The Rancher's Christmas Match

by Brenda Minton

  What would happen if their lives became so intertwined, connecting them in a way that they’d never unravel?

  Chapter Twelve

  Saturday arrived and it was the best weather day they’d had in a week. The sun was shining and the temperature soared to a balmy, mid-December sixty degrees. Even at five o’clock as they were gathering at the school where the parade would begin, the temperature was still close to fifty.

  Isaac unloaded his horse, Buster, and tied him to the side of the trailer. He went back in for the extra horses for others from the ranch who wanted to ride, Sierra, Joe and a few of the other men. Jack stood nearby. He wouldn’t ride, but he’d be watching from the sidelines.

  A second trailer backed in next to Isaac’s. Carson got out of his truck and waved, but went right to work unloading horses for himself and Kylie. Andy and Maggie would ride double with their parents. Isaac finished with his own livestock and stepped over to see if he could help his brother.

  “Need any assistance?”

  Carson pointed to his daughter. “Corral Maggie before she takes off on my horse and we have to call the law to run her down.”

  Isaac grinned at his niece, who had blond curls and big blue eyes. She was trouble. The worst kind. “Maggie, are you causing problems?”

  She giggled and shook her head. “No, I just want a pony.”

  “There you have it. Uncle Isaac will have to take care of that for you. But since you’re in trouble, why don’t you help me? I need to check on Allie. She’s going to be on the church float.”

  Maggie wasn’t really paying attention to him. He didn’t blame her. There was a lot going on. More and more floats were arriving. Local fire trucks and police officers were lining up for the parade. People were everywhere. And it signaled danger to Isaac.

  Greg had been quiet for the past week, lying low. That didn’t mean he was gone. Isaac scanned the area, looking for the man Rebecca had described to him and to the police. He walked past a float decorated with a miniature church and a group of people dressed as carolers.

  The next float was from another local church. They’d somehow created what looked to be a snow globe around the baby Jesus.

  The Community Church float was at the back of the line, holding a living nativity scene complete with people, animals, the stable. And angels. Allie happened to be one of the angels.

  Still no sign of Greg.

  “There’s Allie.” Maggie pointed. “She looks pretty.”

  “Look at that costume,” Isaac said.

  “She lights up.” Maggie tried to hurry off. He had hold of her hand and stopped her.

  “Nope, you have to stay with me. We’ll walk over together and check on her.”

  Maggie sighed. “Okay. And then we get to ride our horses?”

  “And then we get to ride.”

  “Does your horse have lights?”

  He winked at his niece. “That’s a surprise. You’ll find out.”

  “I bet you do.”

  “You’re mighty impatient.”

  She pulled him toward the float. Allie saw them and waved. Her face was lit up. Next to her, Jersey, overcome by the excitement, barked. Rebecca stood at the side of the float, her face serious. She was probably giving her daughter last-minute instructions.

  Isaac stepped up to her. “She’ll be fine,” he said.

  “Of course she will.” Rebecca motioned her daughter close. “Give me a hug.”

  “Oh, Mom.”

  “I can’t help it. I’m a mom. It’s what we do. We give instructions. We worry.”

  Someone called out that the parade was about to start and everyone needed to get in place. Isaac could hear bands practicing. A band or two would march between the floats, and then before the horses. No one wanted to follow the horses.

  “We have to go.” He reached for Maggie’s hand, but looked at Rebecca. She’d been working all week, trying to start the salon right and preparing for her open house. He’d kept an eye on her, but he knew that local police had also been patrolling by on a regular basis.

  Maggie pulled on his hand. He looked up and saw his brother not twenty feet away. He let go of his niece’s hand and she ran to her father, jumping as he lifted her into his arms. Carson was a good dad. He’d been a single dad, having lost his wife in a car accident. She’d been pregnant with Maggie when the accident occurred and had only lived long enough for her baby to be delivered.

  “She’s fine,” Isaac told Rebecca, speaking of Allie. “I won’t be more than a hundred feet behind her. And there are plenty of people on the float who will be watching her.”

  “I’m not worried about a seizure,” she told Isaac. “I’m worried about Greg. He hasn’t left town. He doesn’t give up that easily. I know he’s watching, waiting for the right time.”

  “I’ll watch for him. You can’t live your life in fear. Allie needs to be a kid and do what other kids do.”

  “I know that,” she said. Her expression softened. “I’ve missed...”

  He waited, but she wouldn’t say it. Smart woman. Instead she shifted, glancing back at the float where her daughter stood ready to be an angel, heralding one of history’s most important events.

  “I should go,” he told Rebecca. “Enjoy the parade.”

  She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for being my friend.”

  “You’re welcome.” He watched her walk away and then hurried to mount Buster. Friends. Even the word was uncomplicated. No ties. No worries about the future. Nice, uncomplicated friendship.

  He’d given up on complicated. The day he’d shoved Ruth Davis to the ground, he’d realized that his new life didn’t need to include a woman.

  He needed his life to be uncomplicated. The fewer people he had to worry about, the better. But the little girl on the float ahead of him... He couldn’t pretend he didn’t care about her life, about keeping her safe. Or her mother.

  The parade rolled slowly away from the school. Fire trucks and police cars went first. At random intervals their sirens cut through the quiet night. The exception was the old fire truck with the Christmas lights. A Christmas carol played from the speaker on the hood. The passengers tossed handfuls of candy and children hurried to grab up what they could.

  This was the best part of small town life. He’d once been a little boy standing on the sidewalk as the parade rolled down the street. His mom had never joined him. But he would walk to town and watch the parade by himself. Of course, he’d act as if he didn’t want that candy, but after everyone was gone, he’d grab up the leftovers.

  The bands were staggered, so they didn’t all go through at once, competing with different carols. The floats from local churches and businesses were staged between the bands.

  Intermittently, he would catch part of a song one of the bands played. He heard bits and pieces of “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World” and “Little Town of Bethlehem” as area schools did their best to bring Christmas cheer to the small community.

  They were nearly back to the school when he saw the man come out of the crowd and approach Allie’s float. He hurried alongside it, yelling something that Isaac couldn’t hear, but it was clear as day he was yelling at Allie. Isaac nudged Buster forward, but Greg shot a look in his direction and then took off through the crowds, disappearing into the night.

  Isaac rode up to the float. Allie’s face matched the pale ivory of her angel costume and she was visibly trembling. One of the adults on the float hugged her, but Isaac knew no one but her own mother would do at the moment. He wrapped the reins around the saddle horn and held his arms out to her.

  “Come on. I won’t let you fall.” Buster did a nervous jig, but with a soft word from Isaac, the horse settled.

  For a full minute the little girl hesitated. She moved to the edge of the float and looked from him to the crowd beyond. H
er eyes were stark with fear as she fell into his arms. She was tiny, but her entire body trembled, and she clung to him with all her nine-year-old might.

  “Who was that man?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll catch him.” What else should he say?

  “He wasn’t nice.”

  “No, he isn’t nice, but he won’t bother you again.” He shifted her so that he could hold her tight while still keeping control of Buster. “What did he say to you, Allie?”

  “He’s my daddy, isn’t he, Isaac?”

  “Let’s find your mom, Al.”

  “But Jersey...” She peeked back over his shoulder. “She’s still on the float. Oh. She jumped.”

  “Crazy dog.”

  A sharp bark demanded that he wait. He pulled up on Buster’s reins, and sure enough, Jersey was heading their way. She wasn’t about to let Allie be on her own. Isaac doubted she would have let Greg anywhere near the girl.

  But it wasn’t physical harm Isaac was concerned about. A man like Greg could do a lot of harm with words.

  As they rode back up to the school, Rebecca came running. She had a look of terror in her eyes, but when she saw Allie safe in his arms she stopped, took a deep breath and managed to appear calm.

  Isaac eased the child to the ground and she immediately ran into Rebecca’s arms. Words tumbled out, about the man. Her father.

  “You said he wasn’t a nice man. He isn’t nice, Mom. He isn’t nice at all.” Allie continued to hold Rebecca tight.

  As the parade meandered past them, Isaac swung his leg over Buster’s back and dismounted, nearly tripping over Jersey as he did so. The dog moved quickly, but gave Isaac a condescending look, if that was possible for a canine.

  “I’m going to find a deputy.” Isaac led Buster through the crowd, needing to do something proactive to help Rebecca and Allie. Something that didn’t include pulling the two of them close and telling them he would never let anyone hurt them.

  * * *

  Rebecca led her daughter through the crowds, unsure where to go. She spotted Isaac’s truck and trailer and headed in that direction, as if Isaac were her true north. But he wasn’t, she reminded herself. He was a cowboy who could be charming, caring and emotionally closed off.

  “Why is he here?” Allie asked. The question set off warning bells. Rebecca glanced around, looking for Greg. He was nowhere to be seen.

  “He’s gone now,” she assured her daughter.

  “No, why is he here? In Hope.”

  “I guess he thought he should be able to meet you. I’m sorry, Allie. I never wanted to hurt you or have him hurt you this way. He isn’t a good person. He’s been in prison. That’s why you’ve never met him before now.”

  Red lights flashed through the night. Allie glanced toward the line of emergency vehicles. The lights dimmed as the parade ended. The parade had been beautiful. A perfect example of cheerful, small-town life. One of the traditions that continued even as the world changed, moved a little faster.

  Greg shouldn’t be able to ruin it for them.

  Jersey moved closer to Allie, nuzzling her arm and whining. Allie reached for the dog, then her eyes changed, the way they always did right before a seizure. Rebecca spoke her name but Allie didn’t respond. Her body started to tremble. Rebecca reached to lower her to the ground. Allie sagged in her arms and sweet Jersey stayed glued to her side as she began to convulse on the cold pavement.

  Rebecca dropped to her knees, praying. Really praying for the first time in a long time. Because she couldn’t do this on her own. She was so tired of being alone. She was tired of not having her parents to call when things like this happened. She’d had no one for so long.

  Just then a hand settled on her shoulder and squeezed—Isaac, letting her know he was there.

  “Carson,” he yelled, getting his brother’s attention. And then he dropped to his knees next to her and began to pray for Allie, as if she was precious to him.

  Rebecca blinked away tears that clouded her vision.

  “She’s going to be okay,” Isaac assured her.

  Carson appeared and Jack was with him. “How long?” Carson asked.

  Rebecca glanced at her watch. Three minutes. Allie’s body stilled. She remained motionless.

  “Allie, wake up, honey.” Rebecca leaned close, using a tissue to wipe her daughter’s face. She placed a palm on her cheek, stroking it the way she always did. The way she’d been doing since her daughter was a tiny infant. Long before the seizures.

  This was when she always woke up. She had to wake up.

  Her eyes fluttered. “Mommy,” she cried.

  And then her eyes rolled back and another seizure gripped her tiny body.

  “We’re going to the hospital, Rebecca.” Carson spoke as the physician now.

  Isaac stood. “I’ll get the ambulance.”

  Carson nodded and took his place next to Allie. “Take a deep breath, Rebecca.”

  She tried. She really tried. But the tears wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t make them. “I’m so afraid for her.”

  “I know, but she’s going to be fine. We’ll get her on the ambulance and I’ll be able to help her more than I can right now.”

  “Can I ride with her?” Rebecca leaned over her daughter, smoothing her hair as the seizure finally ended.

  “That one was shorter,” Carson assured her. “And I’d rather you not ride in the ambulance. It’s crowded and I’m going to be in there. Let Isaac drive you to Grove.”

  She nodded, accepting but not wanting to be separated from Allie. She understood, though the idea of not being with her was torture.

  The ambulance crew headed their way with medical equipment and a gurney. Carson was on his feet directing them. He lifted Allie gently and placed her on the gurney, strapping her in so that she wouldn’t fall.

  Rebecca walked next to her daughter, promising her she’d be at the hospital waiting for her. Allie’s eyes were open and she nodded, barely. Jersey ran alongside the gurney, and before they could stop her, she jumped into the ambulance.

  “Let her go,” Rebecca said. “Please, Carson, let her take the dog.”

  Strong arms wrapped around Rebecca and she was pulled back against a firm chest. Isaac. Still there with her. She wasn’t alone.

  “Be calm. The dog goes.” His words were murmured close to her ear.

  Carson glanced back at his brother and nodded. “The dog goes.”

  Rebecca refused to move away from the ambulance. Until the doors closed and the lights came on, she stood watching as they worked on her daughter, a tiny form in the back of the vehicle, so tiny. Her heart quaked with fear, with sadness.

  Strong arms continued to hold her. Isaac told her to trust, to have faith. As the ambulance rolled away, she turned into his embrace and he hugged her tight.

  “Let’s go,” he finally said.

  They turned and Jack was there standing behind them. She’d forgotten Jack. He glanced at his son, questions in his eyes, and then he gave Rebecca a quick hug.

  “She’s going to be okay. You’ve got the best doctor in the state. Top trauma surgeon back in Texas.” Jack smiled and awkwardly patted her shoulder. “You two go on to the hospital. Maria is here—she’ll drive me home. I don’t want you to think you have to worry about me.”

  “Thank you, Jack.” Rebecca kissed his cheek. “You mean a lot to Allie and me.”

  “You’re part of our family now.” He glanced toward the road as the ambulance siren sounded through the evening. “Now you two go on. I’m going to talk to the police and see if they’ve spotted that yahoo. I’ll call if I learn anything.”

  “Thanks, Jack.” Isaac took her by the hand and led her to his truck. The same truck she’d been heading for just fifteen minutes earlier. Had it been only fifteen minutes? It seemed like forever.

>   Isaac opened the truck door and she climbed in. He stood there for a moment with the door open. “I’m sorry.”

  “It isn’t your fault.”

  “No, but I wish I could have stopped him. If I’d gotten to him sooner...”

  “Yes, well, I wish I had realized sooner what kind of person he is.” She sighed.

  He closed the door and appeared a moment later on the driver’s side. He climbed behind the wheel and fired up the diesel engine of the truck.

  “I should call my parents,” she said as she looked out the side window. “I want to call them. Isn’t that silly? They’ve wanted nothing to do with us all this time. My father has said horrible things to me, about my daughter, and yet I want him to be at the hospital. I want to know that I have family. Someone out there has to care about us.”

  “People care.” He spoke the words simply. Then he glanced her way. And she saw in his eyes that he did care. The realization warmed her and yet, it troubled her, too. Wanting him to care, needing him to care, felt like emotional quicksand.

  “I know.” She let the words out, not seeking answers from him that she knew would complicate things more.

  “Do you? Do you realize how many people care? Jack, Carson and Kylie, me. Half the town is already in love with you and Allie.”

  “And here I am wishing for more.” Not fishing for more, she wanted to tell him.

  “No, that isn’t what I meant to imply. I just want you to know that, no matter what your parents do or don’t do, you’re not alone. But I don’t blame you for wanting them. Call them.”

  “What if they tell me they don’t care? What if my dad says something like it’s my fault?”

  “Then I’m here for you. And honestly, I might have to take him before the church and point out his sins.”

  Laughter bubbled up and it shook loose some of the fear that had encased her heart. She pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed the number. After a few rings, it was answered.