The Cowboy's Christmas Plan

by Shanna Hatfield

  At six-feet, five-inches, Trent tended to stick out in a crowd. With the cowboy boots he wore and the Stetson on his head giving him added height, and he looked more like a giant as he walked with Cass across the schoolyard. Kids stopped and looked his direction, then resumed their playing.

  “Come on, Uncle Trent.” Cass tugged on his hand. “Hurry before the bell rings.”

  He sincerely hoped the bell would ring so he could make an excuse and leave before he ran into Lindsay.

  When he stopped at the door to her classroom, Cass pulled on his hand. “Come see, come see!”

  Grateful the room was empty, Trent walked in, following Cass. She hurried over to one of the tiny desks and opened it, taking out a picture drawn in crayon.

  “See the picture I drew?” Cass held it out to him with a beaming smile. “This is Mama and Daddy and you and Uncle Travis and Grammy.”

  “Wow!” Trent said, hunkering down next to her desk. “You got all of us in this one picture and look at all the colors you used. This is very creative, Cass.”

  The little girl beamed at him, making Trent glad he hadn’t dropped her off and hurried back home.

  She took more papers out of her desk and showed him what she was working on and pointed out some of her projects hanging on the walls around the room with the other students’ assignments.

  “You are doing just great, Cass.” Trent picked her up and gave her a hug. “Your mom and dad are so proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Trent.” Cass kissed his cheek then looked over his shoulder with another giggle. “Morning, Miss Lindsay.”

  “Good morning, Cass.” Lindsay Pierce purposefully strode into her classroom, carrying a box full of art supplies. “How are you today?”

  “I’m great. Uncle Trent and Uncle Travis are taking good care of me while Mama and Daddy are gone on a honeymoon. Have you ever been on a honeymoon?” Cass asked, wiggling for Trent to put her down, which he did reluctantly. Holding Cass gave him something to do with his hands beside jam them in his pockets or twirl his hat nervously.

  “No, I haven’t, Cass,” Lindsay said, as a slight blush rode her cheeks. Of all the questions for Cass to ask, it would have to be one about honeymoons while her obnoxious uncle was in the room.

  Trent couldn’t take his eyes off the teacher. With her blond hair, eyes the color of a summer sky, and golden skin, Lindsay attracted Trent as no other woman ever had. At six-feet tall and athletic, she was lean and lovely. If Trent had been a shorter man, she might have intimidated him. Instead, she drove him to distraction.

  Like now, with her hair shining like spun gold in the light streaming through the classroom windows, dressed in a sweater the color of summer peaches.

  Trent absently wondered if the sweater would be as soft as it looked, longing to run his hand up and down her arm. Quickly gathering his manners, he took off his hat and nodded in the direction of Cass’ teacher. “Hello, Miss Pierce.”

  Lindsay raised her chin a fraction and sniffed. “Hello, Mr. Thompson.”

  Unobtrusively working his way toward the door, Trent told Cass to be good and he’d be back to get her at noon when the kindergartners were released for the day.

  Before he could make his escape, Lindsay stopped him.

  “Mr. Thompson? A moment of your time, if you please.” Lindsay motioned him to join her at the front of the room.

  Lindsay didn’t know what had come over her, but walking into her classroom and finding none other than Trent Thompson holding Cass did funny things to her insides, let alone to her ability to think rationally.

  When she moved to the community three and a half years ago to take the position of kindergarten and first-grade teacher, the residents of Grass Valley welcomed her warmly.

  Except for Trent.

  He avoided her, rarely spoke to her, and when he did it was to offer some teasing comment or joke that she most often found insulting rather than humorous. On top of that, he had a reputation for dating any single female for miles around and had never once shown the slightest interest in her. Wounded pride was part of the reason she was uncomfortable around him. The man was, in her opinion, a certified boor.

  Never mind the fact that he was extremely tall and physically fit, that his blue eyes glowed with warmth and humor, or that he and his two brothers could all have modeling jobs if they wanted to give up their work as ranchers. It was unfair for one family to produce three such good looking, square-jawed, broad-shouldered men.

  Too bad her friend Cady snatched up the pick of the three, though. Everyone talked about Trey being the best looking, Travis being the daredevil, and Trent being the easy-going giant.

  Although Cady tried to convince her that Trent was just as solid and kind as Trey, Lindsay couldn’t quite believe it. He never failed to say something that irritated her.

  Lindsay was a bit of a romantic at heart. That was why she ignored the way Trent’s presence made her heart speed up and her palms grow moist.

  A romance with the arrogant rancher?

  The entire notion was nothing short of ridiculous. Positively ridiculous. She would bet he didn’t know the first thing about romancing a woman. He’d already proven that with his idiotic jokes and relentless teasing.

  As she watched Trent begin to exit the classroom, she spoke before her brain was fully engaged. What possessed her to call him to her desk? Frantically thinking of a reason, she glanced at the box she’d carried in moments earlier. Suddenly, a thought pushed through the muddled turmoil in her mind and made her smile.

  “Since you’re here anyway, would you mind hanging these decorations for me? It would save me a trip to find a stepstool since I can’t quite reach the hooks.” Lindsay held a glittery red heart by its satin ribbon and pointed to a series of hooks in the ceiling.

  Trent took a deep breath and walked to her desk, praying he wouldn’t say anything to stoke the fire of her animosity this morning.

  He didn’t know what it was about Lindsay, but he got so tongue-tied around her, the only words he could get out were lame jokes and teasing. It sounded stupid to his own ears, so he could only imagine what she thought. No wonder she went to great lengths to avoid him.

  Although he still hadn’t worked up the courage to ask her out, Trent knew any number of things about the attractive schoolteacher gained from his hobby of studying her from afar. He knew she liked two packets of artificial sugar in her coffee, no cream. She always crossed her right leg over her left. She wore a silver ring on the middle finger of her right hand that she spun around and around when she was nervous. She also had a habit of pushing her hair behind her ears when she wore it loose, which wasn’t often. She favored soft shades of peach, yellow, and blue over brighter colors. When she liked someone, she tipped her head slightly and smiled from her eyes as she talked to them.

  If he didn’t know better, he’d say he was completely infatuated with the woman, but that just couldn’t be possible.

  Removing his hat, he set it down on one of the tiny desks, unsnapped his coat and took the decoration from her. When their fingers accidentally brushed, his entire hand tingled. With determination, he managed to keep his mouth shut as he hung the decoration on the hook she indicated and reached for the next one. Neither one of them spoke during the entire process and Cass, chatterbox that she was, kept the silence from being awkward.

  As the last sparkly heart dangled from a hook, Lindsay glanced around, pleased by how festive the classroom looked and turned to find Trent starting at her. Instead of blushing, she tucked a lock of her straight hair behind her ear and gave him a small smile. “Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome,” Trent said, picking up his hat and putting it back on his head.

  Lindsay admired the waves in his brown hair, wondering what it would be like to run her fingers through it. Mentally slamming on the brakes, she brought that thought to an abrupt halt, sucked in a breath, and stood a little straighter.

  “I think…”
What she planned to say was cut off by the morning bell. She glanced at the wall clock and turned to see Trent rubbing his hand affectionately on top of Cass’ head before he walked out the door.

  Lindsay needed to get herself under control as she sank into the chair behind her desk. Trey and Cady would be gone for ten more days. It was going to take every ounce of restraint she had to endure seeing Trent twice a day for almost two weeks. Even if he was good with Cass and looked like he’d stepped out of the pages of one of the romance books she enjoyed reading, she had to keep focused on the fact that she usually found him annoying and pretentious.

  If only she could wipe the memory of his warm smile, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes and his enticing woodsy scent from her mind.

  Inwardly groaning, she put a smile in place, ready to greet her class.

  ><><

  Travis was in big trouble. Huge trouble.

  When he got home, Trent was going to find his brother and make it perfectly and unmistakably clear that he was no longer going to be Cass’ bus service to and from school. He just couldn’t take being around Lindsay.

  His heart still pounded and his fingers continued to tingle where her fingertips, all soft and slender, had connected with his multiple times as she handed him the decorations.

  Now, instead of seeing him as a wisecracking smart-aleck, she no doubt would think he was the world’s biggest dolt. Why did that woman tie him up in knots? He dated more girls than both his brothers combined and never had any problem talking to any of them. But stick him in a room with Lindsay and his mind went as blank as her freshly cleaned chalkboard.

  He parked his truck by the back door, went in the sprawling ranch house, traded his town hat and coat for his work outerwear, yanked on his gloves, and stalked out to the barn. He loved this ranch and loved sharing the big house with his two brothers, but sometimes all of them living under one roof was challenging.

  Busy all morning, he didn’t have time to find his brother. Convinced Travis wouldn’t bail on him twice the first day Trey and Cady were on their honeymoon, he didn’t give another thought to picking up Cass at noon.

  At a quarter to twelve, his phone buzzed and a text message arrived from Travis.

  Fixing fence, can’t get Cass. Sorry.

  Trent felt his temper start to boil. Travis was obviously doing this on purpose and if he found out Trey was involved in the set-up, both his brothers were going to be two of the sorriest men that ever lived.

  Swiftly jumping on the four-wheeler and hurrying to the house, he started his pickup and drove back to the school. The noon bell rang as he pulled into the parking lot.

  It didn’t take long for the kindergarten students to rush outside. Trent stood by the pickup waiting for Cass when she ran his direction, waving a hand over her head.

  “Hi, Uncle Trent!” she said, all smiles.

  “Hi, Cass. Did you have fun this morning?” he asked as he set her in the booster seat and helped her buckle up.

  “Yes!” she said, trying to tug something out of her backpack. “I made you a picture.”

  “You did?” Trent waited while she carefully pulled a piece of art paper out of her bag, still wet with glue and glitter. Even with his limited experience at kindergarten art appreciation, he could see the stick figures were of him and Lindsay in the classroom this morning hanging up the decorations. Cass added glittery hearts all over the ceiling, just like the ones he helped Lindsay hang. In her drawing, his legs each looked ten-feet long in comparison to the rest of the scene.

  “This is very nice, Cass. Do I get to keep it?” Trent grinned as her feet wiggled and she bounced in her seat.

  “Yep! You can put it on the fridge, just like Mama does,” Cass said.

  Cady, who liked things neat and orderly, had turned their refrigerator into an art gallery of Cass’ creations. The only thing not covered by paper drawings and assorted pictures made from things that were once edible, was the icemaker in the door. It was just another sign that their world was now interspersed with the trappings of a much-loved child.

  “Are you hungry?” Trent asked as he pulled in at Viv’s diner. He couldn’t cook to save his life, but Cady’s Aunt Vivian promised to feed Cass lunch every day, so Trent took her in and they quickly found a table.

  Viv saw them arrive and waved her hand. She soon came to the table with a hearty bowl of stew for Trent and a plate of macaroni and cheese with fruit and veggie sticks for Cass.

  “Hope you don’t mind if I assumed on your order, Trent.” Viv set down a glass of milk by Cass and poured Trent a cup of coffee.

  “Not at all, Viv.” Trent took Cass’ little hand in his and offered thanks for their meal then took a bite of the stew. “This is great. Thanks for taking care of us.”

  “You’re welcome, although I thought Travis was supposed to be the one running Cass to school.” Viv looked at Trent suspiciously.

  “He was, but I haven’t been able to track him down since breakfast. We’ll be having a discussion about that later,” Trent said, nodding toward Cass.

  “I see.” Viv grinned. “Did Trey and Cady get off okay?”

  “Yes, they left at four this morning to get to Portland in time for their flight. I’m glad they decided to go ahead and take the trip now, while things are still slow. It will be nice for them to have a few days away.”

  “I agree. If you and Travis need any help with your ward, let me know. Joe and I can take a turn if you need a break.” Viv volunteered her unsuspecting husband for babysitting duty.

  “Thanks, Viv. I appreciate it.”

  She returned to the kitchen while Trent and Cass ate their lunch. Trent smiled, remembering that this diner was where he and Trey met Cady back in September when she first moved to town. She was the worst waitress they’d ever seen, spilling food and dropping trays of glasses. When she accidentally spilled water all down the front of Trey, Trent knew his brother was a goner for the dark-haired beauty.

  Cass ate her last bite of an apple slice as Viv returned to the table carrying a plate with cookies and another with a big piece of banana cream pie.

  “Cookies for me?” Cass asked as Viv set them down in front of her and the pie in front of Trent.

  “You bet, sweetie-pie. Now eat up.” Viv smiled at Cass before disappearing into the back.

  Cass munched on her cookies and drank her milk. She watched Trent eat the pie and finally got on her knees, leaning across the table. “Uncle Trent?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Can I have a bite of pie?”

  Trent looked up from his plate and held out the fork for Cass. He already knew she wasn’t fond of cream pie, but indulged her request.

  She took a little bite, made an awful face, but swallowed anyway.

  “I forgot I don’t like that,” she said, draining her milk glass and taking another cookie.

  When Cass moved in with them out at the Triple T Ranch, she had been half-starved. After two months of good food and loving care, she was starting to fill out and grow, although she did seem to have a hollow leg.

  As rambunctious as she was, none of them worried about her putting on any excess weight. She wiggled off too many calories in a day. They all were quite lenient when it came to her eating in an effort to help her get to a healthy weight and size.

  Although she was five, her tiny frame easily mistook her for a much younger child.

  After finishing his pie, Trent took out his wallet and left money for the bill and a tip on the table, waving to Viv as she walked out of the kitchen. He helped Cass on with her coat, mittens and hat, then pulled on his own coat. He settled his hat on his head as Viv hurried over and hugged Cass.

  “Let me know if you hear from that niece of mine. I want to make sure they made it to down there in one piece.”

  “You know we will.” Trent gave Viv a one-armed hug and took Cass’ hand in his. “Thanks for lunch.”

  Cass kept up a steady chatter on the drive home and Trent wondered if she would wi
nd down enough for an afternoon nap or if his ears would be sore from listening to her before the day was over.

  He helped her climb up the porch steps, which still seemed a little slick despite the deicer he put out earlier. Trent then assisted her as she took off her outwear in the mudroom. When they entered the kitchen, the house seemed so quiet without Cady or Trey there. Glancing around, it didn’t appear that Travis came in for lunch, which meant he was most likely still out fixing fence. Trent felt his anger cool down a little.

  He took the drawing Cass held out to him and found a place to stick it front and center on the fridge. She clapped her hands as he tacked it up with a magnet.

  “So, goofball, what is on your agenda for this afternoon?” Trent asked as he watched Cass flit around the living room across from the kitchen and dining area.

  “What’s an agenda?” Cass stopped and gave him a questioning look.

  “An agenda is a set of plans. So, my question is what do you have planned to do this afternoon?”

  “Well,” Cass said, making the word sound like it had two syllables. Trent was coming to recognize when she said it like that, it meant he probably wasn’t going to like whatever poured out of her little rosebud lips. “You could play fort and give me horsey rides and take me sledding and help me make cookies. Or I guess we could read a story for a while.”

  “I vote for reading a story.” Relieved at that option in her list of things he didn’t really want to do, he hoped she’d fall asleep if he read to her for a while. “Why don’t you pick out a book and we’ll sit in your dad’s chair.”

  “Okay.” Cass ran to her room to get a storybook. The pounding of her little feet on the tile floor was a happy sound that always made Trent smile. She raced back with a book in hand, her curls flying out behind her. He settled into the big rocking recliner and Cass quickly scrambled onto his lap.

  “This is one of my favorites,” she said, settling in for story time.

  Trent looked at the cover and, with great self-control, managed not to roll his eyes. He accepted the fact that in the next ten days, he would probably get enough glitter, princess, and fairy exposure to last him a lifetime.