High Country Christmas

by Joanna Sims

  “This is the life,” Tyler said, looking out at the ranch he loved.

  She nodded, swirling circles in the water with her toes. Life on a Montana ranch was a distant dream that she’d thought could never happen. Unlike Tyler, she still wasn’t entirely certain that it could.

  “You know what I was thinking?” Tyler put down his half-empty bottle of beer. “We could build an extension on the cabin so J.T. can have his own room. He could design it any way he wanted.”

  “You already have him moved in...” She pulled her feet out of the water and crossed her legs beneath her. “How can you be so certain of everything?”

  Tyler shrugged. “I see it, just as clearly as I see those mountains...just as clearly as I see you.”

  She cocked her head to the side, leaned her chin on her shoulder to look at him. There was no sense trying to change his mind—he had already decided that his vision of the future was an accurate one. But she had nothing but doubts. J.T. was an urban kid. He played on a basketball team at her mother’s church and all he talked about was making junior varsity at the middle school. He loved to skateboard with his friends at the local skate park. He wore sneakers and baseball caps, not cowboy boots and cowboy hats. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t see J.T. taking to ranch life. If J.T. didn’t love it, there would be no convincing Jon.

  “Could you ever imagine yourself anywhere else? Other than Bent Tree?” she asked him.

  Tyler polished off his beer. “Never.” He looked into the distance, like the king surveying his kingdom. “I feel like I’m a part of this land...like I was built from this dirt and these rocks and this clay... I’d never be happy anywhere else but here.”

  She had already known the answer to her question, but she had felt compelled to ask it anyway. If J.T. couldn’t be happy, truly happy, on the ranch, then she couldn’t stay. She had grown to love Tyler, his family and this ranch deeply...and she was acutely aware of the pain she would cause him if she separated him from his firstborn child. Their future happiness was pinned on her son’s acceptance of this huge shift in lifestyle and she hadn’t even told him that he would be traveling to Montana for Christmas.

  “Are you up for a swim?” Tyler asked.

  “After all of that shepherd’s pie you ate? You’ll sink!”

  Tyler leaned toward her for a kiss. “I’ll stay in the shallow end.”

  They swam together in the lake, made love in the shower, and Tyler brushed her long hair in front of the fire. Lying in his arms, her hand on his chest, her head resting on his shoulder, London couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt this happy. This comfortable. Yes, there were so many things that were unsettled and uncertain, but this moment was perfect.

  “I told your mom that you asked me to marry you...”

  Tyler opened his eyes. “You did? Why?”

  She burrowed her nose into his neck. “Because I wanted her to hear it from me that you had tried to do the right thing by me and this child.”

  “I love my parents. I respect them. But what matters to me is that you know I’m doing right by you and our child.”

  “You’re not upset with me for telling her...?”

  “No. Just don’t want you to think that you have to fix anything. Me and my folks will always be fine. That’s not for you to worry about.”

  “Okay.” She breathed in the scent of his skin. Tyler always smelled so good to her.

  Tyler turned his body so they were facing each other, his back to the fire.

  “You know...” he murmured. “Pretty soon we’re going to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl.”

  “That’s true...”

  “Have you been thinking about names?”

  “Some...” She didn’t feel like talking now. “You?”

  “I’ve thought about it.”

  When he didn’t continue, she said, “Is it a secret?”

  He dropped a kiss on her head with a laugh. “No. It’s not a secret. If we have a boy in there, I’d like to name him after my grandfather... Conrad.”

  She thought about the name. It was a good strong name. “Conrad Brand.”

  “It’s got a ring to it, right?”

  “I like it. And for a girl?”

  “Still keepin’ it in the family,” Tyler said. “Margaret...for my grandmother.”

  “Margaret Brand. It’s a name she’ll have to grow in to. We could call her Maggie for short.” London snuggled closer to Tyler. “Conrad or Maggie.”

  That night, London fell asleep in Tyler’s arms without a thought about returning to her third-floor bedroom in the main house. She knew where she belonged now—she belonged in Tyler’s house, in Tyler’s bed, in Tyler’s arms. And now that she knew, truly knew, she didn’t want to spend even one more night away from him.

  Chapter Ten

  While Barbara was occupied with Hank’s recovery, London made a slow but steady transition from the main house to Tyler’s cabin. She had rearranged some of the furniture in the living room and organized the odd collection of cooking items that Tyler kept in his kitchen. The more time she spent in the cabin, the more she began to imagine herself there, with her son, full-time. It wasn’t the ideal place for a family—Tyler had built it to be a bachelor pad without much thought of a future wife or children. But he wasn’t really attached to the cabin’s interior or exterior. He was willing to change it to make it work for her, the baby and her son. The cabin, the ranch...Tyler...they were all starting to feel like home.

  “Tyler Brand! Are you in here!”

  A female voice at the front door startled London. She threw the pillows on the bed and went into the living room. Sophia Brand, wife of Tyler’s older brother, Luke, was standing just inside the front door.

  “He’s worming the herd in the south pasture with Clint and Brock today,” London told Sophia. “He won’t be back until later on.”

  “London!” Sophia smiled warmly. “Mom told us you were still here!”

  Sophia was a hugger. She hugged London in greeting before she sat down on the couch.

  Sophia looked around. “It looks different in here. Bigger.”

  Not sitting down, London shifted uncomfortably. How much did Sophia know about her relationship with Tyler?

  “I didn’t know that you were coming for a visit so soon,” London said.

  Sophia pulled her ponytail holder out, pulled her honey-blond hair back and then made a new ponytail. “Neither did we.” She waved her hand. “Sit, sit...let’s catch up.”

  London sat at the other end of the couch, but she didn’t lean back or get comfortable. Sophia and Luke had been at the ranch for Jordan’s wedding, but she had hardly spoken more than two words to either of them. She could tell by Sophia’s demeanor—and from the things Tyler had said about her—that Tyler’s sister-in-law considered everyone to be a friend. She had openness in her pretty hazel eyes and dimpled smile that were hallmarks of her sweet personality.

  “Can we just talk about the elephant in the room?” Sophia looked at her directly in the eyes. “I know you and Tyler are pregnant.”

  Why she should be surprised, she didn’t know. But she was. “Did Barb tell you?”

  “Not directly, no.” Sophia leaned back. “She’s a vault when she wants to be. But wedding central is now baby central. You’re making out like a bandit.”

  London had had no idea that Barb was stockpiling baby items in the main house.

  “I didn’t know that...”

  Sophia tucked one leg under the other with a smile. “Well...don’t be mad at her. Mom loves to spoil grandchildren.”

  “I’m not mad...just surprised,” she said. “Are your children with you?”

  Sophia’s eyes brightened at the mention of her children. “Yes. The gang’s all here! Luke wanted to come hom
e when he heard about Hank’s health problems, so we decided to just make a family trip of it... That’s what I love about Bent Tree...open-door policy.”

  They chatted for a little while longer before Sophia said that she had to get back to the main house to check on the kids.

  “Four and two,” Sophia said of her older son and her twin girls. “They’re a handful.”

  Sophia walked to the front door with a jaunty step. “You guys are coming to the main house for dinner, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. I always help Barb with dinner.”

  “Perfect!” Sophia smiled at her with a genuine smile. “And London, congratulations on the baby. Welcome to the family.”

  That night, dinner at the main house was a raucous affair. With six additional people around the table, the kitchen was filled with loud voices and laughter and the sounds of toddlers trying to get attention. London loved the way Tyler’s family interacted with one another. They teased each other, but it was always in good humor and good fun. Her family was smaller and much more reserved. Dinnertime was often quiet. Not so with the Brands.

  “You know...” Sophia wiped one of her daughters’ faces. “It’s hard to believe that I was pregnant with Danny here at the ranch during Christmastime...and now look at him, sitting at the table like a big boy.”

  London was sitting across from Sophia and Luke’s son. She asked him, “How old are you, Danny?”

  Danny, a towheaded boy with Sophia’s dimples and Luke’s bright blue eyes, held up four fingers while he continued to chew.

  London looked at the twin girls sitting in high chairs next to the table. She’d always wanted a girl and hoped in her heart that the child she was carrying turned out to be a Maggie. “Your girls are beautiful—but I really can’t tell them apart.”

  “This little munchkin—” Sophia kissed her daughter’s cheek “—is Abigail, my deep thinker. And this sweet little thing—” she touched the head of her other daughter “—is Annabelle...my daredevil. I can’t believe that they just turned two. Time is flying.”

  Luke, a retired marine, turned to Hank, who had resumed his place at the head of the table. “Bonfire tonight?”

  “That’s exactly what I was thinking, son.” Hank stacked his utensils on his empty plate. “Tonight’s a special occasion. I’m going to smoke my last cigar.”

  The table was cleared, the dishes were washed and the twins were put down for the night. For the first time that London could remember, Barbara joined them at the bonfire. Tyler’s mom had always given Hank his opportunity to sneak a cigar, but tonight was different.

  Tyler had grabbed his guitar and Sophia had grabbed a bag of jumbo marshmallows. Tonight would be Danny’s first time toasting marshmallows at the bonfire.

  “It’s too bad your aunt Josephine isn’t here now...she’s the one who really knows how to toast a marshmallow to perfection.” Sophia helped her son hold a long carved toasting stick near the flames of the fire.

  London looked around the bonfire. Barbara and Hank were sitting close together on a log, their shoulders and their legs touching, smiling at each other as if they were newlyweds. Tyler was tuning his guitar while Sophia blew on her son’s flaming marshmallow. Luke, the eldest of Hank and Barb’s brood, was nearby chopping wood so he could make the bonfire burn hotter and brighter. She could imagine her son enjoying a night like this, surrounded by people who loved each other through their problems. If J.T. could embrace the ranch, London believed that they could have a good, decent, loving life at Bent Tree.

  “This...” Hank pulled a fresh cigar from the pocket of his faded butter-yellow chambray and held it up for everyone to see. “Is my last cigar.”

  Hank waved it in front of his nose, closed his eyes and sniffed it lovingly. London had been at the ranch long enough to know how much Hank Brand loved his cigars. Hank opened his eyes and looked at the cigar for a few seconds before he tossed it into the bonfire.

  Hank looked down at his bride of nearly fifty years. “I promise you that I’m done with ’em, starting right now.”

  Barbara kissed her husband and hugged him tight.

  “I’m proud of you, Dad.” Luke returned to the fire. He tossed the extra logs on the bonfire before he sat down.

  Luke was a man of very few words. Tyler had told her that a career in the marines and several tours to Afghanistan had changed his older brother. London wondered how Sophia, who was personable and bubbly, had ended up with such a quiet, introspective man.

  “I meant to tell you...what happened the other night—” London noticed that Hank never actually used the words heart attack “—really spooked my mule.”

  Barbara smiled up at her husband. “Well—I’m glad it spooked your mule. It needed to be spooked.”

  Tyler started to play a Willie Nelson tune on his guitar while Danny loaded three marshmallows on his stick to put in the fire.

  “While we’re all together, I may as well let you guys in on the deal.” Luke poked the fire with a large stick. He wasn’t looking at anyone in particular when he said, “Sophia and I are moving the family to Montana.”

  Tyler stopped playing. Sophia used her free hand to reach out and touch her husband. Luke took Sophia’s offered hand when he looked at his parents.

  “What about your work at the crisis hotline? What about Sophia’s practice?” Barbara asked. “Not that I want to talk you out of it... I’d rather have all of my children back in Montana.”

  “We haven’t really worked out the details...” Sophia smiled, but London detected a world of worries behind that sweet, reassuring smile.

  “Well...you know that there’s always been a piece of Brand land with your name on it, Luke...and little Danny there inherited Daniel’s piece...so you’ve got a pretty nice chunk of land to build a home and run a herd if you want.”

  Luke shook his head. “I’m no rancher, Dad... I’ll leave that to you and Tyler.” Luke turned to his wife. “Sophia and I’ll have to talk about the land.”

  Sophia’s laugh was tinny and uncertain. “We have a lot to talk about. A lot to work out...”

  Next to Sophia, crying from one of the twins came over the baby monitor. “That’s my cue.” To her husband she said, “I’ll see you and Danny back at the house.”

  Sophia kissed her husband and son before she excused herself and went back. London curled her knees up to her chest, pulled her sleeves down over her hands and looked up at the moon, so round and full and glowing in the large expanse of the Montana night sky. Along with Hank and Barbara, she was listening to Tyler play the guitar while the bonfire crackled and popped and sent tiny orange pieces of ash into the air. She had not intended to be here, with the Brand family, at this time of year. She had thought to be immersed in her last semester by now. But did she regret it? Right now, tonight...could she say that she was sorry this pregnancy had changed her path and forever linked her destiny with the destiny of the Brand family? No. She couldn’t regret it. Not anymore.

  Several hours slipped by and one by one, the family dispersed. Little Danny, his face and hands sticky with melted marshmallow, was shepherded back to the main house by Luke; Hank and Barbara turned in soon after.

  “I love your family,” she told Tyler.

  Tyler had put down his guitar and was kicking some dirt onto the flames.

  “Yeah...I lucked out, I’d say.” He patted the spot next to him. “Why are you so far away from me?”

  She laughed. Tyler was the first man she’d been involved with who was never shy about the fact that he liked to be near her. She scooted over closer to him and when she was within reach, Tyler put his arm around her and pulled her into his body.

  “Now, this is what I like,” Tyler said.

  “Hmm.” He had a point. This was nice.

  “I don’t know what to make of Luke moving back to Montana
. But I’m sure I’ll get the full story when Luke’s ready to tell it.”

  “He’s so...quiet,” London said.

  “I guess with all of us motormouths, there had to be one quiet one.” Tyler laughed. “He’s always been quiet, but the military changed him. He wasn’t so serious all of the time. He wasn’t so...”

  “Watchful?”

  “Yeah...that’s a good word for it. It’s like he’s always on alert, like he’s expecting a fight to break out or a bomb to go off,” Tyler said. “If it weren’t for Sophia and the kids, I don’t know how adjusted Luke would be.”

  “Sophia’s a sweetheart.”

  Tyler turned his head so he could breathe in the honeysuckle scent of London’s freshly washed hair. “That she is.”

  They sat together, leaning on each other, until the fire died down and the chill of the night air was too cool for their lightweight clothing. It had become a silent agreement between Tyler’s parents and them...she was with him in the cabin at night. She started to wonder how she had ever slept alone.

  They started out in the spooning position, with Tyler’s long limbs wrapped possessively around her body, until it got too hot. Then they both slept side by side, feet and hands touching, on their backs. It was the perfect arrangement. Some nights, Tyler would wake her up in the most sensual of ways...his mouth on her breast, his hand gently coaxing her thighs apart. And some nights she was the one to wake him up with a lover’s kiss. She could vividly remember how it felt to be pregnant with J.T., alone and sexually frustrated to the max. With this pregnancy, whenever she wanted it...whenever she flat-out needed it, Tyler was there. He was always there.