Santa In Montana (Calder Saga 11)

“What are you going to have?” she asked.

“Steak. Like always. Medium rare.”

Jessy looked up to find the waitress standing at their booth. “Might as well make it two.”

After they had given the waitress their order, Laredo stretched an arm along the back of the booth behind her and angled himself toward her.

“Did I tell you that I’ve figured out where I want to put the hot tub you’re getting me for Christmas?”

“You’re serious about this, aren’t you?” Jessy realized with a small, amazed laugh.

“You mean you haven’t bought it yet?” he chided mockingly. “It doesn’t have to be anything gigantic. Something just big enough for two.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Christmas isn’t very far away. You’d better get to shopping,” Laredo warned.

“Tell me about it. I still haven’t gotten anything for Sloan.”

“Mind if I make a suggestion?”

Jessy started to say “yes,” then hesitated. “I don’t think she wants a hot tub, too.”

“No, I agree.” His expression grew serious. “But there is one thing that would mean a lot to her.”

“What’s that?”

“The Calder family Bible.”

She was immediately struck by the rightness of his choice. Her daughter-in-law had grown up an orphan, without a place she could call home or any relatives like Laredo. And who else but Laredo would know how empty life could feel without a sense of belonging somewhere.

“You could get her some other little something besides that, but—” Laredo began.

“You’re right. The Bible is the perfect main gift for her.” Jessy nodded in satisfaction, then gave him a sideways glance. “So what are you buying me?”

Laredo pulled back. “That’s a surprise.”

“You can give me a hint at least.”

They bantered back and forth on the topic until the waitress returned with their drinks and meal order. After that, talking took a back seat to the business of eating.

They had almost finished their steaks when Ross Kelly stopped by their booth. “How are the steaks? It’s Calder beef so they should be good.”

“They’re delicious,” Jessy assured him. “I don’t know what you used for seasoning—”

Ross held up a warning hand, a big grin splitting his face. “And I’ll never tell, so don’t bother asking. It’s my own secret recipe.”

“Spoken like a true chef.” Laredo half-rose in greeting, extending a hand to Ross who shook it.

“I’m working at it.” Ross cleared the end of the opposite booth seat and perched his wide-hipped frame on the outer edge of it after darting a quick glance at the kitchen to make sure he wasn’t needed.

“Doesn’t sound like you’ve started missing being on the road,” Jessy guessed. “After a couple years operating this place, I thought you might get homesick for it.”

“Not a chance,” he declared. “Cooking has always been something I loved doing. And with diesel prices being what they are, a man can’t make good money anymore driving a truck. This place came up for sale at the right time for Marsha and me.”

“From what I heard, the court-appointed lawyer for Donovan’s estate practically paid you to take it,” Laredo jested.

“We got a good deal on it,” was the most Ross would admit.