“If they don’t, I’ll bet Caitlin can work with what we put up.”
“I’m sure, but let’s feed and turn out the horses as quickly as we can. Then maybe we can make it into town before the store opens.”
“Right.” He waited while she took the clipboard and tape measure up to the porch. Her enthusiasm for a new project was part of what he liked about the job. His skills were helping her build her dream.
She came back minus her scarf since she wouldn’t be needing it in the barn. “I’m so glad we’re tackling this project. I already have an image in my head of how beautiful it will look.”
“Me, too.” He fell into step beside her. “Especially after last night. They created a fairyland out there.”
“Have you talked to anyone? Any feedback on how baby Noel is doing?”
“I had a quick conversation with my dad this morning and she’s doing great. Faith and Cody were so touched by the caroling. And totally surprised.”
“They didn’t suspect anything when a bucket truck showed up in their meadow?”
“Oh, they knew Kendra and my dad were installing the lights to celebrate the baby’s birth. Cody and his brothers helped light those trees. But the hundred-plus crowd coming out to sing to them—that was the shocker.”
“What a brainstorm, too. Who thought of it?”
“Dad said the idea came out of a Whine and Cheese Club gathering.” He opened the barn doors. “Vino was involved. When those five women get together, no telling what they’ll decide to do.”
“Isn’t that the truth. Okay. Let’s get cracking.”
Creating the image Taryn carried in her head was exactly the kind of challenge Pete thrived on. Once the horses were taken care of, they hopped in his truck and headed for town. Even at this early hour, Main Street was busy. “Visualize a parking space opening up, okay?” He scanned the area in front of the hardware store.
“Someone’s pulling out.”
“So they are.” He put on his blinker and waited. “Looks like your sleigh is sitting right out front waiting for you.”
“Maybe not. There’s a Sold sign on it.”
“Well, damn. I didn’t see that.” He eased into the parking space and shut off the motor. “Maybe they have another one.” Putting on his hat, he hurried around to let her out.
“It’s okay if it’s gone,” she said as he opened her door. “I’m not all that surprised.”
“Let’s go see if they have one in the back.”
But when they got inside, Ira, the store’s owner, said he’d only ordered one. “I was beginning to think nobody would buy it and I’d have to put it away until next year.” He shoved his glasses to the top of his bald head. “Then Virginia Bennett decided she needed it for that wedding venue of hers and called me five minutes ago with her credit card number. Badger should be along to pick it up any time, now.”
Pete nudged back his hat. “Why is Badger coming to get it?”
“Oh, you know Badger.” Ira chuckled. “He loves to help out, especially when it comes to his future mother-in-law.”
“Are Badger and Hayley officially engaged? I hadn’t heard that.”
“I don’t know that it’s official yet, but everyone’s positive they’ll end up together. Anyway, to make a long story short, I’m afraid the sleigh is taken.”
Pete glanced at Taryn. “I guess you could order a sleigh like that one and have it for next year.”
“I will. We can manage without it.”
“Maybe we could engineer something else as a focal point for the yard.” He had no idea what, though. The sleigh, especially with lights on it, would have been perfect. “I’ll think about it while we’re getting the other stuff. Maybe we’ll—”
“And here comes Badger,” Ira said. “Right on time.”
“Hey, y’all.” Badger was all smiles, as usual. “Pete, my man, could I borrow you for a few minutes? I could use a hand loadin’ that little sleigh out front.”
“I can, but let me ask you something. Could Virginia wait on that sleigh? Maybe get it after Christmas?”
“No sir. She needs it ASAP. She has three Christmas-themed weddin’ ceremonies comin’ up, startin’ with one tonight.”
“Okay, then never mind.”
“Why are you askin’?”
“We’re setting up to do a photo shoot at the ranch tomorrow. Taryn was hoping to use that sleigh as a prop in her yard. Maybe add some greenery and lights. I thought if Virginia didn’t need it right away, we could borrow it for a little while.”
“Unfortunately she’s expectin’ me to bring it over in the next thirty minutes.” He gazed at Taryn. “How ‘bout an alternative?”
“Oh, absolutely,” she said. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
“I’m sure you will, too, but I’ll feel a whole lot better drivin’ off with that sleigh if I know you’ve latched onto a new concept for your yard. I’ll help y’all.” He crossed his arms and surveyed the store.
Taryn smiled. “That’s sweet, but you need to deliver—”
“Aha! What about that thingamajig?” He pointed to a green metal garden arch. “Couldn’t you shove pine branches in that, then add some ribbons and lights? That could be real pretty.”
“That’s actually a good possibility.” Taryn gazed at the arch. “It could sit at the entrance to the walkway between the two sections of rail fence. We were going to decorate the fence anyway.”
“I just got another idea.” Pete turned to Ira. “I’ll bet you have wagon wheels in the back.”
“I do. Several sizes.”
“We could get two big ones, weave greenery and ribbon through the spokes, add lights and prop them against the fence on each side of the arch.”
“There you go.” Badger glanced over at Taryn. “I’m thinkin’ that’ll do the trick.” He lifted his eyebrows. “How ‘bout you?”
“I love it. Wonderful alternative.”
“Alrighty, then. Now I’ll be takin’ that sleigh with a clear conscience.”
“Come on,” Pete said. “I’ll help you load ’er up.”
“That’ll be great.”
“While you’re doing that,” Taryn said, “I’ll check the light situation.”
“Great. See you in a bit.” Pete moved toward the door.
Badger started after him, but turned back. “Will you be attendin’ the talent show, Miss Taryn?”
“I’ll be there. Can’t wait.”
“You’ll love it.” He smiled and tipped his hat. “See you Saturday night.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Badger followed Pete out the door. “She’s nice. I like her.”
“I do, too.”
“I can tell.”
“It’s not what you’re thinking.”
“But you wish it could be.”
Pete sighed. Evidently he appeared to need help in this area. Gage had felt the urge to give him a tip last night and now Badger seemed to be working up to the same thing. “Look, if you’re about to give me advice, I’m—”
“Nope, nope.” Badger held up both hands. “Just makin’ an observation.”
“Okay.”
“Am I right?”
“We’d better load this sleigh. Your future mother-in-law’s waiting.”
He grinned. “I’m right.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Taryn bought every strand of large white lights Ira had, including all the ones in the storeroom. She found a lighted wreath to go over the barn door, too. Pete picked up the electric supplies he needed and they loaded everything in the truck.
She pulled out her phone. “Have you tried the new text ordering system for Pie in the Sky?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“It’s efficient. If I text an order for two coffees to go, they’ll be ready in about five minutes. Want one?”
“Sure, why not.”
“And a Christmas sugar cookie?”
He laughed. “Tw
ist my arm.”
“I’m getting a Candy Cane Latte. Do you want one of those or an Epic Eggnog Espresso?”
“The espresso, please. And make it a double shot.”
“I just changed my mind. I’m getting that, too. Might as well give myself some extra caffeine so I can power through this job.”
“That was my thought.”
“Do you want a wreath cookie or a tree cookie?”
“I seem to remember a Santa and a snowman, too.”
“Yes, but there’s something so wrong about chomping down on Santa and Frosty. I never get those.”
He grinned. “And you’d prefer I didn’t?”
“Yes, I would.”
“A wreath’s fine.”
“Good choice.” She sent in the order and fifteen minutes later they were on the road to Crimson Clouds as they sipped their espressos and ate wreath-shaped cookies.
Eagerness for the project carried her through the rest of what became a long day of constant effort, interrupted only by a fifteen-minute lunch break of hastily made sandwiches. By the time the light began to fade, the porch and yard were finished. Pete had used an extension ladder to string lights along the roofline of the barn and hang the lighted wreath. He’d also installed a conduit from the barn to the grove of trees.
She was ready to call it a day, but first she wanted to sit with him and plan their next steps. She made a pot of coffee and they settled on the front porch steps with steaming mugs. The lights were on, but it wasn’t dark enough yet for them to show up well.
She took a sip from her mug. “So, tomorrow we’ll do the grove of trees and the one cabin.”
He nodded. “I have to have the truck back by four but that should give us plenty of time for the trees. What about your Christmas tree?”
“It’s still in the forest.” She’d concentrated so hard on the outside she’d forgotten that she’d mentioned decorating a tree.
“If you’re not too bushed, we should have enough light to cut one if we go as soon as we finish our coffee.”
“Aren’t you tired? We’ve been going nonstop since you arrived this morning.”
“I’m a little tired, but cutting the tree won’t take long and decorating it is the fun part.”
“Are you offering to help me?”
“Well, yeah, unless you don’t want me to.”
“I’d appreciate the help, but don’t you have things to do at home?”
He shrugged. “Nothing critical. I can text Dad and ask him to feed Clifford. I’m not trying to push you into getting the tree, but if you had it up and a fire going when Caitlin gets here, and maybe a couple of the Christmas things you mentioned like pillows and such, she could shoot in there, too.”
“I guess it makes sense to have her take as many pictures as possible once she’s here.” She gazed at him. “But if you stay to help me with the tree, I’ll need to feed us both, and I—”
“I’m not picky. Whatever you usually have is fine.”
“I’m not so sure. I usually have wine, a few slices of cheese, a handful or two of nuts, maybe some crackers if I’m feeling wild and crazy. And olives. I have some of those in the fridge.”
“That’s all you eat for dinner?”
His shocked tone made her laugh. “I’ve never been into cooking. I make myself breakfast, and lunch is usually sandwiches or soup, as you’ve probably noticed. I don’t have anything in the pantry or the fridge that qualifies as a proper dinner entrée. Not my thing.”
“Okay, I’ll admit those few little munchies won’t do it for me. Do you have any eggs?”
“Yes.”
“Is there any of that bread left?”
“I have plenty of bread. I always have toast in the morning.”
“How about syrup? Oh, and milk. I’ll need sugar, too.”
“I have a bag of sugar. I also have cream for my coffee.”
“Cream will work even better, but I don’t want to leave you without any for tomorrow morning.”
“No worries. I have plenty. As for the syrup, let me think. You know, I do have some maple syrup that somebody gave me a while ago. Never opened it. And I think I’ve figured out what’s on the menu for tonight.”
“I’ll make you the best French toast you’ve ever had.”
“Yum! French toast for dinner. How decadent. I can’t wait.”
“Then let’s go get that tree.” He finished his coffee and stood. “Assuming you have a saw.”
“I do. A bow saw.”
“Perfect.”
“Ira told me so when I bought it.” She poured the rest of her coffee in the flower bed next to the steps. “I’ll get it.”
“Did you plan to cut your own tree?”
“I did, although now that you’re here to help, I’ll choose a bigger one.”
He grinned. “I see.”
“Be right back.” She carried both mugs into the house, took the saw out of the laundry room where she kept her tools, and returned to the front porch.
“Do you know where you want to look?”
“Yep. We’ll go a little beyond that grove of trees where you’ll be stringing lights tomorrow. There are several potential trees I’ve looked at.” She held out the saw.
“Oh, no.” He backed away. “Your saw, your tree. I’m just the muscle that allows you to get a bigger tree, but you’re in charge of this operation.”
She smiled. “Okay, but if you’d hold it for a minute I want to zip my parka and put on my gloves.”
“Sure thing.”
“Now I’m ready.” She took the saw and started off. “I feel like a real ranch woman, doing this.”
“You are a real ranch woman.”
She glanced at him. “I suppose I am, now that you mention it. I’ve learned a lot, most of it thanks to you.”
“It’s been a pleasure. I’ll admit when you hired me I didn’t expect you’d work alongside me the way you have.”
“I had a professor I adored who told his students to learn as much about the property as possible, do many of the jobs, get familiar with what goes on.”
“You could have watched me muck out stalls, though. You didn’t have to get in there and do it.”
“I think I do have to get in there and do it. Besides, it’s good exercise and it…I dunno…helps me think.”
“And that’s what any true ranch woman would say. Or cowboy. That particular job has a way of putting life into perspective.”
“I know! In fact, when the guests start arriving, I might not have the time to muck out stalls. Then what?”
“Guess you’ll have to find a substitute.”
“I don’t know what that would be.” She pointed to a path through the trees. “Through here. We’ll have to go single file.”
“Ladies first.”
She walked ahead of him on the path that someone had once cleared but was overgrown, now. “The only time I’ll have to myself once the guests arrive will be after eight in the evening, when they’re on their own. That’s not when I should be mucking out stalls.”
“No, guess not. That’s a morning chore.” He sounded amused.
“I know it sounds ridiculous, but my time in the stable with the horses has become so precious to me.”
“You could go down and hang out with them in the evening, give Honey Butter a rubdown. He’d love that.”
“Good idea. Got any more where that came from?”
His soft chuckle was followed by an even softer no.
A delicious shiver traveled down her spine. Damn his hide, he was thinking about sex. She’d swear to it. It was certainly an activity she could enjoy after eight in the evening, and one that would provide exercise and often a new perspective if you had the right partner.
She had no doubt he could give her a new perspective and he very well could be the right partner…at the wrong time. She was about to launch a business. He was a key player.
The thick stand of trees opened onto a small meadow. Twilight was upon
them, but she was able to pinpoint the group of evergreens she’d identified as good prospects. “Over here.”
“I see them. Nice shapes.”
She started toward them. “I’d zeroed in on the one on the far left, but the one on the far right would fit my living room better.”
“It’s a little too tall for your ceiling.”
“You think? It looks perfect to me.”
“They always look smaller when they’re outside.”
She laughed. “Yeah, okay, I’ve seen Christmas Vacation. Maybe the shorter one’s better.”
“But the shape isn’t as good. We could cut the other one about three feet up the trunk. That could potentially preserve the tree. If what I’ve read is correct, it’ll grow back.”
“No kidding? That would be fantastic.”
“It’s worth a shot, and there’s even a logical place about three feet up where the branches aren’t as thick.”
“I see where you’re talking about. Should I just get in there and start cutting?”
“Go for it. I’d start on this side.”
Taking a deep breath, she placed the blade against the tree trunk and went to work. After about a minute she paused to unzip her jacket. “This isn’t all that easy, is it?”
“You’re doing great. Keep going. When you get about halfway, stop.”
“Then you’ll take over?”
“Only if you want me to.”
Her arms were aching and she was breathing hard, but she was cutting her own Christmas tree. “I want to finish it.”
“Then when you get halfway, you need to go around and work from the opposite side.”
“Okay.” She stopped at the point he’d recommended and stood back. “It’ll look gorgeous in my living room.”
“Yes, it will.”
Something in his tone made her glance at him. In the soft twilight, his expression appeared tender, even slightly besotted. But she could be wrong. Darkness was closing in. “I’d better finish up while I can still see what I’m doing.” She walked around the tree and started on the other side. Maybe she was getting the hang of it, because the sawing went faster.
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