Christmas in Winter Valley

by Jodi Thomas

  Hayley pushed her chair close to his bed, cuddled up in one of the extra blankets and almost fell asleep beside him.

  When he mumbled in his sleep, she patted his hand, and Cooper closed his fingers around hers as he settled.

  She felt like she’d known him for a long time. They were both raised on the land, they both loved horses, they both hated being told what to do. If they’d met somewhere else, who knew, they might have been friends. She could use a friend.

  When she’d been in school, she’d worked two jobs most of the time and fought to keep up with her studies. There was no time for friends, or money to travel—just work.

  Once she’d come back home, the town had changed. She’d changed. So she did what she always did. She worked. Working ten hours a day, organizing the clinic, redoing Pop’s bookkeeping, meeting all Pop’s patients and their owners.

  On weekends, she rebuilt corrals that had been neglected and studied up on new techniques and medicines. The friends she’d had in high school were settled with families, and those she’d had veterinary classes with were scattered across the country. Like her, they were starting their careers and didn’t have time to catch up.

  So she’d simply worked. She’d been alone so long it had become her normal.

  Maybe she was just tired or worried or feeling very much isolated, but Hayley began to cry as she held Cooper’s hand. He was touching her, almost caring that she was there.

  She’d lied to Elliot when she’d asked to stay one more night at the ranch. She couldn’t tell him that she didn’t want to go home. Her pops had gone to visit one of his daughters in Dallas two weeks ago. His youngest child, now sixty, wanted him to move there as soon as Hayley took over. He wasn’t sick or off fishing these days. He was planning to retire and leave, but he hadn’t told anyone but her.

  Every week since she’d started working, he’d cut his hours a little. First, he’d take off early to fish or come in late after having breakfast with a friend. Then he started calling, saying he’d be in after lunch. The week before he’d left, he’d worked four hours total, then he’d told her he was going to Dallas and had no idea when he’d be back. Maybe he wanted her to start her own life, and she didn’t have the courage to tell him that she didn’t have one beyond the clinic.

  He’d made up that he had a cold to keep from going to church with her. He said he had car trouble to push her out on calls alone. He even said he had an emergency a county over. The fact was, he was ready to retire, and she suspected he’d kept the clinic open longer than he’d planned so she’d have somewhere to come.

  As Hayley drifted to sleep, she daydreamed about the life she wanted. She had a big family—two older sisters, grandparents, parents, nieces and nephews—but they’d all drifted away.

  She only had a few friends left in the area, plus one ex-boyfriend from her first year of vet school who thought they still had a chance. He’d call now and then to see if she wanted to pick up where they’d left off.

  She had no one close. Nobody to relax with or go out to eat with. No one to celebrate Christmas with, unless she drove a few hundred miles.

  She was living in the place she’d always wanted to come back to, doing what she wanted to do, but she wasn’t living the life she’d planned.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  December 19

  IT WAS LATE when Elliot drove Hayley and Tatum home from the hospital. Tatum hadn’t wanted to leave Cooper. They’d ordered pizza and all sat on Cooper’s hospital bed while they helped him eat, like he couldn’t do anything by himself.

  They talked and laughed, not so much to cheer up Cooper, but to set Tatum at ease. Just before they left, Coop and Tatum had Hayley open the window so they could howl good-night.

  The hospital did not think that was funny.

  Elliot noticed a difference in Cooper when the boy was around. His little brother was more patient, more easygoing.

  On the way home Tatum fell asleep between them, and Hayley told Elliot all about her day following Cooper around. When they arrived back at the headquarters, the three simply waved their good-nights.

  As they headed upstairs, Elliot walked across the great room and noticed one thin ribbon of light that told him someone was still in the study.

  He slowly opened the door and saw Jess sound asleep. Her head was propped on her notes and there was a plate of rib bones by her elbow.

  Jess managed to straighten and open one eye.

  Elliot smiled. Her hair was out of place and she had barbecue stains on her blouse, and she mumbled something he couldn’t make out. She was adorable.

  “I told the cook not to bring you food,” he said as he reached her.

  “She only brought in a little plate. I raided the fridge for this plate. Who knew ribs were so good?”

  “Pretty much everybody in Texas.”

  Her elbow slipped off the desk and she almost hit her head on a book. “Dani, your cook, told me ribs went with beer. I think I drank a little too much.”

  “Come on, princess, I’ll put you to bed. You’re in no shape to climb two flights of stairs.”

  She didn’t protest as he lifted her up. “I decided to sleep down here.” Her head rested on his shoulder as he walked across the silent house and headed up. “I’ve got to work harder. I have to prove my worth to the partners. Richard said I’m only a maybe partner and he’s not interested in marrying a maybe.”

  Jess was asleep by the time Elliot reached the third floor. He put her in the middle of the big bed and covered her up. Then he pulled the drapes closed across the huge window. Tomorrow she didn’t need to see the sunrise.

  As he stood in the pale glow coming from the landing, he studied her. The need to touch her just once overwhelmed him. With a featherlight brush of his hand, he moved her hair away from her face and kissed her cheek. Part of him still loved the woman he thought she was.

  “Good night, Jess,” he whispered, then turned and left the room.

  This “seeing each other again so they could get over a long-dead love” didn’t seem to be working for him, and it appeared not to be working for her, either. If she was over him, she would have simply stepped in and done the job, not tried to kill herself working so she could get away as soon as possible.

  He lay awake for a while, attempting to figure out if he was sad or happy that she still felt something. One thing he sensed: she wanted to get away from him more than she seemed to want to get back to Richard.

  The next morning he got up at dawn, trying not to think about how Jess had felt in his arms all those years ago. No matter how tired they were, she’d always slept in his arms. Even if they’d had a fight and weren’t speaking, she’d curl close and he’d hug her all night. It was more than touching. Elliot felt like his heart had to hear her heart beating as he slept.

  Hayley joined him at breakfast with a dozen questions, not just about Cooper’s care, but about the workings of the ranch.

  Dani circled around them, refilling coffee cups and setting food on the table.

  Since they hadn’t heard from Creed and Dallas, the two must be still at Winter Valley. If they’d worked two days with the horses, maybe they’d isolated the mustangs who needed doctoring.

  “I need to get up there as soon as possible,” Hayley said.

  “I’d feel better if one of the men went with you. Creed and Cooper are the only two who’ve climbed to the top in years, except maybe your grandfather. To tell the truth, I’ve worried about him the past few years.” He laughed. “He brought this mule along last year. I don’t know if he rode the mule up or just hung on to his tail and let the mule pull him up.”

  “I’ve seen that mule in the back corral at the clinic. I thought he belonged to someone else.”

  “Nope. Your grandpa told me that mule was his best friend.” Elliot shrugged. “Wish you’d brought him along.”


  “The mule or Pops?”

  “Either. They both know the way.”

  Hayley laughed. “I’ve already made the journey twice. I think I could simply follow the broken branches and find the place again.”

  “I should take you up,” Elliot concluded, more to himself than Hayley.

  Tye came in the kitchen door. As he removed his coat and hat, Dani placed his breakfast on the table across from Elliot.

  Hayley nodded at Tye and continued arguing with Elliot. “No. You’ll just have to turn around and go back down. It’ll take you most of the day, and you’ve got a brother in the hospital, a ranch to run and an accountant in your office.” Hayley glanced at the empty chairs on either side of her as if she might have missed something. “Where is the accountant, anyway?”

  Elliot saw no reason for lying. “I found her drunk last night and helped her up the stairs. My guess is she’ll be doing good if she makes it down by lunch.”

  “That settles it. I go up alone.”

  Tye took his seat and thanked the cook. “I could haul a couple of good horses up to your Jeep. We could ride up, and then, when we come back down, I could load the horses and you could drive your Jeep back. That would make the hike easier and I could help with the mustangs.”

  Elliot saw his point. Part of him was worried about Hayley making the trip alone with the weather so unpredictable. Tye would make her journey much easier and safer. They both knew how to ride. On horseback, they’d cut the time in half.

  “If you go up with Hayley and then help, it’ll save everyone time. If there’s trouble and Hayley stays, I’m guessing you’ll have to lead Dallas out when you start down. I’m sure she’s ready for a salon day after two days at the shack.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter.” Hayley’s dark eyes flashed. “But with three of us the work will go faster. I’m afraid I can’t count Dallas.”

  “Then you can take care of Tye.” Elliot laughed, guessing Hayley wouldn’t stand for taking a keeper along. “He has no idea where the place is, and I doubt Dallas could find her way back alone. Add the fact that he knows horses. Trust me, Doc, he’ll be a great help.”

  “Good point,” Hayley said, surrendering.

  As they ate, they made plans. They’d wait until the sun had started to warm the air and then they’d head up. They’d pack in a lunch and hope to be in Winter Valley in time to eat it with Creed and Dallas. Tye would ride down with the ladies before dark. Creed would stay a few days longer to make sure all the horses were healing. Then the foreman would ride his horse across open pasture all the way home, just as Cooper would have done.

  Elliot gave the cowhands their orders for the day, then disappeared into his office. He had calls to make, and the first one was to the hospital. As Cooper told him how great he felt and how he needed to come home as soon as possible, Elliot looked over the work Jess had done.

  “Coop, you’re not leaving until they tell you to go,” Elliot said as he raised his eyebrows, impressed at how much she’d accomplished in one day.

  “Elliot, are you listening to me?” Coop asked again. “I’m well. Come get me.”

  “I can’t. I have to work with the accountant this morning.”

  “Then send the doc. She can pick me up.”

  “I can’t. She’s heading up to Winter Valley. She has a job to do.”

  Elliot ignored Coop’s rant for the next ten minutes. His fingers were sliding down the list of numbers, but in his mind, he was touching Jess’s cheek.

  When Coop finally took a break, Elliot got a word in. “I’ll talk to the doctor this afternoon. I’ll tell him how you’re needed here.”

  “Good, you talk to him. He talks to me like I’m senile. And if that nurse wiggles the straw in my face trying to get me to take a drink one more time, I swear I’m breaking out.”

  “All right. I’ll head your way as soon as the accountant wakes up and I talk to her.”

  “The accountant is a her? It’s ten o’clock. Why is she still asleep?”

  “She got drunk last night on beer and ribs.” Elliot kept his voice level.

  “Hell, brother, things are falling apart. I got to get home.”

  “You may not be in such a hurry when you hear that the accountant Griffin sent is Jessica Brantley.”

  “Your Jess?” Coop whispered the question.

  “Was my Jess. She hasn’t been mine for years.”

  “Double hell.” Cooper was silent for a minute and then he moaned, “Maybe I am sick. Maybe I should stay here for a while. Jess didn’t mention that time she saw me in the hallway. I didn’t know she was around, or I would have at least had underwear on.”

  Elliot laughed. “How long are you planning to hide out in the hospital?”

  “Until your Jess leaves.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  December 20

  Maverick Ranch

  DANI HAD JUST loaded the breakfast dishes when Tye walked into the kitchen.

  He winked with mischief in his gray eyes and said, “I got to leave, but I must have forgotten my hat at breakfast.”

  “It’s in your hand, cowboy.” She couldn’t stop smiling.

  “Then maybe I forgot to say goodbye to my girl. I have to head up to Winter Valley.”

  She dried her hands and moved to the short hallway that led to her bedroom. It was in shadows and out of sight from anyone walking in. “So, I’m your girl, am I?”

  He followed. “You are, Danielle. Should we repeat last night to prove it?”

  “Definitely.”

  “I agree. It’s always good to research the facts. You’re my girl.”

  She turned to face him, laughing. He made her feel young and cared for. “Well, if you didn’t forget your hat, what exactly did you forget?”

  He pushed her gently against the door of her room and pressed close. “This,” he said against her lips, which were still tender from their night together.

  Dani swore she felt her heart melting. In his eyes, she was special. She was the one thing he couldn’t get enough of. In her mind she was already planning their afternoon together for one day in the future. She’d pick a sunny day even if it’d be cold. They’d search for his clues left by his grandfather’s drawings, then they’d stop somewhere and have lunch. She’d pack a blanket so they could cuddle close and watch the sunset.

  She loved dreaming up the future and knowing that Tye would make her dreams come true.

  As he moved a few inches away, his hands still caressed her. “I won’t be in until late tonight. I’m riding up to Winter Valley and helping Creed. I may not see you tonight or even tomorrow, but I want you to know that I’ll be thinking of you.”

  “Be careful.” She patted his cheek. “I’ll be waiting.” She almost added that she’d been waiting for him to come along for years.

  He kissed her lightly. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Then the back door rattled open suddenly.

  “Mom!” Pete yelled. “We’re finally back. You wouldn’t believe what those cousins talked us into doing in the city.”

  Dani stared up at Tye, panicked, but all she saw in his eyes was sadness, a deep sorrow, as if something was shattering and might never be the same again.

  Two sets of footsteps were heading their way and there was no time to run.

  Tye pushed away from her and turned to face her sons.

  Pete saw him first, a look of confusion flashed across his face. “Hi, Tye. What are you doing here?”

  Tye stood straight. “I was saying goodbye to your mother.”

  Patrick was just behind his brother. He was clearly figuring it out faster. “You ain’t got no business back here. This is my mom’s room.” Patrick suddenly pushed past his brother. “Is this guy bothering you, Mom? I swear I’ll beat him to a pulp if he’s messing with you. I don’t care
if he is twice my age.”

  Pete finally seemed to figure out what Patrick was talking about. He puffed up like a balloon man, ready to fight. “He’s taking advantage of her? Maybe he was gonna attack her? Why else would he be here?”

  Patrick made fists. “We got here right in time.”

  Dani had never seen her boys like this. She’d always been the mother hen who took care of them. It made her proud that they were defending her honor, but she wasn’t a woman who needed any protection from Tye.

  Pete started cussing and claiming that somebody needed killing right now.

  But Tye had obviously had enough; he shoved his way between the two men and shot out the door. “See you tomorrow night, darlin’,” he said almost calmly.

  “Like hell you will,” Patrick yelled. “Stay away from our mother.”

  Dani rolled her eyes. A bit of protecting was flattering, but this was too much. Before she could sit her sons down and explain a few things to them, Elliot rushed in, demanding to know what was going on. Evidently the yelling had reached his office.

  All three Garretts yelled, “Nothing!” They might be in crisis, but it was their crisis.

  Elliot took a breath, looking like he didn’t believe them, but said, “Good. Since nothing is going on and you two are used to driving my Rover, I want you boys to head into Lubbock immediately and check my brother out of the hospital.”

  The twins looked confused.

  “Now,” Elliot ordered and turned around.

  Patrick looked at his mom. “We’ll straighten this out when we get back. That drifter is not going to get away with this.”

  “Yeah, rodeo star or not, Tye Franklin is a dead man.”

  They were gone before Dani could say anything. She needed to reason it out, choose her words carefully. Telling her boys that she and Tye were friends didn’t seem strong enough. Telling them that they were lovers was way too much. This was worse than when Bambi’s mother died and she’d had to explain to her sons that it was only a movie.

  Maybe she’d just wait until Tye got back from Winter Valley and they’d figure something out together. One thing she needed to do was talk to Tye. This wasn’t the end. She’d seen the hurt in his gray eyes. He’d thought what they had would be over if anyone knew about them.