Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

“Sure.” Megan washed her hands, found a set of tongs, and began arranging food on the round teakwood tray. “Thanks again for inviting me. I need to know more people in Branding Iron, especially now that there’s a chance I might be staying—only a chance, mind you. I’m still weighing my options.”

“You mean you wouldn’t go back to Nashville? Don’t you have a job there?”

“I do. But if I give notice now, they shouldn’t have a problem finding somebody else. And my dad mentioned that the first-grade teacher here in Branding Iron is pregnant and plans to quit as soon as the school can find a replacement. It’s almost like things are falling into place. But if I were to stay, it would mean giving up my singing career, such as it is.”

“And what about Conner?” Tracy asked. “How’s that going?”

“Still in time-out while I figure out my life.” Megan used the tongs to make a line of cheese slices around the outside edge of the tray. “But we’re talking. I guess that’s a good sign.”

“I hope so. When he brought you to that dinner at Maggie’s, I could tell he really liked you. Have you told him about your secret identity?”

“Not yet. I keep putting it off.”

“Well, I wouldn’t put it off too long. Conner’s pretty easygoing about most things, but he’s a proud man. He doesn’t like being played for a fool.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” As Megan was finishing the tray, the babble of voices reached her ears. “It sounds like your guests are arriving. Do

you want me to take this tray out now?”

“Yes, thanks. Maybe you can help Clara with the welcoming while I do a few last-minute things. Then we’ll get the party started.”

There were twelve guests at the shower, counting the bride. Some were women who’d worked with Maggie in the city building. Megan had met a few others before—Jess Marsden, the sheriff’s wife, and Francine, her mother, who ran the Bed and Breakfast; Connie Parker, who was Katy’s mother, and also Katy, who’d gotten time off from work to come. The remaining women were ranch wives, Travis’s neighbors. All of them were friendly.

Megan’s mother hadn’t been invited. But even if she had been, she probably wouldn’t have come. She was self-conscious about her disability and had made no effort to socialize with people in Branding Iron. That was a shame, because these women would have welcomed her, Megan thought. Maybe if she stayed, she could try to get her mother out of the house and help her make some friends.

Megan had half expected Ronda May to walk in the door. But as time passed and there was no sign of her, Megan relaxed and enjoyed the sense of relief.

Tracy had laid out an elegant buffet of croissant sandwiches, fresh fruit, salads, and cheeses, with a choice of wine or nonalcoholic punch. The guests nibbled, sipped, and visited, most of the talk centering on Maggie and her coming wedding.

“You’ve never told us how you and Travis met. How about a story?” The question came from a receptionist in the city office building.

Maggie, looking radiant in a dark green sweater with silver earrings, laughed. “It was like something out of a romance novel,” she said. “Remember that big ice storm we had a couple of years ago? Travis was still living alone then. His windmill was frozen, and he had to climb to the top and free up the vanes so it would turn. I was driving past the ranch on my way home from an errand when my car hit a slick spot and slid into the ranch gate. Travis was climbing down when it happened. He was so distracted that his feet slipped on the icy ladder, and he fell all the way to the ground.” Maggie shook her head. “I came flying out of the car, half-afraid that I’d killed him. But then, as I looked down at him, he opened those beautiful eyes . . . Oh, my, I just melted.”

“And you lived happily ever after!” Katy clapped her hands.

“Not quite.” Maggie smiled at her. “Travis was madder than a hornet. He read me the riot act. I left thinking that he was the grumpiest man I’d ever met. But I found out later that he was just concerned about my dangerous driving. So everything worked out in the end.”

“And now you’ll be getting married in the church, wearing a beautiful white dress,” Katy said. “When I marry Daniel, that’s what I want, too.”

A momentary hush fell over the room. Megan exchanged glances with Connie Parker. The families knew, of course, that Katy and Daniel wanted to get married. But Katy had just made their intention public—news that was bound to surprise, even unsettle, some people.

It was Maggie who saved the situation. She reached over and took Katy’s hand. “Katy, dear, you deserve to have exactly what you want,” she said.

Slowly the silence in the room returned to the murmur of polite conversation. “I can’t believe you’re putting this wedding together at the last minute,” one of the women said.

Maggie grinned. “What do you mean by ‘last minute’? I’ve waited more than thirty years for this.”

“Who’s going to be your maid of honor, Maggie?” someone else asked.

Maggie shrugged. “I would have asked Tracy, but she’s going to perform the ceremony, so maybe nobody. But Clara’s going to be my flower girl—she’s had plenty of practice. And we’re thinking of letting Bucket be the ring bearer, if we can be sure he’ll behave. Conner’s going to be Travis’s best man.”

“And what about decorations—things like flowers?”

“The church will be decorated for Christmas. Along with some pretty candles, that should be nice enough. And Francine is catering the reception in the social hall, so you know that’s going to be wonderful.”

Megan sat back in her chair as the wedding talk buzzed around her. In her mind, she pictured Conner, so handsome in his tux, standing next to his friend. Subtly, the dream image shifted. Conner was standing in the groom’s place now, watching with love in his eyes as she floated down the aisle toward him. Her long white veil drifting behind her . . . but it was far too soon for such imaginings.

Rousing herself from her fantasy, Megan glanced over at Katy. She was listening raptly to the wedding talk, her lovely blue eyes shining, her fingertips resting on the tiny lapis stone of the friendship ring Daniel had given her. She deserved to be happy and to be loved. So did Daniel. Maybe, in the months ahead, their dream of a wedding would come true.