A Cowboy for Christmas

by Sara Richardson

  Before the sentence had even finished both Ty and Darla were posing. “She has us conditioned,” he said, holding his smile in place.

  Darla gave his hand a squeeze. “I think it’s sweet.”

  “Your turn.” His mom moved on to capture Rhett and Sierra, while Ty prodded Darla to the door. It might be a little early for them to leave, but he wanted to sneak a few minutes alone with her.

  “We’ll see you at the party,” he said, using his best James Bond voice.

  His family bid them goodbye, and they stepped out onto the front porch.

  “Are you sure the dress is okay?” Darla asked nervously.

  He stopped and pretended to look her over carefully. “I don’t know…maybe I should see what you’re wearing underneath it and then decide.”

  “Ha.” She whapped his shoulder. “Later. Don’t forget I have to be up onstage to present the check to Mateo and Everly. I can’t be looking all disheveled.” She wrapped her arm around his and leaned on him as they navigated the bits of ice and snow on his driveway.

  He walked her over to the passenger’s side of the car and then paused before opening the door. Darla gazed up at him shyly. “What?”

  “I just can’t believe how lucky I am. You’re radiant. And smart. And giving.” He could keep going, but then he’d sound like a chum.

  “And you are one sexy cowboy, Ty Forrester.” She stole a kiss on his cheek, likely leaving a lipstick mark, but he didn’t wipe it away.

  “Just you wait.” He helped her into the roadster and they drove over to the rodeo grounds.

  Darla chatted about what the evening would be like. “It’ll probably be long and drawn out and maybe a little stuffy,” she said apologetically.

  “I don’t care.” Ty parked the roadster and helped her out. “As long as I’m with you, nothing about it is going to be boring.”

  They walked into the banquet room and were instantly greeted by their friends. “You look fabulous!” Everly gushed over Darla’s dress.

  “Where’s your tie?” Charity demanded. “If I had to wear this getup”—she gestured to the fancy red dress she wore—“you should’ve had to wear a tie.”

  “I seem to have forgotten it,” he said innocently, and then moved on to talk to Mateo before the woman could punch him.

  The band started up, and they all moved to the dance floor. Ty held Darla as close as he could get away with. They didn’t say much, just stared and smiled, and he couldn’t believe how much they could communicate without saying a word.

  After a few songs, the mayor invited Darla up to the stage. Ty escorted her to the stairs and then let her go. It was amazing how she never wobbled in those high heels.

  After Hank thanked her for her efforts, Darla took the mic. “I can’t take any credit for our success over the weekend. Without you all it wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you for coming, and for all of your participation in the events over the last week. Because of your generosity, we were able to raise fifty-three thousand dollars to help Mateo and Everly Torres rebuild the Farm Café.”

  Cheers rose up from the crowd, and Ty didn’t think he’d ever been as proud as he was in that moment. She might deflect all of the praise, but none of it would’ve been possible without her determination.

  “Mateo and Everly, why don’t you come on up?” She waited while they crossed the room and climbed the stairs to the stage. “You two have been such an integral part of this community, and it is with gratitude that we present you this check.” She handed over the check and Everly broke down in tears.

  Darla handed the mic to Mateo and hurried down the stairs to where Ty waited. He slipped his arm around her as they moved toward the center of the crowd for Mateo’s speech.

  “Thank you all so much,” his friend started. “There’s no way for us to express our gratitude.” He glanced at Everly and they both got those secretive grins. Ty grinned too.

  “This community means everything to us, and we’re excited to share a secret we’ve been keeping.”

  A few whistles rang out. Suspicions of baby news had obviously been running high for quite a while.

  “We’ll be welcoming a new little buckaroo into our family come summer,” Mateo said.

  When the cheers quieted, he took Everly’s hand. “After the fire, we weren’t sure how things would work out, but you all have made sure we don’t have to worry. We’re so grateful to be part of this community, to be part of something bigger and stronger than ourselves. It’s amazing what happens when we all come together.”

  Darla sniffled and then ducked away, quickly moving through the crowd. Ty caught up to her at the outskirts of the room.

  “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  She nodded but continued to cry, which didn’t make him feel any better.

  “He’s right,” she finally managed. “About being stronger when you’re part of something bigger. Like your family. It’s still intact. After all these years. Even through the hard times. Your parents are still together.”

  “Yeah. They are.” Things hadn’t always been easy. As ranchers, times were tight sometimes. There’d been plenty of ups and downs, but they’d weathered it all side by side. “I never thought about it like that. I took my family for granted.” The last few years he’d been too busy feeding his own resentment to appreciate them.

  “I want that,” Darla said. “Something that will stay intact no matter what. I want that for me and I want that for the baby.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll build,” he promised. “Starting tonight. Starting now.” He held her in his arms, knowing that feeling would never get old. “We’ll build a love that’s strong enough to hold everything else together.”

  * * *

  A clanging woke Darla out of a deep, tranquil sleep. She lay in her bed, listening, and smiled when she recognized the chaos happening in her kitchen. Given that she was alone in her bed, Ty must be making her breakfast—though from the sound of things, it wasn’t going quite as smoothly as the day his mother had done the cooking.

  She stacked her pillows and shimmied up to a sitting position, and then splayed her open hands across her tummy, feeling warm all over. Sunlight peeked in between the curtains, and she could see a snatch of the white glittering world outside.

  “What a perfect Christmas morning,” she murmured to the baby, pressing in her fingers slightly as though to knock in greeting. It was ridiculous, she knew. The baby was so tiny he or she likely couldn’t hear or feel a thing, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to connect with this new life growing inside of her. “Christmas is my favorite holiday,” she said. She’d forgotten that. It had been her favorite holiday once upon a time. Especially after she’d married Gray. It had made the day so much more magical when she had someone to share it with. “And now I have two someones,” she marveled. The thought filled her heart to brimming.

  The last time Ty had made her breakfast in bed, it had triggered the flight instinct in her. Don’t get attached. Don’t love. Don’t hope. She’d thought those mantras had been her salvation, but they’d only been shielding her from feeling anything.

  She would always have memories of Gray—their lazy mornings together, their spontaneous weekend trips, their shared hopes that were forced to remain unfulfilled dreams. But instead of holding on to those memories in her white-knuckled grip, she was learning how to rearrange them, to slide them over to make room for new ones. Somehow, ever since she’d learned she was pregnant her heart seemed to have tripled in size. There was more room for everything good—hope, love, joy. “We can’t wait to meet you,” she murmured, giving her tummy a pat. “Your daddy and I—”

  The door creaked open and Ty stepped into the room carrying a tray. “Who are you talking to?”

  “The baby,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “Oh yeah?” Ty set the tray on the nightstand and sat next to her on the bed. Darla folded her lips in a smile. The French toast was burned and crumbling at the edges, and the bacon
was so charred it looked like he’d stuck it straight in the fire. She couldn’t wait to dig in.

  “What were you saying to the baby?” he asked, lying next to her.

  “I was just telling our little bean how lucky he or she is to have you for a daddy.” Ty might have zero skills in the kitchen, but he had a big heart.

  “I think I’m the lucky one.” He eyed the breakfast tray. “Trust me. You are definitely not lucking out with a capable chef.”

  Darla laughed. “It looks great,” she lied.

  “I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t eat it.” He eased his body closer to hers. “I tried though. I’ll always try.” His hand moved to cover her stomach. “Hear that? You’re going to learn to love burned French toast.”

  “And Eggo waffles,” Darla added with a giggle. Luckily Ty laughed too.

  “Merry Christmas,” he said, suddenly looking very serious.

  “Merry Christmas.” She eased her body on top of his.

  “Wait.” He rolled away from her. I have something for you.” He pushed off the bed and disappeared out the door. When he returned he had a huge package balanced in his arms.

  “You want me to open it now?” Darla sat up taller. When was the last time a man had given her a Christmas gift? Not since Gray. The thought didn’t sting. Instead it made her smile.

  “Yes. Open it, open it, open it.” He set it beside her and sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Okay.” She worked at the ribbon on top. “I’m impressed. I think you’re better at wrapping gifts than I am.”

  “I had help,” he said cryptically.

  He offered no more explanation as she tore off the wrapping paper and opened an unassuming cardboard box only to reveal another wrapped package, this one in candy cane paper. “Clever,” she said, starting all over on a new bow.

  “I like to drag out opening presents as long as possible.”

  She opened eight more carefully wrapped boxes, each one smaller than the last, until finally she opened a miniature shoe box. Tiny cowboy boots fit for a toddler sat inside. Darla lifted them out and ran her fingers over the soft leather. “These have to be the most adorable boots I have ever seen. And I have a whole closet full.”

  “There’s something else inside that one.” Ty pointed at the one in her right hand.

  She reached her hand in and pulled out a very familiar square-shaped box. Her heart seemed to swell, filling her chest, pressurizing her throat with emotion.

  He gently took the last box from her and opened it, giving her a glimpse of that beautiful engagement ring she’d worn before. “Yes,” she whispered, raising her eyes to his.

  “Not so fast. I have a whole speech prepared.” Still holding the open box, Ty dropped to one knee on the floor beside the bed. “I’ve been thinking about all of those things you said about family yesterday. I didn’t tell you the whole story about the ring. My grandfather designed it and sold his prized Ford truck in order to have it made.”

  The bit of history brought even more meaning to the gift.

  “He and my grandma were married for almost sixty years. And she still wore it every day after he passed away.” Ty carefully took the ring out of the box. “I never want to rush you into anything, but I want to make this promise to you. I’ll be here for you always. When you need someone to hold you, or to make you laugh, or to have your back, or to wipe away your tears.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I will probably never be able to make good French toast, but I love you. I love our little baby. I want to marry you. I want to build a life with you. Whenever you’re ready—”

  “I’m ready.” She threw off the covers and pulled him up to her. “I don’t want to wait. It’s already been too long. Too lonely. Until you reminded me how to feel something.” She pulled him in for a kiss. “Let’s get married. Let’s go to Hawaii and get married on the beach with your family. Before I’m too fat to wear a bikini.”

  His hand cupped her butt. “You’ll never be too fat to wear a bikini.”

  “I’m already getting a little rounder. But it’s okay. I don’t mind getting fat.” It was for a good cause.

  “You won’t have to do it alone.” Ty patted his own flat belly. “I’ve always wanted to get fatter.”

  He tried to stick out those washboard abs and all Darla could do was roll her eyes. “I’m pretty sure a six-pack is the exact opposite of fat.” She pulled off her pajama shirt and tossed it aside. “See?” She patted the bulge that seemed to have doubled in size from the day before. “This is round.”

  “I love your body,” Ty said, lowering his head to kiss her belly. “I’ll always love your body.” He started to slide her pajama bottoms down, but Darla stopped him. Only for a second. “This is the best Christmas morning I’ve ever had.” She needed him to know that, needed him to know how much he meant to her.

  “Me too.” He kissed her lips. “And I promise to make each year even better than the one before.”

  Epilogue

  Are you ready to go?” Darla hurried into the living room, but quickly stopped when she caught sight of Ty on the couch. His head had fallen back against the cushions and he was snoring loudly.

  Awww…

  Graycie Faith was nestled in the crook of his shoulder, looking even tinier than her eight pounds compared to her daddy. Not surprisingly, the baby had fallen asleep too. It didn’t matter how fussy she was, the minute Ty lifted her into his arms everything in her world righted. Sometimes, little Graycie would stare up at Ty in wonder, but mostly she’d settle right against all of those strong muscles in his chest and fall into a deep, contented sleep.

  Creeping across the rug, Darla pulled her phone out of her pocket and captured the moment, zooming in so everyone on her social media page would be able to see just how cute her daughter’s bowed pink lips looked. In the previous two weeks Darla had come to understand Maureen’s picture habit. Seriously, she had run out of room on her cloud at least four times since they’d brought Graycie home from the hospital, but she’d had no idea how many pictures babies required. In two weeks, the baby had already changed so much, and she didn’t want to miss out on any new little face she’d make—there were so many of them, even when the little doll was sleeping.

  Doing her best not to wake either of them, Darla moved in closer and took the same picture from a different angle.

  “Are you taking a picture?” Ty’s eyes were still closed and he didn’t raise his head. They’d both missed out on so much sleep between the feedings and the diaper changes and the new-parent worries. True to his promise, Ty had been by her side for all of it, never complaining or groaning when he heard the baby cry.

  “I can’t help it.” Darla went to sit with him on the couch. “You two are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” And she had about five hundred pictures to prove it.

  Ty sat up straighter, but Graycie didn’t even stir. Always so happy in her daddy’s arms.

  Darla could relate. Her husband had the best arms for holding a person, strong and tender and warm. In fact…she snuggled in closer to his side, and he slipped his free arm around her with a smile. “Is this your way of trying to tell me it’s time to go?” A yawn broke through the words.

  “I suppose we should.” Though she wouldn’t mind sitting here like this for another whole day, just her and the two loves of her life. “It’s been two weeks since we’ve been out. I guess we shouldn’t miss our own baby shower.” Since Everly and Mateo had welcomed their new addition, Harper Rose, into the world only a week and a half before Graycie made her appearance, all of their friends had decided to throw them a joint baby shower. They’d insisted the party needed to happen after the babies were born so they could get their baby fix. For the first time in two weeks, Darla glanced at the clock that hung in their kitchen. “We’re twenty minutes late already.” She supposed that wasn’t too bad, considering this was their first real outing since they’d brought Graycie home.

  Cradling the baby in a football hold, Ty stood and th
en helped Darla up. She’d healed remarkably well, thanks to a fast delivery and all the prenatal yoga she and Everly had done over the previous few months, but that didn’t stop her husband from doting on her every chance he got.

  “You look gorgeous, babe.” He admired the simple sundress she’d chosen for the event. That was one nice thing about having a baby in late summer—she could wear comfy cotton dresses without worrying about the postbaby belly.

  “Thank you.” She planted a kiss on Ty’s cheek. “But I have to admit, I do miss my yoga pants.” That had been her new mom uniform for the previous two weeks—yoga pants and a tank top.

  “I miss them too.” He stole a glance at her butt. “The dress looks really great on you though. Who am I kidding? Everything looks great on you.” With Gracie nestled between them, he gave Darla a long lingering kiss that made her wish they weren’t under the dreaded postbaby abstinence protocol. Talk about torture.

  “All right, angel baby. Time to go.” Ty carried their daughter to her car seat carrier, which had sat on a bench by the front door since they’d brought her home from the hospital. He buckled her in, checking all the straps at least three times. Graycie startled and did that adorable stretch, raising her tiny fists above her head, and immediately started to whimper.

  “You can just never put her down,” Darla told him, bringing over her pacifier.

  “Shhh. It’s okay, angel baby,” he cooed, swinging the car seat lightly. “I’ve still got you. Your daddy’s still holding you.”

  Yeah, she couldn’t resist. Darla pulled out her phone again and snapped another picture.

  “We’re going to run out of space again,” Ty teased.

  “Then we’ll buy more.” She took another picture to show him she wouldn’t back down. “In fact, we might have to buy more space before the party is over.” She held open the door for him, and together they walked outside.

  It was a perfect Colorado summer afternoon with a cloudless blue sky stretching over the small acreage they’d bought on the edge of town. To say the previous six months had been a whirlwind would be putting it mildly. In February, they had indeed invited Ty’s family to join them on a trip to Hawaii, where they’d gotten married barefoot on the beach. They’d moved into Darla’s house for a couple of months while they waited patiently for their dream house to go on the market. Finally, the Realtor called with a new listing—a modest three-bedroom ranch-style home situated on five acres where Ty could train riders after he retired.