Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

The fact that they were alone in the house made the situation even more dicey. If she chose to get him in trouble with Megan—and he wouldn’t put it past her—it would be her word against his.

Damn it, where is Travis when I need rescuing?

“How about some coffee?” Still standing, he moved toward the kitchen. “It’ll warm you up. No—stay there. I’ll bring it to you. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

“Thanks . . . I guess,” she said. “But what I really need is for you to hold me.”

“Not a good idea.” Conner measured coffee and water into the electric coffee maker. “But I do feel bad about your losing your job. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“Thanks a bunch.” Her voice dripped sarcasm.

“If you like, I could call the restaurant tomorrow and speak to the manager. Maybe I could talk her into hiring you back.”

“Don’t bother. She’s a bitch. Hey, maybe you could hire me to help out here, just for the season. I could sell trees, help the kids toast marshmallows, whatever.”

“We have as much help as we need. Besides, you’d have to get along with Bucket, and I don’t see that happening.” Conner poured coffee into a mug, added milk and two spoons full of sugar, and carried it into the living room. “Here, this’ll perk you up for the drive home.”

She accepted the coffee and took a sip. “You remembered how I like it,” she said. “At least that’s something. Does this mean you’re about to throw me out in the cold?”

Conner took a seat in the rocker, facing her. “Ronda May, you’ve got everything it takes to find a good man and have a happy life. You’re pretty, you’re smart, and you’d make a wonderful wife and mother. One of these days, you’ll get your chance to walk down the aisle in that beautiful dress. And the sooner you forget me and move on, the sooner that’s going to happen.”

He’d meant to cheer the woman, but his words only released a fresh flood of tears. “What if it doesn’t happen? You dumped me. Chuck cheated on me. And now . . . I don’t even have a job. What’ll I do if I don’t get married? I’m almost twenty-one. All my friends are married. My sister got married at seventeen. She’s got two kids now. I’m scared, Conner. I don’t know what to do.”

“Hey, look at Maggie. She’s thirty and getting married to a great guy. Go home and get some rest. Things will look better in the morning, I promise you. Maybe you’ll even meet somebody new at the Christmas Ball.”

“Like I’m even going. Everybody knows what happened with Chuck. They’ll all be laughing at me.” She finished her coffee and sat cradling the mug in her hands as she wept like a spring flood.

Conner stood, hoping she would take it as a signal to leave. But he should have known better. He was beginning to feel like a jerk. Had he really caused her this much pain, or was he being played?

Just then, a small miracle happened. Headlights swung past the front window, accompanied by the sound of Travis’s truck slowing down and pulling under the shed. Conner exhaled in relief. The U.S. Cavalry had arrived.

Minutes later, bundled against the weather, Travis came in through the front door. His knowing gaze met Conner’s from across the room.

“Hi, Ronda May,” he said. “I saw your car outside and took time to brush the snow off the windows. If you leave now, you won’t have to do it again.” He held out a gloved hand. “It’s slippery out there. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

“Thanks. I’m glad there’s one gentleman around here.” Rising, she accepted his hand and allowed Travis to walk her to the front door. As he was about to open it, she turned tearful eyes back toward Conner. “This isn’t over,” she said. “You’ll see.”

The sound of Ronda May’s car starting up and driving away was like music to Conner’s ears. A moment later, Travis came back inside the house, shook the snowflakes off his coat, and hung it on the rack.

“Thanks,” Conner said. “You may have just saved my life.”

“Anytime.” Travis ambled into the kitchen, greeted Bucket, and took a cold beer out of the fridge. “Something tells me you’ve got woman trouble,” he said, sinking into the overstuffed chair and popping the tab. “Care to tell me about it?”

Conner managed a weary chuckle. “That depends,” he said. “How long can you stay awake?”

* * *

On Monday morning, Megan took her brother to the clinic. The doctor told him to rest without the sling for one more day. If there was no pain, he could go back to work on Tuesday.

“Maybe Conner could use my help at the ranch,” Daniel said as Megan drove him home. “Maybe you could call and ask him.”

Megan sighed. “Conner has plenty of help. And today won’t be busy like Saturday. Stay home and rest your shoulder, like the doctor told you to.”

Daniel slumped in the seat, the picture of dejection. Megan’s mood matched her brother’s. She hadn’t heard from Conner since last night, when she’d told him not to call her until he’d dealt with Ronda May. She’d assured herself, again and again, that she’d made the right decision. But that didn’t stop her from worrying. What if Conner still had feelings for his former girlfriend?

What if she’d already missed her chance with him?

Later that morning, she’d just changed the beds, and put a load of laundry in the wash, when her cell phone rang.