyler took his hat off and put it on the end table. “A person could live here, if they wanted to. We have running water, electricity, even though the lights in here didn’t switch on for me. I think some fuses must need to be replaced. There’s a nice shower in the bathroom...a kitchen.”

  “Is it okay if I go up?” She pointed up the stairs.

  He nodded. “I’ve gotten some of my best sleep up there.”

  She climbed the spiral staircase, which was designed with tall people like Tyler’s dad in mind. She didn’t have to hunch her shoulders or duck her head when she reached the loft. There was just enough room in the loft for a queen-size bed and a small nightstand. There were wide windows on every wall, and it made London wonder what it must be like to awaken way up high in the trees. She sat down on the bed with a long sigh. It seemed as if she had been holding in that sigh for years. One of her friends from Montana State was into new age spirituality; she was always talking about the latest book she had discovered and living in the now. She often tried to live in the now, but her focus on the future always overtook her enjoyment of the present moment. She had been working toward her future for so long, working toward returning to her life in Virginia, that she didn’t really know how to appreciate now. But in this magical tree house, sitting alone in the loft, nestled in the arms of these two massive cedar trees, she felt peaceful. And she realized that there was nothing wrong with this particular right now. This particular right now was perfect.

  London was up in the loft for nearly thirty minutes, alone with her thoughts. Tyler hadn’t disturbed her, not once, and she really respected him for it. He was confident enough to give her space. When she came down the stairwell, he was waiting for her, in the same spot on the love seat where she had left him.

  “Feel better?” he asked with a knowing look on his handsome face.

  She nodded as she sat down next to him. “I wish I didn’t have to leave.”

  “It’s funny you should bring that up, because that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Tyler stretched out his legs and crossed his booted ankles. “How about we don’t leave? How about we spend the night here?”

  London hadn’t expected him to say that and she didn’t know how to respond.

  “Just hear me out...” Tyler understood her hesitation, but he’d thought this through. “When are you planning on taking the pregnancy tests?”

  “First thing in the morning.”

  “That’s what I figured. So, wouldn’t it be easier if we took the tests here instead of at the ranch? At least here, we’ll have complete privacy.”

  He continued. “And...I’m not going to say that it wouldn’t be nice to share the bed with you. But if you don’t want me to, I’ll sleep down here.”

  He was making total sense. She didn’t feel comfortable with everyone at the ranch knowing her business. Since Tyler wanted to be present for the test, one of them was going to have to sneak out of the other’s room. The last time she’d sneaked somewhere, it had turned out to be a really bad idea.

  “You’re right. Privacy is important.”

  If she was pregnant, she didn’t know what she would choose to do about it. The last thing she wanted, or needed, was to have all of Tyler’s family involved.

  “And as far as sleeping goes...I’m not going to make you sleep on the floor. We can share the bed.”

  Tyler went down to the truck to get the bag with the pregnancy tests, and then they both agreed that they should go to bed early. They brushed their teeth using toothpaste they found in the bathroom and their index fingers. Then Tyler grabbed the lantern and they headed up the spiral staircase to the loft. It seemed kind of ridiculous, but London appreciated it when he turned his back to her so she could strip down to her underwear and put on his white undershirt. The cotton T-shirt, snug over her breasts, smelled strongly of Tyler’s scent.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’m done.”

  She pulled back the comforter and slid underneath it. She kicked the bottom of the sheets to loosen them and sank back into th
e pillows. The mattress was soft, just the way she liked it. And the pillows were thick and plush. Now she understood why Tyler had said that he loved to sleep in the loft. The bed was comfortable, and with the cool air coming in through the windows and the sound of the leaves rustling, it was perfect for sleeping soundly. London happily pulled the comforter up under her chin and sighed deeply for the second time that night.

  “Comfortable, right?”

  “A little slice of heaven.” She hadn’t felt this comfy since she was a kid.

  Tyler, still with his jeans on, lay down on top of the comforter next to her. He pulled the pillows out from beneath his head and dropped them on the floor next to the bed.

  “Tyler?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You don’t have to sleep like that. Why don’t you get under the covers?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “We both deserve to get a good night’s sleep.” She propped herself up on her elbow. “Come on. Take off your jeans and get into bed.”

  Tyler stripped down to his underwear and joined her in the bed. Part of him had wanted to sleep above the covers for his own sanity. Just the thought of sharing a bed with London had given him a hard-on. The sound of her undressing in the dark had made it worse. He was glad for the dark, so London couldn’t see how aroused he was. This wasn’t her problem, it was his. So until he went to sleep, he was going to have to deal with his penis being rock hard.

  “Good night,” Tyler said. Even though he normally slept on his back, he turned on his side, away from her.

  London lay on her back for a while, listening to Tyler’s steady breathing. It was nice, having a man next to her in bed. She enjoyed the feeling of the heat coming off his skin; she enjoyed the feeling of the weight of his body on the mattress next to her. She’d forgotten how good it felt. But her own body hadn’t forgotten. Even though he wasn’t touching her, her body was responding to his. That nagging, gnawing desire that had brought her to Tyler’s bedroom in the first place was back. Between her thighs, a persistent ache had started. London flopped onto her side, stuffed one of the pillows between her legs and squeezed her eyes shut.