Christmas in Winter Valley

by Jodi Thomas

  The memory of Jessica walking away flashed in his mind. Hell, he couldn’t even get rid of one old heartache. Maybe he did have a problem with moving on. Even after ten years, he sometimes walked into the kitchen and expected to hear his mother singing as she cooked. Part of him wished he could be brave like Cooper and rush in no matter the odds. Or strong like Griffin, who fought his way through any problem.

  But Elliot wasn’t made that way. Logic ruled his every action. And logic told him he had to get Cooper to the hospital as fast as possible. Not think about it. Not reason anything out. He had to move fast. His brother’s life might depend on it.

  Forget his feelings. Shove Jess far back in the shadows of his mind. Just do what had to be done. Right now, Elliot knew he had to respond, not think about it, not weigh the choices, just act.

  He tugged on his winter boots as he yelled at Dani, “If the accountant shows up, put him in the room on the third floor and tell him I’ll be back as soon as possible. He’s welcome to start on the books I left on my desk.”

  “Will do,” Dani answered. “Do you want me to feed him? I’ve heard tell if you feed an accountant, they’ll never leave.”

  Elliot grinned at her humor. “Make him feel like family. I’m afraid we may have him as a guest for a while.”

  “Oh, all right, I’ll feed him and put him on the third floor, but I hate to do that to an unsuspecting stranger. He’ll be right over the cousins if they don’t start packing soon. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

  Elliot walked past her. “The skunk-striped cousin, Apple, said they were thinking of leaving today. Find one of the hands to drive them into the Lubbock before they change their minds.”

  Dani’s tone grew serious as she followed Elliot out to the waiting pickup. “I packed in extra pillows atop the hay. You bring Cooper back in one piece, you hear? I’ll make sure the ambulance is waiting. It’ll probably take you several hours to get him down.”

  She handed Elliot a thermos, a first-aid kit as big as a carry-on bag and a plastic basket of muffins. “If Cooper’s conscious, he’ll be hungry for sweets.”

  Elliot wasn’t surprised that Dani babied Cooper. Everyone pampered him. Must be that stray-dog syndrome, or maybe women saw him as a project. He was never surprised at how women reacted to Cooper.

  But he was surprised when he opened the door of Creed’s pickup and found the redheaded cousin sitting in the middle, her knees on either side of the gearshift.

  “What are you doing here, Dallas?” Elliot didn’t even bother to be polite. He didn’t have time. “I thought you girls were heading home today.”

  “Creed promised to take me riding. I’m tired of waiting on a horse to drop a baby. And I want to help get all the Christmas decorations up and...”

  “Her folks aren’t home, so she’s stuck here.” Creed joined the conversation as he opened the driver’s-side door.

  “That’s not the reason.” Dallas slapped Creed’s shoulder. “Stop listening to my phone conversations.”

  “That’s not easy when you’re yelling.”

  Elliot felt like he’d just stepped into a kids’ show and some clown in the background was singing, “Which of these things is not like the others?” He found it hard to believe that two people who were so different could find something to talk about, much less argue about.

  He stepped back. “Get out of the truck, Dallas. This isn’t a tour bus.”

  To his surprise, she simply folded her arms. “No. Cooper is my cousin-in-law, and I’m not leaving him in the woods for the wolves to eat. I’m part of the rescue squad.”

  Elliot didn’t have time to argue. He shoved the first-aid kit at her and climbed in.

  Creed smiled at him like the first man out in a poker game would grin at the second loser.

  “All right. You can go, but you may have to ride in the back with Cooper on the way back. There may be blood.”

  “I know there may be blood. I took human anatomy twice.”

  Elliot tried to fight against using sarcasm, but then asked, “Loved it that much, did you?”

  “No, failed it the first time. Who knew all the bones had their own names. Couldn’t we just call them leg bones or arm bones? Oh, no. They have to have their own funny little name and it’s always something you’d never name a kid. Like ulna or phalanges. And muscles, don’t get me started on them.”

  The foreman turned on the radio to get the weather report.

  Dallas simply talked louder as she critiqued every class she’d ever failed.

  When they finally shot through the pass, the road was so rough she stopped talking and started screaming.

  Creed pushed the truck to its limit, but he only dared to go a few yards beyond where the doc had parked her Jeep. The wind was kicking up, and snow blew in swirls at the tree line. They needed to get to Cooper as fast as possible.

  The men were out of the truck and packed to climb the hill while Dallas looked for her glove.

  Leaning near Elliot, Creed whispered, “I liked her better drunk.”

  “Me, too,” Elliot answered, then yelled at Dallas, “We’re heading up. If you can’t keep up, stay here. You should be safe from the wolves in the cab of the truck. Just honk the horn if they figure out how to open the doors. We’ll come running to help, if we hear the horn.”

  Creed’s low tone held laughter. “You do know there are no wolves up here, don’t you, boss?”

  “I do.”

  Both men were loaded down as they headed up the hill. Dallas carried the basket of muffins and complained.

  Creed had grown up running these hills with Cooper. The boys were best friends, so the foreman wasn’t slowing down for anyone. He was on a mission.

  Elliot felt the burn in his legs, but he kept up with Creed.

  Dallas, surprisingly, figured out she could breathe more if she talked less. Her long legs and agile body took to climbing. Or maybe she simply believed that Elliot would leave her behind if she couldn’t keep up.

  They saw the smoke of the shack’s chimney first, and Elliot broke into a run, not caring about the uneven ground or the icy slopes.

  Fifty feet out, they saw a kid sitting at the corner of the steps crying. Elliot slowed as he neared. “You all right?”

  “I’m sorry, mister. It’s all my fault. I liked Cooper and that’s what killed him.”

  Elliot felt his own heart stop. Before he could breathe, the little doctor he’d met yesterday opened the door.

  “You didn’t kill him, Tatum. He’s still alive.”

  The kid shook his head. “He won’t be for long. He’ll turn cold soon, and once they turn cold, they never say another word.”

  Both Creed and Elliot bumped into the doc as they rushed the door. Elliot didn’t care who the boy was or what the doc thought. He had to see his brother.

  Cooper was lying across a bunk too short for his long legs. He was muddy and bruised, but he was looking straight at them. “Took you long enough to get here. If the doc would have made me a cane, I would have started searching for you.”

  Creed reacted first. “What in the hell is that on your leg, Coop? It’s like you’re turning into part of the roof.”

  “I think the doc pulled off boards from the house to make me a splint. But don’t mention it. She’s touchy about her work. The kid thinks he’s killing me because someone told him he carries death, and the doc keeps threatening to kill me if I don’t do what she says. I’m glad you got here. I don’t know how long I can hold the Grim Reaper off.”

  His voice was a bit weak and pain reflected from his eyes, but he was alive.

  Elliot breathed, really breathed for the first time since he’d gotten the call that Cooper was hurt. His brother wasn’t dying, and if he was complaining...well, all was going to be fine.

  He moved close and locked right hands with his brother, their
hands forming a tight fist. “We need to get you out of here, Coop. You think you can make the journey?”

  Cooper glanced at the little doctor. “I can make it. But what about the mustangs?”

  “I’ll stay here,” Dr. Hayley Westland said in a very professional manner. “I can manage by myself.”

  “No!” both brothers said at once.

  Elliot added, in as kind of a tone as he could muster, “It’s too dangerous.”

  Creed stepped up. “I’ll stay to help her. I know what to do.”

  “Well, if you’re staying, Creed, I’m staying, too.” Dallas barged into the shack as if she’d been invited.

  “No,” all three men shouted.

  Cooper cussed. “Hell, I don’t care who stays or goes. All I care about is getting out of here. This place is busier than the Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin. I’m hoping they put me in the hospital so I can get some rest.”

  Coop focused on Dallas, but his words sounded weaker. “I figured the cousins would have left the headquarters by now. You must be really bored, Dallas, to follow the rescue team all the way up here.” His eyes closed tightly as pain overtook his body.

  She moved closer, having to push Creed over a few inches with her hip. “I was worried about you, Coop. I’m here to help you.”

  “Yeah, right.” Cooper looked at Creed. “You’re the only man I trust to take care of the mustangs. The doc’s downright bossy, but she’ll help. The boy stays with me. I promised him I wouldn’t die. I have to prove I’m a man of my word before I figure out where he belongs.”

  Hayley straightened as if she could be as tall as every other adult in the room. “If Creed is staying with the horses, I’ll see Cooper to safety, then I’ll return when I can to help with the herd. I’ve covered the path from the pass to the shack twice today and I can do it again. Let’s get him down, then worry about the horses.”

  Elliot agreed with the plan. He could see the pain growing in his little brother’s eyes. They needed to get him to the hospital, fast.

  Within minutes, Elliot managed to organize everyone. He and Creed took the two ends of the stretcher with Cooper wrapped like a burrito inside. The boy walked on one side, the doc on the other. Dallas followed, leading the mare. Once they reached the pass, Creed would have a horse to ride back and complete Cooper’s original mission.

  The journey down was slow. Elliot didn’t miss that Hayley and Tatum did their share of holding Cooper level on uneven ground, and Dallas held branches back so they could pass. It took everyone giving their all to make the hike down.

  Cooper groaned a few times and then closed his eyes. No one knew if he’d passed out or was simply trying to ignore the pain.

  The weak sun above offered little warmth, and the north wind blew cold, as if pushing them along their way. Another few hours and the temperature would be well below freezing again.

  When they reached the pickup, everyone was exhausted. Creed and Elliot carefully lifted Coop into the bed of the truck, and Hayley climbed in to cover him. As she sat beside him and lifted his head into her lap, everyone waited.

  “His breathing is regular. One of my stitches on his hairline has come loose and it’s dripping blood.” She slid her hand between the buttons of his shirt. “He feels very warm. As the only doctor here, I feel like I’d better stay with him until we have him in hospital care.” She looked up at Creed. “Weather permitting, I’ll be back in a few days to help with the horses.”

  Creed nodded.

  Elliot didn’t argue with the plan. There was no one who could be of more help getting Cooper to the hospital than the little doc right now.

  As she gathered up blankets and pillows, she took charge. “Tatum, sit close to his leg and pack blankets along his side so the brace won’t move. That will be a big help. Creed, put the first-aid kit at his feet so he won’t move down during the ride. Elliot, drive as fast as you can without being unsafe. We’ve got to get him to the headquarters in one piece.”

  “Will do, Doc.” Elliot climbed into the truck. His job now was to get his brother to the ambulance. “Get in, Dallas!” he yelled.

  “I’m staying to help Creed.” She crossed her arms and took a step backward, silently telling him that she would allow no argument.

  He threw the truck in gear and took off, ignoring Creed’s cussing.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  December 18

  Maverick Ranch

  A FEW HOURS after Elliot left for Winter Valley, Dani noticed everyone on the ranch seemed to be slowing down. With the Holloway men gone and Creed, the foreman, rushing to help Cooper, no one seemed to be in charge. The men were standing around talking, worrying, guessing how bad Cooper was hurt.

  Only her sons and Tye Franklin were not among the men. It didn’t take her long to figure out where they were. She packed up half a dozen fried pies and headed to the white barn.

  Sure enough, her boys were on their knees rubbing down a newborn colt and Tye was working with the new momma. All three looked like they’d been rolled in mud and blood, then powdered with hay.

  She couldn’t help but smile. Her boys might have their faults, but they had big hearts. Pete had tears dripping down his face, and Patrick was smiling as if he was the proud father of the newborn.

  “Look, Mom, we birthed a horse,” Pete announced.

  “I’ve felt like I’ve done that a few times.” She giggled and caught Tye’s grin. He was the only one in the stall who got the joke.

  “Your boys were a great help. I couldn’t have done it without them.” Tye winked at her.

  Dani looked at the mess. “You three been right here all night?”

  They all nodded.

  “Then you don’t know what’s going on.” She set down the basket and told them what she knew about Cooper as Tye coached the colt to stand and have his first meal. The cowboy seemed far more interested in the mare than the owner breaking a leg.

  “She’ll be fine now.” Tye wiped the sweat from his face. “I think I’ll go clean up and then come back and check on her.”

  “Can you spare my sons? I’ve got a chore Elliot asked me to find someone to do before he gets back and I think my boys would be perfect for the assignment.”

  “Sure, but they’ve earned some time off.” Tye watched her, as if suspecting a twist. “Can it wait until they eat and sleep a few hours?”

  Dani looked serious. “There’s no time. You two get cleaned up. Wear your best pairs of jeans and your Sunday shirts.” She handed them the lunch. “You can eat while you shave.”

  Before they could complain, she added, “I’ve got two young ladies who need you to drive them to the airport, and you need to leave before they bring Cooper back. Those two sweet girls don’t need to see their almost cousin injured.”

  Both her boys looked confused. She doubted either one of them had been close enough to the girls to even say hello.

  Dani marched on with her explanation. “I think Elliot would appreciate it if you stopped at a steak house in Lubbock and made sure they had a good meal before they head home. He’ll pick up the bill for you all, of course, plus gas. You can even take his Land Rover, but be careful.”

  Pete slapped Patrick on the back. “Come on. We’ve got a mission. I get to drive first.”

  “Fine with me, but I’m ordering the biggest steak on the menu. Lubbock has a dozen great steak houses. I get to choose which one.”

  They took off in a run when they reached the barn door, both laughing and talking about the desserts they’d order.

  Tye leaned on the gate and watched them. “Did Elliot really say all that?”

  “No, all he said was for me to help the cousins pack and make sure they get on their journey home any way I could.”

  “What about Dallas? That’s the redhead who went with Elliot and Creed? If they left an hour ago, it’ll be a whil
e before she gets back.”

  “She wasn’t planning to leave. I heard her talking to the other two. Apparently, her parents are delayed and may not make it home before Christmas. I think she’d rather be here than home alone.”

  Tye laughed. “In my world, delayed is usually code for they’re in jail.”

  “I doubt it. Dallas said she’s been living away at schools since she was twelve, and now and then, she thinks her parents forget they have a child.”

  “Sad.” Tye reached to touch her, then pulled back when he saw the dirt and dried blood on his fingers. “Too bad she didn’t have a mom like you. Pete is going to love chauffeuring those girls around, and Patrick probably won’t say a word. He’ll just grin all evening. I wouldn’t expect them back until late. There’s a plane out of Lubbock heading to DFW every hour. They are probably all booked but the last one might take in a few standbys.”

  “I’ll give them the kitchen credit card I use. Elliot won’t care and the boys will show the girls the town. Lubbock’s got the Buddy Holly Center and a museum that’s nothing but windmills. Now, that’s something to see.”

  “Maybe one afternoon we could go see the windmills and eat a meal you wouldn’t have to cook.” Tye’s suggestion came easy as he brushed the mare.

  Dani stiffened. “I don’t want to go on a date, Tye. I didn’t like it when I was young, and I don’t think I’d like it now. If I go to see the windmills, I’ll go by myself.”

  Like he always did, Tye studied her. Sometimes she swore he could see all the way to her soul with those wolf-gray eyes of his.

  He didn’t blink. “So you’re serious. No dating. Nothing between us but the night.”

  “You got a problem with that?” She’d never had an affair or a boyfriend since she divorced. She’d always had the farm to run and the twins to raise. She had no idea how this worked between two people, but she didn’t plan on saying something she didn’t mean. No promises come morning. No ties. That was the only way it could work between them. She’d had enough disappointment in this life.

  Tye moved closer, his voice as low as it had been when he’d held her in the night. “No. I don’t have any problem at all with you or how you want things to be between us. I think I’d better go over to the bunkhouse and clean up. Maybe shave and take a nap. It’s going to be a long day.” He grinned. “And maybe a long night.”