It's a Christmas Thing (The Christmas Tree Ranch 2)

Stepping inside, he closed the door softly behind him, shed his coat on the floor, and caught her in his arms. Their kiss was long and sweet, leaving them both hungry for more. But what they really wanted would have to be saved for another time.

She stepped back with a mischievous smile. “I see you still have your head,” she said.

It took a beat for him to remember what he’d said about Conner that morning. “Just barely,” he said. “I threatened him with mutiny if I didn’t get a break. How’s Clara?”

“Still napping. I think we wore her out.”

“Yes, I saw the snow angels and the Fox and Geese game. I haven’t played that since I was a kid.” His gaze wandered to the couch and the fire. “Now that looks inviting. I can’t stay long, but I’ve been fantasizing about you and that couch and that fireplace all day.”

“So have I,” she said. “But first, come down the hall with me. You need to see something.” She touched a finger to her lips. “Not a sound, now.”

Walking quietly, he followed her down the hall to her bedroom. The door stood partway open. From where he stood, Rush could see Clara sleeping like a little dark-haired angel, with her arm around the white kitten. The sight of her raised a lump in his throat. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to make that little girl happy. But considering what she wanted, she might as well have wished for the moon.

He followed Tracy back to the couch and settled her next to him with her head on his shoulder. The fire lent a cozy glow to the room. Rush rested his boots on the hearth and let the tension of the day ease out of him.

“I can get you something to drink,” Tracy said. “Would you like a beer?”

“Don’t you dare move,” he said. “I could stay just like this forever.”

Tracy snuggled closer. “Clara spent half the afternoon making Christmas cards for everybody. You, Travis and Conner, Maggie, the McFarlands . . . I think she even made one for Bucket. I put them in a bag for her to take home. Don’t let her forget them.”

“I won’t.” Rush sighed. “Damn it, I wish I could give her what she wants. I hate to see her heart broken on Christmas morning when Santa doesn’t deliver her wish.”

Tracy stirred and looked up at him. “But she understands that it’s only a wish, Rush. That’s what she told me today. She’s not expecting it to come true.”

Rush gave her a surprised look. “Then why did she write the letter?”

“She wanted to tell Santa her wish. But as she said to me, Santa can only bring toys and things. He can’t make people change.”

“Damn, I had no idea,” Rush said.

“She’s a very wise little girl. You should be proud of her.”

“I am.” Rush shook his head. “I was just wondering how two people as shallow as Sonya and Andre could have produced a child like Clara.”

Tracy squeezed his hand. “She had you to give her a good start. And she had Cecil and Annie. She made cards for them, too. If you have their address, maybe you could help her mail them.”

“I do, and I’ll be happy to. Cecil and Annie would love those cards.” Rush sat in silence for a long moment, gazing into the fire.

“Are you all right?” Tracy asked. “You look perplexed.”

Rush exhaled slowly. “I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve wasted time beating myself up because I couldn’t give Clara what she wanted. Now I need something real to give her. I want her to remember this Christmas forever. Something tells me I’m going to need your help.”

“Of course, you’ll want to give her presents to open,” Tracy said. “I could take her to the mall in Cottonwood Springs. Maybe she’ll see something she wants there. Meanwhile there’ll be things going on all week. We’ve got the parade coming up on Saturday, with the Christmas brunch in the morning, and the Christmas Ball that night. And she can always have fun in the snow on the ranch. You could even—”

She broke off as Clara emerged from the hall, trailing the quilt and cradling Snowflake in her arms. “What are you and Tracy talking about, Daddy?” she asked, still sounding sleepy.

“We’re talking about ways to have fun,” Rush said. “And I just thought of one. How would you and Tracy like to go on a sleigh ride?”

Chapter 13

Tracy drove herself to the ranch that evening. Rush had offered to come to town and pick her up for the sleigh ride. But she knew the partners would be busy with last-minute preparations. The roads had been plowed, and her old Mercedes had new all-season tires. The short drive wasn’t a problem.

She swung the car through the gate, parked, and lifted out the pan of cinnamon rolls she’d made. The front porch and yard were hung with lights, and Christmas music was playing on the boom box.

By now, most families in town had bought trees, but a few were still looking, their children enjoying the free hot chocolate and marshmallows roasted over a small bonfire. The partners had hired two local teenagers to tend the fire, serve the hot chocolate, and supervise the marshmallow roasting.

It was Rush who opened the front door for her. “Hey, come on in. Ladies with treats are always welcome here. Are you ready for a moonlight sleigh ride?”