Crazy Woman Christmas

by Renee Blare

  “I’m not strong. I’m stubborn. You should understand that by now.” He was as weak as a newborn babe, especially after that phone call. Pastor Jason’s words flashed into his mind. Do I really expect Angela to know what I’m thinking? “I want to jump on a plane and fly to Wyoming, but if the truth be known, I don’t know if I’d be able to control myself once I got there. You know me, Angie. I can be an idiot when it comes to Bee.”

  She reached across the table and gripped his hand. “You are her father. That’s understandable.”

  “Thank you for that.” He kissed her knuckles. “I always wondered if you blamed me for her running away.”

  “Oh, no, Pete. She left because she ran up our credit cards and we wouldn’t bail her out after the shoplifting charge.” Tears hung on her lashes as her lips trembled. “We covered for her for a long time but we couldn’t do it anymore. Her own choices sent her to Seattle, not ours.”

  “But I wonder—” His throat closed on the thought pulsing through his head. Pete struggled to put it into words, and worse—he couldn’t utter them to his beautiful wife. They may very well destroy her.

  “What?” Angela rocked back in the chair and crossed her arms. She arched an eyebrow. “Wonder if we should’ve…could’ve stopped her? Kept her from stealing…even the bubble gum when she was six years old?”

  Pete dug a palm into his eye socket and sighed.

  “We didn’t help our daughter by protecting her, Pete.” A small smile lit her eyes. “But she’s on her way home now. We may have another chance. If anything, to say we’re sorry.”

  Tears clogged his throat. He stiffened. “Maybe.”

  The table moved when she rose and stood beside him. “I was going to wait until Bianca was home to decorate the tree, but what do you think about helping me do it tonight?”

  Her fingers wiggled in front of his face. Pete hooked them and joined her. “I’d like that.”

  * * *

  The sunshine transformed the countryside in a land of sparkling white. Snow floated down from perches high on the pine trees to join the blanket on the floor below. Bianca froze mid-stride and breathed in the crisp mountain air. “No wonder you live here, Devon. It’s amazing.”

  “Yes, it is. Wild and free. No other place like it on earth.” His arm slipped around her shoulders. When her head dropped to his chest, he brought her in close. “I wish you could stay.”

  “I do too.” In that moment, she pretended that this was her home and the man holding her was her husband. She sucked in a breath. Keep dreaming, Bianca.

  “We’d better go.” Devon released her and opened the door. “I’m sure the roads are open.”

  Bianca climbed into the truck with Mimi and waited while he cleared the snow from the vehicle. The pain in his left side was obvious from his winces and cringes as he scraped at the ice on the windshield. After one final sweep of the brush, he flashed her a thumbs up.

  She’d miss that grin. When he joined her in the truck, Bianca teased him again. “It’s about time. I’m never going to get out of here.”

  “Fine with me.” Devon cranked on the key, his eyes never leaving the hood. A few cranks of the key and the engine fired, the roar vibrating the cab. “Buckle up. This may be a rough ride.”

  Bianca’s seatbelt snapped with a click. The drive out of the ranch provided a much better view of the terrain than the day she’d arrived. Beautiful didn’t describe Devon Dawson’s property. The brakes squealed and they came to a stop beneath the large wooden arch at the entrance of the ranch.

  “Wow, Devon. What’s the name of the creek again?”

  “Crazy Woman.” Her laugh turned his head. “No, it has nothing to do with my mother. No one remembers the origin. A settler’s wife, a trapper’s? An old Indian woman? There’s a canyon up yonder by the same name. Come back this summer and we’ll go fishing.”

  Her hand flew to her mouth at his invitation. Bianca fought to contain the joy spreading through her bones. Devon wanted to see her again. “I’d be honored.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The telephone dropped to the kitchen floor. Pete punched at the ceiling. “Praise the Lord!”

  He scrambled for the receiver and tossed it on the cradle. Running into the living room on a search for his wife, he found her on her knees under the Christmas tree. “Honey, they found her. They’ve got Bianca.”

  She lurched upright, bonking her head on an ornament. “What?”

  “She’s safe and sound.” Pete met her in the center of the room and lifted her in a hug. “Our baby’s okay.”

  Angela clung to him and began to cry. Deep wrenching sobs tore through her thin body. He ran a hand down her thick tresses and led her to the couch. “It’s all right, honey. They said she’s fine. She’s going to call in a little bit.”

  “Did they say where she’s been?” The back of her hand wiped at the tears as she sputtered the question pressing at his mind.

  He shook his head. “All the officer said was they’d located her and she’s on her way to Buffalo. She’ll call us when she gets to the station.”

  Her forehead landed on his shoulder as she struggled to catch her breath. “Thank You, Lord.”

  Pete rested his chin on top of her head and echoed her prayer.

  * * *

  “No, sir, I didn’t.” Bianca shot a grin toward Devon. “Yes, sir, he was a perfect gentleman. Tell Mom I’ll call when I reach Denver and every time I stop after that. I love you, too.”

  Devon paced the small waiting area of the Sheriff’s office with her cockapoo while she discussed her “ordeal” with her father. According to her dad, the entire state of Wyoming had been searching for her. Not that she believed that. She waved for Devon to sit down and received a scowl.

  “Dad, I need to go.” His protests produced a frown of her own and her knuckles popped as her grip tightened on the phone. “Believe me when I say that I was never in any danger. I rode the storm out at a nice, warm ranch. In fact, I want you to visit it. You’ll love it. It’s a lot like ours. Give Mom hugs and kisses. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Yes, I’ll call every time I stop. Love you, Dad. Bye.”

  Mimi jumped at her feet and Bianca hung up the telephone. She picked up the small dog. Strong hands connected with her shoulders and she eased into their deep massage with a groan. “I was beginning to wonder if they’d ever believe me.”

  “Cut ’em some slack, Bee. They had no clue where you were. Nobody did. And that storm was a killer.”

  Devon’s wisdom slapped her…hard. She flinched with its impact. She turned in his arms. “I never did say thank you for saving my life.”

  He eased backwards a bit and dipped his cowboy hat with a finger. “You’re welcome, my dear. I’m the fortunate one to be able to aid such a beautiful damsel in distress. Besides, you ended up helping me. Who else would feed me and nurse my dog?”

  How could he make her laugh when all she wanted to do was cry? She forced a smile past her trembling lips. “Yeah, I’ve always wanted to ask you. What happened to Pistol?”

  “Don’t remind me.” Devon pushed his hat back with a sigh. “Stubborn little pup. He thinks he can round up the cows. This time, he cut in too close and got nailed in the head. Knocked the poor dude silly, and cut him up but bad. Chester saved the day again, though. But the vet still needed to patch Pistol up. That’s why I was in town.”

  “Poor guy.” She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not.” He ran a finger along her jaw. “It’s because of Pistol that we went to town and that’s why I found you. Best Christmas present ever, if I do say so myself.”

  She chewed on her cheek. “Yeah, it was. I wish I could stay, but I guess I should get going.”

  A shutter slammed down on his expression. “I don’t do good-byes.” Devon shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped backwards. “The offer for fishing the canyon this summer stands.”

  Bianca stopped his quick retreat by a step in front of the
door. “Can I bring my father?”

  A long look passed between them before Devon nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll be here.”

  The door closed and he was gone. Time ticked by for what seemed like hours before she retrieved the keys to her Prius. Several minutes later, she sat in her cold, dented car and waited for it to warm up. “Let’s go home, Mimi.”

  A few more minutes, and she was on the road to Denver.

  * * *

  Two days later, Angela met her daughter’s battered Prius in the driveway, pulling on the door handle before it had even rolled to a stop. When it came to a halt, Bianca unfolded from the small vehicle with a tiny dog in her arms. “Oh, baby girl, you are a sight for sore eyes.”

  Bianca wiggled from beneath the bear hug. “Hi, Mom. Daddy.”

  The greeting alerted Angela that her husband still hovered on the porch. “Pete, what are you doing? Get down here.”

  “I would if you’d stop squeezing her to death.” Boots thudded down the steps and across the concrete drive. “Hey, baby, welcome home.”

  Bianca threw herself at her father, the pup sandwiched between them. The sight of the two former foes clasped in a tight hug caused tears to rush to Angela’s eyes. She hurried toward the house.

  “Mom?”

  Angela stumbled to a stop on the stair. She swiped at the moisture on her cheeks and glanced over her shoulder. “Come inside. We have a surprise for you.”

  Minutes later, Bianca sat at the base of the Christmas tree with presents all around her. Pale and shaken, shock graced her fine features. “Y’all didn’t need to do this. Lord knows, I don’t deserve it.”

  Angela glanced at her husband who sat next to her on the couch, concern spiking through her. “What do you mean? Don’t deserve it?”

  Bianca refused to raise her eyes as she cradled a gift on her lap. “Nothing, I just figured…”

  Angela eased to the floor beside her daughter and put a hand on top of hers in order to stop the nervous fidgeting. “Honey, our love for you isn’t conditional on what you do. Come now. It’s Christmas. Open your presents.”

  “Yeah, open them. Or I’m going to,” her husband piped from the couch and Angela slapped his knee. A mock scowl replaced the grin kissing at his lips. “What? I’m the one who’s been staring at ’em for two days.”

  Bianca’s chuckle evolved into howls and soon, the room was alight in laughter. “Yes, sir.”

  Later, after opening the presents, Angela prepared the belated Christmas meal. Pete carved the ham while she cooked the beans and cornbread. “Hey, Bee? Do you want to mash the ’taters?”

  “Sure, I can if you want.” Bianca plugged in the hand mixer. “You’ll never guess what I made Devon for Christmas dinner, Mom.”

  Angela glanced at her over her mixing bowl. “What’s that, babe?”

  “Your spiced chicken with green beans and mushroom gravy. It was awesome. I found a plucked chicken I could use in his mother’s freezer. And Dad, he has the most awesome place. You wouldn’t believe it. He has this cellar with fresh, well, everything. And a barn with goats. I actually fed the horses because Devon got hurt…”

  Angela cut her gaze to her husband as her daughter rambled on about her adventures in the frozen north. His eyebrows shot up and he mouthed, “Who’s Devon?”

  She shrugged, but a sliver of relief slipped through her heart as she realized her daughter had never been in any danger. And then, after an extensive examination of the radiant young woman chattering a few feet away, it dawned on her—Bianca was in love.

  * * *

  Bianca was up to her elbows in soap suds as she washed dishes and listened to her parents. She peeked over her shoulder and giggled.

  Her dad had rocked back on his chair and crossed his arms. His weathered face tightened into an iron mask. “I’ll take her.”

  Her mother reached over and patted his arm. “No, sweetie, I’m going to town anyway, and you said last night that you need to check the north pasture. Besides, I want to spend time with my daughter.”

  His eyes narrowed to slits and the front legs of the chair hit the kitchen tile with a solid thud. He lumbered to his feet and kissed her mom on the cheek. “Girl talk, eh? Behave yourself.”

  He swiped his hat off the counter, winked at Bianca, and disappeared out the door.

  Bianca rinsed the last plate and twisted the towel in her hands. She swiveled toward her mother. Girl talk?

  “Mom—”

  “Don’t look at me like that, Bee.” Angela stood and joined her at the sink. She relieved Bianca of the wet dish cloth before tossing an arm across her shoulders. “I want you to meet a new friend of mine. She has a business a couple of miles from here. You could even work there if you want! Wouldn’t that be great?”

  Unease worked its way down Bianca’s spine. As she stared at her mother’s joyful face, it moved around to settle into her gut. The woman before her hadn’t changed much in the last two years. Except for deep lines framing her eyes and mouth, Angela Kolceski was as beautiful as ever. And she behaved the exact same way. Her mom assumed she knew what was best and planned everybody’s future, with or without their permission.

  Bianca grabbed the back of a chair to steady her shaking knees. “Mom, we need to talk.”

  “Right now, baby?” Angela squeezed her shoulder. “Can’t it wait? We’re late.”

  Her legs collapsed out from under her, and Bianca landed on the hard oak of the dining chair. “Mom, please, sit down. I need you to listen to me.”

  Angela’s cheeks paled and her head bobbed in a tiny nod. “Of course, honey.”

  When her mother was settled across from her at the table, Bianca’s mind froze. She’d dreamed of this moment for a long time, and now, it had finally arrived. How many times had she acted out simply to be noticed by this woman? What did she say now?

  She bowed her head. A picture of a smiling couple with a black ribbon hanging on one corner flashed across her vision. The truth… Devon’s voice rebounded in her head, and Bianca looked at her mom with a gasp.

  The pain of losing a parent—both parents—in a heartbeat must have been unbearable. To never speak to either one again? The unresolved differences couldn’t stay between her and her own parents any longer. She wouldn’t let them.

  Bianca grasped her mother’s clenched fist. “Mom, please forgive me.”

  Angela’s eyes widened as surprise replaced trepidation. “What? No—”

  “Wait, please.” She squeezed her hand. “Let me finish. When I was younger, I expected you to give me everything I wanted simply because I was your daughter. Why would you say “no” and then say you loved me? Nothing made sense, because, to me, your love was attached to rules and directions.”

  Tears glittered in her mother’s blue eyes. “I’m sorry. I never meant it to be that way.”

  “I know that.” Bianca kissed her mom’s cold hand. “And I still want your love and attention. But right now, I don’t necessarily need your guidance. If I do though, Mom, I’ll ask for it. In the meantime, if I screw up, it’s okay. Let me.”

  “I’ve always loved you, Bee. Your dad and I always will.” She swiped at the tears tracking down her cheeks and sniffed.

  “Oh, Mom, I know that.” Bianca rounded the table and enveloped the trembling woman in her arms. “You’re so good at telling people what they should and shouldn’t do. And believe me, I plan on taking you up on it. I’m so glad I’ve realized that you and Dad have always been there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it.”

  Bianca pulled her mom out of the seat. “Come on, let’s go meet this friend of yours. I need to buy some clothes too. I’m in Texas now. No, Mimi, stay.”

  She blocked the cockapoo with her boot as her mother shuffled out of kitchen, their subdued laughter ringing through the garage. It was going to be a good day.

  Her cellphone vibrated on the counter beside the empty vase and Bianca jerked, shoving a thorn into her thumb. She hissed and sucked the bubble of blood from the
skin. “Ow.”

  “That’s why I cut those little suckers off before I work ’em.” Edie, her mom’s friend and owner of The Little Yellow Rose of Texas Flowers and Catering, cackled from the other table. A can of red glitter was poised over her bouquet of white roses. “Less pokes and screeches, if you ask me.”

  “I’ll have to do that.” Bianca grimaced at her sore thumb and grabbed her phone as it rang again. “Hello.”

  “Yes, hello?” A befuddled male voice greeted her. “Is this Bee, uh, Bianca Kolceski?”

  Bianca swiped at the display on the cell and didn’t recognize the number. “Yes, it is.”

  “Good.” A long silence fell, interrupted by bursts of static.

  Bianca glanced at Edie. She’d finished spraying the arrangement and stared at her with questions in her eyes.

  “This is Devon.” The coarse connection provided a brief reprieve of noise and the words rumbled along the airwaves. “Remember me?”

  Excitement shot through Bianca. She fought to keep her tone even as her body trembled with joy at the deep baritone in her ear. How many times had she’d longed to hear his voice, but then wondered if she dreamed her brief liaison in the far off north? She searched her heart every night as to what foolishness would lead her to believe she could have fallen in love in such a short time. Was it truly love?

  “Of course, I remember you. How could I forget? It’s been what—a month, two? How did you get my number, anyway?”

  “I bribed the sheriff,” Devon said, his words blunt. “When are you coming back to Wyoming?”

  She blinked. Is he asking what I think he is? “Um, I’m not sure when I can visit, Devon. I just started a new job. It’s a cool gig. My mom’s friend owns this flower shop and she has a catering business too. I’m learning how to put flowers together and help Edie prepare—”

  A grunt cut into her diatribe and Bianca swallowed a laugh. So much for interest in her life in Texas. She cut a glance toward a curious Edie and wiped her hands on a paper towel. After sidling between the two tables, she exited the shop. The roar of the city filled her senses and she instantly regretted leaving the store, but Edie’s steadfast gaze had left her no choice. It was either that or she’d have another ear in the conversation.