A Cowboy's Christmas Eve

by R. C. Ryan

  Anita clapped her hands in delight. “Oh my. All this food.”

  “And these are the leftovers,” Yancy said with a chuckle.

  As the others streamed past, they gathered around the reception area until old Dr. Cross stepped in and directed them toward the staff lounge.

  Inside, under Yancy’s direction, they began setting out a buffet on the long countertop.

  Matt and Luke were put in charge of unloading a box of dishes and silverware, while Matt’s wife, Nessa, and Luke’s bride, Ingrid, arranged them in some sort of order.

  Soon the entire clinic was perfumed with the wonderful fragrance of prime rib, roast goose, garlic mashed potatoes, an assortment of rolls and vegetables, and even a tray of sweets.

  After a quick peek in the other rooms, Dr. Leonard Cross returned to confront his niece.

  “So many patients here. I finally managed to get through to Dr. Miller. He was stuck in a snowbank somewhere between Rock Creek and here. How did you manage alone?”

  She smiled at Colin. “Thank heaven I wasn’t alone. I don’t know what I would have done without Colin here. When he arrived, the clinic was in darkness, and I didn’t know how to get the generator working. As soon as Colin got heat and light, we found a young couple on our doorstep about to deliver a baby.”

  “A baby?” Grace’s head came up, sensing drama. “However did they get through the blizzard?”

  “Believe it or not, the young husband pulled her on a toboggan he had stored in the back of his truck. She delivered a baby boy they’ve named Jesse, and their parents just got here to celebrate with them.”

  “Then we’ll invite them to join us in our feast.” Grace turned away, eager to handle the invitation personally. “It’s the perfect night for the celebration of a baby’s birth. I should think that will make our little party extra special.”

  While the family commented over that, Anita added, “Then one of the snowplow drivers arrived with a dislocated shoulder. After he left, we were visited by a rancher in the area, Rafe Thompkins, and his mother, Verna, who was having an asthma attack. In fact, they’re still here, staying warm in room two.”

  Frank looked pleased. “I know Rafe Thompkins and his mother, Verna. If they’re feeling up to it, I’ll go and invite them to join us, too.”

  Within minutes, the room was filled to overflowing with all the patients and their families.

  Reed popped the cork on several bottles of champagne and was soon passing among them with a tray of fluted glasses.

  Scott and Carly stood within the circle of their parents, beaming with pride.

  Rafe Thompkins and his mother, now completely recovered, looked surprised and pleased to be included in such a lovely celebration.

  The Great One, accustomed to directing important events, took charge.

  Getting slowly to his feet, he lifted his champagne flute and used his dramatic voice to its full effect. “We came here tonight to celebrate Christmas with one of our family who was missing. But now we feel truly blessed to celebrate with all of you as well. For this night, unto you”—he turned to bow slightly toward Scott and Carly—“a child has been born. Instead of a donkey, the young mother arrived on a toboggan. Instead of an overcrowded inn, you came to our little clinic and found a welcome. However it happens, wherever it happens, the birth of a baby is always cause for celebration. Let us hope, as we pray at the beginning of all new life, that this child will bring love to all whose lives he touches.”

  For the space of a heartbeat, there was an awed silence, as though they were in some grand cathedral. Then, as one, they lifted their flutes and called out in agreement.

  From his vantage point, Colin saw Scott’s parents and Carly’s parents draw closer to their son and daughter, before placing their hands on the tiny bundle in Carly’s arms.

  Rafe and Verna Thompkins were smiling and nodding, Verna’s earlier discomfort completely forgotten.

  Then Colin glanced around at his family, noisily laughing and teasing, filling the air with the sound of so much energy and love. He experienced a deep sense of pride at the determination of his family to bridge the miles that had kept one of their own from this very special Christmas celebration.

  The knowledge of the sacrifice they’d made to be here with him filled him with a sense of wonder and delight.

  “To family.” Colin lifted his glass.

  “To family,” the others called.

  Colin caught Anita’s eye as she stood beside her uncle, drinking a toast to his family. When he winked, her smile grew until it rivaled the sun.

  They may not have had much time to themselves, and wasn’t it a shame? He thought. But they had something even better. Right now, this minute, they were sharing something life-affirming. Sharing something truly amazing, with all the people who mattered most to them.

  Christmas Eve supper had never before tasted so sweet.

  Chapter Nine

  Oh, Yancy.” Anita looked over at the ranch cook after her first taste of prime rib. “This is amazing. I swear it melts in my mouth.”

  Yancy couldn’t hide his pleasure. “I’m glad, Dr. Anita. I wanted your Christmas Eve supper to be perfect.”

  “It is. Thank you.”

  The cook was soon flanked by Bev Kelly and Mary Lee Jennings, who were begging for his recipes. He looked proud and happy as he wrote down their addresses, with a promise to send them all the information.

  “Have I told you lately how much I love your family?” Nessa pressed a kiss to her husband Matt’s mouth.

  “They’re your family, too.”

  “Yes, they are.” She touched a hand to his cheek. “And if you ever do me wrong, I’m keeping them.”

  “There’s not a chance in heaven I’ll ever let you go, woman.”

  Her smile could have melted all the snow in town as she began passing around a tray of homemade cookies.

  “Try these.” She indicated the small, round disks. “They’re Yancy’s snickerdoodles. I dare anybody to eat just one.”

  Amid sighs and words of praise, the tray was soon empty. As were most of the platters of prime rib, roast goose, potatoes, vegetables, and rolls.

  Luke grabbed the last roll and offered it to his wife, Ingrid, tucked up against his side. She bit into it with a sigh of pleasure.

  Luke shook his head in disbelief. “You’d think a swarm of locusts passed through here. Look at this place. Picked clean.”

  The others merely smiled and sipped their coffee or champagne, too content to move.

  At last Rafe Thompkins started toward the door. “I’ll just walk a couple of blocks and see if my truck is still stuck in a snowdrift or if the snowplows were able to free it.”

  Burke eased himself from a chair. “I’ll drive you, Rafe. If it’s stuck, I’ll give you a push.”

  “Thanks, Burke.” Rafe moved around the room, shaking hands, thanking the Malloy family for the feast and thanking Anita for her help. “I should be back soon to pick up my mother.”

  He and Burke left, returning less than half an hour later. Rafe helped his mother into her coat, and the two thanked everyone again before taking their leave.

  Rafe turned to Dr. Leonard. “Your niece, Dr. Anita, is a welcome addition to the clinic, Doc. She treated Ma just the way you always do. I can tell you it wouldn’t have been much of a Christmas if Ma had to spend the whole night suffering.”

  Old Dr. Cross merely beamed at the praise heaped on his niece.

  After a brief consultation with Anita, to assure themselves that it was all right for Carly to leave the clinic, the two families packed up Scott, Carly, and baby Jesse, and crowded into their SUV for the long drive back to retrieve Scott’s truck and return to Timberline.

  The Malloy family and the two doctors crowded around the entrance to wave good-bye to the new family.

  Carly rushed over to throw her arms around Anita’s neck. “Thank you, Dr. Cross. You’ll never know what your kindness meant to me.”

  “You’re w
elcome, Carly. Take care of yourself. And take care of that sweet baby boy.”

  “I will.”

  Scott stood solemnly beside her and shook Colin’s hand. “Thanks again for sharing your family’s story with us. Even though I wasn’t sure it could happen, you were right about our parents. They’ve already fallen in love with Jesse.”

  “That’s just a hint of the love you’re all going to feel as the years go by, son. Take care. And make wise choices.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When the vehicle disappeared, Colin and Anita fell silent as they trailed the Malloy family back to the staff room, where they began packing up their supplies in preparation for the long drive home.

  The family members made endless trips back and forth from the clinic to the trucks parked outside as they loaded up an assortment of roasting pans, containers, and fancy platters.

  As they finished up, Grace took Anita’s hands. “I’m glad Colin was able to get through the storm to be here with you. I know your uncle was fretting all through supper that you might be here alone.”

  “Poor Uncle Leonard. With the service out, there was no way to reach him.” Anita pressed Grace’s hands. “I know Colin was wishing he could let you know he was safe, too. Now that I’ve learned of your loss on a night like this, I can understand how much you must have worried.”

  Grace gave her a gentle smile. “Colin gave me his word he’d be safe. That was enough for me. All my men pride themselves on the fact that their word is their bond.” She paused before adding, “I hope you’ll come to dinner at the ranch another time.”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Good.” Grace leaned close to brush a kiss on the young doctor’s cheek. “Merry Christmas, Anita.”

  “Merry Christmas, Grace.”

  Frank shook old Dr. Cross’s hand and kissed Dr. Anita before offering his arm to his wife.

  He and Grace led the procession of family members who paused to offer their wishes to Anita and her uncle before trailing out to their waiting trucks.

  Reed picked up a final serving dish and tucked it under his arm before pausing to say good night to the two doctors.

  He turned to Colin. “After all the walking you did tonight, I’m sure you’ll be happy to ride home. Come on. You can go with me.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Colin stood beside Anita and her uncle at the entrance to the clinic as they called their thanks and good-byes to his family.

  One by one, the Malloy family climbed into their trucks for the long ride home.

  Colin was doing his best not to stare at Anita, but he couldn’t help it. These were their last moments together, and despite the presence of her uncle, he wanted to just fill himself with her before he left.

  A horn honked in the stillness of the night, and Reed lowered his window to wave Colin over.

  At that moment, the phone began ringing at the reception desk. Before Anita could turn toward it, her uncle walked away to answer the call.

  Colin stood, hat in hand, twirling it around and around and trying to think of something, anything to keep her beside him for just a minute more.

  “I guess all this must seem pretty different from the celebrations you were used to in Boston.”

  For a moment she went silent, and he regretted his question.

  Then she seemed to positively glow with happiness.

  “In truth I’d rather be here than anywhere I can think of.”

  That brought the smile back to his eyes.

  Eyes, she thought, that mirrored his soul. Here was goodness. Here was a solid, dependable, honorable man who would always be as good as his word. This quiet, good man touched her soul in a way that no other man ever could.

  “Anita, I’m sorry my big, noisy family came charging in here uninvited. They—”

  “Colin.” She put a hand on his. “I’m absolutely delighted they came. This will go down as one of the most memorable Christmas Eves I’ve ever celebrated.”

  “You mean it?”

  “I do.”

  His smile grew. “That’s nice. But I wish we could have had more time alone.”

  “That would have made it perfect.”

  He cleared his throat. “I have a cabin up in the hills. It’s not fancy. In fact, it’s pretty ordinary, but it’s set in some of the prettiest countryside you’ll ever see. The view of the surrounding hills and valleys, and the most amazing sunsets, takes my breath away. I go there sometimes when the world gets to be too much. Or when I just want to take some alone time. I’d love to take you there sometime.”

  Anita glanced across the reception area to where her uncle was talking on the phone. “How about next week? For New Year’s Eve? Uncle Leonard owes me a weekend off. And,” she added softly, “I’d love to spend New Year’s Eve with you at your cabin, Colin.”

  For the space of several seconds, he simply stared. Then it seemed the most natural thing in the world for him to wrap a big arm around her waist and draw her firmly against him, lifting her off her feet. “It’s a date, then.”

  He captured her mouth and kissed her long and slow and deep.

  Stunned and deeply moved, Anita felt the room start to spin, or was that her head spinning? She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on, diving into the kiss with a passion that caught them both by surprise.

  The horn outside honked again.

  Colin lowered her ever so slowly, feeling her in every pore of his body. At last he released her, backing up a step, then seemed to think better of it and caught her to him and kissed her one more time. Just a hard, quick, solid kiss that went straight to his heart and started a smoldering fire deep in his soul.

  “Merry Christmas, Anita.”

  “Merry Christmas, Colin.”

  Without another word, he sauntered out to Reed’s waiting truck.

  At that moment, the lights inside the clinic flickered before becoming brighter.

  A check of the entrance showed the lights blazing and the sign announcing the Glacier Ridge Clinic open for business.

  All through the town the lights came on, blinking red and green in D and B’s Diner and glowing gold against the layer of snow at the spa.

  As Reed put the truck in gear and started away, he turned to his uncle. “Sorry you got stuck in town in the middle of a blizzard on Christmas Eve. I guess this will be one for the books, huh?”

  Colin watched Anita’s reflection in the side-view mirror, seeing her standing in a spill of bright light at the entrance of the clinic, looking like an angel in her white lab coat, her dark hair spilling around that gorgeous face in a silken cloud.

  Wonder of wonders, she wanted to be with him.

  He could hardly wait until next week. New Year’s Eve. Alone together. Nobody around for miles. In his cabin in the hills.

  Merry Christmas, indeed.

  He already knew, without a doubt, Anita Cross was the one.

  The only one who would ever own his heart and soul.

  His very own Christmas angel.

  He leaned his head back and closed his eyes before placing his wide-brimmed hat over his face to hide the grin that split his lips.

  “Yeah. One for the books.”

  Yancy’s Snickerdoodles

  Mix thoroughly:

  ½ cup softened butter

  ½ cup soft shortening

  1½ cups sugar

  2 eggs

  Sift together and stir in:

  2¼ cups flour

  2 teaspoons cream of tartar

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  Roll into balls the size of small walnuts.

  Roll in mixture of 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

  Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake until lightly browned but still soft. These cookies puff up at first, then flatten out.

  Baking Temperature: 400 degrees

  Time: Bake 8 to 9 minutes

  Amount: Approx.
5 dozen 2-inch cookies

  Note: A favorite of the Malloy family and cowboys everywhere.

  Also by R. C. Ryan

  Montana Legacy

  Montana Destiny

  Montana Glory

  Quinn

  Josh

  Jake

  The Maverick of Copper Creek

  The Rebel of Copper Creek

  The Legacy of Copper Creek

  Matt

  Luke

  Wild wrangler Luke Malloy loves the solitary life of a rancher. But when he’s thrown off his horse and meets the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, Luke finds himself flirting with forever…

  Please see the next page for a preview of

  LUKE,

  available now…

  Prologue

  Glacier Ridge, Montana—Thirteen Years Ago

  Carter Prevost, owner-manager of the Glacier Ridge fairgrounds, stopped his pacing when rancher Frank Malloy and his foreman, Burke Cowley, walked into his office.

  Though Frank was owner of one of the state’s largest ranches—several thousand acres and growing—he was still just a neighbor and friend to the folks in Glacier Ridge. A man still struggling to pay the bills required to maintain such an operation.

  “Okay, Carter. Now why the frantic phone call, and why couldn’t you just tell me what you wanted over the phone?”

  “It’s about Luke.”

  The old man let out a slow breath. “It’s always about my middle grandson. What did he do this time?”

  “Luke signed up to compete in the motorcycle challenge during rodeo weekend.”

  “He did what?” Frank removed his wide-brimmed hat and slapped it against his leg, sending up a cloud of dust. “He’s only fifteen, Carter.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” The thickset man ran a hand through the rusty hair that was now more gray than red. “But he paid the entrance fee and signed all the forms. Since there’s no age limit, I didn’t want to be the one to face Luke’s temper, so I figured I’d call you and let you deal with it.”