Chadwick Ranch, Book 1: Winter Holiday Romance

by Bonnie Marlewski-Probert

  I met Beau, Mary’s son, today and we spent a few hours together on the ranch riding horses and being cowboys. He reminds me so much of myself when I was his age. Geeky in every possible way, while being intelligent, insightful. He’s funny and kind-hearted like his mom. I like him a lot. He acts like a grown man, trapped in the body of a red-headed seven-year-old.

  The best part of this day was when Mary kissed me. I’ve dreamed about what it would be like to kiss Mary since we were both in high school and today she kissed me. I’ve dreamed about how I would kiss her a thousand times and it turned out, she kissed me first. It was amazing. She’s everything a woman, a mother, a wife should be. Aside from being the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, she’s strong-willed, courageous, tenacious and has a heart of gold. I wanted to make love to her so much after our kiss that my body ached for her but I know I’ll have to go slow since I don’t think she’s been with anyone since her husband died years ago.

  Today, I was grateful for the first time that Dad put the codicil in his will. If he hadn’t, I would never have reconnected with Mary and she would never have kissed me. I think we could have something together and when the six months are up, maybe she’d be willing to come to the East Coast with me so we can start a life together. I discovered today that there are no good days or bad days, just days and you get to decide how they end up on the score card of your life. When Dad put the codicil in his will, we all thought that was a really bad day but it turned out to be the best day ever.

  Chapter 12, Christmas Eve Dinner

  Monday, December Twenty-Fourth

  When Bear and the rest of the Chadwick brothers came into the kitchen from the barn, everyone exchanged holiday greetings. Crystal found herself staring at Billy while Bear gave Wynona an affectionate kiss before Buck said, “Hey, I said I’d set the table.”

  “Crystal was kind enough to stand in for you. I figured you cowboys would be beat by the time you got in. However, if you feel slighted, you could clear the table after dinner,” Mary giggled.

  “Thanks Crystal,” Buck said. “I’m glad you could join us for dinner tonight.”

  “You’re welcome and thanks for the invite. If I’d known the place was going to be crawling with so many good-looking single cowboys, I would have put on a dress and some make-up!” she said. While few people got along with Buck and even fewer with Bear, both men had great respect and admiration for Crystal.

  “A solid cowhand doesn’t need to get dressed up. You’re going through life on your skills. That’s how it should be,” Bear said with respect.

  “And that’s why I did get dressed up today. I can’t ride, can’t rope and can’t herd cattle so I have to look good to keep my cowboy,” Wynona said unapologetically, leaning close to Bear who put his arm around her and gave her a hug.

  “Dinner’s going to be ready in about thirty minutes so if you cowboys need to get cleaned up, now would be a good time to do that,” Mary suggested. With that, the men left the kitchen.

  When dinner was ready, everyone took their seats; Bear sat at one end of the long dining room table with Buck at the other. Wynona sat Bear’s right, Carter on Buck’s left with Adam, Mary and Beau on one side of the table and Billy and Crystal on the other.

  Buck asked Bear, “Would you like to say grace?”

  “Okay. I'd like to share the Cowboy’s Prayer by Clem McSpadden. He bowed his head reciting,

  “Our gracious and heavenly Father, we pause in the midst of this festive occasion, mindful of the many blessings you have bestowed upon us.

  As cowboys, Lord, we don't ask for any special favors. We ask only that you will let us compete in this arena as in the arena of life.

  We don't ask that we never break a barrier, draw around a chute-fighting horse, or draw a steer that just won't lay. We don't even ask for all daylight runs.

  We only ask that you help us to compete in life as honest as the horses we ride and in a manner as clean and pure as the wind that blows across this great land of ours.

  Help us, Lord, to live our lives in such a manner that when we make that last inevitable ride to the country up there, where the grass grows lush, green and stirrup high, and the water runs cool, clear and deep, that you, as our last Judge, will tell us that our entry fees are paid.

  Amen.”

  “I can’t tell you how many rodeos I competed in that opened with that prayer. It brings back memories,” Billy said.

  Everyone but Beau understood the meaning of the prayer. He looked up at his mom with a curious look on his face. She whispered to him, “I’ll explain it later.”

  The dinner table was filled with laughter and stories about each brother’s life before coming back to the ranch. Buck and Bear shared stories about ranch life. Mary talked about Beau’s love of science and the planets and Crystal shared funny stories from her work in the emergency room at the hospital where she usually worked the night shift.

  The food was delicious. The company was free and easy and everyone was having a great time. When it was time for dessert, Crystal and Wynona looked at each other before Crystal said, “Mary, Wy and I are going to handle dessert so you can relax and the guys are going to help us clear the table,” she said looking at each of the men comfortably seated in their chairs.

  “Thanks, what a treat!” Mary said.

  “What?” Carter chimed in.

  “If everyone grabs a few plates, we can clear in one trip and then I’ll send you back in with dessert and coffee,” Crystal said. The men got up begrudgingly, gathering up plates and leftovers before heading into the kitchen while Mary smiled.

  “See Mom, Crystal is a real cowgirl. Cowboy Adam said that cowboys are good at convincing people and cows and horses and dogs to do what they want them to do.”

  “He said that did he?” she smiled mischievously.

  “Yeah and Crystal must be a real good cowgirl because she just got all those cowboys to do what she wanted. Wow! She’s really something! I think I’d like to marry her someday,” Beau said.

  Mary looked at her seven-year-old son with shock, thinking to herself, in a minute, he’s going to be all grown up and gone from the nest. It was just a few moments later before the Chadwick brothers and Bear returned to the table armed with dessert plates, silverware and several homemade holiday pies that Mary had made the day before.

  “I could get used to this,” she announced to the men surrounding the table. Adam squeezed her shoulder before he sat down next to her.

  “So, Beau, how are things in school?” Adam asked.

  “I don’t like it very much,” Beau answered, watching the ladies dishing up plates filled with beautiful desserts.

  “I didn’t like it very much either,” Billy added.

  “And look how he turned out,” Carter chided, the table erupting in good humor.

  Wynona and Crystal handled serving dessert, passing individual plates filled with slices of pie smothered in whipped cream around while Buck passed the carafe of coffee.

  “Don’t we have anything stronger than coffee?” Bear asked.

  “Good thinking. As I recall, Dad always had a bottle of whiskey stashed in the china cabinet,” Carter said, getting up from the table to check. “Here it is! Thanks, Dad,” Carter said, looking up at the ceiling. Beau looked at the ceiling before looking at his mom with a confused look on his face.

  She leaned over and whispered, “I’ll explain that later too.”

  As everyone was enjoying their dessert, Bear announced, raising his glass of whiskey “I’d like to make a toast to the ladies who prepared this wonderful feast for us today and to my good friend who couldn’t be here to enjoy it with us.”

  “Here, here,” Adam joined, raising his glass along with the rest of the men at the table.

  “Mary did all the work, Wy and I just jumped in at the end,” Crystal pointed out, raising her glass of whiskey to toast Mary.

  “To Mary,” Wynona said, raising her glass.

  “Thank you all ver
y much. I hope you enjoyed the meal, and thanks for the invitation to share it with all of you,” Mary said.

  “Oh no, Mom,” Beau pleaded. “She’s sure to cry again any minute. Cowgirl Crystal, she could really use some cowgirl-up lessons from a real cowgirl,” Beau begged.

  “I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, Mary, Adam, Beau why don’t you head into the great room and relax while the rest of us clear the table?”

  “How did we get roped into that dirty job?” Billy asked.

  “I roped you all in,” Crystal announced. “Come on, give me a hand clearing the table and it’ll all be done in a few minutes. I’ll handle washing the dishes ‘cause I know cowboys don’t like getting wet,” she laughed.

  Mary, Adam and Beau headed for the great room, relaxing on the couch while Beau headed straight for the pile of gifts under the tree once again, shaking and rattling every box that had his name on it, trying to guess what it was. “Mom, did you see how Crystal got all the cowboys to clear the table? She’s something isn’t she?”

  “She sure is!” Mary agreed.

  “I’m going to marry her someday,” Beau said absentmindedly as he continued to root through the piles of gifts under the tree.

  “You have to be at least 18 before you can marry anyone. That’s a mom rule. So, you’ll have to wait until then,” Mary said calmly.

  Adam leaned close to Mary and whispered, “Does Crystal know that she’s about to be proposed to?”

  “Not yet but I’ll warn her the first chance I get,” Mary smiled.

  “I’d really like to kiss you.” Adam whispered.

  She whispered back, “I’d like that very much, but we’re going to be surrounded by company in a minute.”

  “Later then,” he said, leaning back on the couch, enjoying watching Beau’s guessing game.

  Soon, everyone streamed into the great room, taking a seat in the overstuffed, comfortable leather seats around the room except Wynona and Crystal who were finishing up in the kitchen. About 15 minutes later, the two ladies returned. Wynona glided across the room to settle on the overstuffed arm of the chair Bear was sitting in. He wrapped his arm around her waist before she bent down to give him a sweet kiss.

  Crystal remained standing and said, “Mary, all the dishes are done. We’ve left them stacked on the bar because I didn’t know where you wanted to put them.”

  “Thanks Crystal, Wynona. I appreciate your help! This is such a treat to relax on Christmas Eve and not have to do the dishes. That’s a great gift and I thank you both,” Mary said sincerely.

  “Well, I hate to eat and run but I pulled the late shift at the hospital tonight so I’ve got to run home, change and get moving,” Crystal said.

  Buck and Bear both got up, “We’ll walk you out,” Buck said.

  “I’m glad you could make it tonight,” Bear said.

  “Good night everyone and Merry Christmas.” Crystal grabbed her coat and purse before the three of them headed out the front door.

  “We should probably get going home as well Beau. Your bedtime is not far off and you’ve had a very big cowboy day.”

  “Can’t I stay up? I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight anyway. I’m too excited!”

  “Cowboys need their sleep,” his mother replied.

  “Oh mom,” he bemoaned.

  “I’m going to go into the kitchen and put up the leftovers and then we’re heading home,” she said in no uncertain terms.

  “I’ll give you a hand,” Adam offered. Wynona smiled knowingly.

  “Thanks.” Everyone in the room, other than Beau, was taking note of what was going on.

  Adam followed Mary into the kitchen and asked, “What can I do to help?”

  She turned to him, their bodies close and whispered, “You can kiss me. Adam.”

  Their eyes locked for a moment that seemed to suspend time before Adam took her in his strong, well-muscled arms, his lips burning to taste hers once again. “I’ll go as slowly as you want.” He tenderly pressed his lips to hers, very aware that she’d probably not been with any other man since her husband died when Beau was just a baby.

  “Hmmm,” she whimpered softly wanting more of this feeling that was sweeping over her.

  “I don’t want to rush you,” Adam whispered. His many kisses were all soft, making her body come alive for the first time since she lost her husband. She found his kisses were igniting a fire in her that she’d never experienced, even with her husband.

  “I’ve never felt like this before,” she whispered, looking into his eyes.

  “I hope that’s a good thing?”

  “Yes, it’s a very good thing,” she said, smiling.

  Relieved to hear it, Adam suggested, “We should put up the leftovers before people start to wonder what happened to us.”

  Mary managed to snap out of her blissful state and asked, “How long were we kissing?”

  Adam was happy to see that she’d lost all track of time. “Just a couple of minutes. Don’t worry, no one will miss us for at least another five minutes but we’d better start putting up the leftovers or we’re going to have some explaining to do,” he chuckled, his voice low and deep. It sent a chill through her. Mary turned to start working, only to realize Wynona and Crystal had already put up all the leftovers, leaving her and Adam with nothing to do.

  “Oooops,” Mary giggled. “Now, I’m going to have to come up with some excuse as to why we’ve been in the kitchen.”

  “We could tell everyone the truth. They’ve probably already figured that out anyway,” Adam smiled.

  That evening, after everyone had gone home, Adam sat on his bed with his laptop and made his journal entry for Christmas Eve. It read:

  Beau announced to Mary that he wants to marry Crystal, the cowgirl from next door. Of course, she’s 25 years old but once Beau discovered she was a cowgirl, that was it, he was in love. Thankfully, Mary told him he would have to wait until he was 18, so Crystal is off the hook for 11 more years.

  Mary and I spent some time together today. I was shocked to find out that she felt like she was a disappointment and a failure. She said she ruined her life by using bad judgement, getting pregnant and having to marry the baby’s father who ended up dying shortly after Beau was born. She said those bad choices derailed her dreams of going to college to become a writer.

  I discovered today that it doesn’t matter how the world sees you. The only thing that really matters is how you see yourself. Mary is admired and respected by everyone she knows but she can’t see that. All she sees is that she is a failure and a disappointment in her own eyes, which is so wrong.

  Chapter 13, Christmas Morning

  Tuesday, December Twenty-Fifth

  The next morning, as usual, Mary was back on the ranch at 6 a.m. cooking breakfast. She’d brought Beau with her, carrying him in from her car because he hadn’t slept well and was now crashing. She tucked him in on the long sofa in the great room before tiptoeing into the kitchen to start cooking.

  As each Chadwick brother arrived at the dining room table, one-by-one, they stuck their head into the kitchen to say, “Merry Christmas!”

  “Where’s Beau?” Adam asked when he popped into the kitchen.

  “He’s asleep on the couch in the great room. He didn’t sleep well last night so I carried him in. I need to go wake him up for breakfast in a minute.”

  “Would you like me to do that?”

  “Thanks, if you don’t mind,” Mary said.

  “No problem. I’ll go get him,” Adam said, giving her a quick kiss before leaving the kitchen.

  When everyone was seated at the table for Christmas breakfast, Beau could barely eat. He kept asking when they could open their gifts.

  “After everyone has finished their breakfast Beau,” Mary said.

  “Is everyone done yet?” Beau kept asking his mom.

  After breakfast, everyone migrated into the great room.

  Beau immediately dug into his pile, starting with the larges
t box under the tree that had his name on it. As he tore through the wrapping paper, he discovered it was a science lab kit. “Holy smokes, this is great! Thanks, Cowboy Adam!”

  “I thought you might enjoy doing some science experiments. It has everything in there that you could need. I’m happy to help you if you want.”

  “That would be great!”

  Carter got Beau a grey sweatshirt that said ‘New York’ across the front of it.

  Billy painted him a picture of his mom. “How did you do that?” Mary asked, astonished by how amazing it was.

  “I took your photo while you were watching Beau and Adam being cowboys and I used that as my inspiration.”

  Mary hugged Billy around the shoulders. “It’s so beautiful. You’re gifted Billy Chadwick, gifted.”

  Buck presented Beau with a wooden plaque that said Sassy and beneath it Beau Ferris. “Does this mean Sassy is my horse while I’m living on the ranch?”

  “A cowboy needs a good horse and yes, Sassy’s all yours while you’re living on the ranch. You’ll have to take care of her and we’ll all teach you how to do that. The most important thing a cowboy has is his horse, so make sure you take good care of her.”

  “Yes sir,” Beau said with conviction.

  Billy presented each of his brothers with small paintings he had done of various landscape scenes on the ranch and he presented Mary with one of Beau and Adam that he’d painted from one of the photos Adam had taken when they were out being cowboys.