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

“Sure,” Maureen said. “I’ll call before I come.”

Tracy sighed as she walked on. She was going to miss those kittens. Over the past week, they’d become little holy terrors, racing through the house, climbing on everything. But they were so cute and so much fun. Unless Clara got her miracle, Tracy realized she’d likely be keeping Snowflake. Clara would never forgive her if she gave the white kitten away. At least he was the calm one.

But he really belonged to Clara. Tracy knew it. Clara knew it. Maybe even Snowflake knew it.

Through the crowd, she could see Katy and Daniel walking hand in hand. Daniel would be picking up Tiger before Christmas. Sweet, loving Katy would adore the little tabby girl.

Only as they passed her did Tracy notice someone walking with them—a young woman she’d never seen before.

She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, slim as a willow, with long brown hair and striking dark eyes. But it was her clothes that drew Tracy’s attention. She was dressed in faded jeans with tooled leather cowboy boots that came almost to her knees. Over a black turtleneck, she wore a buckskin jacket that looked like something salvaged from a rock star, with trailing fringe on the yokes and sleeves, and exquisite beading down the front. A weathered Stetson shaded her face. On anyone else, the outfit would have been too much. But the young woman wore it with such elegance and flair that she made a stunning picture.

Tracy looked away for a moment. When she looked back, Daniel, Katy, and the mysterious stranger were nowhere in sight.

She glanced at her watch. Rush could be showing up any minute. She hurried back to the monument to find him waiting for her. He grinned and caught her hand. “Come on, the parade’s about to start.”

“Where’s Clara?” Tracy asked.

“You’ll see. Come on.” He led her to a good vantage point, standing behind a family who’d brought chairs. The Christmas music on the public address speakers had gone silent. From up the street they could hear the beat of a snare drum as the flag came into sight, carried by the members of the American Legion. Everyone stood and placed their hands over their hearts. When the flag had passed, Rush moved behind Tracy and wrapped his arms around her. The feeling was pure joy, being with a man who wouldn’t hesitate to show the whole town that she was his woman.

At a respectful distance behind the flag came a white convertible with local and visiting dignitaries—the lieutenant governor, the county commissioners, and Maggie, bundled into a dark green coat. Catching sight of Rush and Tracy, she grinned and blew them a kiss.

Tracy remembered their talk two days ago. Over coffee and pie at Buckaroo’s, she’d given Maggie a copy of the obscure Arizona law she’d found online. “Rush needs to have this,” Maggie had said.

“Maybe later,” Tracy had replied. “Right now I don’t want to give him false hope. But somebody else needs to be aware of this, in case I’m not around later on. Sometime—maybe years from now—it could be useful. Just not now.”

“I can’t say I agree.” Maggie had frowned and shaken her head. “I think you should just give it to Rush. But I’ll respect your decision and keep this somewhere safe—for now.”

The memory faded as she and Rush settled in to watch the parade. The Branding Iron High School Marching Band was playing Christmas music—more than a little off-key, but nobody seemed to mind. The local businesses had decorated simple floats, some with pretty teenage girls riding on them. Volunteers dressed as elves scampered along the sidelines, throwing wrapped candies to the kids.

At the sound of sleigh bells, a stir of excitement passed

through the crowd. Children peered up the street, some of them jumping up and down. Parents lifted the little ones to their shoulders for a better view.

Santa was coming.

Branding Iron wasn’t much of a town, and the Christmas parade was no grand spectacle. But the Branding Iron Santa, in a real sleigh, pulled by massive draft horses with real brass bells on their harnesses, was pure magic. There was no better Santa in the state, maybe in the whole country. And now he was coming down the street, the sleigh gliding on a layer of hard-packed snow.

Standing on tiptoe, Tracy could see the sleigh. Hank, who’d taken over the job last year, was a magnificent Santa. Waving at the crowd, smiling at the children, he radiated genuine Christmas joy. Bucket, on his best behavior, sat beside Hank, wearing a miniature red cape and Santa hat.

Conner, in full cowboy gear, drove the team from the low front bench. Next to him, smiling and waving in her red parka, was Clara.

“Look at her! She’s having the time of her life!” Tracy waved back, as did Rush. “What a wonderful idea! She’ll remember this forever!”

“I hope so.” There was a note of sadness in Rush’s voice. Understanding, Tracy squeezed his hand.

* * *

After the parade, Rush handed Clara over to Tracy, who would take the little girl home, feed her, and give her a chance to rest before dressing for the ball.

Free now to work, Rush hurried over to help Conner lift the heavy harnesses from Chip and Patch. The huge geldings stood patiently as the buckles were unfastened, the collars lifted away. They seemed to know that warm, dry stalls and an extra helping of oats awaited them back at the ranch.

Conner, usually low-key, was as excited as Rush had ever seen him. “Rush, I saw this girl in the crowd! Lord help me, I could’ve wrecked the sleigh looking at her. She knocked my socks off! Then she was gone, and there was nothing I could do.”

Rush shook his head. “I can’t believe this. You’ve always been Mr. Cool around the ladies. What’s gotten into you?”

“If you’d seen her, you’d know. Brunette, dark eyes, long hair, wearing a Stetson and this ungodly fringed leather coat. I’ve never seen her before. Now it’s almost like she was a mirage—like I imagined her.”

“Well, maybe you’ll see her at the ball tonight,” Rush said. “Even if she’s not there, you’re bound to have a good time. You’ve never suffered from a lack of female attention.”