The Best Cowboy Christmas Ever

by June Faver

  “Um, I guess I’m okay. How are you?” Angelique edged slightly away.

  Oh, boy. I must have really been a bitch. “Pretty good. Just got off work.”

  Angelique swallowed visibly. “Oh, where do you work?”

  “I am the office manager for the only lawyer in Langston. He’s a great guy, but he’s also a rancher, and he has to go to the county seat quite often, so I’m in the office by myself a lot.”

  “That doesn’t sound bad.”

  “It’s a great job… Uh, what kind of job did you have in New Orleans?”

  “I worked in—in food service.” Angelique’s lips tightened. “Excuse me.” She got up from the table and went to where Gabrielle was playing with JT and motioned for her to get up. “We better be going. Big Jim will be expecting me.”

  “I wish you could stick around a little while longer.” Leah opened a cabinet and selected a reusable plastic container. “Let me send some goodies home with you to share with Big Jim.” She filled the container with cookies and tassies while Angelique was zipping Gabrielle in her insulated jacket and pulling up the hood. Leah pulled on her jacket when Angelique was shrugging into hers. Leah shot a dark glance at Misty. “Let me walk you out, Angelique.” She grabbed the container of cookies and ushered her out the door.

  Well! Misty felt as though she had been smacked in the face. At least Angelique had raised a hand to wave at her before she ducked out the door. She could see Leah and Angelique embrace after her kid was secured in the back seat. Just seeing them hugging was worrisome. Somehow, Misty had slipped in her sister-in-law’s esteem.

  When Leah came inside, she looked upset.

  Misty tried to keep it light. “I was hoping Angelique could stay.”

  “Gracie, why don’t you take JT to the den?” The always sweet Leah had an edge to her voice.

  “Yes, Mama.” Gracie picked JT up and left the room, but glanced back with a worried expression on her face. Mark stood up, but stayed leaning against the wall as though afraid to get in the middle of the female confrontation.

  Fern Davis stood by the range, but seemed to have frozen in place.

  Leah gazed at Misty solemnly. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you need to stop using Angelique to play out your game. You and Colton have been mean to her since she first arrived.” She shook her head.

  “Why, I was perfectly nice to her,” Misty said. “I don’t know what caused her to leave.”

  “Oh, yes you do. It was your complete turnaround. One day you’re dripping venom, and the next you’re all sugar. The poor woman has a right to be suspicious.”

  Misty swallowed hard. Time to give it up. “You’re right. Colt was trying to protect Big Jim. He thought Angelique was a fake. I’m sorry.”

  Leah made a face. “It’s not me you owe an apology to. First of all, you weren’t exactly subtle with your dislike, so if you truly want to make amends, it’s going to have to be more than sweeping it under the rug.”

  Misty was shocked that the sweet and usually positive Leah was glowering at her. “I-I don’t have any idea what you mean.”

  Leah rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Misty. I was there. I saw how much you hurt Angelique with your mean-spirited actions.”

  “I guess I didn’t realize I was doing anything to hurt her.” Misty’s mouth felt suddenly dry as the Sahara. “Colt was convinced she was out to scam Big Jim. I-I was angry with her.”

  Leah crossed her arms over her chest, raising a brow. “And why did you show up here today with all this goodness, sweetness, and light? What’s the punch line? What else are you trying to do to her?”

  “N-nothing, I swear.” Misty spread her hands. “Colt said Big Jim is convinced she’s his real daughter, and Colt doesn’t want to ruin Christmas for everyone. He said he is going to accept Angelique’s claim unless something comes up to prove it false.”

  Now Fern Davis was glaring at her. “So you jus’ kinda pretendin’ to believe her, but y’all kin take it back any ol’ time you want.” She made a scoffing sound. “That’s not family.”

  “Um, I think we should be going now.” Misty stood and slipped her jacket on. “I don’t know what I can say to make things right.” She strode rapidly to the door with Mark looking confused but following behind her.

  “We’re not the people you should be talking to,” Leah said. “I love you, Misty, but you and Colton need to fix this…quickly.”

  “Yeah,” Fern called. “Before you an’ Colt ruin Christmas for all o’ us.”

  Chapter 19

  “Hey, Sheriff.” One of Derrick’s deputies appeared in the doorway to his office. “I just got a call from the Lawsons’ son. He’s taking them to live with him in Lubbock, and he asked if you could find a home for the dog and keep an eye on the little farm until he can sell it.”

  Derrick heaved a sigh and looked down at the dog, curled up close to his feet. “Well, I’m pretty sure Smokey already has a home, don’t you, boy?” He reached down to pet the dog. “You’re mine now.”

  “Aw, that’s nice,” the deputy said.

  Derrick had been mulling over his conversation with the New Orleans police chief. He tried to piece it together with what he knew about Angelique.

  Derrick had to wonder if Cormier was joking about the old “sumbitch” who killed a lot of men. He’d said this man was friends with Angelique’s mother, so that sounded plausible. But would her mother hang out with someone who sounded extremely dangerous?

  He was dreading it, but he would have to have a talk with Angelique about it.

  When he called to ask her to dinner, she begged off, saying she’d had a bad day and wasn’t feeling well—headache, she said. But she had agreed to let him pick her up for dinner the next night.

  “I promise to be better company tomorrow night.”

  “Aw, Angelique.” Derrick hated to think of her feeling bad. “You don’t even know how to be bad company. I’ll pick you up about six. How about Mexican food?”

  “Yes, that sounds great.” But her voice didn’t quite sound as if she thought it was great. He hoped she wasn’t planning on dumping him. Frowning, he didn’t think that was the case, but he could tell she was upset about something.

  He rolled his chair back from his desk, causing Smokey to uncurl himself and look alert. “Let’s go home, boy.”

  He had been counting on having dinner out and had no desire to go home to his empty house and open a can of chili. But since he had Smokey with him, he couldn’t go into any of the three local restaurants.

  “Looks like it’s the DQ drive-through for us, boy.”

  Derrick left the sheriff’s office in the hands of two of his deputies who would soon be relieved by a new shift. He whistled and Smokey fell in beside him.

  At the Dairy Queen, he ordered a fully loaded cheeseburger and an extra beef patty for Smokey.

  He ruffled the fur around Smokey’s neck, wondering how Angelique was doing. He hoped her headache had abated and that she would feel well the next day.

  * * *

  Gabrielle was fast asleep in her bed.

  Big Jim had closed up the house and headed for his own bedroom.

  Angelique lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She had replayed Misty’s strange behavior over and over in her head and still couldn’t figure out what she was up to. Definitely not acting in Angelique’s best interests. Probably hoping to get close enough to dig up some dirt. It made Angelique sad to think someone could dislike her so much.

  She tried to relax, flexing the tense muscles that were holding her prisoner.

  It was a bright, moonlit night, even more so due to the snowy reflection. She had drawn the drapes, but the room was still quite bright.

  She yearned for darkness, for sleep so deep that she might be able to forget the unplanned encounter with Colton’s wife, Misty.

  Co
lton…the biggest of the Garrett brothers. The firstborn, after her. The one who seemed to have a chip on his shoulder and who was openly hostile—as was his spouse, although her animosity had been displayed as a distant haughty pout.

  But today she had almost cuddled up in her quest to pretend friendship. What could she be up to?

  Angelique took a deep breath, filling her lungs and easing it out in the dark. She felt lonely. She should have gone out with Derrick. He was such a sweet man, and she acknowledged that she loved him…but she also felt guilty for loving him.

  It felt as though she was being unfaithful to Remy, the only other man she had ever loved. Really the only other man she had ever known.

  She and Remy had grown up together, due to her mother’s on-again, off-again relationship with Alphonse Benoit. Angelique hadn’t known what kind of man he was when she was a child. He was just Remy’s father. But as she grew up, she became aware of the fact that Remy was always operating under a level of fear of the man.

  Her gut twisted at the memory. This line of thought was doing nothing to bring about the sleep she so desperately wanted. She tried taking slow, deep breaths. She tried imagining the ranch without the layer of snow. She tried thinking of the bread pudding she hoped to make for the Garrett family Christmas dinner. She wanted to contribute something that was typical of her upbringing in Louisiana.

  But nothing seemed to work. Her brain kept the image of Remy’s handsome face right under the surface of whatever she was attempting to erase him with. When she was most vulnerable, a memory would pop up to torment her.

  Remy laughing and teasing her. Remy dancing with her. Remy working alongside her at their restaurant. Remy making love to her.

  She surprised herself by letting out a little cry of pain. Surprised that she could still feel that much pain when she had tried so hard to get beyond it.

  Remy was dead. He died in the fire.

  Gasping for breath, Angelique sat up, hugging her knees. No, she couldn’t think about the fire. She couldn’t let the anger and the fear take over.

  She had a new life here. She and Gabrielle were safe from the threats from Alphonse Benoit. All she had to do was keep her head down and become invisible as a member of Big Jim Garrett’s family. “He is my father,” she whispered.

  Such a different relationship than Remy had with his father. It seemed Alphonse had always inspired fear in his son. Remy’s mother had died when he was a boy, and Alphonse tried to raise Remy in his own heartless image, but Remy was kind and creative.

  When Angelique became pregnant, Remy wanted to marry her, but Sofie had been horrified. “No, baby. You do not want to be a Benoit. Promise me you won’t consider it as long as Alphonse is alive.”

  Even Remy could understand Sofie’s reluctance. He apologized time after time for his father’s evil reign and promised he would never be a part of it. So Angelique had been content to remain his “fiancée” complete with a mammoth diamond ring.

  Sofie had been involved with Alphonse for some time and apparently knew a lot about his criminal enterprise. While she didn’t claim to be in love with him, she did enjoy his financial support and the way he lavished her with generous funds for shopping trips, fine jewels, and the rent for her apartment in the Quarter. She seemed to have no fear of him but tried to ignore his enterprise and concentrate on her daughter, her singing career, and supporting the two young people. She had taken great pleasure in their success, and when her granddaughter appeared, spent most days hanging out and providing care for Gabrielle.

  Silent tears rolled down Angelique’s cheeks. Tears of sorrow and loss. Tears for Sofie. Tears for Remy. Tears for abandoned dreams, and tears of anger.

  She heaved a sigh of regret. No going back. She needed to stay here in the heart of Texas ranch country and become invisible. This was not a place Alphonse would search for her.

  Sofie knew how to keep a secret. If she would not reveal the name of her father until she was dying of cancer, Angelique knew she would not have told Alphonse.

  Angelique was stunned when her mother had gone to a hospice for her final days. “Why didn’t you seek treatment?” she had asked, but Sofie laughed.

  “Have you seen those women? Bald as a doorknob.” She had stroked her lustrous dark hair. “We all make our own choices. How to live…and some of us choose how to die.”

  Sofie had given her daughter all of her worldly possessions. Her car…her jewelry…her bank account. “Just be happy, my precious.”

  Alphonse had been truly devastated by Sofie’s death. He couldn’t comprehend why she would keep her illness a secret from him. He was both enraged and sorrowful, mourning Sofie and desperate to hold on to what little family he had left.

  Gabrielle and his memories of Remy.

  Alphonse became aware of the passing of time and of his own age. He had intended to force Remy into becoming a part of his criminal organization. After all, he had built this empire for his son to take over. He was furious that his own son was more interested in baking and frying for the public than working with his father. His feelings toward Angelique were complex. He loved her as his beloved Sofie’s daughter and also for being the mother of Gabrielle, his only remaining blood relative. But he also hated her, blaming her for Remy’s kind and loving nature, for turning him against his own father.

  Now he was willing to kill her to get his hands on his granddaughter.

  Angelique couldn’t stop shivering. She got out of bed and groped for her flannel robe. She slid it on and tied the belt before crossing the room to check on Gabrielle and then peek behind the drapes to gaze at the countryside. She was relieved by the total stillness. No sound. No movement. No murderous goons closing in on her.

  She let the drapes fall back into place and sank onto the upholstered rocking chair Big Jim had moved into the room for her convenience. A lot of children had been raised in this house. That was a comfort.

  After all, a man who would kill his own son would not hesitate to murder the woman who stood between him and his grandchild.

  * * *

  Colt tried to relax and go back to sleep. He had to find a way to apologize to Angelique and to his dad.

  He snuggled Misty closer, inhaling the fragrance of her hair conditioner. Something sweet and floral. Something that was always a part of her.

  Today he would climb out of bed, like any other day, and see what he could do to help his father around the ranch. He had no doubt that Big Jim had a list of tasks for the two of them to take on.

  Misty would go into Langston to open Breckenridge T. Ryan’s office and keep him and his clients in order. Mark was working on some project, or he might be able to loll around and watch television like most kids.

  But Colt would find a way to let Big Jim know he regretted his actions and was ready to accept Angelique as his sister. He could not be responsible for bringing about an uncomfortable situation during the Christmas season. It had always been a special time of year. He remembered all the preparations his mother had once made leading up to Christmas. The baking and decorations had been spectacular.

  And then, after she died, his father had taken over, trying to make sure his sons had a wonderful holiday. It was as though he wanted to make certain they didn’t suffer any deprivation because Elizabeth was no longer with them.

  Now their oldest son had ruined Christmas for everyone. Colt felt the pain of regret. Merry Christmas, douchebag!

  * * *

  The next morning, Big Jim noted that Angelique looked a little tired, and she was definitely on edge.

  “Sleep well?”

  She nodded.

  “Where’s my beautiful granddaughter?”

  Angelique smiled. “She’s sleeping in. It’s still dark outside. I thought I would get up before you and see if we had what I need to make bread pudding.” She had laid out some spices on the countertop. “It
appears we have everything except French bread and bourbon.”

  He regarded her with a smile. “Trust me, we always have bourbon.”

  She smiled in return. “Good to know.”

  “And we can go into town to get some French bread. I think there should be some in the store in Langston.”

  “Good. The bread ought to be a couple of days old for the best results.”

  Big Jim tilted his head to one side. “Old bread? That don’t sound too good.”

  “Trust me, Dad. This is a very old recipe from my mom’s side of the family, and you are going to beg me to make it for you.” She shrugged. “I’ll check the ‘sell by’ dates and grab whatever has been on the shelf the longest.”

  “I’ll make sure to take you into Langston this afternoon.” He touched two fingers to his brow in a salute. “I’m gonna pour me some of that coffee and then see to the stock. It’s supposed to snow again overnight, so I want to make sure they have extra grain and silage.”

  She turned with a surprised expression. “I have never heard that word before. What in the world is silage?”

  He displayed a wide grin, raising his cup to her. “That’s my future rancher daughter talking. I’m so glad you’re interested.”

  “Of course I’m interested. It’s like being dropped into a foreign country.” She wiped her hands on a dishcloth and then leaned against the counter. “Enlighten me.”

  Big Jim took a seat at the dining-room side of the counter. He hooked the heels of his boots onto the rungs of the stool and set his coffee mug down. “Silage, my dear daughter, is the grass or other green fodder that we harvest without drying it. We store it in that little round metal building called a silo.”

  “That makes sense.” She leaned both cheeks on her fists.

  “Silage is winter feed for the animals. It’s compacted, fermented, and stored in the silo so we can feed our cattle when snow is covering the pastures.”

  She smiled, looking so sweet it made his chest warm. “Is this rotten grass anything special?”