Cowboys & Angels

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  Three days before Christmas, Dominique Chance emailed a link to the wedding pictures along with a chatty note about the fun they’d had at Serenity. Elle put off opening the link for another day. She wanted to see the pictures, but also knew Trey would be in them.

  When she woke up at four in the morning on Christmas Eve Day with a burning desire to look at those pictures, she surrendered to the urge to click on that link. For the next hour, she sat on her bed and watched a slide show of the wedding.

  Some shots made her laugh, but others...well, she had to hit Pause, climb out of bed and grab the tissue box. It wasn’t only the pictures of Trey that made her cry, either. She teared up at the tender scene of Jack holding Archie at the altar, and the loving expression on Emmett’s face as Pam walked toward him down the aisle.

  She got weepy when she came to the image of Pam and Emmett dancing at the reception. And then...there she was in Trey’s arms when they’d waltzed to “If I Didn’t Have You in My Life.” Dominique had several shots from different angles, as if she hadn’t wanted Elle to miss the message.

  She didn’t miss it. Trey gazed down at her in the same way Emmett had looked at Pam. But that wasn’t all. Dominique had captured the emotion on Elle’s face with stunning clarity, too.

  It was a portrait of a woman in love. Jetting from continent to continent hadn’t worked this time. She’d become attached to Trey Wheeler, and if she ever wanted this horrible ache to stop, she had to admit that attachment and honor it. Her roving days were over.

  * * *

  TREY VOWED THAT he was going to enjoy his first Christmas at the Last Chance and put all thoughts of Elle clean out of his mind. Around four in the afternoon he left the bunkhouse. The other hands were taking their sweet time getting showered and dressed for the big night, but Trey was eager to join the party.

  A light snow fell as he took the short walk uphill to the massive two-story log structure that was the heart and soul of the ranch. According to Watkins and Mary Lou, the house had begun as a two-story box shape. As the family had grown, a wing had been added on each side, canted outward so the house seemed to be reaching out its arms in welcome.

  A covered porch ran along the entire length. In summer, the porch was lined with rockers and became a good spot for socializing. But winter was not the time for rocking on the porch. Winter meant gathering around the giant stone fireplace in the living room, and that’s what Trey looked forward to.

  Most folks had arrived, judging by all the vehicles parked near the house. Although the Chance brothers each had a house of their own on ranch property, they’d all driven the few miles to the main house and would spend the night here, along with their wives and kids.

  They’d be the only ones to stay overnight, but there’d be plenty of other guests. Josie’s brother, Alex Keller, and his wife, Tyler, would be here. Trey wanted to ask her about recording a few songs, just to see what would happen if they put them out there. He planned to train horses for the rest of his life, but a little extra income never hurt.

  Nash Bledsoe’s truck was parked with the others, so he and his wife, Bethany, had driven over from the Triple G, a small ranch that bordered the Last Chance. Bethany wrote motivational books. Trey didn’t know her well yet, and he’d had no opportunity to talk with her at the wedding, either. But gatherings like this one were a good place to get acquainted.

  No doubt other members of the Chances’ extended family would show up, too. Jack’s half brothers, Wyatt and Rafe Locke, along with their wives, had promised to make it. Neither couple had been able to attend the wedding, so they were adamant they’d be at the Christmas Eve party.

  Trey figured he was forgetting several other folks who would be there, too. Good thing the house was big and Mary Lou had cooked a whole bunch of food. Watkins said she’d been cheerfully slaving away in the kitchen for two days. Apparently, she liked nothing better than preparing for a party.

  Lights glowed from every window, and as Trey approached, snatches of Christmas music filtered outside. A huge wreath hung on the front door, and two miniature trees with sparkling lights stood on either side of it. When the temperature dipped lower tonight, those little trees would be brought in so the lights wouldn’t pop in the cold, but Sarah loved making the entrance festive.

  Trey had told himself not to think about Elle, but damn, he wished she could see this. She might not fall in love with him, but she’d have to fall in love with this big old ranch house and the wonderful people inside, celebrating the season. She wasn’t here, though, and that was her loss.

  Taking a deep breath of crisp air, he walked up the steps and opened the door. Inside, the scene was even better than Trey had imagined. The noise level was high, with a mixture of Christmas music, conversation and laughter―it was a happy noise. A few people sat on the comfortable leather furniture, but most of them stood so they could move around and talk to everyone.

  A graceful wooden staircase spiraled to the second floor. Trey noticed little Archie navigating his way down the stairs, a Barbie doll clutched in his pudgy fist. About the time he reached the bottom step, Sarah Bianca raced down the upstairs hallway. “Archie! No!”

  Archie looked at Trey, pure mischief in his expression, before taking off toward the crowded living room.

  “Archie!” Sarah Bianca pounded down the stairs in hot pursuit.

  As Trey watched the drama unfold, Jack snatched up his son and took him over to admire the lights on the giant tree in the corner. While Archie was distracted by the lights, Jack quietly took the doll away. Gabe put a hand on Sarah Bianca’s tiny shoulder, steered her toward Jack, and retrieved the doll. His daughter marched back upstairs, and all was well.

  Trey had often wondered if Jack and Gabe’s work with horses carried over to their method of child care. If so, he might turn out to be a pretty good dad himself. But that thought reminded him of Elle and their failed love affair.

  “Hey, cowboy, no long faces tonight.” Watkins approached him, a beer in each hand. He gave one to Trey. “Merry Christmas, son.”

  Even though Watkins’s use of son put a lump in Trey’s throat, he wouldn’t ever want the older man to quit saying it. He smiled. “Same to you, Watkins. Cheers. How’s Mary Lou doing in the kitchen?”

  “Just fine, but I’m fixing to go back and help her and Cassidy. I wanted to make sure you had a beer, though, before I left the area.”

  “I’ll come and help, too.”

  “Nah, you don’t have to do that. Stay out here. Have fun. Get you some munchies.”

  “I can do that in a little while. Let’s go.” He started down the hallway that led to the dining room and kitchen area.

  “Okay, if you insist.” Watkins walked along beside him. “This is a big crowd, bigger than usual, so Sarah’s asked Mary Lou to set up a buffet in the dining room instead of trying to serve the food in the living room, like they used to do.”

  “Makes sense. I— Whoops, there’s my phone. I don’t know why I brought it. Habit, I guess. If we hadn’t walked down here I doubt I would have heard it.” He couldn’t imagine who’d be calling him. Maybe some cowboy from his old job, wanting to wish him a happy holiday.

  Then he stared at the readout in disbelief. “Oh, my God.”

  Watkins’s swift glance was filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. Elle’s calling. Excuse me a minute.” Heart pounding, he put the phone to his ear. “Elle?”

  “Trey, I can’t believe this. I’m stuck in a snowdrift.”

  His heart beat faster. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, but this truck isn’t going anywhere without a tow.”

  For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why she was calling him. “Where are you?”

  “On the road to the Last Chance.”

  “What?” Then he said the first stu
pid thing that popped into his head. “What the hell are you doing there?”

  “I was coming to see you, and I don’t know the road, and it’s dark out here, and it’s snowing, and I somehow lost track of where the road was.”

  “You were coming to see me? Why?”

  “Because I—listen, instead of telling you all this on the phone, could you come and pull me out? Then I can follow you to the ranch.”

  “Yeah, sure. I’ll be right there. See you soon.” He disconnected the phone and looked at Watkins. “She’s stuck out on the ranch road.”

  “So I gathered.” Watkins clapped him on the back. “Looks promising, son.”

  “Maybe.” Trey was afraid to hope for too much. “I need to go pull her out. I know I offered to help you and Mary Lou, but—”

  “Don’t give it another thought. But can I offer a suggestion?”

  “Like what?”

  “Don’t take your Jeep out there. You’ll be fumbling around in the dark, and when you’re done, you’ll still be in one vehicle and she’ll be in another, which isn’t very romantic. Save the towing for when it’s daylight.”

  “And do what?”

  “Rescue her the cowboy way. Ride out there on a horse and bring her back tucked in front of you. You have the advantage, son. Maximize it.”

  * * *

  ELLE PONDERED THE irony of her situation as she watched for headlights on the road. Maybe it wasn’t ironic, after all, but fitting. Supposedly she’d saved Trey’s life last spring, but by doing so, she’d apparently saved her own.

  Without realizing it, she’d blindly followed a pattern stamped into her by her parents. They’d adjusted to constant moves by becoming detached from people and places. Or maybe they’d chosen their life paths because they preferred to stay detached.

  She wasn’t like them. Trey had shown her that by jolting her out of a numbing lifestyle and making her feel again. She’d needed a dyed-in-the-wool romantic to accomplish that, and she’d found him.

  But getting to him tonight had been more of a challenge than she’d anticipated. Honest to God, they needed streetlights on this road. She’d never driven in such total blackness. If Trey hadn’t answered his cell phone, her predicament could have been dire.

  He had, though, and he should arrive any minute. She’d left her headlights on so he’d see her. Beyond the reach of those beams, she searched for evidence that he was coming in her direction.

  Then her phone rang. Why the hell was he calling her? She pushed the connect button. “Where are you? I have my lights on. I shouldn’t be hard to spot.”

  “I decided to warn you that I’m not coming in my truck.”

  “What do you mean, you’re not coming?” She sounded panicky, but she couldn’t help it. Darkness surrounded her, not to mention snow, and she needed to be rescued, damn it!

  “I’m heading toward you, but I’m riding a horse. I didn’t want to scare you.”

  “A horse?” She wondered if this was a crazy dream. “What is it, a Clydesdale?”

  “No, just a regular horse named Inkspot. We’re going to leave your truck here until tomorrow when it’ll be easier to see what we’re doing. Inkspot and I will take you to the ranch.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Nope.” And he rode into the beam of her headlights.

  She stared at this broad-shouldered cowboy wearing a sheepskin jacket and a Stetson. He’d come to her rescue, not like the Lone Ranger, but like a knight in shining armor, mounted on a magnificent black-and-white horse.

  Grabbing her duffel, she opened the door and climbed out as he dismounted. They met in the beam of her headlights, and she launched herself into his arms, knocking his hat into the snow.

  He didn’t seem to notice as he gathered her close and kissed her. His mouth was cold at first, but it warmed up fast. And all the while, she was thinking that this was the man she would be kissing for the rest of her life, and that was beyond wonderful.

  Although he couldn’t seem to stop kissing her, he managed to lift his mouth long enough to murmur a few words about needing to get her back to the ranch. Maybe that was so, but she had what she wanted right here.

  Finally, he cupped her face and put some distance between her lips and his. “Seriously. We have to get back. It’s cold out here.”

  “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “Trust me, you will. Let’s turn off your headlights and lock your Jeep.”

  “Not before I say what I came to say.” Suddenly it seemed more important than anything else.

  He went very still. “Okay.”

  “I love you, Trey Wheeler. I’ve never been in love before, so I didn’t know what had happened to me, but you happened to me, and I’ve been an idiot, and—” She didn’t get to finish because he started kissing her again. But she’d said most of it, at least.

  Moments later, he came up for air. “That’s the most beautiful speech I’ve ever heard.”

  “There’s more.”

  “And I can’t wait to hear it. But if we don’t get back soon, they’ll send out a search party, and that will louse up everyone’s Christmas Eve celebration.”

  “I don’t want that.”

  “Me, either.”

  “But I just need to hear one thing from you before we go.”

  “Anything. I’ll say anything you want me to.”

  “Come on, Trey. You know what it is. You write songs about it.”

  “Are you talking about saying that I love you? Isn’t it obvious?”

  “Yes.” She laughed. “But that doesn’t mean a girl doesn’t want to hear those words when she’s driven all the way out here in the dark on Christmas Eve.”

  He cupped the back of her neck with one gloved hand and gazed into her eyes. “I love you, Elle Masterson. I love you with everything I have, everything I am and everything I will ever be.”

  “Oh.” Tears filled her eyes. “That’s...beautiful.”

  “Not nearly as beautiful as the life we’re going to have together.” He brushed his warm lips over hers. “Starting right now.” In moments he’d locked her Jeep and hoisted her into the saddle in true hero fashion.

  And although they rode off into the snow instead of into the sunset, Elle had no doubt they would have a very happy ending.

  Epilogue

  “GUESS WE WON’T have to spend Christmas Eve delivering a foal, after all.” Regan O’Connelli stripped off his rubber gloves and got to his feet.

  Timothy Lindquist, head trainer for the Marley Stables, sighed. “Sorry to bring you out here for a false alarm, Doc. I thought for sure she was in labor. The boss has high hopes for this one, up to and including the Triple Crown, so I can’t take chances.”

  “I completely understand. But my fiancée will be very happy not to spend Christmas Eve alone.”

  Timothy grinned. “Same with my wife. She knows how important this foal is, but she still grumbled when I informed her that this was the night.”

  “Not from what I see, but I’d keep an eye on things if I were you.” Regan picked up his bag.

  “Don’t worry. I will. But coming down here every few hours is a hell of a lot better than spending the night in the barn. Thanks, Doc.”

  “You bet.” Regan shook the trainer’s hand. “Call me if you notice any changes.”

  “Got your number in my phone. Merry Christmas.”

  “Same to you.” Regan left the barn and glanced up at the clear sky. No snow in sight. Too bad.

  In Virginia, you never knew if you’d have snow for the holidays or not. Jeannette was hoping for a white Christmas, and it didn’t look promising. But she’d probably trade snow for having him around tonight. He’d told her he’d probably be gone for hours, maybe all night.

  On the dri
ve home he pulled out his phone to call and let her know he was on his way. He was in the habit of doing that. Then he thought better of it. Since it was Christmas, he’d surprise her. That would be more romantic.

  But now that he had his phone out, he could call his sister Cassidy in Wyoming and wish her a Merry Christmas. So far she seemed to love apprenticing as the housekeeper at the Last Chance, plus she got to see Tyler and Morgan a lot, and Cassidy adored her big sisters.

  With seven siblings, plus his parents, Regan had to space out his holiday calls. He’d contact both Tyler and Morgan tomorrow, when he had more time. He wanted all the details on the wedding, especially Tyler’s performances with Watkins and Trey Wheeler.

  Talking to Morgan would take a while, too, because it would undoubtedly include a long conversation with his niece Sarah Bianca. He smiled. He was crazy about that little redhead.

  Cassidy answered right away. “Regan! Merry Christmas! I can’t talk long, because we have this huge party going on. I’ll text you about it later.”

  “Great! So you’re having fun?”

  “Are you kidding? I love it here. Love, love, love it. You should move out to Jackson Hole, Regan. Nick keeps saying he needs a partner in his vet business.”

  Regan laughed. “Yeah, he mentioned that when I was there last summer, but Cass, I have a partner, remember? Drake wouldn’t appreciate having me bail on him, and I wouldn’t, anyway. He’s my best friend.”

  “I know.” Cassidy sighed dramatically. “But it would be so cool if you were here, too. You and Drake could both come!”

  “’Fraid not. His folks live here, and they helped us build our practice. Then there’s Jeannette. Her family’s here, too. I guarantee she wouldn’t want to move to Wyoming.”

  “Well, bummer. Promise you’ll come out for a visit soon, okay? Bring Jeannette. Maybe once she sees the place, she’ll be hooked.”