A Very Cowboy Christmas

by Kim Redford

  He took it easy driving out of the ranch, not wanting to jostle his passengers, but there was only so much he could do on the rutted road. They didn’t say anything or complain in any way, so he tilted his rearview mirror so he could look in the back seat. Sydney cradled Storm’s head in her lap as she gently stroked her daughter’s long blond hair.

  Oddly enough, the sight hit him in the gut. What the hell was going on with him? And then he got it. He wanted that kind of love and family in his life. He’d had it growing up, but he’d considered it too confining when he was big enough to compete on his own in rodeos, so he’d become a rolling stone. After all this time, maybe he’d rolled to a complete stop at the feet of Sydney Steele—and her daughter, Storm.

  First Slade. Now Sydney. He wouldn’t have believed it just yesterday, but he had to accept the fact that the entire Steele family was drawing him into their orbit as if he might be a wayward piece of cosmic debris looking for a home.

  He came to the cattle guard, eased across it, and turned onto Wildcat Road. Finally, he could make some time. He was more than ready to get to the clinic—not only for Sydney and Storm, but for himself. He needed to get his mind back on the situation at hand instead of flailing around like a fly caught in an East Texas sludge pit. He was helping out friends, nothing more, nothing less.

  By the time he reached Wildcat Bluff Medical Clinic, he had his emotions in control and his priorities in order. He pulled into an empty parking spot away from the entry, so he had plenty of room for his dually. Fortunately, the place didn’t look too busy, although it did a brisk business almost any time of the day.

  He appreciated the community’s hard work through benefits, donations, and grants to fund the clinic, a much-needed addition to the county. The simple redbrick building with a forest-green metal roof outlined by blinking red Christmas lights housed medical, dental, lab, and insurance personnel with more on call for emergencies. He figured Sydney already had her family records in order here, so it’d simply be a matter of getting her inside and in line to get help.

  He stepped down from his pickup, opened the back door, and looked inside the cab. “How’re we doing in here?”

  Sydney smiled at him as Storm sat up with a big yawn. “Much better, thank you.”

  “Let’s get you both inside and let them get to work on you.”

  “I don’t think it’ll take much.” Sydney swung her feet over the edge of the seat toward him.

  “Don’t let Mommy walk!” Storm crawled around Sydney and flung her arms around him.

  “It’s okay. I’ll carry her,” Dune said. “How about I lift you down to the ground, and then you walk in on your own two feet?”

  Storm looked up at him and grinned mischievously. “If I do it, do I get two lollipops?”

  “Storm, stop that,” Sydney said with laughter in her voice. “It’s one lollipop a visit, and you know it.”

  “But he didn’t know it.”

  Dune chuckled as he picked up Storm, noticing how small and light she felt, and carefully set her feet on the asphalt. He turned back to Sydney, lifted her in his arms, thinking she wasn’t all that much heavier than her daughter, and shut the door with his hip. He quickly covered the distance to the front door, and it slid open automatically to accommodate them.

  Inside, Christmas music played softly over a speaker system. A few folks waited in colorful plastic chairs and glanced up at him from magazines and cell phones. He nodded in their direction while they gave him sympathetic and appreciative nods in return. He realized they viewed him as a father and husband taking care of his small family. He felt a sudden warm glow at the idea, but the feeling took him by surprise.

  “Over there!” Storm tugged at his belt loop as she pointed at the check-in counter.

  He walked over there and started to speak, but the woman sporting big blond hair and tight colorful scrubs jumped up from her chair.

  “Sydney, heavens to Betsy, what have you gone and done?” She gave Dune the once-over, grinning as she did it. “And where did you pick up the hunk?”

  He didn’t say a word, not about to step into the middle of woman-speak.

  “Ah, Linda, would you believe it? I found him in a pasture.” Sydney patted Dune’s shoulder. “Lucky me, huh?”

  “Yeah, I’d believe it. You always did have all the luck,” Linda said. “Where’d you say that pasture was?”

  “I didn’t say.”

  “Lucky—and greedy.” Linda chuckled as she shook her head. “Guess you don’t have a mind to share.”

  “Not today.”

  “In that case, I’ll live in hope.” Linda winked at Dune. “Cowboy, what can I do for you, or even better, what can you do for me?”

  Dune sighed, not in the right frame of mine to flirt or tease, although that’s obviously what was expected of him.

  “Guess I’d better introduce you,” Sydney said. “Linda Malone. Dune Barrett.”

  “Yum,” Linda said. “I’ve read the books—you know, the Dune series.”

  “Never heard of them,” he said through gritted teeth. “But it’s good to meet you.”

  “That’s what all the guys say.”

  “Linda, you’re such a firecracker,” Sydney said, sounding a little tense. “But give Dune a break. He’s already had to rescue two ladies today.”

  “Want to go for a third?” Linda gave him another wink.

  “As lovely as you are,” Dune finally said, “I believe a third rescue will have to wait for another day.”

  “I’m always in need of rescue by a good-looking cowboy,” Linda said. “Stop by any time, and I’ll be ready.”

  Sydney patted Dune’s shoulder again. “I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s not a guy alive who’s safe once he gets in Linda’s crosshairs.”

  “I’ve never heard a complaint yet.” Linda patted her updo. “But let’s reminisce about cowboys another day. Looks as if you need some help.”

  “And I need a lollipop.” Storm held up her hand.

  “First, she needs to see a doc,” Dune said, trying not to sound impatient but knowing he’d missed the mark. “Storm took a tumble off a four-wheeler.”

  “Well, bless your heart.” Linda looked down at Storm. “How are you feeling?”

  “Once I get my lollipop, just fine.”

  “First, you see the doctor,” Sydney said.

  “They both need to see a doctor.” Dune had had it with all the friendly chitchat. Sydney was in pain. Storm probably, too. “And soon.”

  “I’ll get right on it.” Linda looked him over again as she raised an eyebrow. “I just love to take orders from cowboys.”

  Dune gave up. A pretty, flirty gal like Linda thought she could have any guy she wanted any time she wanted him. And it was probably true. Maybe he’d even have fallen for her well-worn line if he’d wandered in here eight or nine months ago. But now? Linda didn’t even warrant a flicker of interest—particularly not with Sydney snuggled in his arms.

  “Linda, as much as I appreciate your appreciation of Dune,” Sydney said in a voice suddenly gone cold as ice, “I guess I’d better warn you to stay away from him.”

  “Really?” Linda opened her eyes wide in surprise. “But I thought you were off cowboys ever since…well, for a long time.”

  “That’s over,” Dune said, leaving no room for discussion. “And she needs a wheelchair.”

  Linda’s eyes opened even wider as she looked from Dune to Sydney and back again. “Okay. You got it.”

  Dune hugged Sydney tighter, feeling a burst of male pride. She had taken a strong, defensive position against a woman encroaching on her territory—namely Dune Barrett. Life didn’t get any sweeter. His woman was defending her man.

  And he was taking care of what he was coming to think of as his own little family.

  Chapter 12

  Dune s
at on a hard, plastic, uncomfortable chair tinted a bright orange as if to remind him that he’d left all the comforts of home…at home. Worse, he’d been left behind due to clinic rules and regs just because he wasn’t actual family when Sydney and Storm were taken back to visit the medical team. That’d been a slap in his face, particularly since he’d been feeling like family and protective of them. They’d been reluctant to leave him, too, but there’d been nothing for it except to let them go this time.

  Slade had already come and gone, giving Sydney her purse along with comfortable athletic shoes and padded socks. After that, Slade had hightailed it out to start cooking at the Chuckwagon Café. Dune had to admit they served the best country food in town.

  Now he sat twiddling his thumbs like a lump on a log and avoiding the gaze of Linda, who made no attempt to control her avid interest in him. At least she wasn’t flirting with him anymore, but he could tell she was hot to get the inside story on his relationship with Sydney. No matter. She was getting nothing from him, and he figured she knew it, but she’d surely pounce on Sydney when she came back out.

  He checked his phone again, but nobody needed him, since he’d taken time off working on Cougar Ranch to help Sydney. Right now, he’d be happy to hear he was desperately needed to ride out and rope a wild bull that had broken through a fence and gotten out of his pasture. It’d be better than sitting, waiting, and worrying. He’d just have to accept that no news was good news till he heard different.

  He fiddled with his phone as he let his mind drift back over the day, which felt longer than a month. He’d never spent so much time around Sydney outside of the intensity of fighting a fire. Now he liked her even better—maybe more than liked would be a truer assessment. They’d been through enough tribulation together to develop a bond that ran deeper than desire. He’d thought all he wanted was a quick roll in the hay, but that idea paled in comparison to what he wanted now. He hadn’t ever thought to put down roots and raise a family in a strong community, but Sydney and Storm were fast changing his mind.

  Galvanized by that revelation, he hit speed dial. He had business to take care of, and he wasn’t letting any more grass grow under his feet.

  “Now what?” Kent answered in a grumpy voice.

  “About Sydney’s calendar,” Dune said.

  “Not that again. We all figured if we stalled long enough, she’d run out of steam and time.”

  “Y’all are acting like a bunch of spooked yearlings.”

  “What? I thought you were on our side and were just going along with Sydney to get in her—”

  “If I’m going to be Mr. December, the rest of you are going to fill in the other eleven months.”

  “Oh hell, you’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  “You volunteered to be the photographer.”

  “Yeah. But I didn’t actually think we’d go through with it. I just didn’t want her chewing on me for weeks or months or however long it took for her to lose interest in a cowboy firefighter calendar, of all the damn things.”

  “She’s doing it to help the community.”

  “I know, but there are other ways.”

  “Not this late in the game.” Dune took a deep breath, deciding to put it all on the line for Sydney. “Okay. I’m calling in my marker.”

  “What!”

  “Remember that time at the rodeo in Mesquite—”

  “Don’t remind me.” Kent snorted over the phone. “You’ve really got it bad, don’t you?”

  “Might be. But that’s not the point. She’s put her life on hold to get this benefit up and running for the fire station. All she’s asking is for twelve guys to take a few minutes and pose before a camera.”

  “My camera.”

  “Yep. You’re first on my list to get onboard. Bottom line, she needs our help to set up a photo shoot at the fire station in the next couple of days and get the guys there. Hedy will help us.”

  Kent sighed long and loud. “I know I’m going to regret it, but okay. I owe you, and I owe Sydney, so I’ll help.”

  “And mean it?”

  “You’ve got my word,” Kent said. “But you know we’re going to end up owing every volunteer firefighter in the county.”

  “Let’s get the Chuckwagon Café to donate barbeque and fixings to offset the grumbling and owing.”

  “That’d help.”

  “Do you think we can set up the shoot for this week?”

  “Let me think. There are a few things going on that can’t be rescheduled, but give us four days, and we ought to be able to do it.”

  “Great. I’ll let Hedy know our plans so she can help out.” Dune hesitated, glancing around the waiting room, but there was no sign of Sydney or Storm. “Listen, I’m at the clinic right now.”

  “What’s going on?” Kent’s voice deepened with concern.

  “Storm took a tumble off her four-wheeler, and Sydney hurt her feet rescuing her.”

  “How bad?”

  “Basically, they’re okay, but they’re seeing the doctor right now to make sure all is in working order. I’m hoping they’ll take it easy for a while.”

  “Good,” Kent said with relief in his voice. “That’s part of why you’re so hell-bent on getting the calendar photos wrapped up.”

  “Yeah. I don’t want Sydney worrying when she needs to be resting.”

  “Agreed. Guess the joke’s over, and we better get down to business. You take care of Sydney and Storm. Let me get hold of Hedy, and we’ll wrangle up the cowboys, one way or another.”

  “Let’s plan to get the shots done in one day, okay?”

  “You bet. The less time this takes, the better for everybody.” Kent groaned out loud. “You know, folks in Wildcat Bluff County are never going to let us hear the end of this calendar.”

  “I know. It’ll go from a joke about Sydney trying to corral us for photographs to us being the laughingstocks.”

  “Tell me about it,” Kent agreed. “Oh well, it’s for a good cause. I’ll get right on it. Now, take care of those two ornery cowgirls, and I’ll talk with you later.”

  “Will do.” Dune punched off and tucked his cell phone back into the front pocket of his jeans, feeling satisfied that Sydney finally would get her photo shoot.

  As he glanced around the clinic again, the front doors slid open, and a guy walked inside. He held his left hand wrapped in a green-and-white striped towel tight against his stomach, and he grimaced in pain.

  Dune caught a whiff—faint, he had to admit, but still, he’d had enough experience to recognize the scent—of accelerant and burned flesh. He went on alert as the man walked up to Linda and spoke in a low voice. He strained to overhear the stranger but couldn’t make out any words.

  He well knew that lots of accidents involving fire happened all the time that didn’t need firefighter intervention. This guy could’ve been grilling a steak and added too much fuel to the charcoal, or he could’ve been burning leaves and brush and got too close, or he could’ve been doing any number of other things that involved fire at a house or ranch.

  But the man wasn’t dressed for those types of accidents, at least not in Wildcat Bluff County. He wore a brown golf shirt with tan chinos and brown loafers. He looked city, not country. And he was about a six in a land of tens. He was medium all the way—hair, face, height, weight. Most folks would see him one minute and forget him the next, but he stuck out like a sore thumb to Dune.

  He was no longer bored or disinterested in his surroundings. He wanted to know the name of the man, where he was from, what he was doing in the county, and the extent of his injuries. Normally, Dune wouldn’t have any trouble getting that information, but he was at the clinic as a regular person, not an EMT or firefighter. He chafed at the restriction.

  As he watched, the guy became more agitated and finally insisted in a loud voice that he had n
o insurance and was paying cash. Linda had him fill out and sign some forms, then the man turned around, spotted Dune, narrowed his eyes, and selected a seat on the opposite side of the waiting room.

  Now he was doubly interested in the guy. Nothing about him added up, but on the other hand, maybe boredom and worry were making him cast about for anything to fill his mind. He’d discovered over the years that unexplained fires were frequently puzzles that could be solved if a firefighter looked at the evidence and trusted his instincts. Refinery fires and oil field fires were another matter since they were simpler in some ways and trickier in others, but he wouldn’t be dealing with that type of fire around here. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be responding to any fires at all, a particularly important gift to folks during the Christmas season.

  Suddenly, Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” announced an incoming call from the fire station. He stood up and jerked out his cell phone. As he started to check his text message, he felt watched, so he glanced up. The stranger quickly averted his eyes, got to his feet, and headed toward the clinic’s inner door where a nurse stood motioning for him.

  Dune shrugged, figuring it was none of his business anyway, and instantly forgot the guy when he read Hedy’s text, “Fire at drive-in. Booster ready. You available?”

  He didn’t even hesitate as he quickly typed, “On my way.”

  Now he was glad of Linda’s interest in Sydney, so he could leave a message with her. He pocketed his phone and started toward her. He checked one more time for Sydney and Storm, and he saw them coming into the lobby. Sydney wore shoes and wasn’t using the wheelchair. Storm looked more her usual self. He felt a surge of relief at the sight.

  When Sydney saw him, she broke into a big smile just as Storm held up a lollipop.

  He strode over and gave each a quick hug, then gave them a closer look. “How are you?”

  “We’re okay.” Sydney pointed down at her feet and then at Storm. “A few bruises and scrapes for both of us, but nothing a little time won’t heal.”

  “That’s real fine.” He couldn’t wait any longer. “Are you good to go?”