Christmas in Winter Valley

by Jodi Thomas

  Tye stood relaxed, the lariat loose in his fingers. “You boys talk to Dani about this?”

  “We don’t need to. She’s had a hard life and the last thing she needs is a drifter making promises he won’t keep.”

  “Yeah,” Patrick said again. “She said she wanted to talk to you before she talked to us, but we don’t see there’s any need for that.”

  Pete took a step forward. “Maybe it would be best if you just kept drifting on down the road. I’m thinking you should load up tonight. We’ll pass on your goodbyes in the morning.”

  “I can’t do that,” Tye said slowly, as if they might need time to digest the words. “You see, I’m crazy about your mother. I figure if you two offspring don’t frighten me off, nothing will.”

  Patrick scratched his head, but his younger brother, by five minutes, was ready to act. “Then we’re going to have to beat the tar out of you. You’ll be crawling around looking for your teeth when we get through with you.”

  Pete turned to his brother. “You ready?”

  “I was born ready.” Patrick hit his palm with his fist. “I’ll pound him into the ground like he’s a fence post.”

  Tye just waited, deciding these two were quoting lines from every Western gunfight they’d ever seen on TV. “If I was you, boys, I’d turn around while I’m able. I’m not going to fight you.”

  Pete laughed, and Patrick doubled up both fists, ready to charge. They bumped shoulders like football players just before kickoff.

  The Garrett boys made it two steps toward Tye before the loop of the lariat circled overhead and dropped. One second later it tightened about knee level around them both.

  Tye tossed the other end of the rope over a round log running the width of the barn and pulled. Both boys fell backward and before they could stand, their feet were where their heads should have been.

  They weighed too much for Tye to pull them off the ground, but he had them upside down. They wiggled and screamed and cussed, but they couldn’t bend enough to push the rope over their boots.

  Tye tied the free end of the rope off against a thick beam, then walked closer to his catch. “I hope we don’t have to have this talk again, boys.”

  They were still yelling and cussing as he walked out of the barn.

  He made it three steps into the moonlight when Tatum caught up with him. The kid was hopping around him like one kernel of popcorn repopping. Tye was too tired to even be surprised to see him.

  “That was something,” the kid claimed. “Would you teach me to swing a rope like that?”

  “What are you doing out here so late?”

  “I heard Pete and Repete talking. I knew something was going to happen as soon as you and the doc got back. When I heard her come in, I snuck out to watch. I knew you’d go to the barn ’cause you told me a cowboy always takes care of his horse.”

  Tye leaned down. “You want to do me a few favors? First, forget about what you saw.”

  “Sure. I’ll try, but it ain’t going to be easy.”

  “It’ll mean I owe you one. That’s the cowboy way.”

  “I’ll do whatever you say and never tell anyone,” Tatum answered, as if swearing an oath. “My teacher said, ‘Don’t pass stories along unless you’re talking to your mother or a judge.’”

  “Good advice. Now, the other part of the favor. I want you to go in the barn. Take ahold of the end of the rope that is tied to the beam and pull as hard as you can. The knot will come away. Hold on as long as you can. When the Garrett brothers fall, they’ll pull you off the ground from the other end.”

  Tatum thought about it for a moment, then said, “I’ll do it, but you got to show me how to tie a knot like that.”

  “I will tomorrow. Right now, all I want to do is sleep.” He turned toward the bunkhouse.

  Tatum disappeared into the barn.

  Tye didn’t wait around to see the kid rescue the men. He felt like he was sleepwalking. Though he ached to see Dani, her room was the first place her sons would head when they got free, and he wasn’t up to round two in a fight he figured would last forever. Tonight, he’d lock his door and simply sleep.

  He was almost to the bunkhouse door when he heard a thud and guessed four hundred pounds of Garrett had just hit the barn floor.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  December 20

  ELLIOT WATCHED TYE walk across the yard to the bunkhouse. His head was down, his limp more apparent than usual. It must have been a long day for the doc and him.

  He knew the job was done at Winter Valley, or the cowboy wouldn’t have come back. A door closed somewhere upstairs, and Elliot guessed the doc was calling it a day, too.

  What he didn’t hear was Dallas coming in. He had a feeling she wouldn’t come in quietly like the doc had. Maybe she was riding home with Creed. A moonlit ride across the pastures, with windmills looking like skeletons walking the horizon and buffalo grass waving white in the breeze.

  It would be romantic, but romance was wasted on Creed. He wouldn’t know what to do with a woman like Dallas if you gave him the instruction booklet.

  Still, Dallas would finally get that ride she’d wanted. Maybe she’d pack up and head home tomorrow after the long ride across empty pastures. He couldn’t tell if she was just hungry for life or looking for a place to belong. All he knew was she hadn’t found it yet.

  Elliot glanced over at Jess, who was still working. Unlike Dallas, Jess knew exactly where she belonged and what she wanted. She’d told him her father had told all three of his children that they’d work at the firm when they grew up. Jess, apparently, was the only one who listened. One of her brothers was a soldier, and the other a struggling writer. Of course, with Brantley money, he probably wasn’t struggling too much.

  Even here, Jess worked around the clock. Elliot had taken time off to make sure Cooper was settled into the hospital bed Dani had set up in his room. By the time the Garrett boys had gotten him checked out and home, Cooper had been too tired to bother eating dinner.

  Jessie had asked if all ranches stored beds, wheelchairs, crutches and walkers in their barn lofts. Elliot just shrugged. He’d never thought it unusual. Finally, he explained that a ranch was almost like a little town. They were isolated and couldn’t just run to the store for what they needed.

  Elliot made a final check on Cooper, then came back to the office. Jess was still there. He asked if she wanted to see Cooper, and she simply said she already had years ago, and apparently, he hadn’t changed much.

  They ate a light supper at their desks and went back to work without her asking one question about Cooper. Balancing the books seemed the only thing on her mind.

  Dani brought in a late dessert and refilled the coffeepot. Tonight, as he looked out the window at his sleeping ranch, Elliot decided that as days go, this was about the most boring one of his life.

  There was so much between him and Jess that neither would talk about. There were so many memories in his head. They might be in the same room, but an ocean flowed between them, and he had no idea how to cross it. Now and then, he swore he could hear the whispers of conversations they’d never had floating in the air.

  “Want to call it a night?” he finally asked.

  She looked at her watch. “I need to make a call.”

  “Make your call. I’ll make drinks. Hot chocolate or beer?”

  “Hot chocolate tonight. I had enough beer last night.”

  He left the room, guessing she’d like some privacy for her call, but he didn’t go straight to the kitchen. After the light snow, the air had warmed, and tonight was clear and crisp. Elliot walked out on the long porch lined with white rockers and looked over his silent land. He loved this view. He had all his life.

  When he’d been a kid, his father would sit out here at night. Everyone else in the house would be busy doing something, but his dad relaxed in
silence at the end of the day.

  Elliot would often join him. Some nights they didn’t even talk, they just sat together. Tonight was a good night to just relax. He felt too tired to even bother to think.

  “Hello.”

  He turned, and for a moment he thought Jess must have followed him out. Then he saw the window by his desk. He’d left it ajar.

  “Yes, I’m still working, Richard. I’m finishing as fast as I can.”

  If Elliot moved, she might see him and think he was eavesdropping. If he didn’t move, he was eavesdropping. He didn’t move. Maybe she’d hang up soon.

  “Of course I’m trying. Those books you packed for me are helping, but you do know this is not what I usually specialize in.” She listened.

  Elliot watched her. She closed her eyes and frowned.

  Finally, she said, “I’ll be home in time to catch the flight. I know both families are going. Stop worrying about it.”

  She was silent for a moment. From the darkness he could see her twisting in her chair. She looked nervous now. “Are you alone tonight?”

  She was silent, making no comment as she listened.

  “Nothing has happened here. I’m simply doing what you insisted I do. I told you this was pointless. He doesn’t want me here any more than I wanted to come. It’s been too many years. We’re strangers now.”

  She was silent for a while, then she said, “Don’t bother to call me. I told you we’d talk about it later. I’m not moving the date up. In fact, I’m thinking of moving it back again.”

  She hung up her cell without saying goodbye.

  Elliot sat still in the night as he listened to her crying softly. Jess wasn’t happy. Her perfect life wasn’t what it seemed to be.

  He silently stood and walked back to the office. She’d moved to the window, her back to him.

  For once in his life Elliot didn’t reason out the problem or even think. He acted.

  As he heard her continue to cry, he moved close. When she turned, he pulled her gently into his arms. She didn’t step back or even say a word—she just let him hold her.

  He knew he was holding the Jess he’d known years ago. Maybe a part of her was still in there, deep down, hidden beneath all the big-city, perfectly polished woman.

  “You all right?” he finally asked.

  “I’m just tired.” She tried to smile. “I can’t sleep out here. It’s too quiet.”

  “I got just the cure. Grab your jacket.”

  “I can’t... I don’t...” He tugged her out the door.

  “We’re taking a break. We’ll only lose an hour.” He opened the door of his Land Rover, which disappeared now and then.

  A few Coke cans fell out.

  For a moment he thought she might turn around and run, but then she lifted her chin and climbed in.

  Elliot circled the car, noticing how dirty it was. No telling how many miles the Garrett brothers had put on his car.

  When they headed toward town, she shook her head. “Your car smells like old hamburgers and fries.”

  “I noticed. Don’t look in the back seat. Garretts have been living back there.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I thought I’d show you the lights of Crossroads.”

  As they turned onto the county road, she seemed to relax. Ten minutes later, they were driving around the town square. The gazebo was decorated in tiny lights and garlands. This late, no one was around, and it looked like a Christmas card come to life.

  “When did they evacuate the town?”

  “Very funny. Folks go to bed early here.” When Elliot passed the county offices, he noticed the sheriff’s lights were still on. “Most, anyway. We have a few who stand guard.”

  They drove all the way out to the museum, which had cardboard cutouts of Santa’s elves dancing on the second-floor balcony. Red and green lights shone on each one.

  “Lovely,” she commented.

  Then they drove by the high school and through the streets, where every house was decorated in some way. One even had a blow-up Nativity scene with Star Wars characters.

  Jess laughed. “I’ll bet the kids love that.”

  “The Wilsons don’t have kids. They’re both retired teachers. They dress as Luke and Princess Leia to pass out candy on Halloween, and Stormtroopers with bunny ears at Easter.”

  A block later he turned into the drive-through at the Dairy Queen and ordered two ice creams, but he didn’t pull over. “Now, for the fun,” he announced, as he drove one more block and into an automatic car wash with faded “New” banners on three of its four corners. Ten dollars later, they were driving through, eating ice cream and watching rainbow-colored soap smear all over the windshield.

  “I love it,” she giggled.

  He circled back and paid another ten bucks to do it again.

  Somewhere between the ice cream and the laughter, his Jess came back.

  They talked all the way home about the things they’d done in college and the crazy friends they’d had.

  When they stepped out of the very clean car and walked across the gravel to the kitchen door, he took her hand as easily as he had all those years ago when they’d first met. Both knew they weren’t freshmen in college walking back to the dorm, but for a moment, they wanted to forget today and live in yesterday.

  As they reached the steps leading upstairs to her room, Jess took one step and turned to face him. “Thanks for the break. I needed that. I’ll never forget seeing the lights of Crossroads.”

  “I’ll never forget you.” Elliot closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe he’d said it aloud.

  When he finally opened his eyes, she was gone. No goodbye, as usual.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  December 21

  TYE WALKED THROUGH the kitchen door just as dawn peeked over the horizon. He’d rather eat dirt than step into Dani’s kitchen knowing she was probably going to be mad, but Elliot had been straight with him, and the least he could do was fill in the boss on the progress with the delicate mare before he left. And the chances were good he would be leaving.

  Dani didn’t look up when he sat down at the table.

  “Mornin’,” he said to everyone, but he stared at Dani. He thought that she was the kind of woman a man could sit across the table with for the rest of his life and never get tired.

  “Morning, Tye.” At least the doctor was speaking to him. “Elliot wants me to examine the mare and her new foal before I head home.”

  “All right. Right after breakfast.” He could delay an hour or two more. After all, he wasn’t going anywhere in particular from here.

  Elliot set down his paper when Dani delivered breakfast. “Everything okay at Winter Valley, Tye? Seems to me you and the doc forgot a couple of people.”

  The doc laughed. “It went great. Creed and Dallas had the horses all rounded up and Tye, I swear, must be part mustang. You should have seen the way he handled those wild horses.”

  When Elliot didn’t respond, she added, “We didn’t forget the people. They just decided to stay a few days.”

  “Dallas can live up there for all I care, but I really need Creed here. I’ve got eight three-year-old fillies coming in from Sunlan’s ranch in Colorado.”

  He turned to Tye. “Can you handle them by yourself? I could pull the Garrett brothers in from rounding up strays, but it’s past time the pasture was cleared.”

  “I can handle them alone. They can’t be as wild as the rough stock for the rodeo, and I usually take care of a dozen or more of them.”

  “Great. The driver said he’d be leaving at dawn and should be here by midafternoon. Have stalls ready.” Elliot turned to Hayley. “I hate to ask, but I got two problems. One, when the horses get here, I’d like them checked out. They’ll have papers to deal with also. Two, someone has to help me with Cooper
until I finish the books. If you could take a shift, it would really help.”

  “I don’t treat people.” She leaned her head to the side as if considering the possibility that all Holloways were not quite normal. “You do know that?”

  “Can’t you just give him a horse-tranquilizer shot or something?”

  “No, but I’ll take him to the clinic with me if he’s up for a ride. It’ll take a couple of hours and probably distract him from the pain. He must love animals. All of you treat him like he is one.”

  “I like that clinic idea. Drive slowly. Maybe you can make it three hours. And bring his medicine. If he gives you any trouble, lock him in the kennel.”

  “Will do, boss.” She used the handle most of his men called him. “Load a wheelchair and have a few men help him into the car by ten. We’ll manage once we’re at the clinic. I have an assistant, Mary May, who comes in three days a week. I also have a ramp. I’m only seeing pets today, so he can just sit and watch the fun. By noon, he’ll be tired and ready for a nap, and I’ll make sure I’m back in time to examine all the new fillies coming in.”

  Elliot grinned. “Take my Rover. It will be easier to get him in and out of than that Jeep. Speaking of it, where is your Jeep?”

  Tye and Hayley both laughed. “We forgot to stop and get it last night,” Hayley admitted, “I think we were both too tired to think.”

  Elliot joined them in laughing. “This ranch is falling apart. Doc, if you don’t mind staying another day, I’ll have a few men go up tomorrow and get it. We’re spread pretty thin today.”

  “I don’t mind. I’ll pick up a change of clothes at the clinic.”

  Tye knew Hayley now. The longer she stayed, the more laughter danced in her eyes. She must be very lonely, and he knew from experience that Christmas was a hard time to get through alone.

  When Tye stood to leave, Hayley headed out with him. He didn’t get a chance to say a word to Dani. But he knew she was mad at him. She hadn’t even bothered to give him a biscuit at breakfast, and there was no honey on the table.

  Part of him wished he could just talk to her for five minutes. Another part figured it probably wouldn’t do any good. She was a momma bear where her boys were concerned. She’d take their side. He doubted he’d even get a chance to say goodbye.