My Kind of Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 1)

Maggie passed the crowded Shop Mart parking lot and drove onto the highway. There were vehicles outside Hank’s Hardware and people looking at his Christmas trees. In spite of the tricks he’d played, he’d lost business to the Christmas Tree Ranch. By this time last year, he had all but sold out. This year a third of his trees were left, and their boughs were getting dry. More and more customers were passing them up for a fresh tree from the ranch.

She couldn’t help feeling sorry for Hank. He was a good man, and he’d done his best with the cruel cards life had dealt him. He deserved a relationship with his son, and Travis deserved to have his father in his life. If only she knew how to make that happen.

At the ranch, she counted nine cars and trucks parked along the road. People who’d put off buying their trees until late in the season were getting them now. But the snow was already too far gone for sleigh rides. The unhitched sleigh was parked in the shed, the horses enjoying the sunshine in the pasture.

Maggie parked across the road and walked through the gate. Bucket, dozing on the porch, came bounding down the steps to meet her. She rubbed his ears as she looked around. The teenage boy and girl they’d hired were tending the fire, the s’mores, and the chocolate machine. Rush was helping a family pick out a tree, and Conner was lashing another tree onto the top of a car. In the distance, she could hear the sound of the chain saw. Travis, she assumed, was cutting a tree from the farm for a customer.

As Conner turned away from loading the tree, she waved at him. He trotted over to where she stood. “Hi, Maggie.” He greeted her with a grin. “If you’re looking for Travis, he should be back here in a few minutes. You’re welcome to go inside and wait.”

“Actually, it’s you I wanted to talk to,” she said. “I hope your offer to drive the sleigh in the parade next Saturday is still good.”

“Sure, no problem. It’ll be good PR for the ranch. But you’ll need to brief me on when and where.”

“I’ve got a page with a map and instructions on it in my office. I’ll make sure you get it.”

“So, did Hank finally agree to play Santa?”

“No, but I’ve got a plan B. Right here.” She patted Bucket’s eager head. “Meet our backup Santa.”

“You’re kidding!” Conner looked startled.

“Why not? Bucket’s been riding shotgun in the sleigh for years. He’ll look adorable in the doggy Santa outfit Francine is making him. Better a first-rate dog Santa than a second-rate human.”

“You’re right! Why not?” Conner burst out laughing. “Some folks might be disappointed, but at least they’ll get a kick out of him.”

“I haven’t given up on Hank. But I’m hoping I can at least count on you and Bucket.”

“We’ll be there with bells on! Let’s hope for snow. It won’t be the same if we have to pull the sled on the flatbed.”

“I’m afraid it won’t be the first time.” Maggie’s ears caught the sound of the ATV, coming from the direction of the trees.

“That would be Travis,” Conner said. “He’ll be here in the next few minutes. If you two want some time together, I can check out his customers and load their tree.”

“Thanks, I know you’re busy. I won’t keep him long.” Only now, as she was about to see Travis again, did Maggie realize how much she’d missed him. What had possessed her to think she could be apart from him for so long? She couldn’t wait to feel his arms around her. But she didn’t want to greet him with a yard full of people looking on.

“Tell him I’ll be out back,” she said, and walked around the house.

Moments later Travis drove into the yard with a young family in the back of the ATV and a freshly cut tree loaded on the trailer. Maggie stepped around the back corner of the house to watch as he stopped and climbed out of the vehicle.

Conner crossed the yard, touched his shoulder, and said something Maggie couldn’t hear. Travis turned and saw her standing just in his sight at the corner of the house. The surprise that flashed across his face warmed into a smile. Almost running, he strode around the house to where Maggie waited and caught her in his arms.

Driven by raw emotion, their kiss was long and hard and sweet. When they finally drew apart, she looked up into his face. The weary lines and shadows there told of exhausting days and sleepless, worry-filled nights.

“Damn, but it’s good to see you, Maggie,” he said. “I don’t think I could’ve lasted till Christmas.”

“Conner knows my excuse for coming,” she said. “But I had to see you, too.”

“If you’re wondering about my father, nothing’s changed,” he said. “I told you it was going to take time.”

“It’s all right. I understand.” Her arms tightened around him, holding on as if she never wanted to let him go. He’d be working hard right up until Christmas, but Maggie knew she couldn’t wait to be with him again. They’d already been apart too long.

“We need some quiet time,” she said. “Can you come by tomorrow night? It’s Sunday. You won’t be open for business.”

His lips brushed her forehead. “It might be late. We’ll have a lot of trees to trim and cut for the week ahead. But don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll be waiting. Now, you need to get back to work.”

He walked her to her car. She smiled up at him as she slid into the driver’s seat. “See you tomorrow night,” she said.