Christmas at Hope Ranch

by Loretta C. Rogers

  He wrapped her hand in his and held it. His eyes were warm, his voice soft. “It’s a good thing you’ve done, Addison.”

  Addison softened her features. “Thanks, T.J. I’m glad you were on our side.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Wade offered to drive Addison home while Emmett and Nell collected the twins. “You’re awfully quiet. Not having buyer’s remorse, are you?”

  Without revealing a change of heart, Addison simply sighed. “If I can’t make the ranch pay for itself, I’ll have to sell it and hope to recoup most of my investment.”

  He stared at her. “I take it you have a plan or you wouldn’t have stuck your neck out like you did.”

  She waved away his words. “I have a few ideas. Let’s wait until Emmett and Nell get to the house so I can share with all of you.”

  An hour later, with lunch out of the way and the children down for a nap, the adults gathered in the living room. Comments passed back and forth about the great job everyone did decorating the Christmas tree and whether or not Wade had any word from the Red Cross about the twins’ mother.

  When the chit-chat died out, Addison said, “Nell, the ranch is still yours. I hope you know what happened at the bank today was purely a formality to keep Magala Land Development from getting their grubby hands on the property.” Addison went on to explain that her ex-fiancé was the actual CEO and the money force behind MLD. “With Rowan, it’s all about the money. He doesn’t care who he steps on to get what he wants.”

  Addison blinked rapidly to hold hot tears at bay.

  Nell sounded dubious. “But you do have ideas about how to keep this place afloat?”

  Wade raised his eyebrows. He’d removed his jacket and gun holster. There was a solidness about him that made Addison feel as if he could handle any situation that arose. Her heart fluttered. They looked at each other and then away. She had to take a steadying breath as her stomach tipped again.

  “As a matter of fact, I’d like to form a corporation, an LLC with me as the CEO and Nell as the vice president. It will take most of a year to do all I’ve planned, and I hope we can be ready with the first phase by summer.”

  Anxiety tinged Nell’s voice. “Do what, Addy? Stop talking around your tongue and get to the point.”

  Addison opened a manila file folder and pulled out a sketch. She held it up for all to see. Its title was Hope Ranch…Your Destination to Adventure.

  She explained, “Hope Ranch will become a vacation resort. We will build a gazebo for wedding ceremonies. Couples will have optional packages to choose from, one of which will include a honeymoon cottage down by the river. We can add a couple more cottages accessible to the river for renting during bass tournament season. We’ll get the Christmas tree farm up and running again, and offer sleigh rides to the farm so customers can cut their own trees, with hot chocolate afterward to warm them up. We’ll also open a gift shop and sell honey, cider, and jellies, plus T-shirts and other items on consignment from local crafters. We’ll have hiking trails and horseback-riding trails.

  “I’ve crunched the numbers. Depending on the package clients choose, we can get at least two thousand a week for each cottage, and more if we stock them with food. For the cottages alone we’re looking at a possible eight thousand dollars per week. In two years, I’ll have paid myself back and more.”

  “Addy…slow down…you’re boggling my mind. All of this sounds wonderful.” Nell shrugged. “We’re two women. I’m old, with a worn-out body. We can’t do this by ourselves.”

  Emmett spoke up. “This is a fine idea, Addy. I’ll help out as much as time allows, and I’m sure Wade will, too.”

  Wade winked. “You can count on me.”

  Feeling a bit flushed from her own unexpected excitement, Addison said, “Thanks for the offer, guys. In the beginning, we may need you for physical labor.”

  She focused on the woman sitting across from her. “Aunt Nell, during school holidays and the summer, we’ll hire high school kids and kids from the community college. They’ll work part-time, and with competition for jobs, I don’t think we’ll have any problems in the employment department.”

  She pondered for a moment. “We will need one full-time employee—a handyman. We’ll convert that old shed behind the barn into living quarters. Part of his salary will include a place to live, utilities, and maybe two meals per day. And by the way, the house will be off-limits. No bed and breakfast. The house will remain our private residence. However, I’m sure your wonderful pastries will sell like hot cakes at the gift shop.” Her excitement had increased with each explanation. “What do you think?”

  For a few minutes they sat in stiff silence.

  Emmett slapped his knee. A grin spread across his face. “Sounds like a dang good plan to me.”

  She stared blankly at Wade, waiting for his answer, and then a smile warmed his face. “I think you are a genius, Miss Addison James.”

  With his and Emmett’s encouragement, she felt her own courage and fortitude rising, only to collapse when Nell asked, “Where are we going to get all the money it takes to fund your plans?”

  She hesitated a moment, staring at the Christmas tree’s twinkling lights. Part of her was annoyed that Nell had interrupted her moment of victory, and her other part saw the practical side of the question. She drew a deep breath and slowly let it out. “I’ll telephone Ruby in the morning. After New Year’s, I’ll place my apartment in New York on the market. Except for making a trip to pack up my things and tie up a few loose ends, I’ll have no reason to keep the place and will have no plans to return to New York except for pleasure. Don’t worry, Aunt Nell. I’ve covered all the bases.”

  Secretly, Addison hoped this wasn’t an unrealistic fantasy about turning Hope Ranch into a money-making enterprise.

  Emmett declared it was time for him to get back to his place and see to a few chores. Nell claimed the day had exhausted her. She saw Emmett to the door and then escaped to her bedroom.

  Wade checked his watch. “It’s about time for me to relieve Freddie.”

  “I’ll walk you out.” Addison grabbed her cloak, and Wade helped wrap it around her shoulders.

  Outside, standing next to his cruiser, Wade sent Addison a soft look out of guileless gray eyes. “You’re not a very good liar, you know.”

  She narrowed her eyes and said sweetly, “I’m not sure I understand your meaning.”

  “Yes, you do. We both know you’ve dug yourself into a deep financial hole.”

  She looked down and kicked a small tuft of snow. Her shoulders rose up and down. “It’s for a good cause.” She jabbed a finger against his chest and leaned forward. “Have a little faith, Sheriff.”

  He tightened his grip on her arm to bring her a step closer. Warning signals cautioned. She stiffened. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing illegal.” With his free hand he cupped the back of her head. “I’m going to kiss you.”

  “No. I’m not the kissing sort.” She was terrified of her response.

  His mouth was soft, gentle, coaxing her to taste him. Warmth and ropes of tension tangled together to slide through her belly. She made a sound, something perilously close to a growl. She whirled away. He grabbed her arm and held her in place. “Don’t play hot and cold with me, Addison.”

  Her head was spinning. This was not a sensation she enjoyed. “My heart was ripped to shreds by Rowan… He mangled my soul and then had the audacity to laugh. So you’ll forgive me if I’ve closed the door on my trust department. I won’t be your latest fling.”

  He snarled. “My latest… What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Oh, don’t play coy, Wade. The other night, when you kissed me, you called me Gracie. She must be some deep, dark secret. Even Nell wouldn’t talk about her when I asked.”

  When he didn’t answer, Addison arched a brow. “Whoever she is, I won’t compete with her, and I won’t let you use me to hurt her.” Her heart was knocking against her ribs.

 
; Casually he lifted her hand and turned it to kiss the palm. “It’s not what you think, Addison.”

  She harrumphed. “No, it never is.”

  The radio in his cruiser crackled. A voice said, “Sheriff, everything a 10-17?”

  “Shit.” Wade hissed between his teeth as he opened the car door and leaned in to grab the radio’s mic. “Freddie, it’s a 10-4. I’ll be in shortly.”

  Overhead, the sky was brooding and turgid with snow clouds pushed by the wind. Addison hugged the cloak closer as chills raced up and down her spine. Her teeth threatened to chatter.

  He stepped forward, and she stepped back. The lines that bracketed his mouth might have been carved with a knife. “Things are a bit hectic, especially with Friday being Freddie’s last day. I’ll be in touch.”

  Her lips formed into a thin smile. She strode to the porch and up the steps. She turned back and watched the cruiser disappear down the long driveway.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Emotional storms besieged Addison that night. All that week they raged. There had been no word from Wade since their parting. She sat on the sofa with a notebook in her lap, wondering what she might do about it, tossing out one idea after another because each was impractical. She didn’t want it to seem like she was offering herself.

  She had known him barely a month. Very likely she was reading too much into their brief encounters, far more than he meant, anyway. All she had succeeded in doing was making a fool of herself and pushing him away.

  Yet what she felt for Wade was entirely different from what she thought she had felt for Rowan. This is insane, she fumed. I am not falling in love with Wade Grey. A little voice bedeviled her… Oh, yes, you are falling in love with him.

  Something inside her wanted to pick up the phone and call him. Inhibition stopped her, and so she sat there staring out the window with an ache of helplessness in her heart.

  Nell set a teapot and two cups on the glass coffee table. “You look like you’ve lost your best friend. Anything I can do to help?”

  Addison uncrossed her legs. She didn’t want to bring up the painful subject of her broken engagement again, or her mixed-up emotions about Wade. She reached across the table to accept the cup Nell had poured. She tapped a pen against the tablet. “The cable company is coming tomorrow to install wiring for the internet.” She pointed to a room across the hall. “How often do you use the parlor?”

  Nell chuckled. “There’s probably ten years of dust in there, if that tells you anything. Why do you ask?”

  “Bring your cup and follow me.” Addison unfolded from the sofa. Inside the parlor, she said, “We will need a place to check the guests in and out. Originally, I was thinking of putting it inside the gift shop. I haven’t completely abandoned that idea. However, that would mean one of us would need to be at the gift shop every day, or trust one of the students we hire to check the guests in and out. Then I thought if you didn’t mind, we could convert this room into an office, which might work better since one of us will always be here. What do you think?”

  Nell placed her hands on her hips and furrowed her eyebrows. “I’m not completely sold on the gift shop idea either.” She pursed her lips. “Although you did say the house would be off-limits to guests.”

  Addison set her cup on a dust-covered table and walked to a window. “What if we installed a door to replace this window, to give direct access to the office from the front porch?” She walked around the space, pointed out where the file cabinets would sit, a desk with a computer, two chairs for the guests, and finished with, “This door to the hallway would be our private entrance to the house. No guests allowed unless invited.”

  Nell gave one of the faded blue drapes a vigorous shake, raining dust into the room. She expelled a series of sneezes. “As the young’uns today would say, ‘Let’s go for it.’ ”

  A flash of dimples revealed Addison’s excitement. She jotted a notation on the sketch she’d drawn. “Great. Moving on to the next project. Let’s finish our tea while I run some ideas for the festival past you before the committee meets tomorrow.”

  ****

  Deputy Freddie Sumner’s farewell party ended on a sour note with a telephone call from Wade’s dad. “I sure am sorry, son. I actually looked forward to wearing my uniform again. Damned gout’s got me laid up. Ava has me on medication. She said it might be a week before I can comfortably stand on my foot.”

  “Don’t sweat it, Pop. Your health comes first. Besides, things are fairly quiet. If something does come up, Millie can handle the office while I take care of business.”

  “Say, did you tell Addison about the DNA idea?”

  Wade expelled a mirthless laugh. His conscience gave a faint prick, but thankfully the feeling lasted no more than a few seconds. His fingers curled around the leather arm pad on his office chair. “’Fraid not, Pop.” His voice dipped low. “Haven’t given it much thought, especially with Freddie leaving sooner than expected.”

  “I hear the commotion in the background. Give Freddie my best regards and let him know why I didn’t come to his farewell party. Talk to you later, son.”

  “Will do, Pop. If you or Mom need me, give a shout.”

  Wade’s gaze flitted around the office several times. The party had wound down, leaving Freddie and Millie in the room. The innocence of youth had it drawbacks. Except for his naivety, Freddie was in his thirties. The deputy turned toward him wearing his usual smile and sunny disposition, his hand outstretched.

  “Guess this is it, Wade. I have to admit I’m both excited and nervous. Sure do thank you for all the years of experience I’ve gained working as your deputy.”

  Wade clasped the deputy’s hand. He offered a slight smile. “Good luck to you, Fred.”

  The deputy’s grin grew. “Gosh darn, Wade, you called me—Fred.”

  Wade issued a cheery farewell. “Maryland Crime Unit isn’t for sissies. You’re a man, Fred.”

  After the final goodbyes were said, Wade told Millie to go home for the rest of the day.

  Millie settled back in her office chair and stretched her feet forward. “I’m not upset over Freddie leaving. Why’re you sending me home?”

  Wade sighed. How did he say that he wanted—no, needed—some alone time? “That was my dad on the phone earlier. He’s down with the gout and may be out of commission for a couple of weeks or more.”

  “Aha. In other words what you’re saying is to take the time off while I can because a few overtime hours might be in my future.”

  “You’re a smart woman, Millie.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t let it get around. Somebody might tempt me with a higher-paying job.”

  It was an old joke between them. For a few minutes the two of them watched the fish placidly swimming back and forth in the aquarium.

  Millie opened the bottom desk drawer, collected her purse and latest romance novel. Wade held her coat open while she slipped it on.

  A worried smile wreathed her weathered face. “I hope Freddie has more sense than God gave gophers to keep his gun loaded and his fool head down if he gets in a shooting scrape.”

  Wade didn’t want to admit that he was at all bothered by what might happen to his bumbling friend in a life-or-death situation. “Baltimore is a tough city. Maryland Crime Unit accepted Freddie’s credentials as a qualified officer of the law. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have hired him. It was his decision. We have to accept it and move forward.”

  Wade opened the door for Millie. “I don’t want to see you until Monday morning. That gives you plenty of time to read your romance novels.”

  She held up the cover of Cloud Woman’s Spirit. “This one is about a Deputy US Marshal tracking four insane brothers who killed his wife. You should read it. Your job is cushy next to what Jim Sawyer is going through.”

  He raised his dark eyebrows in response. “Enjoy your time off.”

  After she was gone, he settled at his desk, and his thoughts returned, as they did with increasing frequency, to A
ddison.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The meeting went better than Addison had expected. Everyone who attended was receptive to her ideas. In addition to the fashion show featuring children, and bidding on a bachelor, the Mistletoe Market would include the usual food and craft vendors. Also new this year, horse-drawn sleighs would participate in the parade, with prizes awarded for the most creative, most beautiful, and most Christmasy decorated sleighs.

  Brenda encouraged Nell, Addison, and Millie to remain at the café a little longer. “Addison, your ideas are what we needed to breathe new life into the festival.” She motioned a waitress over for more coffee. “It’s too bad about Ward having the gout. Kind of puts Wade in a tough spot, not having a deputy.”

  Millie broke off the edge of a chocolate-covered spudnut and popped it into her mouth. “Meadow Creek is a quiet town. Even though my primary job is dispatcher, I’m still officially a deputy. Wade and I will pull extra hours until he can hire someone. It’s no big deal.”

  Addison’s mouth curved into a secret smile as she stared off into Neverland. So that’s why he hasn’t been around. Still, he could have called.

  “Addison, you look like the canary that just swallowed the cat. Couldn’t be the mention of a certain sheriff’s name, could it?” Nell’s eyebrows rose innocently at the deliberate question.

  Suddenly, Addison felt out of sorts and on the defensive. “Actually, I was thinking it’s getting late, and I know you don’t like driving in the dark. Perhaps we’d better go to the library to collect Joey and Julie and then head back to the ranch.”

  Nell gathered the napkin in her lap and placed it on the table. “One last bit of business before we leave.” She fixed her face in a cool mask of contriteness. “I have a little announcement.” She cleared her throat. “I got myself into a bit of a financial mess, and I’d rather you hear this from me than through some bank secretary’s overly inflated gossip. I must confess I am embarrassed to admit this.”