The Rancher's Christmas Match

by Brenda Minton

  “Isaac!” Allie yelled from inside the house and the ecstatic greeting set the dog to barking.

  “Allie...” Isaac held out his arms and she flew to him, letting him pick her up and twirl her in the air.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked. “Where’s Jack?”

  “He’s at home with Carson and Kylie. They’re all on the ranch.”

  “Why aren’t you there?” Allie pressed.

  “Because I realized I hadn’t given you your gifts. I couldn’t have Christmas unless I gave these to you.”

  “Did you get something for my mom?” she asked.

  “Allie, that isn’t polite.” Rebecca shot her a stern look.

  Isaac smiled down at Allie. “I did get her a gift. And I realized she has something of mine. So we’ll probably trade.”

  She didn’t have anything of his. She had bought him a gift, but she’d asked Kylie to give it to him. “I left your gift with Kylie. We didn’t expect to see you today.”

  “Surprise, I’m here.”

  “Rebecca, let the man enter. You’re letting all the cold air in.” Rebecca’s dad appeared at her shoulder. “Good to see you again, Isaac. You’re just in time for breakfast.”

  “I don’t want to impose and my family will be waiting for me. Actually, they told me to ask you all to come over this evening. Leftover potluck and games at the ranch.”

  “Can we?” Allie asked. “We could see everyone. And we could take some of Nana’s candy.”

  “I don’t know—” Rebecca started.

  Isaac interrupted. “Just think about it. Don’t answer yet.”

  “Let’s have breakfast,” Alice called out as she headed to the kitchen, clearly not understanding the tension radiating between her daughter and the man she’d invited into the house.

  “You might as well have breakfast before you head back to the ranch,” Rebecca’s dad offered. “Alice does like to feed people. She cooked enough for a dozen and there’s only four of us.”

  “Breakfast sounds good.” Isaac ignored the look Rebecca shot him. Like her mother, he seemed oblivious.

  She was the only one who seemed to understand that it would be devastating for Allie when he left. It would be devastating for Rebecca, too.

  Because he was everything she wanted for Christmas, for the rest of her life. And he didn’t trust himself enough to be that person in her life.

  She loved him. Silly man.

  “What was that?” he asked.

  “Nothing. I didn’t say anything.”

  He slipped an arm around her waist. “You clearly said something. I think you were bad-mouthing me.”

  “Probably,” she admitted, as she poured herself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the dining room table. And because she was nice, she poured him one, as well.

  The meal didn’t take nearly long enough. Allie rushed everyone through breakfast and fed part of hers to Jersey who had found a place under the table. There were gifts to open and she was an impatient nine-year-old. Eating wasn’t nearly as important as the colorful packages under the tree.

  And the ones in the box that Isaac had dragged in with him were especially tempting.

  “We should do the dishes.” Rebecca started to clear the table.

  Allie grabbed her grandfather by the hand and rushed him and Isaac from the room. She used the excuse that the gifts needed to be organized.

  After they’d left, Rebecca’s mom put a hand on her arm, stopping her from clearing the table. “Later.” She gave Rebecca a curious look. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m trying to protect Allie. She wants a dad.” Rebecca took a deep breath and continued. “She wants Isaac in our lives. He’s a friend but he isn’t looking for a relationship.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Her mother gave her a hug. “But he’s here now.”

  “Because he’s a friend.”

  “Maybe that’s what he’s supposed to be for now, a friend? Maybe you should allow that. He does seem like a good friend. Why shut him out completely?”

  Rebecca let the words of advice sink in, and kissed her mother on the cheek. “Thank you, Mom. I think I really needed that.”

  “I’m glad. I know I let you down, but I’m here now. And I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  They joined the men and Allie in the living room. Allie had a pile of gifts in front of her. “Can I open them?”

  “I think you should before you drive us crazy.” Rebecca picked a couple packages out of her daughter’s pile. “These are for your grandparents.”

  “And this one is for you.” Allie tossed her a gift.

  “That will break!” Rebecca’s mother shrieked.

  Allie looked contrite and apologized. “Can I open the ones from Isaac first?”

  “Please do.” Rebecca smiled at the man, who had taken a seat next to her daughter. Jersey had obviously missed him. Her head rested on his foot as she stretched out next to Allie.

  Allie grabbed the big box from Isaac. “It’s really heavy.”

  “Yep.”

  She grinned at him and started to slowly remove the tape from the package. Her grin turned ornery and she ripped the wrapping paper from the box.

  “A saddle? Is it really a saddle or is that just the box you put a gift in?”

  He looked over her head and winked at Rebecca. “It is a saddle.”

  “A real saddle? Like the kind you put on a real horse?”

  “That’s the kind.”

  She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “It’s the best. And this is the best Christmas. It isn’t lonely.”

  Noticing the tension in the air, Allie grew quiet. “Hey, Isaac, you said you had something for my mom.”

  “Yes, I do.” He stood before Rebecca, but he glanced around the room at her daughter, her parents. “If you all don’t mind, I think Rebecca and I need to take a walk.”

  “But it’s cold out there,” she protested, more than a little worried about what he wanted to tell her.

  “We’ll bundle up.”

  Isaac led her to the front door, where coats were hanging on the hall tree. “Which one is yours?”

  She pointed to the red coat and he helped her put it on. She pulled gloves and a hat out of her pocket.

  Together they walked out the front door. The flurries had turned to actual snow. The world seemed quiet, almost muffled. Few people were out on Christmas Day so everything was peaceful. The two of them walked hand in hand. She thought he’d have to say something eventually.

  When he didn’t, she stopped. “How far are we going to walk?”

  “I don’t know. I’m still trying to decide what to say. This was spur of the moment. I was sitting at the house with my family and I realized I couldn’t do Christmas without you and Allie. I realized something else.”

  “What?” She faced him, wishing she could step into his embrace and just let him hold her as the snow fell.

  “I realized I can’t live my life without you. That part really took me by surprise. I’ve been doing life on my own and suddenly that’s just too plain lonely.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that, so remained silent.

  “As I was contemplating being lonely and alone, I realized that you had something of mine.”

  “And what is that?” Her heart was starting to beat a little faster.

  He leaned in, kissing her lightly once, twice and then again. The third kiss lingered.

  “You have my heart. I think I gave it to you that day you offered me a ride. I think I willingly took it out and handed it over to you, and when you left the ranch, you didn’t give it back.”

  “Corny cowboy,” she whispered, kissing him back.

  * * *

  Rebecca was beautiful standing there in the snow, her coat red, he
r cheeks rosy from the cold.

  “Corny, but was it effective?” he asked, as he leaned close once more.

  “Maybe. Kiss me again and I’ll let you know.”

  He did as she asked. A car driving by honked. He raised a hand to wave.

  “What is it you want?” Rebecca asked. Her brown eyes grew serious. “Isaac, I’m a single mom. I have a daughter to raise and her heart matters, too. When I date, it has to matter. I don’t have time to hang out, share a few kisses, and I don’t have enough of me left to give just a part of myself to a relationship.”

  “I don’t want just a part of you. I want all of you, Rebecca. I want you. I want your heart. I want the mom who is protective of her daughter. I want the woman who makes me laugh. I want to be a family. You. Me. Allie.”

  “What changed? I thought you couldn’t offer anyone those things?”

  Good questions. “I changed. I’m a veteran with PTSD. I have nightmares. Not as bad as they used to be. I worry a lot about the type of husband or father I would make, so I’ve carefully avoided both. I haven’t dated a woman in years because I didn’t plan on getting married. And then you came along and I want to date you. I want to send you flowers. I want to fight and then I want to kiss and make up.”

  “That’s a lot of kissing.”

  “We could start now.” He bent down, but she sidestepped.

  “I have a daughter.”

  “Yes. Her name is Allie and I think she’s about the most amazing child I’ve ever met. I love you. Loving you means I love your daughter. I want to be a parent to her. I want to be the dad she deserves.”

  Tears rolled down Rebecca’s cheeks. He wiped them away and pulled her close, holding her against him.

  “I need my heart back, Rebecca.”

  “I’m keeping it, cowboy. You’re mine and I’m not letting you go.”

  Epilogue

  Isaac glanced out the window. Snow was coming down, just as he’d predicted on Christmas a year ago, when he’d kind of proposed to Rebecca. He’d proposed a second time in May, when it was warm and the flowers were blooming. Allie had been with them and it just seemed liked the thing to do. He’d asked them to be his family, his wife and daughter. He’d also broken the news to Rebecca that he’d probably like about a half dozen more kids just like Allie.

  They’d negotiated that part of the contract. He didn’t mind. If it was always just the three of them, so be it.

  “Why can’t I go on the cruise?” Allie asked again.

  She hadn’t had a seizure in six months, the longest she’d ever gone without one. Carson had sent her to a specialist, who said sometimes children did outgrow seizures. Time would tell. It didn’t matter what the doctor said; Jersey was at her side. A constant companion, just in case.

  Thanks to Jersey, Mercy Ranch had a new ministry. They were going to donate service dogs to children with seizure disorders.

  Thanks to God, Isaac had this new life that he’d never expected. It had all started when he stumbled out of the feed store and into a protective mom.

  “Isaac!” Allie, now ten, punched his arm.

  “Sorry, got lost in thought.”

  She rolled her eyes at that. “It’s going to be warm where you’re going.”

  He laughed. “You’re going to get to build a snowman.”

  “I don’t like snowmen. They’re just cold.”

  “True.” He bent to kiss the top of her head. “I love you, kid. You’ll have a great time staying with Carson, Kylie and the kids.”

  “I love you, too.” Her eyes misted a little and she punched him again. “Dad.”

  He grabbed her up and held her tight. “Thank you. I’m pretty happy to be your dad.”

  And he was going to love surprising her. She might think she was staying in Hope, but her bags were packed and in the back of the limo that would take them to the airport. She would share a room with Sierra, who had agreed to go along as a babysitter. It might not be the most conventional honeymoon, but it was theirs.

  Jack stepped into the room, all decked out in his best suit. He stood straight and proud today, but his health was failing. He’d confided that he still had two children whose lives he needed to interfere with so he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Isaac kind of thought his dad would outlive them all.

  “You ready?” Jack asked.

  “Of course they’re ready.” Maria stepped in behind him, holding his arm.

  “We’re ready.” Isaac held a rose out to Allie, and of course she tucked it behind her ear. “You’re supposed to carry that.”

  “What best man carries a rose?”

  “Technically, you’re my best kid.”

  She grinned. “Yeah, I’m kind of great.”

  “Come on, best man, we need to get to the front of the church. Just the way we rehearsed it. I’ll walk down the aisle and wait. You come next with Jersey. Eve follows. And then Carson escorts Kylie.”

  “Why do you keep telling me?”

  “Because I’m nervous, and if I tell you, you’ll remember.”

  She took him by the arm and escorted him from the room.

  “You’ll do just fine, Dad.”

  * * *

  Rebecca’s father escorted her from her room. She’d never thought this day would happen. Never thought she’d find a man to love. A man who loved her and her daughter. She’d never thought she’d be in this place with her parents, with her dad at her side.

  Forgiveness was a healing thing.

  It had changed her life. It had changed her father.

  “Are you ready for this?” he asked, as they watched Eve roll her chair down the aisle. Carson and Kylie went next.

  After Carson and Kylie came Andy and Maggie, the ring bearer and flower girl. Maggie smiled back at her as she tossed rose petals in the air. Whatever she did, it would be perfect.

  “I’m ready,” Rebecca answered. “I think I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment and this man.”

  “I’m thankful that you found him. I know I made some serious mistakes as a father and a pastor. And as a Christian. I think you’ve taught me a lot more than I ever knew about my faith, about loving and showing mercy. You’ve shown me mercy, Rebecca.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “I love you, too. And I couldn’t be happier for the three of you, that you found each other.”

  This was a season of her life that she hoped would linger awhile. For everything there was a season, and a time for every purpose under the sun.

  The music faded from the love song they’d picked to be the wedding march. He led her forward from the vestibule and she made eye contact with Allie, standing next to Isaac. Her daughter stood straight and tall in her role as best man.

  Isaac winked as Rebecca came down the aisle, but she saw past his charming cowboy demeanor. She knew the heart of this man she was marrying. And it was good.

  He was decent and kind. He loved puppies and children.

  But most of all, he loved her.

  The walk down that aisle took longer than any walk should have taken. When they finally reached the front of the church, her father kissed her cheek.

  “Be happy.”

  She teared up a little, but quickly composed herself. It was her wedding day. It was a time to laugh, not to weep.

  Isaac reached for her hand and drew it up to his mouth, kissing it lightly. This wasn’t part of the ceremony. She wanted to scold him, but couldn’t get words past the tightness in her throat. She would be content to stand all day and look into his silver-gray eyes as he held her hand.

  The minister cleared his own throat. “If the two of you would give me ten minutes of your day, I’ll do this wedding thing, and you can hold hands for the next sixty years, looking lovingly into each other’s eyes.”

  The people gathered laughe
d and Allie rolled her eyes.

  Isaac released her hand, and true to the minister’s words, ten minutes later he pronounced them husband and wife.

  “You may kiss your bride,” he said with a grin.

  Isaac picked his bride up, swung her around and then kissed her. She clung to him, not caring that they had an audience.

  This cowboy was hers. Forever.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story,

  pick up the first Mercy Ranch book,

  Reunited with the Rancher

  from bestselling author

  Brenda Minton.

  And don’t miss these other great books

  in the Bluebonnet Springs miniseries:

  Second Chance Rancher

  The Rancher’s Christmas Bride

  The Rancher’s Secret Child

  Available now from Love Inspired!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from A Christmas Baby for the Cowboy by Deb Kastner.

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  Dear Reader,

  As I’ve spent time in Hope, Oklahoma, and at Mercy Ranch, I’ve gotten to know the characters and I’ve come to love this little town. I hope you’ll enjoy your time here, as well!

  From the beginning Isaac West quickly became a favorite of mine, and this book had to belong to him. Isaac has dealt with difficult times in his life and he’s learned to laugh when things get tough. I think that’s one of my favorite things about this hero.

  Together Isaac and Rebecca learn that life has its seasons. They have cried, mourned, been angry, been broken. Now it is their time to laugh, to love, to heal.

  I hope you enjoy taking the journey with them—and with me.

  Brenda Minton

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

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