Christmas with the Rancher

by Mary Leo

  She sent her dad an urgent email detailing her plan to swap out his inn for Audrey’s inn. Bella would take care of the details with TransGlobal, but she needed signatures from both of them if this deal had any chance of going through when she met with the executives in the morning. Bella knew her future depended on her father’s response in order for her to begin to put this new proposal together. She could hardly contain herself after she hit send, realizing she’d have to wait for his response.

  Time seemed to stand still while she counted off the minutes, knowing full well that the chances of her dad being anywhere near his computer or phone were pretty remote.

  She peered out the window at the endless stream of cars filled with people she didn’t know and would never know as they rushed by her. She longed for the familiarity of Briggs. Fear began to take hold as the time ticked by and her dad didn’t respond. If he wouldn’t go for it, she had no idea what plan B looked like.

  At this point, selling her dad’s inn to TransGlobal was out of the question. She’d made a mess of everything and this was her one shot to make it right.

  Her laptop pinged indicating she had a new email and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly opened it and wanted to do a happy dance right there on the back seat. Her dad and Audrey had agreed to the deal. She immediately wrote back telling him she’d be in touch early in the morning and they promised to keep Nick’s phone nearby and wait for her call. She collected Audrey’s stats on her inn and for the rest of the ride into the city Bella worked on the new proposal, completely excited about this venture.

  She knew she would have to pull an all-nighter to get everything ready for the next day. She was prepared to give TransGlobal an offer they couldn’t possibly refuse even if it meant she would have to take a significant cut to her commission, which she would gladly do.

  With that set in motion, she pulled out the card Dusty Spenser had given her and sent him an email, asking about the house on Main Street in Briggs that Jaycee had told her about. She decided to purchase the house for Jaycee and cover any closing costs so she and her family could move in sooner rather than later. It was the least she could do for her very best friend in the entire world. Besides, she’d be selling that condo in Orlando. Tampa.

  Whatever.

  Bella didn’t count on a speedy reply to her email, figuring Dusty was probably asleep. She’d call him in the morning before meeting with TransGlobal. But within seconds after she hit send, he answered.

  Way too thrilled about this idea, she decided to call him instead of sending emails back and forth.

  “I have a favor to ask,” she said before he could say hello.

  “Anything for you, darlin’.”

  His agreeable voice put a smile on her face.

  “As I said in the email, there’s a house on Main Street in Briggs that’s going to come on the market soon. Do you know who owns it?”

  “Sure do. The Orloffs want to sell their sweet little house. Movin’ to San Diego with a brand new company. It won’t be up for sale until around March, though. You and Travis in need of some courtin’ time? You plannin’ on movin’ back to Briggs?”

  “I live in Chicago, Dusty. It’s where my job is located. Travis is still in Briggs.”

  There was an awkward pause, then he said, “I’m sure he wants to be in Chicago right there with you.”

  “He’s a cowboy, and a cowboy belongs on a ranch, not in a crowded city.”

  “And you’re a cowgirl. What the heck are you doin’ in that noisy city? You used to be able to ride and rope better than all those Granger boys put together.”

  “I hung up my spurs a long time ago. Wouldn’t know the first thing about it now.”

  “You can take the cowgirl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the cowgirl.”

  “I think I’ve heard that statement a time or two.”

  “Hearin’ it and believin’ it are two different things. No matter where you go, darlin’, country’s a part of you. Ain’t nothin’ you can do about it. I don’t care how many pairs of city boots you own.”

  Dusty seemed to know her better than she knew herself.

  “In just five minutes, Dusty, you’ve managed to clarify what’s been my core problem for my entire adult life.”

  She pulled out a tissue from her purse and sponged up the tears that were sliding down her cheeks.

  “Shucks, sweetheart, you should’a called me years ago.”

  “If I hadn’t been so stuck on myself, I probably would have. You’re a good friend, Dusty, still, after all this time.”

  “There’s no expiration date on friendship.”

  She chuckled. “No. There sure isn’t.”

  “Glad to help. Now just tell ole’ Dusty what else is on your mind.”

  “I want to buy the Orloff house and I want to give them an offer they...”

  “...can’t refuse?”

  “Exactly.”

  “You came to the right place, sweetheart. Now tell me, what does a city girl want with a country house?”

  “It’s not for me. It’s for Jaycee.”

  “Bella, you’re a good friend.”

  “I’m learning.”

  Chapter Eleven

  When Travis finally booked a room for the night he was dog tired. Just flagging down a cab had taken it out of him, especially since it meant he had to stand out in below-zero temperatures, with a wind-chill factor that could freeze a heifer solid before dawn. He’d wanted to go in search of Bella, utilizing all his friends back home to try and find out any information about where she lived or worked, but everyone he’d made contact with came up empty handed. When his head hit the pillow in his fancy room it was going on two in the morning Chicago time and Travis could barely keep his eyes open, let alone think of where Bella might be. He only hoped she was safe and warm.

  He tried to make himself comfortable in what seemed like the only room available in the entire city. Fortunately the pretty blonde working the desk seemed to like cowboys and had given him a significant cut in the price, so he took it. He figured it was either give the girl his credit card and book the room or sleep on the street. Neither option seemed worthy of returning a pair of Christmas gloves to a woman who chose her job over his affections, but Travis was now on a mission and nothing short of freezing to death was going to stop him.

  He’d taken a long bath in the impressive whirlpool tub wishing like heck that Bella were in that tub with him, and was just settling into his soft bed when his phone rang. Dusty Spenser’s picture popped up on the screen.

  “What’s a cowboy like you doin’ in a big city like Chicago?” Dusty asked, his voice sounding friendly. It was exactly what Travis needed after the night he’d been through.

  “How’d you know I was here?”

  “Half the town knows. Did you see her yet?”

  “See who?”

  “This is Dusty you’re talking to. I’ve known you since you were old enough to swing a rope. Did you see Bella yet?”

  “Yep, but she didn’t see me. I tried to get her attention when she drove off in her swanky black car complete with a driver, but she didn’t pay me no mind.”

  Travis yawned and rested his head on the down pillow. Between the puffy mattress and the feather pillow he felt as if he were floating on a cloud and wondered how anybody could sleep under such extravagant conditions.

  “That’s too bad.”

  “I think so. What’s keeping you up so late, partner?”

  “Talkin’ to your girl.”

  “I don’t have a girl.”

  “Yes, you do and she’s busy buying houses for her friends.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I’ll let her tell you.”

  “You didn’t tell her
I was here in Chicago, did you?” Travis pushed himself up in bed, his pulse racing. “I mean what if she doesn’t want to see me, and you already told her I’m here. She might feel obligated to see me when she really doesn’t want to.”

  “Hold on there, buddy. I didn’t tell that girl nothin’.”

  “So why are you calling me?”

  “To give you her addresses. I’m thinkin’ you weren’t smart enough to get them from Nick before you hopped on that there love plane and flew out to get your girl.”

  Dusty and Travis had been best friends for a lot of years, and unfortunately Dusty knew all of Travis’s good points as well as his bad. Getting the details before he started out on a journey was not one of his strongest attributes.

  Travis chuckled and scratched his beard. “That’s why we’re a good team, buddy. You care about the details while I’m only interested in the big picture.”

  “You owe me for this one.”

  “I thought I already owed you.”

  “You do. This is bigger. I’m savin’ your life here with the girl you love.”

  “Might be, but first we have to see if she feels the same.”

  “From what I hear, you got a real good chance.”

  Travis slid out of bed, pacing the floor while he held the phone tight against his ear. “Yeah? What did she say? Anything about me?”

  “I don’t spread rumors. Do you want her addresses or not?”

  Travis sighed and dropped down on the bed, knowing dang well he wasn’t going to get anything more out of Dusty.

  “Sure. Lay them on me.”

  * * *

  TRAVIS ARRIVED AT Bella’s company a little after nine the next morning. He knew Bella liked to get a head start on things, so going to her condo would have been a waste of his time. Besides, her condo was several miles away, whereas the company she worked for, Ewing Inc., was within walking distance from his hotel.

  It had warmed up and the wind had stopped blowing so his hat stayed on his head and kept him toasty while he trudged through endless drifts of snow. It was one thing when a town like Briggs was snowed under for a day or two, but quite another to see a big city come to a standstill.

  The city seemed eerily quiet on this Christmas Eve morning, with no one on the sidewalks except for some last-minute early shoppers and a few brave souls who couldn’t make it without their cup of java from the local coffee house. Fortunately, his hotel had provided free coffee—which he’d drank three cups of before stepping one foot out in the cold—along with a blueberry muffin and a mess of scrambled eggs.

  Ewing, Inc. was located inside the John Hancock Center, and when Travis made it to the ultramodern black, white and tan reception area asking for Ms. Bella Biondi, the fine-looking woman in her late twenties sitting behind the tall oak desk told him she was in a meeting.

  “Do you know how long it will last?” Travis asked as politely as he knew how.

  She looked something up on her sleek computer with the thirty inch monitor on her desk. “At least another fifteen minutes.”

  “Is there someplace I can wait? It’s important that I see her.”

  “Is this business or pleasure?”

  “Pure pleasure.”

  A smile creased the corners of her mouth.

  “Are you a family member?”

  “In a manner of speaking, yes.”

  “And what is this concerning?”

  “I’m returning something she left behind in Idaho.”

  “And may I ask what that might be?”

  “Me.”

  Her face turned a bright crimson as she tried to compose herself by tugging on the bottom of her navy suit jacket. “And you are?”

  “A restless cowboy.”

  She snickered. “I still need a name.”

  “I want it to be a surprise.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you wait for her without a name.”

  “Travis Granger.”

  “Follow me.”

  He followed her through two oak doors, down a short hallway and into a large office that had to belong to Bella. The young lady told him to help himself to a beverage in the break room down the hall. Then she smiled and left. There were no real telltale signs this was Bella’s space except for a small picture of her mom, dad and Bella standing in front of Dream Weaver Inn that sat on a bookshelf behind her desk. Bella couldn’t have been more than five years old in the picture and looked about as innocent and happy as a kitten with a ball of string. That was probably the year he first met Bella in school. It was sappy to admit, even to himself, but he remembered that blue-and-white polka-dot dress and how pretty she’d looked in it.

  He’d been in love with her even then.

  Travis took off his coat and hat and tossed them on a black leather chair, then found the break room for another cup of coffee. As he meandered down the hallway, he noticed a glass wall ahead of him and realized it was probably a conference room. He wondered if Bella’s meeting was going on inside as he crept closer. A couple of employees passed him in the hallway and Travis greeted them with a pleasant “Mornin’” but there was no response. Neither of them looked up from whatever was so interesting on their phones.

  When he finally walked by the glass wall and peeked inside, he spotted Bella right off, decked out in a gray business suit, high heels, a pink shirt and her dazzling silky hair was pulled back in a sleek bun. The room was overrun with men and women in business wear, each of them sitting around a rectangular table, following along on their sleek laptops. At the head of the table stood Bella, her face intent and serious as she addressed the group. Numbers and a summer shot of Dream Weaver Inn sat on a screen behind her. Every now and then, she’d angle off to the side of the screen and point a red beam at the numbers or the inn.

  It all looked practiced and very much like the business world he imagined her working in. Nothing like it existed in Briggs, and he wondered how the heck he would ever fit into Bella’s world. What would they talk about? What would they have in common? Even his sister-in-law Maggie with her international marketing business never looked like the view he had before him. She was more into laptop meetings with her customers around the world. She usually wore jeans and a T-shirt or a Western blouse and was barefooted most of the time.

  Travis couldn’t take his eyes off the spectacle in front of him, everyone listening, nodding at the appropriate times, as if they’d been trained to react on cue. He could hardly breathe as he watched the love of his life soundlessly give a presentation. She looked stately. She looked knowledgeable and in her element.

  But most of all, she looked happy.

  He finally understood what she’d been trying to tell him about her love for Chicago and her job. As he watched her now, he knew this was where she belonged. Her mom had been right to leave Briggs. She knew what her daughter needed better than Nick or Travis ever could.

  The room suddenly erupted with laughter. Apparently Bella had told a joke or said something funny because she was chuckling right along with everyone. Her face beamed with delight as one of the older men stood, buttoned his jacket, walked over to her and shook her hand. Travis guessed her big deal with TransGlobal had been confirmed and Dream Weaver Inn now belonged to a conglomerate.

  Mission accomplished.

  Bella’s face positively glowed as one of those great big wonderful smiles of hers spread across her face. One by one the men and women who’d been sitting around the table walked up to her to shake her hand and she returned the gesture eagerly.

  Now he knew for certain that Bella belonged in the world of business and not on a small-town ranch.

  Travis wanted to remember her like this whenever he longed for her in his bed, whenever he thought of kissing those full lips, or when he thought of her naked body under his. Just
then she gazed at him, but he stepped back before they made eye contact. He quickly retreated down the hallway, picked up his coat and hat and headed to the main lobby.

  He’d seen enough.

  When he popped through the oak doors and strode for the exit, the receptionist tried to stop him. “Mr. Granger, Ms. Biondi’s meeting is over. Don’t you want to wait for her?”

  “No. Thanks.”

  He kept walking.

  “But I thought you were returning something from Idaho?”

  He stopped and turned to face her. “Once again you’ve got it right. I’m returning myself to Idaho.”

  “Is there anything I should tell Ms. Biondi?”

  Travis hesitated. He had come all this way, the least he could do was leave her dang gloves, not that she’d ever want them or consider wearing them dressed in her business suit, and slicked back hair. They were as corny as that life-size Santa he’d insisted on putting up on the roof at the inn every year.

  He pulled the gloves out of his coat pocket, anyway, walked back and handed them to her. She didn’t take them. Instead she stared down at them as if they were as foreign to her as a pair of cowboy boots on a duck.

  “Is there a message?”

  She gingerly took the gloves and dropped them on her desk.

  “Yes, tell her it’s cold outside and I thought she might need these.”

  * * *

  IT COST BELLA a full five minutes to shake everyone’s hand, grab her hat and coat and rush out to the lobby.

  “Was there by any chance a cowboy here looking for me?” Bella asked the new receptionist, as she barreled into the lobby sliding on her coat and trying to deal with both her purse and her briefcase. She had left a message for the receptionist that if a Travis Granger came calling, to please escort him to her office immediately.

  Once again, exactly like what had happened at the airport, she thought she’d seen Travis. This time he’d been standing right outside the conference room. She had wanted to go after him, but couldn’t get out of the room fast enough due to everyone congratulating her. The deal had gone through, and Bella stood to make well over seven figures...which any other time would have made her ecstatic. More importantly she had managed to save Dream Weaver Inn and get Audrey a great price for hers.