A Texas Christmas

by Thomas, Jodi Jodi Thomas

  If he were playing poker he would have drawn the worst hand in the deck, because out of the corner of his eye he saw Edwinna Dewey hoofin’it his way. Even through the veil of light snow, he saw by the look on her face that she was about to have a conniption fit, and he had a notion he was fixin’to be the recipient of her poor humor.

  “Oh, Mr. Humphrey.” Her shrill voice caught on the wind and chased him down. “Oh, Mr. Humphrey, I’m not finished talking to you.”

  But I am with you! Rand rubbed away light snow on his mustache with the back of his very cold hand.

  “You’ve got to go find my niece—” Edwinna demanded.

  Although Rand’s patience was a bit frayed, he tried to think how he’d feel if he were in her shoes. The thought made him shudder. There were a lot of places he’d like to be, but in her shoes wasn’t one of them. “I can assure you, ma’am, Jim Crockett would have never left Carroll Creek if he suspected in the least there was bad weather. He’d never put the welfare of a woman, especially with children, in jeopardy.”

  “If you ask me, he’s nothing but a scallywag.”

  “And I didn’t ask you, ma’am.” His blood boiled. After all, only kin was allowed to call out another family member—whether the accusations were true or not.

  As though she hadn’t heard him, she continued on her rant. “But you’ll promise that you’ll carry my niece and the twins to me the moment they arrive in town?”

  “Yes ma’am, I promise.” And he was being absolutely honest in making the promise, because if Miz Dewey’s niece was anything like her aunt, he didn’t want to spend a second more than was necessary with the woman. A cold chill ran down his spine.

  The woman could be even worse!

  Chapter 3

  Fluffy snow churned from the heavens and blew against anything in its way, creating snowdrifts along the road leading into Kasota Springs.

  In the distance, Sarah Callahan saw the soft flickering of lamplight from the window of the blacksmith shop.

  Tucking three-year-old Damon to her side, she took a deep breath, then pulled Addie Claire closer, attempting to shield the twins from the snow freezing on their coats and hats.

  “We’re nearly there. You’re safe,” she reassured the children as they hurried through the ankle-deep snow toward the light.

  She banged heavily on the door until a big, burly man opened it, allowing the heat from the forge to whisk out the door as though it were chasing away the snowflakes.

  Aunt Edwinna had described the blacksmith as an old codger, as friendly as a coyote on a moonless night, but a man who was honest. At the moment, Sarah agreed with the old codger description, but her aunt had failed to say that he also looked like a big brown grizzly bear forced out of hibernation early.

  “Mr. Humphrey?” As she spoke, opaque vapors swirled from her breath. Instinctively, she gathered the little tykes closer, but she wasn’t sure if it was to protect them from the howling wind or the giant of a man standing in the threshold.

  “Yes, and you are?” he asked with an edge in his voice, leaving little doubt he wasn’t all that keen on receiving visitors so late in the evening.

  “Sarah Callahan.” A gust of wind assaulted her, and the twins grabbed tightly to her legs, unsteadying her even more.

  The man grabbed her by the arm and almost pulled her and the children clinging to her coattail inside. “Miz Dewey’s niece?”

  She nodded. “And this is Damon and Addie Claire.” Sarah gently pulled back their hats so he could see their faces.

  He tentatively smiled at the children before returning to the grumpy expression that she suspected life had etched on his face.

  “I apologize, ma’am, for draggin’ you in here like that, but I thought you were fixin’to land up in a snowbank.”

  The newfound warmth in his voice was in contradiction with his appearance. He offered his hand, and she accepted his welcome. Even through her gloves, she could feel the roughness in his grip, yet it gave her a sense of protection.

  But it was his eyes that took her breath away. Deep, dark chocolate, and intense like he could see all the way to her soul.

  She had to force herself away from her thoughts. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Humphrey, and I apologize for coming unannounced.”

  “We can chat later. You all need to get out of the weather.” He helped her remove her coat and hung it by the door. “Get those wet clothes off the children. Just drop them by the door, it won’t hurt anything. There’s a fire in the great room on the other side of the shop. I’ll go find some blankets.” He looked her straight in the eye and said in a commanding voice, “And get their wet socks off, too.”

  He lumbered away, leaving her to do as he’d instructed.

  The scent of fire and smoke hung heavy in the air, and a layer of soot settled over every inch of the blacksmith’s shop.

  Depositing the soaking wet items by the door, she hurried the twins in the direction he had gone. To her surprise the living area was rather large, warm and inviting. Except for the size and sharing the building, it was in total contrast with the blacksmith’s shop.

  “I’m sorry these are so rough, but they are the first I found.” Mr. Humphrey handed her three blankets and some socks. “I think gettin’ you all warmed up right now is more important.”

  Sarah wrapped the freezing children in the heavy covering and huddled with them in front of the fire on a small rug, which she suspected he had hurriedly thrown on the floor.

  “Mr. Humphrey—”

  “Rand.” His deep baritone voice was edged with years of control. “Short for Randall.”

  “And I’m Sarah.” She stood. Tilting back her head, she boldly met his gaze. “Short for . . . uh, well, Sarah.”

  They exchanged cordial smiles.

  “How about something to drink? Milk for them and some . . .” His voice trailed off, as though he wasn’t sure what to offer her, but to her surprise, he continued, “Hot tea? If there’s still some left in the canister.”

  “That would be lovely. May I help you, Mr. Hump . . . Rand?”

  Before he could respond, little Addie Claire looked up. “May I have warm milkth, please, Mr. Humprand?”

  Sarah took in a sharp breath, shocked that the little girl had mispronounced his name so horribly. She softly corrected, “Mr. Humphrey.”

  “That’s what I meant, Mummy.” Addie Claire lay back down and curled up facing the fire. “Thank you, Mr. Grumpy.”

  Sarah looked up at Rand Humphrey expecting frustration to be etched on the big man’s face, but to her surprise a tiny smile hugged the corner of his mouth, softening his features. “She has problems sometimes pronouncing some of her sounds,” Sarah offered.

  “And I have a problem being a tad grumpy and probably scary to a little girl.” With a glimmer in his eye he added, “Even to big ones.”

  “You don’t scare me, Mr. Humphrey.” Sarah squatted down and put the oversized wool socks on each of the children, wishing inwardly she was as confident as she prayed her voice portrayed.

  “Warm milk for the little ones and hot tea for the lady, comin’ right up,” Rand said before exiting the great room, undoubtedly headed for the kitchen. Over his shoulder he continued, “Then I must go find your aunt and let her know you all have arrived safely.”

  Sarah’s heart sank, along with her spirits.

  From the moment she saw the first snowflake, somewhere down deep inside she had found herself thinking that the snow surely had been a gift from the heavens and maybe, just maybe, she and the children would get snowed in at a warm, cheerful place—anywhere except at Aunt Edwinna’s ranch.

  Guilt overcame her for thinking such thoughts. The only reason Sarah had agreed to come to Kasota Springs for the holiday was because of the picture her aunt had painted of what a grand time the children would have going to all of the Christmas festivities—watching the horse races, the boxed supper—and she had even tempted Sarah by volunteering to look after the twins while she went
to the holiday dance.

  Aunt Edwinna had described a number of available men, the foreman of the Jacks Bluff Ranch, another rancher named Sullivan, and had warned her about two families to steer clear of, one named Thompson and the other Dolton. And she’d specifically cautioned her about the blacksmith, Randall Humphrey, leaving the impression that, although single, he was much too cranky for any woman to want to consort with.

  Sarah reminded herself that she was in Kasota Springs for the holidays, not to consort with a man, whether he was cantankerous or not.

  But now, with a blizzard dancing on a razor’s edge, if Rand located Aunt Edwinna, Sarah and the twins would be stuck out on the ranch with the overbearing and oh-so-nosy sister of her mother.

  Thoughts of getting snowbound with the big, testy blacksmith were more appealing than being stranded with her spinster aunt. Sarah hated to pray for more snow, but found herself closing her eyes and doing just that.

  The oddest feeling washed over Sarah. Why did she feel so comfortable in her surroundings and not in the least threatened by a man she’d only met minutes before? A man who had a reputation for being as cantankerous as a lead steer on a trail drive?

  By the time she had pulled on a pair of warm, woolen socks, the feeling in her toes had returned. She checked on the children, who now cuddled together in front of the hearth, sleeping soundly. Their cheeks had returned to a healthy shade of rose instead of the blustery cherry red caused by the horrific winds and cold.

  Sarah walked into the kitchen just in time to see Rand attempt to pick up a pot of boiling water with a tea towel. Surely a man who dealt with red-hot coals all day long would make sure he had plenty of padding before grabbing a hot piece of metal . . . wouldn’t he?

  “Sonofabitch!” Rand dropped the teakettle on top of the stove with a heavy clang and jerked away the rag. Even from a distance, Sarah saw an enormous area of reddened flesh on his right hand.

  “Damn it—” Rand glanced up, and seeing her, he cut his words short. He looked a little like he’d gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and before she could respond, he simply said, “Sorry, ma’am. I’m not accustomed to anybody being within earshot.”

  “They certainly aren’t words I’m unfamiliar with, but—”

  “But not around the children, right?”

  Since he obviously saw the error in his ways, she just nodded gingerly. “Let me help you. Addie Claire and Damon are asleep, so no need for the milk, but I’d still enjoy some tea, if you don’t mind. May I fix some for you, too?”

  Rand raised his brows as if she’d asked him if he wanted a cup of arsenic, then said, “I drink coffee.”

  “You need that burn tended to.” Boldly she stepped his way and seized his hand, and to her surprise he didn’t jerk it away. “Do you have some salve?” She hesitated a second, then added, “Of course you do, you deal with fire all day long.”

  “And rarely get distracted enough to burn myself.” He pulled his hand away and doused cold water over it. “I’ve had worse sunburns. I’ll doctor it later.”

  “I see you’ve already put out cups and the tea, so while you go tend to that burn, I’ll finish the tea and coffee.”

  A frown crossed his face. Although she’d just met him, she had little doubt this was a show of his displeasure with being bossed around in his own home. She had little doubt he wasn’t a man who easily took instructions from anyone, man or woman.

  Rand opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, rapid-fire knocking came from the door to the blacksmith’s shop. Whoever was there wanted to make sure they were heard, and Sarah could bet the ranch, if she had one, that it wasn’t a traveler needing the services of a blacksmith.

  From the obvious frustration on Rand’s face, he wasn’t all that happy about another intrusion in his life.

  Before Sarah could fill the china teapot that Rand had put out for water, she heard a piercing female voice snarl, “I guess you forgot that you were to let me know the moment my niece and the twins arrived, Mr. Humphrey.”

  Stepping out of the kitchen, Sarah walked into the shop and stopped in her tracks. The person covered in snow who pushed her way through the doorway of the shop reminded Sarah of a snowman who had escaped a snowdrift and come lookin’ for trouble.

  Sarah glanced from the woman to Rand and back.

  Without acknowledging Sarah’s presence, Edwinna Dewey wheeled her umbrella in Rand Humphrey’s direction and said, “You did, didn’t you.”

  “No, ma’am, I didn’t forget anything.” He looked squarely in her face, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “And I suspect this is a night I’m apt not to forget for a long time.”

  Chapter 4

  Rand clenched his jaw and glanced in the direction of Sarah. He wasn’t sure what she was thinkin’, but from the pained looked on her face, it was anything but pleasant.

  Maybe he’d be better off backing down from Edwinna, but he wasn’t known for walking away from anything, and this wild woman, full of accusations, had just about used up all of the patience Rand allocated for any given person.

  “No ma’am, I didn’t forget. They’ve been here only a few minutes. Whether you are in a mind to believe me or not, I was on my way to tell you.” He wasn’t sure the woman even deserved that much of an explanation. He reckoned he was in a more charitable mood than he realized.

  She didn’t bother to answer, but turned in Sarah’s direction. “I’m glad you are here.” Glancing around the room, she continued, “Where are your bags, dear? I’m ready to leave.”

  “Nice to see you too, Aunt Edwinna.” The hurt in Sarah’s voice could be heard above the roaring fire. “Our bags are—”

  Edwinna cut her off and whirled back at Rand. “I have a room at the hotel, and I’ll send my driver to pick up her carriage and a fresh team first thing in the morning, so make sure it’s ready.”

  Casting his gaze over to Sarah, Rand saw tears well in her eyes. She took a deep breath and looked away, emphasizing her hurt. He suspected that she bore rejection somewhat like a war hero might wear a badge of courage.

  He’d walked slap-dab into a sticky situation. As much as he hated to admit it, he was a lot of things, but allowing a woman to be mistreated, if only with words, was something he would not tolerate. He’d seen too much of it in his life.

  Rand had been raised to respect women, but Edwinna Dewey needed a serious dressing down, and it didn’t matter whether she ever spoke to him again or not. As a matter of fact, if she’d ignore him for being a gentleman and sticking up for her niece, he’d ignore her being a total battle-ax . . . the rest of his born days wouldn’t be too long.

  “Edwinna.” It felt good to go one-on-one with the ol’ hag on a first-name basis. “You can either stew in the pot of your own making or join Sarah for tea. It makes no never mind to me, but the kids are asleep and Sarah is extremely weary and doesn’t need any of your malarkey.” He remembered his manners before Sarah had to remind him, and continued. “Sarah’s been from hell to Georgia and back just to come see you, so I’m thinkin’ you could make her visit pleasant. The choice is yours.” He took a deep breath. “While you two talk, I’m gonna see what is taking Jim so long getting the team settled in.”

  Rand might as well have tossed kindling and a match on Edwinna’s outlook on life. The older woman took two steps backward, and if a look could kill, he’d rightfully be laid out at the undertaker’s by the time the snow was over. She whirled toward her niece.

  “Well, are you going to let him talk to me like that?” Edwinna closed the umbrella and crossed her arms over her ample chest.

  By the look on Sarah’s face, Rand suspected it took every bit of courage for her to face her aunt and try to avoid a nasty confrontation. “Rand, we need to talk about your brother—”

  “Half brother,” Edwinna interrupted, and patted her foot impatiently.

  Sarah looked at Rand for confirmation. He nodded.

  “I apologize. I should have realized your
and Mr. Crockett’s kinship, since you don’t share the same last name.”

  “Different mothers,” Rand interjected. The why and what for of his older, wayward sibling’s existence wasn’t something Rand relished talking about to anyone. The fact that Jim was conceived in a night of heavy gambling, freeflowing liquor, and loose women many years before their father married Rand’s mother was nobody’s concern. Big Jim Crockett was a grown man long before Rand was ever a gleam in his father’s eyes.

  Checking on the horses could wait. He needed to find out what Sarah wanted to discuss concerning his half brother. Jim Crockett did a lot of things Rand didn’t approve of, particularly his carelessness with money and his reckless behavior, but he’d never known him to be anything but a gentleman when it came to women and children, or to be derelict in his duties handling animals. Unfortunately, those were about the only good qualities Rand could think of at the moment. Surely he had more.

  “Let’s go to the kitchen and get some coffee. We can talk there,” said Rand.

  Before Sarah could answer, Edwinna piped up. “My dear Sarah, your dilly-dallying has made it abundantly clear that you have no plans on returning to the hotel with me at the moment, but since they will stop serving supper shortly, I’m going back, and I expect you to join me the moment the children are awake.” With her fingertips, she pushed a tad of melting snow off her hat and let it slip onto the floor. “Although you could wake them up and come along now, saving yourself a lot of embarrassment. Just so my position is clear, I do not approve of you spending any more time than is absolutely necessary with Mr. Humphrey, and certainly not another second with Mr. Crockett, either.”

  “Aunt Edwinna, I’m painfully aware of your feelings toward Mr. Humphrey, but I am a grown woman who knows how to handle myself. I can assure you there will be no improprieties, but we have important business that must be discussed.”

  Huffing like the wild, west Texas wind in a foul mood, the old maid grabbed for her umbrella and in doing so knocked it to the floor. “I expect you at the Springs Hotel within the hour.”