A Christmas Homecoming (Bar V5 Ranch)

by Melissa McClone

  Ellie placed the platter of brisket next to a candle, holly berry, and swag centerpiece. Maybe the delicious food would distract Josiah from the decorations. “I heard that winter reservations are up.”

  “Not sold out like the summer, but bookings are better than last year. Not bad for only our second Christmas.” Nate looked around the large dining room. “It’s going to be another magical holiday season. I want guests to feel like this was their favorite Christmas. Especially Josiah.”

  Oh, boy. Ellie swallowed a sigh. That might take a detailed plan or actual magic. But anything was possible at Christmastime, right?

  “Having too much time on your hands can be overwhelming if a person isn’t used to it.” She double-checked each place setting to make sure nothing was missing. “If Josiah finds a few things to do, he’ll feel better about being here.”

  Nate’s face lit up. “That’s it.”

  “What?”

  “Josiah needs a list of things he can do to keep from being bored,” Nate explained. “Put one together for him.”

  “Me?”

  “You and I are the only ones at the Bar V5 who grew up in Marietta. We knew Josiah before he became Mr. Whit Tech.”

  “I was a kid. I didn’t really know him.” Well, beyond her spying and eavesdropping. “He was my brother’s friend. We didn’t interact.”

  “You’re the best...the only person for this job.”

  Nate sounded like he’d made up his mind, but she wanted to do what was best for the Bar V5 and Josiah. “You know him better.”

  “True, but I have the dude ranch to oversee. Rachel wants the nursery finished. I don’t want her climbing on a ladder, and you know she will if I don’t.”

  “Yes, she will.” Ellie understood that Nate was busy and Rachel needed help. “But Josiah’s changed from the boy I remember.”

  “Look beyond the physical changes, and you’ll realize he’s not as different as you think.”

  She’d seen glimpses of the teen she’d known in his sense of humor and love of games, but he still seemed different to her. There was also the hotness factor she’d have to deal with.

  Her problem, not Josiah’s.

  He would forget her name by morning if he hadn’t already.

  Ellie bit her lip. “Sure, I can figure out a list of things for him to do, but whether he does them...”

  “Start with a list.” Nate smiled at her. “I know you’ll come up with what he needs. You do an excellent job taking care of guests around here.”

  “Thanks.” Too bad she had no one to do the same for her.

  But someday...

  Happily ever after might only exist in fairy tales, but Ellie would be satisfied with happy for now. Christmas was a time of magic and miracles. Maybe her happy time would happen sooner rather than later.

  Josiah sat at the dining room table with three wranglers, two Vaughns, and three Murphys. Dusty—an Australian cattle dog—kept the hardwood floor clean by doing his best vacuum cleaner impression.

  The brisket dinner had been served family style. Josiah felt welcomed as if he were a family member who had returned home after an extended absence, not a guest they’d met today. The only person missing was Ellie. No jingle bell had sounded since she’d left the study. He wanted to know where she was.

  “What do you think’s going to happen on Sunday with a storm headed our way?” Eli was the youngest of the wranglers, in his mid-to-late twenties, but he acted younger. He’d moved to Marietta from Florida last September. “Denver could see snowfall. Might affect the game.”

  “My money’s on the Broncos.” Ty sounded confident. “Got a team you root for Josiah?”

  He set his glass of water on the table. “Forty-Niners, but I haven’t kept up with them lately.” Or used his season tickets, but his employees had been enjoying the games. No sense letting the seats at Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara go to waste.

  “Come out to the bunkhouse on Sunday and watch games with us,” Zack offered. He’d been in the army and looked like the kind of guy you wanted on your team, not on the opposition. “We can yell, scream, and not get in trouble for disturbing anyone.”

  Meg raised her hand. “He’s talking about me. I kicked them out of the great room so their cheering wouldn’t bother guests.”

  Kicking back, watching games sounded fun. Josiah wondered if other members of the staff, say Ellie, would be there. She used to watch college football when Montana played. “I’d be up for watching a game or two.”

  “All right.” Eli clapped his hands together. “TV goes on when the first pregame show starts and doesn’t go off until the sports wrap-up. Snacks and refreshments provided, though if you’re there I’m sure a tasty, hot lunch will be delivered.”

  “Sounds good.” The day would be better if Ellie showed up. Strange, but Josiah hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her.

  Boredom, familiarity, or her warm smile?

  Whatever the reason, she’d replaced the image of the last woman etched on his brain—a stern, overbearing nurse named Matilda who wouldn’t give him more pain meds when he needed them. He much preferred picturing the prettier, nicer Ellie.

  The conversation turned to Nate’s stallion named Arrow.

  Brooklyn, Ty and Meg’s little girl, stared at Josiah. If a seven-year-old knew how to size someone up, Brooklyn was doing it with him. He hadn’t spent much time around kids, so he wasn’t sure what to do. He had an idea how another kid might handle this.

  Worth a try.

  He stuck out his tongue at her.

  Brooklyn drew back, mouth open and eyes wide. She looked around the table, but the others were too deep in conversation about something that happened at Grey’s Saloon that they didn’t notice. Her gaze returned to Josiah. Narrowed.

  Stare down. It was on.

  No blinks, twitches, or sudden itches.

  He was up against a hardened pro.

  This was going to be tougher than he realized.

  Suddenly, a smile lit up Brooklyn’s face. She giggled, gave him the thumbs up, and drank her chocolate milk.

  He sipped his water, wishing he had a beer instead. Soon, he’d be back to having everything he loved, but for now, he was choosing the healthier options Dr. Roscoe had recommended.

  Tail wagging, Dusty trotted over. The dog looked up with sad eyes.

  What was going on? The dog had ignored Josiah so far.

  He shooed Dusty away, but the dog lowered his head and looked more pathetic. Josiah tossed a piece of brisket.

  Dusty caught the beef midair. He stared up with eager eyes, but Josiah shook his head. The dog lumbered away.

  Good, he didn’t want kids and animals thinking he was a soft touch or liked them. They’d want to talk to him or...play.

  “You outdid yourself again, honey.” Nate kissed his wife’s hand. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Rachel picked up a nearby thermal pot. “More coffee?”

  Nate nodded, and she refilled his cup.

  Josiah couldn’t tell if the dude ranch was a tax write-off or a profit center. But trading a partnership at one of the top venture capital firms in Silicon Valley for waiting on guests and taking care of cows dumbfounded him. Though Nate seemed satisfied, if not happy, with his choice. He looked more comfortable at the Bar V5 than he ever had in the Bay Area. But this place was mellower, without the same energy and pressure that drove the hi-tech industry.

  Whoa. Josiah stiffened, his muscles coiling. His assistant had nicknamed him Captain Oblivious. Tamara had told him to pay closer attention to people. Maybe he was following her advice without realizing it.

  Nate leaned back in his chair. “What do you think of your stay so far, Josiah?”

  “Excellent, especially dinner.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I’ve never had such a tender and tasty brisket.”

  “It’s my own recipe.” A grin spread across Rachel’s glowing face. “I’m happy you enjoyed it.”

  The only ne
gative, other than Ellie missing, was the dining room’s Christmas décor. Subdued compared to the over-the-top-horror-show in the great room, but how many nutcrackers did the ranch need? More than one seemed like overkill and there had to be at least a dozen on display. No one ate that many shelled nuts.

  “The chocolate torte was good, too,” Josiah said to Rachel. “Your shop must be a veritable sweet feast.”

  “That’s the intention.” Her smile reached her green eyes. “Please stop by when you’re in town.”

  Marietta was the last place he wanted to go, but he supposed he might need something from town over the next month. “I will.”

  “More coffee or another slice?” Rachel asked him.

  “No, thanks. I haven’t been this full in weeks.” He patted his stomach, grateful his appetite was returning. He needed to regain the weight he’d lost in the hospital. “Everything was delicious. My compliments to the chef.”

  Smiling, she gave a mock bow.

  Brooklyn let Dusty lick her fingers. “My aunt Rachel is the best cook in the whole world.”

  “That’s right, boss girl.” Ty grinned at his stepdaughter. “You’ll leave a new man. By that I mean you’ll be taking home a few extra pounds and wearing a bigger size.”

  Meg elbowed her husband. “He’s joking.”

  “No, he’s not,” the men said at the same time.

  Josiah could get used to meals like this. It beat eating at his desk alone.

  Someone mentioned going to Jasper Flint’s microbrewery at the old train depot this weekend. Another brought up taking guests to ice skate at Miracle Lake. The topics changed by the minute.

  Trying to follow the ping-ponging conversations, interruptions, and people talking over each other wasn’t easy for Josiah. Behind his forehead, a dime-sized spot ached. A crick in his neck formed. He tilted his head from side-to-side, but that didn’t help. Rolling his shoulders to try to ease the tension did nothing.

  What the hell? He couldn’t make it through dinner without being drained and feeling achy. This was pathetic.

  “Who’s up for a game of cards?” Ty asked.

  Brooklyn raised her hand. “Me!”

  Meg stood. “School night. Time to get ready for bed.”

  With an epic pout, Brooklyn hugged Ty, said goodnight to everyone, and trudged out of the dining room.

  “That’s my cue to hit the kitchen.” Rachel kissed Nate. “Have fun boys.”

  “Not sure how much fun I’ll have playing solitaire,” Ty joked.

  “I’m in,” someone said.

  “Me, too.”

  Josiah couldn’t tell who said what, but both Eli and Zack were nodding.

  “Count me out.” Dustin rose from the table. He was in his early thirties, light brown hair and blue eyes. “I have a phone call to make.”

  Zack whistled. “That horse trainer in Livingston’s got you on a short lead.”

  “You’re one to talk.” Dustin made a face. “I saw a bride magazine on your bunk. Charlie’s got you roped into planning your wedding.”

  “Damn straight, she does.” Zack nodded once. “This is a partnership. I’m trying hard not to screw up my part. My girl...my bride...deserves everything to be perfect on her wedding day and each day after that.”

  “That’s the difference between you and me,” Dustin said. “I’m never getting married.”

  Zack shook his head with a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Keep telling yourself that, cowboy.”

  “At least I’ve got the belt buckles to show I’m a real cowboy,” Dustin countered.

  Zack’s jaw jutted forward. He didn’t look like the kind of guy you wanted to mess with. His nose had been broken at least once. “You might want to get more silver polish. My bullet scars are enough for me.”

  Josiah hadn’t seen so many cowboys in one place since he’d left Marietta. The level of testosterone and swagger were off the chart, even by Silicon Valley standards. But the women didn’t act bothered by that, and little Brooklyn had the men wrapped around her finger.

  “Got a ball and chain back home, Josiah?” Eli asked.

  “No.” Casual dating was the only thing that fit Josiah’s schedule. “Work takes most of my time. Or did. I’m a free man from the daily grind. For the next month at least.”

  “Make the most of it,” Dustin said. “There are some pretty, single women in Marietta.”

  Josiah nodded. “Though I didn’t see dating on my doctor’s treatment plan.”

  That got him a laugh.

  “Let’s take this into the great room, gentlemen.” Nate stood and waited for Josiah. “Joining us?”

  “This has been fun.” He’d tried not to be rude by leaving early. He might have stayed too long. “But I’m going to call it a night.”

  “Understandable.” Nate walked next to him. “Long day.”

  “It’s been better than I expected.”

  “Glad to hear that.” Nate looked pleased. “By the way, I made two appointments for you at the medical center tomorrow afternoon.”

  Josiah swore. His body tensed more. “Nate—”

  “Sepsis is serious business. Dr. Roscoe wants another physician to follow your recovery. You need physical therapy to increase your strength and endurance. We went over all this in the hospital, remember?”

  No. An aftereffect of the infection? Dr. Roscoe had mentioned cognitive issues and the brain needing time to recover, too.

  “I wasn’t expecting to have appointments this soon. I’m still getting settled.” Josiah’s stomach churned. He didn’t want to see a doctor. “Give me a few days.”

  “Get the appointment over with, one and done, and I won’t butt in again,” Nate said.

  “Do you have a bridge to sell me in New York, too?”

  “Okay, you’re right.”

  “I can schedule my own appointments.”

  “Yeah, that worked after your first hospitalization.”

  Josiah wanted to disagree, except Nate was right. “What time tomorrow?”

  “Be ready to leave at one-thirty. I’ve got a call I can’t miss, so I won’t be driving you.”

  Josiah’s breath hitched. Was the call with Whit Tech’s board?

  “Ellie’s going to take you,” Nate continued. “Meg or Ty will pick you up.”

  Spending time with Ellie was the only good thing that would come out of this. But Josiah still wasn’t happy. He hated one thing more than Christmas—going to the doctor.

  Chapter Four

  The next afternoon, the Bar V5 van’s tires crunched against the snow-covered road. Ellie kept both hands on the steering wheel and her gaze on the highway. She wouldn’t disappoint Nate. Josiah would arrive at his appointment on time. Nothing would happen to him on her watch.

  He sat next to her, his gloved hands on his lap, a hat on his head, and a scarf around his neck. He hadn’t said a word since they left the ranch thirty minutes ago. Any attempt at conversation hadn’t worked.

  A country song played on the radio. If she’d been alone, she would be listening and singing to Christmas music. She tapped her thumb to the beat instead.

  Ellie wanted to do more than make a list of things Josiah could do to stave off boredom. She wanted to show him why Christmas was so special, how the holiday season might help him feel better and give him a December twenty-fifth he’d never forget. She wanted him to talk to her.

  One word—any word—from him would make the rest of the trip to Marietta more comfortable.

  The silence was killing her.

  Ellie remembered him mentioning the game Clue last night. She felt like doing the same.

  The crime was committed by the gorgeous geek in the white van with a closed mouth.

  If she said that, he’d know she found him attractive. She would go with a safer option. “Ghost from Christmases past got your tongue?”

  “Recovering from dinner last night. It was louder than I’m used to.”

  “That’s what makes the Bar V5 special. One bi
g, boisterous family.”

  “You weren’t there.”

  Tingles filled Ellie’s stomach. She was surprised he’d noticed. “I had to finish up a few things. Then I watched a movie.”

  “What movie?” he asked.

  “A Christmas movie.” The holiday flick had featured a romance between two opposite personalities, who liked each other in spite of a family feud over front yard Christmas decorations. Ellie had imagined Josiah and herself as the characters, falling in love despite the odds and opposition, relishing in all the season had to offer two people in love. She nearly sighed. “You would have hated it.”

  “You know me that well already?”

  “No, but I know what we’ve talked about.”

  “What was that?”

  Of course, he didn’t remember. Bet he couldn’t recall her name either.

  “You not liking Christmas. That’s why I took precautions to make sure you wouldn’t overdose on the holiday during our drive.” Ellie pointed to the radio. “Country instead of Christmas music. The jingle bells that hang from the rearview mirror are in the glove box. My bell necklace is at the bunkhouse. And my elf hat is in my purse.”

  He raised a brow. “You wear an elf hat?”

  Ellie couldn’t tell if he was shocked or horrified. She nodded, amused by his reaction. “Feel free to borrow it. Might put you in the Christmas spirit.”

  A smiled cracked his granite face. “I’m a lost cause.”

  Maybe, but Ellie had him talking. She’d call that a win. “Probably best if we change the subject.”

  “Says the woman wearing snowman earrings and red pants.”

  “Red is one of my favorite colors.” She shot him a sideways glance. “And snowmen are winter accessories, not only for Christmas.”

  “Learn something new every day.”

  “Just doing my job.”

  “In addition to cleaning rooms, turning down sheets, and leaving a yummy chocolate on the pillow.”

  “Lyne, the other housekeeper, and I do our best.” Most guests saw only the Bar V5 apron. In their eyes, the two women were interchangeable. “We try to help guests with whatever they need. Drive them into town like now, help Meg arrange a special surprise, or book spa services.”