The Rancher's Christmas Match

by Brenda Minton

  Now, she had Isaac. He wanted to know if she was okay. He truly seemed to care. His shoulder bumped hers, a reminder that he was standing next to her, waiting.

  His concern filled up something inside her, something that had been hollow with yearning. She hadn’t realized until this moment that she was lonely.

  “You’re not fine,” he said after a few minutes. “I’m not much good at eavesdropping.” He pointed to his left ear. “But I’m good at reading faces.”

  “You don’t want to get involved in this,” she warned him.

  He laughed. “You’re right, I don’t. I’m very good at not getting involved. But I think someone needs to be, so here I am. Involved.”

  Allie approached with Jersey. Unlike many dogs Rebecca had known, Jersey didn’t pull on the leash. When a barn cat ran across the yard, the dog’s tail wagged but she remained close to Allie. And Allie obviously loved the Labrador.

  “I think we bonded,” Allie said, as she studied her mother’s face. “That call was about my father, wasn’t it? I mean, he isn’t really my father if I don’t know him and he’s never been part of my life. But I think he’s done something bad again.”

  “You don’t have to worry,” Rebecca assured her.

  “Do you think I’ll grow up to be like him?”

  “Not at all. I think you’ll grow up to be who you are. Smart, funny, caring. And all of those traits will grow as you grow.”

  Allie put an arm around the Labrador. “We don’t have to leave here, do we?”

  “Eventually, yes. Because we will have to find our own home. But we will be staying in Hope.”

  “I like it on the ranch,” Allie informed her. “And I like Jersey.”

  “I know you do, but you can’t keep her. She belongs to Mr. West and the people that live on the ranch.”

  “We’ll discuss that,” Isaac interjected. “Jersey has a problem. She isn’t fond of the men on the ranch. And the women have Maximus.”

  “He sleeps in the apartment.” Allie told him. “Can I walk Jersey over to Miss Kylie, so she can see that we’ve bonded?”

  Rebecca glanced around, spotting Kylie back at the shed, loading up more Christmas decorations. She looked up at the sky, now devoid of sunshine. Clouds had rolled in, the light gray clouds of winter. It was too warm for snow, but the clouds had that look about them.

  “You may go over and speak to her, but then come right back to me. It’s getting cooler and it might rain.”

  Allie hugged her tightly. “Thank you. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  The words released a few tears that she quickly brushed away before Allie could see. She watched her daughter dart away, the dog at her side, and she wished it could always be this way. She wished Allie could always be a child, always smiling and innocent.

  Isaac moved a little closer to her side. He took her by the hand and she immediately felt stronger. Though she wanted to pull back, she needed that strength. He led her to a bench near the kennel.

  “She’s never met her father?” he asked, as they sat down.

  Rebecca shook her head. “No. He’s been in prison. I just want her to be a child, happy and safe.”

  “She might want to meet him someday,” he offered.

  “She might.”

  The thought was too much. Rebecca closed her eyes, wanting to block all thoughts of that inevitable time when Allie would meet her father.

  The wind picked up, bringing a quick drop in temperature. A few raindrops fell from the wintery gray sky. Isaac took her hand in his and pulled her to her feet.

  “It’s about to start raining.” He hurried her around the kennel and toward the house.

  Even from a distance she could see Kylie herding Allie and the dog through the back door of Jack’s house. The sky opened up and cold rain started to fall. Isaac switched directions. Rebecca tried to pull away from him, in the direction of the house, but his hand on hers held tight.

  “We can get to the stable quicker than the house.” He ran in that direction, pulling her along with him.

  “But Allie...”

  “Kylie won’t let her out of her sight.”

  They rushed through the open doors of the stable, and once inside, Isaac pushed the doors closed. Rebecca hugged herself. She was soaked to the bone and freezing. Isaac didn’t seem at all bothered by the sudden change in weather.

  “Let’s get you a warm jacket,” he offered, as he led the way through the stable. “And some coffee.”

  “Both sound great.”

  He motioned her through the door of the office. As soon as they were inside, he rummaged in a closet, finding a lined sweatshirt that he tossed to her. As she pulled it on, he started a fresh pot of coffee.

  Isaac picked up a towel and, after he’d dried his face and hair, handed it to her. “Need this?”

  She shook her head. But that was silly. It was a towel and she needed it. She reached for it, but he didn’t let go. Instead he used the towel to pull her close. Close enough that she smelled the clean scent of him. Soap, coffee, rain. Her senses filled with his scent, his presence.

  Slowly, he reached for her, sliding his hand along her jaw. He tilted her head and touched his lips to hers.

  It wasn’t what she expected, that kiss. She hadn’t expected to stand there as his mouth explored hers. She should have pulled away, but couldn’t convince herself not to want this moment in his arms, feeling cherished.

  As much as she tried to relegate herself to a box labeled Single Mom, his kiss made her feel like a woman. In his arms she was more. His kiss made her feel less alone.

  His lips moved, hovering near her temple as he held her close. It was just a kiss. A kiss from a man who had been kind, tender, reserved, teasing.

  The door opened. He stepped back, a smile hovering on his lips as he continued to stare at her. She turned away, brushing the towel over her face.

  One of the men from the ranch, Joe, entered. He gave them both a curious look and then headed for the coffeepot without commenting.

  As if he hadn’t noticed.

  No one ever had to know. But Rebecca would know. She would try to pretend it hadn’t happened. She was sure Isaac would do the same. It was for the best, she told herself.

  The last thing she needed as she started a new life for herself and Allie here in Oklahoma was more complications. With that in mind she escaped, braving the rain as she ran for the house.

  Chapter Eight

  Isaac unfolded a lawn chair next to the one his aunt Lola sat in. She glanced at him but didn’t seem to know him. He didn’t allow that to bother him. What difference would it make? He could get upset, hurt, frustrated, but in the end she would still be Aunt Lola and she would still have dementia.

  After a few minutes she put down her fishing pole and gave him a long look, recognition finally dawning. “Did you get out of school early?”

  He shook his head. It wouldn’t do any good to tell her he’d been out of school for a long time. “No, it’s Wednesday and I’m on my way to church. I didn’t find you at your apartment earlier so I came here. I figured you’d be down here fishing.”

  In front of them, Grand Lake of the Cherokee sparkled. The winter sunset reflected across the clear but darkening waters. A short distance out a fish jumped, leaving ripples that caught the waning sunlight. And overhead a bird swooped, skimming low across the water.

  Calm swept over him as he sat there with Aunt Lola. She had always been a little eccentric, living in her one-room home with no indoor plumbing. She’d worked at a factory and saved most of what she earned. He thought she had close to seven figures in her savings account. He kept that to himself. The last thing he needed were people coming out of the woodwork to steal from her.

  “I didn’t know you were looking for me,” she said. She pulled the fishing
pole back and cast it again, letting the hookless line float over the water and then slowly flutter down to the surface.

  “No, I reckon you didn’t. I was worried about you, though.”

  “More like you were worried about yourself. Is your mama out running again? That woman couldn’t be faithful if the Good Lord himself asked.”

  He started to tell her his mother left town years ago. No one had seen or heard from her since she dropped him at Jack’s. It had been close to twenty years now. He’d looked for her, checking the usual social media sites. Nothing ever came of it.

  “I’m not worried about myself, Aunt Lola. I’m a grown man, remember?”

  She reeled in the line and then gave him another long look.

  “Well, I reckon you have grown up. You ever going to get married?”

  “No, ma’am, I’m not. No woman needs to deal with all this.” He gestured to himself.

  “Oh, I think you’d make a fine husband. You’re a little like your father but not so much that it would hurt.”

  Not so much that it would hurt. But he wouldn’t take a chance. Jack had left scars, some visible and some deep down, hidden from view but still there. He stood, folding his lawn chair and giving a last longing look at the lake. He’d like to be out there fishing. It would be a good night for being on a boat. Cool but still and peaceful.

  The sun was setting low on the western horizon. The temperature was dropping at a rapid rate.

  “Let’s go to church,” he told his aunt. “They’re serving spaghetti tonight. If we hurry they might have some left.”

  “I suppose I can go, since you’re being so rude about it. I don’t know why you get like that. And why would you want spaghetti when I’ve made you some of those ramen noodles you like so much?”

  He helped her to her feet and planted a kiss on her cheek.

  “Aunt Lola, we don’t eat those noodles anymore. Remember, too much salt and they’re bad for your blood pressure.”

  “Hmm, I suppose we don’t. Well, let’s go to church. You always were a good boy. I can’t understand why Charlene left you the way she did.”

  He didn’t want to talk about his mother and why she’d left him. But he’d survived and for that he was thankful. He led his aunt up the hill away from the lake. His truck was parked near the boat ramp. From where they stood he could see the shops on Lakeside Drive. He could see Rebecca’s little car parked in front of her salon. He hadn’t seen her since yesterday. Following the kiss she’d run off like a scalded cat, and shortly after she’d gone to town to work on her shop.

  He might as well stop by and see if she wanted to go to church. He knew the answer, but he had a stubborn streak.

  When he pulled up to the salon, she and Allie were just coming out. And Jersey. Rebecca locked the door, then spotted him in his truck. She shook her head, but she didn’t walk away like he thought she might.

  He rolled down his window, letting in the cool air of early December.

  “I thought I’d invite you to church,” he said. “They’re going to start practicing for the Christmas program. I thought Allie might enjoy that. She can meet some of the kids.”

  Allie started to jump up and down, but then looked at her mother, and it brought her back down to earth, her smile evaporating as quickly as rain on a hot summer day.

  Rebecca shot him a glare that clearly said she didn’t want his interference. He grinned at that look, all fiery and sweet. Maybe that’s what she’d been missing out on, someone interfering in her life. In a good way.

  He’d had a constant flow of people interfering in his life, pushing him when he didn’t want to be pushed, keeping him from getting too complacent, moving him forward when it would have been easy to crawl in a dark hole somewhere.

  Rebecca looked down at her daughter and her expression softened. He saw her exhale and lift her eyes to meet his.

  “Okay, fine.”

  “Do you need to follow us?” he asked Rebecca as she opened her car door.

  “No, I’ve seen it. Brick church, down Second Street?”

  “That’s the one. Just go down Lakeside to the second road to the right.”

  “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Oh, my,” Aunt Lola teased. “What did you do to her?”

  “I invited her to church,” he said.

  “Well, remember the Bible says not to be unequally yoked.”

  “I’m not yoking myself to anyone. I invited her to church. That’s all. Her little girl will enjoy being part of the Christmas program.”

  “I do like spaghetti. I hope Mattie made it. She’s the best cook in the county. Not that Holly isn’t a decent cook. But she’s young and still has some things to learn. Although she does make me a mighty fine fried bologna sandwich.”

  He glanced at his aunt, puzzled. “She doesn’t have fried bologna on the menu.”

  “No, she doesn’t, but she does make it and brings it to me when I’m fishing.”

  He would have to thank Holly for that.

  A few minutes later they were standing on the sidewalk in front of the church waiting for Rebecca and Allie to join them. Allie and Jersey led the way. The dog perked up when she saw Isaac, but she did him proud, not pulling on the harness. Her tail wagged but she remained next to her girl. And Allie grinned, proud of her new companion.

  It did his battered heart good to see the little girl and the dog together. He knew Jersey couldn’t take away Allie’s seizures, but would always be there with her, even when her mom or another adult couldn’t.

  The dog would give Rebecca peace of mind.

  Which was more than he had at the moment. As he watched the two of them heading his way, he wondered how this one woman and her little girl had managed to get so tangled up in his life. He’d known them less than two weeks, but Rebecca Barnes had managed to establish herself in his waking thoughts and his dreams. He figured that was the last place she’d want to be. And he wasn’t so thrilled about it, either.

  “Well, are we going in or not?” Lola asked. Her words sounded fuzzy, as she was standing on his left side. He heard that she continued to talk after she asked the question, but Allie was also talking and there were children playing in the church playground.

  He turned to give his aunt his good ear. “I didn’t catch that.”

  “Oh, what happened to your head? Did you get tangled up in barbed wire again?” Lola touched his cheek. “Is that infected?”

  “No, it isn’t infected. Aunt Lola, I didn’t hear what you said.”

  “I don’t think it bears repeating. But women like her, they’re looking for a wedding ring.”

  “I think you’re wrong on that one, Aunt Lola.”

  “Mark my words, that gold digger knows you’re a wealthy man.”

  He laughed, even as Rebecca looked somewhat shocked.

  “I’m not wealthy and she’s not a gold digger.”

  “You’re my only living relative. We don’t know if your mother is alive. If she is, I wouldn’t give her a dime to call home.”

  “I don’t think there are pay phones anymore, Aunt Lola, and I don’t think we should continue this conversation.”

  She cast a furtive glance around. “The gold digger heard, didn’t she?”

  “You must be Isaac’s aunt Lola,” Rebecca said with a big grin on her face. “I’m so glad to meet you.”

  “Well, at least she has some manners.” Lola pumped the hand that Rebecca had extended. “And she’s pretty.”

  “Aunt Lola.” He cut his aunt off more sharply than he’d ever done in the past.

  “I’m going inside since you obviously don’t appreciate my help.” She stomped off, but glanced back as she went through the door and gave him a wink. She was trouble, pure and simple. From her braided gray hair and fishing clothes to her old rubber boots.

  T
hey entered the building at the side, directly into the fellowship hall. Christmas had arrived. A tree had been decorated and a nativity scene set up on a nearby table. Next to him, Rebecca tensed. Visibly.

  He didn’t comment. He doubted she wanted his opinion or advice.

  Kylie spotted them and headed their way. “Rebecca and Allie, we’re glad you could join us. We’re still serving dinner. And if Allie would like to join the children, we’re going to assign parts for the Christmas program.”

  “I’m not sure...” Rebecca started. But then she looked down at her daughter and the objections died. “Of course.”

  Isaac shoved his hands in his pockets and pretended he didn’t want to reach for her hand or put an arm around her to comfort her.

  * * *

  Rebecca slipped through the door of the large room where the children were gathered with Kylie and several other adults. She scanned the crowd, spotting Allie in a corner with Jersey and several other girls. They were sitting on the floor, with the dog in the middle of their small group.

  Her heart swelled at the sight of her daughter in this setting. It brought back memories of her own childhood in church, and for the first time she regretted that this hadn’t been a part of Allie’s life. Rebecca had allowed her anger to keep her away from something that had been important to her own formative years.

  The rejection, from both her parents and many church members, had hurt. It had cut a deep wound that had obviously not healed well. But there had been good in that little country church. There had been Christmas programs, Sunday potlucks, friends that she still spoke to on occasion.

  “You okay?” The deep voice had become familiar to her and she nodded, even as his hand touched her back in a gesture that she was sure he meant as supportive.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Just thinking about how much my daughter has missed out on. Not just church, but family. She hasn’t spent Christmases with grandparents or had a sleepover with a best friend. All of the little things I took for granted.” She let the words spill out, because they’d been held in for too long.