A Christmas Homecoming (Bar V5 Ranch)

by Melissa McClone

His exaggerated mannerisms made Ellie laugh, but she was game. She curtsied and placed her hand on his arm like she’d seen in a Jane Austen miniseries. “I’d be delighted, kind sir.”

  As he escorted her through the lobby, she pretended his warmth wasn’t the best thing since drinking a cup of Sage’s hot chocolate at the Scott’s Tree Farm while purchasing a tree for the bunkhouse. Or that her pulse wasn’t galloping like Santa’s reindeer about to take flight. Or that he didn’t smell like her favorite things mixed together in one delicious concoction.

  “On your left, we have a lovely painting done by an artist who didn’t write their name clearly enough for me to read.” He motioned like a museum docent. “This is why penmanship is so important.”

  She had no idea where his playful side was coming from, and she didn’t care. He needed to laugh. So did she.

  “To your left is a big flower bouquet,” Josiah continued. “Beautiful, colorful blossoms, artistically arranged. I have no idea what those tall pokey things are, but they look sharp enough to put your eye out.”

  Josiah’s silly side made Ellie feel lighthearted and happy. If people were glancing their way, she didn’t care. She wanted to make the most of this time with him.

  “Over on that table, we have a cup of the paper disposable variety that holds the nectar of the gods. This unique chalice is engraved with the words Café Java. A nearby drinking establishment, I presume.” He pointed to a white cup sitting next to a house phone. “A black lid is included to keep not a drop of the precious liquid from being wasted.”

  Laughter spilled out. She looked at him. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “You called this a fancy walk.”

  “Fancy, not funny,” Ellie joked, but she liked having her arm on his. “How do you come up with this stuff?”

  “It’s a gift.”

  “One you should share more often.” Gold posts with red velvet ropes marked the entrance to the gingerbread display. She released his arm and curtsied. “I appreciate the escort, sir.”

  He bowed. “My pleasure.”

  “Ho, ho, ho. Such good manners.” Santa seemed to appear out of nowhere.

  “Hi, Santa,” she said.

  “You’re here early.” His red suit looked expensive, a higher quality than what a store Santa wore. The gold belt buckle gleamed. His black leather belt and boots shone. His beard was real, too. “The stroll doesn’t start until after four.”

  Ellie showed her pass. “We’re taking a peek before the festivities begin. Less crowded that way.”

  Santa adjusted his gold, wire-rimmed glasses. “How are you feeling these days, Josiah?”

  A look of surprise flashed on Josiah’s face. He stepped back, but kept eye contact with Santa.

  “Been better.” He sounded hesitant. “But I’m hanging in there.”

  “I’ll send something to help with your recovery and leave you a special gift under the tree.” Santa smiled at him. “Something you don’t know you want or need yet.”

  “Uh, thanks, but that’s not necessary,” Josiah said. “I’m not big into Christmas.”

  Santa smiled, the way a doting grandparent looked at a grandchild. “You might not think so, but Christmas lives inside each of us.”

  “If you say so,” Josiah muttered.

  She appreciated his playing along, even if he looked wary.

  “I won’t forget you, Ellie. You’re one of my best ambassadors for the holiday.” Santa winked. “I know there’s something you’ve been wanting for a while.”

  She’d wanted the same thing for years—to turn Buck’s Place into something more than a once a week meeting after school. Maybe with Josiah’s help on the proposal, it could happen. “Thanks, Santa. I know you do your best every year.”

  “Always, my dear.” Santa waved. “Have fun today.”

  With that, he walked away with a hearty ho, ho, ho.

  Josiah’s gaze narrowed in Santa’s direction. “How did he know our names?”

  “He must be from around here.”

  “I don’t live here.” He sounded more surprised than upset.

  “You’re one of Marietta’s most famous former residents. Most people know who you are.” Ellie touched the top of his hand to reassure him. “Or maybe he’s the real Santa, and you’ll find a special gift under the tree on Christmas morning.”

  “More like an identity theft notification,” Josiah joked.

  “Ha-ha. Come on.” She headed to the coat check. “Let’s dump our jackets and see how the kids did.”

  A few minutes later, Ellie stood in front of tall double doors. A mix of emotions ran through her, but one thought was clear. No matter how the kids’ entry did, she was happy to be here with Josiah.

  He opened a door. “After you, Lady Eleanor.”

  Ellie walked into the room. Christmas music played. Snowflake-patterned lights were beamed onto the white and gold walls. As if the gingerbread houses of every shape and size, sitting on linen covered tables, weren’t festive enough. Signs for the age group and categories hung on the front of each table. The entries from the children’s category were the first on display.

  A sugary, gingerbread scent filled the air. Ellie inhaled. “The smell is going to add inches to my hips.”

  “You’ll gain a half an inch at most.” His tone teased, and his gaze dropped to her hip. “Curves are good. You’ve got nice ones.”

  Her heart went pitter-patter. A smile spread to her ears. “Thanks.”

  She went to the first table and checked out a little house with something scribbled over the doorway. A closer look didn’t help her decipher the letters. Strips of black licorice and white icing composed the roof.

  “Looks like a dog house,” Josiah said.

  “Or a chicken coop. The little brown candies could be eggs.”

  “Or dog poop.”

  She took a second look. “You may be right.”

  A castle constructed of gingerbread and pink wafer cookies came next. Different colored licorice formed a rainbow overhead. “This one is a masterpiece worthy of a princess. Brooklyn will love it.”

  “How about you?” Josiah asked.

  She shrugged. “I might have a little princess in me.”

  He raised a brow. “Just a little?”

  “Well, Cinderella is one of my favorite stories. I loved the new movie.”

  “Ellie isn’t too far from Ella.”

  “We both clean up after others.”

  “That settles it.” A lopsided, adorable grin formed on his face. “You need a tiara.”

  “And a scepter.”

  “Don’t forget the glass slippers.”

  “Oh, no. Those shoes look uncomfortable and they keep falling off. At least one does.” She continued through the maze of tables covered with gingerbread houses.

  Up ahead was the Buck’s Place kids’ North Pole Village. Ellie froze, her muscles tightening.

  Josiah laced his fingers with hers. He pulled her toward the kids’ entry. “Come on.”

  Please, oh, please, oh, please.

  She wanted the kids to have a small taste of success, to be the center of attention, something rare when their siblings’ illnesses consumed such a large part of their lives.

  She closed her eyes, afraid to look.

  “You’re going to want to see this,” he said.

  Ellie opened her eyes, gasped, burst with pride. “First place!”

  She jumped against Josiah, wrapping her arms around his neck and relishing in the feel of him.

  His arms tightened around her waist. “This is so awesome.”

  Out of breath, she nodded. Josiah’s body was hot and solid. She wouldn’t want to share this moment with anyone else.

  She stared into his eyes, his face so close to hers. His lips...

  Hers touched his or maybe his touched hers. She didn’t know who moved first, but they were kissing.

  Kissing.

  She jerked away. He did the same.

  No biggie.


  So what if there was no mistletoe? That was more of a peck than a kiss.

  Ellie backed away from him, afraid if she stayed close, she might kiss him again. “I better start taking those pictures I promised the kids.”

  His gaze was locked on her. “Good idea.”

  She photographed each house as well as the entire village. She also videotaped the display. “I thought the kids had a chance, but winning is beyond fantastic. They are going to be so excited.”

  He rubbed his chin. “This calls for a celebration.”

  “Great idea.” She put away her camera. “We have until Wednesday to pull something together.”

  He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t talking about Wednesday. I meant tonight. Just us.”

  Anticipation gushed through her. She couldn’t wait to celebrate with the kids, but she hadn’t considered one with Josiah.

  Us.

  Ellie knew better than to be swept away by a storybook fantasy, but she hadn’t been part of an “us,” not the way she’d dreamed about, for so long. Celebrating with him sounded wonderful. “What did you have in mind?”

  Chapter Ten

  An empty, luxurious lodge filled with enough mistletoe to keep the night interesting was a short walk on a snow-covered path, yet Josiah found himself in the women’s bunkhouse eating breakfast for dinner with Ellie and a gray kitten named Pewter that was getting all her attention.

  Where had he gone wrong?

  Josiah sat on the floor with a bowl of cereal, a plate of strawberry frosted Pop-Tarts®, and a mug of hot chocolate. “This wasn’t the celebration I pictured.”

  The bunkhouse was built of logs, quaint but not too feminine. Red gingham valences hung over the windows. Denim covered the sofa. A nearby leather chair and ottoman looked comfy and broken in. A fire blazed in the fireplace, adding to the cozy feel. But no mistletoe. Anywhere.

  “Breakfast for dinner?” Ellie patted the blanket they sat on. “Or a breakfast for dinner picnic indoors?”

  Multicolored lights shone on a six-foot tall fir in the corner. The tree didn’t belong in a Charlie Brown cartoon, but he pictured Ellie picking this one with bare spots because no one else would want it. “Can’t forget the picnic part.”

  She pointed to the kitten trying to get into a box. “Or the live entertainment.”

  “Better than TV.”

  “Pewter can be.” Ellie stared over her mug topped with whipped cream. Her eyes were smiling.

  A country girl at heart.

  He liked that about her. She was happier eating a meal from boxes with an assist from a toaster, than she would be dining at an expensive, trendy restaurant. He doubted the women he’d dated would be satisfied with a picnic, unless the meal was catered and eaten at a winery in Napa. Not bad, but different expectations. He had to admit he found Ellie’s simpler ones refreshing.

  “This is the perfect way to celebrate.” Josiah raised his mug in her honor. “I’m sorry you’re missing the stroll.”

  She tapped her mug against his. A clink sounded. “I wasn’t going to let you be alone.”

  Of course she wouldn’t. She was too caring and compassionate. But a part of him wanted her to have stayed to be with him, not out of obligation.

  He sipped his cocoa. “Still sucks that you’re here instead of at the biggest Christmas event in Marietta.”

  “I don’t mind. I missed lots of strolls growing up because of Buck.” She set her mug on the floor and Pewter bounded over, drawn like a magnet to the whipped cream. “Today was one of my favorites. We were there before the stroll officially began, but we saw the best part.”

  He wished she’d been talking about being with him and their brief kiss, but he knew what she meant. “The kids’ award.”

  “I’m still giddy.”

  He loved how her face glowed. “Giddiness is the appropriate response.”

  “This has been such a wonderful day.” She moved Pewter away from the mug. “Hanging out with you has been great, too.”

  “I agree. That’s been my favorite.” He’d enjoyed acting silly in the lobby. Looking at the gingerbread entries was fun. But the best part had been her jumping into his arms. The feel of her against him was branded on his body. “A wonderful stroll.”

  “And an even better celebration tonight.” Her words weren’t flirty or suggestive, but genuine. She held one of the Pop-Tarts®. “Love these things.”

  He’d never seen someone enjoy food the way Ellie did. She reveled in the scent and the taste as if each bite mattered as much as the one before.

  “I haven’t had Pop-Tarts® or this kind of cereal since I was a kid.” He ate the last spoonful of the sugary cereal with multicolored shaped marshmallows floating on the milk.

  “They’re fun.”

  He’d never thought of food as fun. Whit Tech hired top chefs to make sure employees ate well, but for him, food was something shoved down between meetings or calls or eaten at his desk while working. “You’re right.”

  “Room and board is part of our salary, so the food we keep in the bunkhouse kitchen is the quick, convenient, on-the-go kind, aka the good stuff.”

  “You picked well.”

  She moved Pewter who had returned to her mug. “We all share. I think I mentioned how the Bar V5 is a big family. I’m so lucky to work here.”

  “I’d say Nate and Ty are the lucky ones to hire a hard-working, pretty housekeeper like you.”

  “Pretty, huh?” The amusement in her voice matched the look in her eyes. A playful smile spread. “You’re pretty darn cute yourself.”

  Was she flirting? Josiah scooted closer. “Little kids, puppies, and kittens are cute.” As if on cue, the gray furry thing meowed. “Men aren’t.”

  Ellie pursed her lips haughtily. “So you’d rather me say you’re so sexy my knees go weak when I look at you?”

  Definitely flirting. He liked it. Maybe this celebration could turn into something more. The fireplace was romantic. The blanket was soft. The twinkling tree lights added atmosphere. Maybe she had mistletoe in her pocket again. “Yes.”

  “I’ll have to remember that.”

  Maybe they wouldn’t be celebrating another way. Oh, well... He drank more cocoa.

  Logs crackled in the fireplace. Pewter fell asleep.

  Ellie stretched her legs. “A nice, quiet evening off is exactly what I needed. Thanks.”

  “What do you normally do on a Saturday night?”

  “Work.”

  He liked that she didn’t consider spending time with him work. Maybe tonight wasn’t an obligation for her after all. “Do you and the staff go out for fun?”

  “The wranglers do. Sometimes we’ll all go to Grey’s Saloon, but I’m usually too tired after my shift to go anywhere. I read or do something for Buck’s Place.”

  “In your proposal and at the hospital, you go by Eleanor, not Ellie.”

  “Many of the blue jackets ladies—that’s what the volunteers call themselves—have been at the hospital a long time. They know me as Eleanor, and I thought people might take Buck’s Place more seriously if I didn’t use a nickname.”

  He picked up one of the Pop-Tarts®. “Eleanor sounds older.”

  “Yes, but Ellie feels as old, if not older most of the time.”

  “She shouldn’t.” He waited for a response, but didn’t get one. “Maybe you’re doing too much. You work a lot of hours here. And you spend your free time on Buck’s Place.”

  “I don’t have a choice.”

  Maybe she did. “Yesterday, I mentioned your plan.”

  Staring at the fireplace, Ellie didn’t cover her ears this time, but nodded.

  “For someone new to the world of nonprofits, your proposal is comprehensive,” he said. “Very well done.”

  She released a long breath. Her eyes sparkled. “I was so nervous you’d say it sucked, and I’d have to start over.”

  “Not at all.” Her hand was only two, maybe three, inches from his. He wanted
to touch her, feel her skin against his. “I’m impressed. You have everything you need. It won’t take long to add my suggestions, if you agree with them.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Looking excited, she wiggled her shoulders. “Mia, the lawyer who helped me with the paperwork, gave me some pointers. I researched stuff online and went to the library, too. But I figured I was missing things.”

  He inched his hand until their fingers almost touched. “You have big plans.”

  “Long-term, yes. A website suggested stating those.”

  “It’s all good.” He wanted to help her. “My biggest concern is your idea for a weeklong ranch stay during the summer. That’s high season. Have you discussed your plans with Nate and Ty?”

  “The Bar V5 isn’t appropriate for a bunch of kids. It’s too nice.”

  “Do you have a location in mind?”

  “My parents’ place. We have a small herd and a few horses. There’s insurance to deal with and other regulations, too, but a covered patio or large tent would work for meals and crafts. I’ve been trying to figure out if trailers, bunkhouses, or yurts would be best for sleeping. We could construct two bathrooms. Everything, of course, depends on money.”

  Josiah had more than enough to make this happen for her. His wanting to help her had nothing to do with her brother. But Ellie was so wary of accepting help that he’d have to find a roundabout way to do it. “You’ve put thought into this.”

  “Turning Buck’s Place into something bigger has been my dream for a long time. That’s one reason I took a housekeeping job at the Bar V5. I wanted to know what it takes to run a ranch with guests.”

  She was smart, hardworking, and beautiful. Everything he liked in a woman. A spark ignited inside him. “There’s no reason to wait. It’s time to take the leap.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve talked to my foundation. They’re expecting your application. You can apply to other organizations, too, if you’d rather not be tied to one, and get the funding to make Buck’s Place what you’ve dreamed it could be.”

  “I...” Leaning toward him, she touched his hand. “You really think so?”

  Her scent made him feel buzzed as if he were drinking cocktails not cocoa. His pulse kicked up a notch. He ignored the urge to tug on his collar. “I know so.”