Peppermint Proposal

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “Kevin’s a good man. I don’t know him super well, but I like what I know of him.” She looked at him. “This isn’t going to be one of those things where you guys try to out-macho each other, is it ?”

  “Nope. I tried that when we were teenagers, and Kevin would never rise to the bait. He was too good for that, too. That’s the thing about Kevin. His goodness is innate. It’s not an act at all. It’s real .”

  “I can see where it would be a pain to grow up with someone like that .”

  “It was! I wasn’t exactly known for my good behavior, and Kevin never looked down on those of us who were there for foster care, but he was always the good example. Sometimes I just wanted to mess up his hair so he’d be imperfect .”

  “So Kevin wasn’t one of the foster kids ?”

  “Yes and no. He was left as a baby on the McClain’s doorstep, and he was raised in the house with the brothers.” He shook his head. “I think that’s why it’s so frustrating that he’s perfect. He never got into trouble to end up there like the rest of us .”

  She laughed. “When you meet Bridget, you’ll know that he’s kept on his toes. She’s just a bit too strange to be a pastor’s wife. I’m not sure how they fit together, but you know they do. You look at them, and you can see how much they love each other .”

  “I guess that’s good. Of course, it just means Kevin was perfect at finding a wife, like everything else .”

  “Just wait .”

  He opened the door to the restaurant, which was in the main building, and she walked inside. It was already noisy, because everyone was gearing up for karaoke. Joni spotted Bridget in a four-top table off to one corner of the room, so she headed that way, taking a seat across from the short woman. “Hey, Bridget.” She’d heard that Bridget’s sister called her Bridget the midget, and for a second she thought about calling her that, but she didn’t know her well enough .

  “Hi, Joni. Are you Max’s date?” Bridget wasn’t one to mince words. If she wanted to know something, she asked it right out .

  “Um…” Joni looked over at Max, blushing a bit. She didn’t know how to answer that .

  “She’s here with me.” Max wasn’t about to say anything else. He was fascinated by the pretty girl beside him, but that didn’t mean he was going to announce that they were there together. He knew how small towns worked too well for that .

  Kevin looked back and forth between them, nodding a bit. “How’s the family? I hate that I missed Adam’s wedding .”

  “Lillian was pretty sad about it, but she understood you were busy .”

  “I’m glad.” Kevin frowned. “She was always so good to me. I wouldn’t disappoint her for anything .”

  “She was good to all of us.” He knew Kevin had been special, because he’d been with Lillian since birth, but he also knew she’d never played favorites .

  Kevin nodded. “Well, let’s eat. I have a feeling there’s going to be some serious arguing at this table tonight, and I need to keep my energy up .”

  Max just grinned. “It’s good to see you .”

  “You too !”

  3

  T he evening proved to be fun—filled with laughter. Max understood now what Joni had meant about Bridget being slightly odd. When she’d demanded to know which Disney princess was his favorite, he’d felt a bit like he’d fallen down a rabbit hole, but he did his best not to let on .

  After Max had argued until he was blue in the face trying to get Kevin up on the stage, they walked back toward Max’s cabin. “I brought a deck of cards. What do you say we play strip poker, Pastor ?”

  Joni looked at Max with shock in her eyes, only to find him laughing. “You were joking?” Please tell me you were joking. It was hard to believe a man she’d met just hours before thought she’d play strip poker with him .

  “I was definitely joking. I like to embarrass the pastor, because…well, probably because I’m evil, but I sure do enjoy it.” Max grinned at her, and she shook her head .

  “Won’t you go to hell for torturing a man of God?” Joni asked, finding it hard to believe that Max would so openly torment a pastor .

  “If I will, I was done for a very long time ago!” Max looked over at Kevin, who was shaking his head and laughing .

  “Does Lillian know you talk that way?” Kevin asked .

  “Are you kidding? I’m twenty-eight years old, and I still think she’d wash my mouth out with soap !”

  Kevin frowned at Max. “She never really did that !”

  “She threatened to once. Told me she was sick of my bad attitude and potty mouth.” Max shook his head. He’d had the utmost respect for Lillian, and when he’d realized she had heard him cussing, he’d stopped immediately. “She misses you. She told me to make sure you knew that you’re welcome to come home anytime. And you’re especially welcome to bring your wife, who she is dying to meet .”

  Kevin smiled. “I know I am. I don’t remember a home before theirs, and it will always be home to me .”

  Bridget glared. “What am I? Chopped liver? The house we live in together isn’t a home? Then what is it? A shack? A dugout?” Max bit back a laugh. Feisty Bridget amused him a great deal .

  Kevin just laughed, refusing to rise to the challenge in Bridget’s voice. “Have I told you I love you lately, Bridget ?”

  Bridget sighed heavily. “Not in the last few hours !”

  “I’ll do better. I promise.” He put his arm around his wife and kissed the top of her head .

  Max smirked. Bridget was everything Joni had said she’d be and more, but it did seem like Kevin had met his match in her. He couldn’t help but be pleased that Kevin seemed so happy .

  When they got into his cabin, he found a basket of fruit and assorted chocolates on the counter. “I have snacks!” Max announced, pleased that the ranch had provided something, because he’d had no time to make a run to a grocery store, or any idea where there was one nearby. He could go to the general store, but he had a feeling he’d be happier with the prices at the nearest grocery store .

  They didn’t end up playing a game, but instead sat around the spacious living room chatting. Joni found herself coupled with Bridget on one end of the room, while Kevin and Max chatted on the other side. Joni couldn’t seem to stop looking at Max, watching him helplessly. There was something special about him. Whether he was special enough for the relationship to go anywhere was still unknown .

  Bridget started laughing softly. “Max seems like a good guy .”

  “I don’t know about good, but he seems like a fun-loving man, and that’s something I think I’m looking for.” Joni had always been light-hearted and happy, and she looked for someone who wouldn’t bring her down .

  “He was one of the foster boys at the ranch, wasn’t he? One who moved in when he was a teen ?”

  “I don’t know a lot about it, but he said he moved there as a teen. He never mentioned what he did, and I have a feeling it’s none of my business.” Joni was curious, but she didn’t feel like she had the right to ask .

  “Are you going to find out? Do you want me to grill Kevin? I bet I could let you know !”

  Joni shook her head, barely resisting rolling her eyes. “If he feels like it’s something I should know, then I’m sure he’ll tell me. Until then, I need to be satisfied with the knowledge that he’s a productive member of society now, and no longer in any kind of trouble .”

  Bridget wrinkled her nose. “Well, that’s no fun at all .”

  “I don’t think looking at the life of a man who was raised in the foster care system should be enjoyable for anyone.” Joni wasn’t sure if she was feeling more upset that Bridget wanted to know about Max in particular, or if she was offended that Bridget was trying to figure out something that was confidential. Either way, she thought Bridget should drop the topic .

  “Fine.” Bridget leaned against the back of the couch and crossed her arms. “How are Kelsi’s babies doing ?”

  “They’re mostly better,”
Joni said, relieved at the change of subject. “Kelsi thinks she’ll be returning to work on Monday, and they’ll be going back to the Kids’ Korral. I’m sure Debbie is ready to get her hands on them again .”

  Bridget nodded. “I know when Kelsi brought them to me, they were really sick. I told her to take them to their pediatrician .”

  “I’m glad you did. They had a mild case of RSV, and I can’t imagine how you could have helped them.” Bridget was the resident nurse on the ranch, who ran the first aid station, which was hidden inside an apothecary shop in the Old West town. Joni had heard about her doing some good things for injuries on the ranch .

  “I couldn’t have. My set-up is definitely for adults and the injuries they suffer. I can handle a cold in an adult with no problem, but babies are their own animal .”

  Joni found herself watching Max again. She just couldn’t stop looking at him. “I’m glad one of Kevin’s brothers came to visit him .”

  Bridget grinned. “Yeah, Kevin is really excited. He hasn’t seen any of them for several years. The brothers he was actually raised with are busy running the ranch. The others are scattered far and wide, from what I can tell. He was disappointed that he had to do the wedding rehearsal the day Max arrived .”

  “Max will get over it. We actually went shopping for some winter gear for him while he had the time. He came up here with just a light jacket that was already soaked through.” Joni shook her head. “I guess Texan equates to confused about the weather .”

  “You know I’m a Texan, right ?”

  Joni nodded emphatically. “And I remember you running around in shorts and a sweatshirt half the winter last year. You finally figured out how to dress for it.” The employees of the ranch had enjoyed laughing at Bridget and the way she dressed .

  “Did it ever occur to you that I was comfortable in my shorts and a sweatshirt?” Bridget asked, leaning forward .

  “No. Were you ?”

  Bridget sighed. “Not really, but I had a bet going with Kaya …”

  “You and your sister are crazy together. You know that, right?” Kaya was the resident romance writer. Her husband had been Wyatt’s righthand man until just recently, when he’d opened a therapy ranch for autistic children .

  “I do. I’m happy about it, too!” Bridget grinned. “We’re super close when we’re not trying to kill each other. It’s how all true sisters should be .”

  “I’m glad you think so!” Joni shrugged. “My sisters and I actually get along pretty well .”

  “I didn’t even know you had sisters !”

  Joni grinned. “They’re in the southern part of the state near Pocatello. I usually take a few days off around Thanksgiving and drive down to see them. We do family stuff, and then I come back ready to face another winter on the ranch .”

  “What kind of family stuff ?”

  “We do Thanksgiving dinner, and I usually go Black Friday shopping with my sisters. We love to bargain hunt, and we’re in line at four in the morning. It’s fun !”

  “Umm…I think my sister Kaya could do that, because she’s still up at four, but I don’t think any real person actually gets up that early. It’s almost sick !”

  Joni laughed. “I’m up that early. Diner opens at six, and I like to run before it opens in the mornings. It makes me feel powerful.” She’d always been a morning person, getting up before the sun .

  “Powerful? Running?” Bridget shook her head. “Running just makes me feel broken. I don’t know why anyone would do it for fun. It’s a form of craziness, don’t you think ?”

  “No, I really don’t, but thanks for asking .”

  Pastor Kevin got to his feet. “Come on, Bridget. I have to be up early tomorrow .”

  Bridget hid a yawn behind her hand. “Me too. I hate mornings .”

  Joni got to her feet, not sure how anyone would feel about her being there alone with Max. “I should go, too. Four comes awfully early.” She hid her grin from Bridget, knowing the other woman would think she was nuts .

  She was sure she heard Bridget mumble, “Sick” under her breath on the way out .

  Joni grinned at Max. “Bridget hates mornings .”

  Max looked at the door. “She seems to be rather opinionated about most things, doesn’t she? I sure don’t see her as a pastor’s wife .”

  “Oh, I don’t think she could be under normal circumstances. Can you see Bridget baking cookies and taking them to someone? Or counseling anyone? I think the sky would crash down if she even tried.” Joni shook her head. “It only works because we don’t have a regular church or congregation here .”

  “Probably,” Max said, shaking his head. “She’s something else, that’s for sure .”

  “I warned you !”

  “You did. Love really must be blind, because when he writes home about her, we only hear about how beautiful, special, and incredible she is. He never once mentioned her obsession with Disney princesses .”

  “Bridget has to be experienced to be believed.” Joni shrugged. “Thanks for a nice evening. I had fun, though I’m still not sure I believe that Pastor Kevin can sing .”

  Max raised one eyebrow. “I’ll get him to sing before I go, and you’ll see .”

  “Okay. I’m not going to just take your word for it.” She pulled her coat on and tugged her gloves over her hands. “I’ll see you on Sunday .”

  “Oh, you’ll see me tomorrow. I’m going to come and see what Bob’s special is. I know he annoys you, but he’s a really good cook!” And he wanted to see her again. She wasn’t even gone yet, and he was looking forward to the next day when he’d see her in her ugly uniform, running around like a crazy woman taking orders. What was wrong with him ?

  “He is. This ranch is lucky to have him, but …”

  “Don’t tell him you said so! I get it!” He walked out to her car with her, wondering if it was too soon to try to steal a kiss. Back in Texas, he wouldn’t have hesitated, but Joni was new to him. She was special, and he didn’t want to scare her off. “I’ll see you at breakfast time probably. What time does the café open ?”

  “Six. I’ll get there about quarter ‘til .”

  “I’ll see you then.” He took his hand out of his pocket and rubbed the back of one finger against her cheek. “Your skin is as soft as it looks. I couldn’t believe that was even possible, so I had to touch it .”

  Joni looked up at him, snowflakes on her lashes. The snow wasn’t falling hard, but it was steady. “G’night, Max .”

  “G’night, Joni.” He watched as she got into her little beat-up car and drove away. He couldn’t help but watch her until her tail lights disappeared. “I think I’m in trouble .”

  A voice from behind him said, “In trouble? I don’t think so. I think you’ve finally found your way .”

  Max spun around to see an older woman standing in front of his cabin. That wouldn’t have been strange, but she was wearing fairy wings, and she seemed to be walking a rabbit on a leash. “Excuse me ?”

  The woman began talking again, slowly and exaggerating every syllable. “I. Said. You. Have. Finally. Found. Your. Way .”

  “Why do you say that ?”

  “Are you hard of hearing or just a bit dense, boy ?”

  “Neither, that I know of .”

  She sighed, shaking her head. “Well, I’m Jaclyn Hardy, and I’m the resident fairy watcher here on the ranch. They help me help others. You, my friend, are here to find your destiny .”

  “Fairies? My destiny?” Was the woman batty ?

  She started speaking slowly again. “Yes. Your. Destiny. Do. You. Know. What. Destiny. Means ?”

  “Of course, I know what destiny means, but I’m not sure why you think I’ll find it on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, Idaho .”

  “Don’t dismiss the people you meet here. That’s your first mistake, my boy .”

  Max was getting a little annoyed with how the woman kept referring to him as ‘my boy.’ It sounded very condescending coming from he
r lips. “I haven’t dismissed anyone .”

  “Don’t. Come see me when you’re ready. I live in the house with the gnomes and fairies in the yard.” She turned and walked away, trying to keep the rabbit on the leash from hopping off. “Slow down, Mr. Fluffybutt! We’re not in a race !”

  Max watched her leave, wondering who had just wandered into his life. He’d ask Joni about her the next day. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he wondered why he thought of her instead of Kevin. Oh, that’s why. Because Kevin doesn’t have blond hair and legs that go on forever …

  He turned to go into the cabin and shut the door behind him. As soon as he was inside, he dug through the drawers in the bedroom for the clothes he’d unpacked earlier. Finding his swim trunks, he quickly changed, went into the back of the cabin, and pulled off the cover of the hot tub. He sank into the large tub all the way up to his neck, leaning his head onto the back of the tub .

  It took him three minutes to determine that Joni was right. He loved the cool breeze on him and watching the snow fall as he sat outside in a hot tub. This was a good place for him. A good place to think about who he was .

  He’d spent the past ten years working for the ranch. He was happy there, no doubt about it. And working there helped him to feel like he was paying the McClains back for all they’d done for him. But was he letting the rest of life pass him by? Was he using the ranch as more of a hiding place? He needed to think on that, because hiding wasn’t the answer. He wanted to embrace life…not escape from it .

  Of course, the fairy bunny lady didn’t seem like she planned to let him avoid anything .

  4

  M ax woke early the following morning, as he always did. He changed into shorts and a sweatshirt. He knew Joni would have a fit if she saw him dressed that way, but he needed to run, and he wasn’t sure how anyone could run covered in layer upon layer of clothes .

  He thought he’d run through the Old West town, along the highway, and then come back in toward the café. He couldn’t believe how excited he was to see Joni again, especially since they’d spent most of the day prior together. Never had he been excited to see a woman right after a night out together. He was more of the type who said he’d call after the first date and promptly forgot all about the woman .