Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6

by Jean Brashear

  “I’m sorry,” she said to her father. “I didn’t understand until now what you must have gone through.”

  Her father’s gaze whipped to hers, surprisingly vulnerable. “Your mama was everything.” He cleared his throat again. “Damn sure too good for me.”

  “She loved you so much.” She saw his head turn toward her like a flower to sunlight. As if he needed to hear this.

  “I wasn’t good enough to her. Or for her.”

  “She thought you were.”

  “You were a child.”

  But Penny knew she was right. “Remember how she’d tease you and say oh, you, then flutter her hand like this?” Penny demonstrated something she’d seen a thousand times in her life, her mother’s gentle remonstration, her flirting reprimand when he tried to scandalize her. There had been humor between them. No one else could make her father laugh, really, not the way Mama had.

  His smile was soft and sad. “She tried to make a better man of me.” He heaved a sigh. “She wouldn’t be proud of how I handled her children.” He shook his bowed head.

  “We’ve all fallen in love now. Maybe we can’t know exactly how it was with the two of you, but when I think of how I would feel if Bridger—” The very notion sent a shaft of terror through her.

  “You never get over it,” her father said quietly. “The hole your mama left…but I still should have done better.” His head rose, his gaze sharpening. “So what’s the holdup with you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t try to fake me out, Princess. You were never any good at it. A blind man could see how eager Bridger is to marry you. He’s a good guy. What’s your problem?”

  Penny shook her head slowly. “I don’t—” She met her father’s eyes, wishing her mother were here. She’d know what to do. “I love him Daddy, I really do.” She shrugged. “Anyway, it’s Jackson’s turn now. I am not going to compete with that. He and Veronica have lost too much time together. He wants this to be special, and I’m not horning in on it.”

  “Want your own spotlight, Princess?”

  “No!” She shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do. This is so important to Bridger, but I’ll never be his Suzy Homemaker.”

  “Pretty sure he’s not asking you to.”

  “You’re right. It’s just—” She exhaled. “There’s an awful lot of emotion swirling around right now, Daddy. I quit letting myself get all emotional a long time ago.”

  Her father snorted. “You are not pulling the wool over my eyes. You’ve always felt a lot behind that ice princess mask you wore. You just don’t like making yourself vulnerable. You count on being in control.”

  “You know me too well. I’m working on it, but…I wish I were more like Mama.”

  “You are, Princess. You only thought you didn’t want to be. I didn’t give your mama much of a life here, working so hard to help me make this place profitable, raising you kids, keeping all of us happy… She deserved better.”

  “She always said she was right where she wanted to be.”

  His gaze was surprisingly open. “You think that’s true?” He seemed to really want to know.

  “I do. Sure, her life required a lot of hard work, but Mama was all about love, and she had a whole batch of us to love, didn’t she?”

  “Spread it to everyone she possibly could,” he agreed.

  Just then the school bus lumbered to a stop, and Eric raced off. “Grandpa! Guess what happened today?”

  Her father turned with a smile. “I’m betting you’re gonna tell me, aren’t you?”

  “I sure am.” Eric started running toward them. “Hi, Aunt Penny!”

  The boy had blossomed, and they’d all marveled at the relationship between her father and Rissa’s adopted son. “Hey, yourself. Have a good day at school?”

  “Yeah!” Then he deflated. “’Cept for stupid English. Who cares about verbs and nouns? I know how to speak English just fine.”

  She slapped a hand over her heart. “Words are my life. You’re stabbing me straight in the heart, young man. Anyway, how am I going to make you into a world-class shark lawyer if you don’t learn grammar?”

  “I’m gonna be a SEAL, remember? Like my dad.” Every time Eric said the words dad or mom or grandpa, it was as though he’d uttered something holy.

  “I thought you were going to train horses like your mom.”

  “After I’m a SEAL,” he said patiently, as though she were a little thick.

  She chuckled. “I’m pretty sure even SEALs care about grammar. They learn other languages, too, you know.”

  His little nose wrinkled. “Oh, maaaan. Two sets of nouns and verbs and junk?”

  Her father laughed and ruffled Eric’s hair. “Maybe a cookie would help, you think? Celia made some just a little while ago.”

  The housekeeper Celia’s daughter Samantha caught up then. “Eric, I made a ninety-eight on my grammar test.”

  “And you still can’t be a SEAL,” he taunted. “’Cause you’re a stupid ole girl.”

  “I can so, any day now. Mackey told me. Mackey! Where are you?” She took off running in search of the man who had just poked his head out of the barn.

  “Dad, tell her,” Eric called out. “I can be a SEAL right now, but she can’t, right?”

  Mackey grinned, shaking his head. “Dude, what I have I told you about that?”

  “Maybe I’d best go help out,” her father said, clearly eager to be with Eric. “You need anything else, Princess?”

  “No, thanks. I’ll just go look in the attic.”

  “Your sister might want to help.”

  “I can see she’s busy with a horse right now, but would you ask her to join me when she can?”

  “Sure will.” His step was lighter and more eager than she’d seen it in years as he left.

  We’re not who we were without you, Mama. But maybe we’re gonna be okay after all.

  Scarlett glanced out toward Ian as he stood, straight and tall, in the dining room, listening to what was probably yet one more person expecting him to perform miracles in some way. He was the go-to man in Sweetgrass, the mayor who refused to accept a title but performed the work nonetheless. If Nana was the heart of Sweetgrass, Ian was its protector. Its get-it-done man. Everyone knew that he would not rest until a problem was fixed, and it was part of his power that he cared nothing for status or position. Ian didn’t posture or need acclaim; he needed things to get done. Needed to solve problems.

  He saw her looking and cast her a grin and a wink. His eyebrows rose as if to ask do you need me in there?

  She shook her head, then smiled and blew him a kiss. She hadn’t had a champion all that long, but it was certainly nice, knowing she could have one at any given moment. All she had to do was say the word, and Ian would charge in on his white horse.

  That she seldom asked bothered him more than a bit at times, she was almost positive.

  The warmth in his beautiful brown eyes melted her defenses. Yes, he was overprotective, but after a lifetime of being nearly alone but for a mother who flitted from man to man to man, experiencing Ian’s fierce guarding felt like luxury of the highest order.

  She blew him a second kiss as Jackson entered.

  “Did you need something, Scarlett?”

  Oh, this was hard. “I do.” She resisted the urge to wring her hands. “I’m not sure how to say this, but…I’m really sorry, Jackson. I don’t think I can do all that I wanted to with your initial visits from your staff. I just—” She swallowed. “I’m not used to saying I can’t do something. I hate this.”

  He took her hand. “It’s okay. Really.”

  “But you were counting on me, and now I still don’t have the courthouse open and running, and you invested so much—”

  He was grinning at her.

  “What?”

  “You are so much like Aunt Ruby.” A fond smile as he delivered the supreme compliment.

  But she cou
ldn’t accept it. “No, I’m not. I’m not accustomed to failing, Jackson. I never make a promise, then not deliver.”

  “You’re pregnant.”

  “So?” Everything in her took umbrage. “Women accomplish lots of things despite being pregnant. Life doesn’t stop.”

  “Best I can tell, you’re still outworking nine-tenths of the population. So you’re not superwoman. Deal with it.”

  “But—”

  He laughed, but the laughter had a hollow ring to it.

  Abruptly she noticed how exhausted he seemed.

  And dispirited.

  “Are you okay? Something’s wrong.”

  “Nothing’s wrong.” The tone was hollow. At last he sighed. “It’s going to work out. I hope.”

  “Are you having trouble with your employees over this plan to move to Sweetgrass?”

  “What? No—well, yeah, but my business is based on the internet. With the cell tower coming online, proximity isn’t a huge issue. Sure, I’d prefer that my staff would see what I love about Sweetgrass, but most of them are quite young.” He smiled. “Although what the difference in working twenty hours a day in the office in Seattle or here is, I’m not sure.”

  “But when they do poke their heads out, the nightlife is about as different as humanly possible. And not a Starbucks in sight.”

  “Yeah. That.” Again his gaze went distant. After a moment, he shook himself. Looked at her. “I’m thinking that the community Christmas will work well as a way to introduce a few of them to the essence of Sweetgrass, so don’t worry. Truly.”

  “Spritz them with Eau de Sweetgrass Springs.”

  His lips curved. “Something like that. I’ll figure this out.” He sobered. “Scarlett, I wanted to invest in the courthouse and Ruby’s Dream because of Aunt Ruby and Ian and you, but not at the expense of your health or your baby’s. I truly have no emotional investment in when it comes to fruition or what form it takes. I trust you. Take that worry off your list, all right?” He cocked his head. “I do want to ask, though, if it’s possible that some catering could be done down the road, if I needed that. For instance, I’m making plans with Bridger to renovate the old hardware store and the dry goods next door. Make the downstairs office space and the upstairs a set of studios. But because my people tend to work odd hours and long ones, I’d like to promise some sort of commissary for the times when the diner isn’t open, and I also wonder if you’d be willing to think about expanding the menu here when you are open.” His eyes twinkled. “I do have more than my share of food issues to deal with. Can you do Asian and vegan, for instance? Gluten free?”

  “I can do anything. Tell me what you’re thinking about.”

  For a few minutes they discussed options that would allow him to accommodate the more exotic fare his crew was used to consuming.

  Scarlett started getting enthused about the possibilities. She could use the kitchen at the courthouse to serve his commissary, and maybe she’d open for dinner at Ruby’s Dream on weekend nights only, when Nana could be closed at the diner….

  “I can see that brain clicking. I wasn’t trying to double your workload but to relieve some of it. Anyway, I honestly don’t know how many will choose to relocate. Probably more of them will want to telecommute, but we might stage regular in-person meetings here, sort of retreats. I’m still thinking,” he said. “Mostly I just want not to be traveling so much. I want to stay here with my family.” But his fond look slid to sad.

  “I’m a good listener if you wanted to talk over whatever’s bothering you,” she prompted.

  “I don’t doubt it for a minute. I just—marrying into an existing family is a little more complicated than I realized.”

  “The kids adore you.”

  “The girls do. They can’t wait.”

  “But not Ben?”

  Jackson heaved a sigh. “I don’t want to be angry with Vee for not telling me about him, and I don’t want him to be, either. I know it’s my fault for leaving and never getting in touch, but—” He shook his head. “We’ll figure it out.”

  “But meanwhile the clock is ticking on a wedding.”

  “Yeah. And that’s on me, too. I pushed Vee into it.”

  “She loves you, Jackson. Anyone can see that.”

  Those electric blue eyes locked on hers. “She’s the dream I could never forget, however little I believed I’d ever have a chance with her again. We had so many plans when we were young, but then…”

  “Life likes to toy with us, doesn’t it? Fate has a nasty sense of humor.”

  “Fate or human error. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes.” He shook it off and straightened. “Thank you, Scarlett. I’m really glad Ian found you. He’s the best.”

  “He is.” She had to grin. “Even if he’s a wee bit too protective.”

  “You’re a treasure. We dragons like to guard ours.” He clasped her shoulder. “Don’t spend one more second worrying about the courthouse or the restaurant, all right?” His glance dropped to her belly, then back up. “Take care of that little one. Nothing matters more. We’re good at what we do, cousin, but we’re not so great at kicking back and going with the flow, are we?”

  “Nope.”

  “Maybe we should form a support group.” His handsome face smiled.

  She rose to her toes and hugged him. “I’m so glad you came home.”

  His arms tightened on her. “Me, too. More than I know how to say.”

  As he drew away, she spoke once more. “If I can do anything…”

  He nodded with a smile and walked back into the dining room, where Melba promptly snagged him.

  Poor guy.

  Better him than me, though.

  The more boxes she opened, the more Penny found their family’s past springing to life. It hurt and it filled her heart and she couldn’t stand it, but she couldn’t stop—

  “It looks like a fabric bomb went off, and you’re the only survivor.” Rissa emerged from the stairs, cookies in her hand.

  “You were so cute in this dress, Clary—” She extended a scrap of plaid that she recalled a gap-toothed redheaded moppet wearing for her school picture.

  “I hated wearing dresses. You’re the one who loved prissing around.”

  “You were the cutest thing in this, your front teeth missing, grinning at the camera. Funny how you don’t look like a pint-sized demon.”

  “Surely you’re not saying I was.” Rissa grinned and extended a cookie. “Here.”

  Penny took it and bit in. “Oh. Oh, wow—I forgot to eat lunch, I just realized.” She made short work of the snack and reached out. “More. Gimme.”

  “What makes you think I brought more than one for you?”

  “You did, you know it.” But as she glanced around, the cookie stuck in her throat. “Did you know all this was here?”

  “Nope. Didn’t want to. I was too mad—at all of you. Mama most because she left me, but—”

  “I left you, too. Jackson and I both did. There’s no way to apologize enough.”

  “You got that right.” Rissa blew out a breath. “But we’re moving on now, right? I did promise to forgive you. Even if I still don’t want to,” she grumbled.

  Penny bit her lip. “You deserve to hate me, Clary—Rissa. You do. Mama would have wanted me to take better care of you.”

  Rissa lifted one shoulder. “I turned out okay.”

  “More than okay, little sis. You did an amazing job of raising yourself. I’m known for being a strong woman, but I’m peanuts compared to you.”

  A little girl’s eyes peered out of Rissa’s bravado. “Thank you.” She tried to smile, but it wasn’t steady.

  “I feel awful,” Penny whispered. “I look around at this, and I think of the tremendous love Mama poured into us. She’d be so upset to know that the family she spent her life building and nurturing fell apart without her. She raised me to be better than that.” It was her deepest shame and sorrow. She rose to her knees and seized her sister in a hug. �
��If I could do it over, I would.”

  Rissa grabbed on and held her tightly. “Just these few months of being someone’s mother…I don’t know how she did it. We were unbelievably lucky to have her. I don’t know anyone who had anything comparable.” She released Penny. “But remember what she also said, over and over? Life takes turns you don’t expect, but if you like where you are, you can’t regret the road that got you there.” She gripped Penny’s hand. “You’re back and Jackson’s back, and we all have love in our lives. Dad and Jackson have reconciled. We’re strong and united now, even if we weren’t always. We are what she raised us to be, at last. Even if she might not like how we got here, I think she’d approve, don’t you?”

  Penny nodded. “I miss her so much.”

  “This—” Rissa gestured around them “—has to make it worse. What are you doing?”

  Penny explained about the quilt. “Will you help me pick some fabrics that represent all of us?”

  “Sure. Any more boxes to open?”

  “I’ve barely made a dent.”

  Rissa glanced around. Saw a trunk. “Oh, Penny. Remember that? It’s Mama’s hope chest.”

  Penny gasped. “Oh! I remember her letting us go through it when—” She gasped. “Do you suppose her wedding dress is still in there?”

  Rissa’s eyes widened. “Let’s see.” She picked her way over and opened the trunk. Drew out a zippered bag Penny remembered as though it was yesterday.

  Hastily she joined her sister. With trembling fingers, they opened the bag and let the dress spill out of its second protective wrapping.

  “Oh! Oh, Ris…look. It’s so beautiful.” Lace bodice with camisole beneath, long, flowing chiffon skirt, the dress was fairy princess lovely.

  “You should wear it,” Rissa said. “When you and Bridger get married.” Naked longing was on her features. She and Mackey had done a quick justice of the peace wedding to be eligible to adopt Eric.

  There was nothing that appealed more, but—“You and I both grew too big. We’re much too tall.”

  A thought struck her.

  Rissa spoke at the same time. “Veronica.”

  They traded smiles. “Mama would love that,” she said.