Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

br /> “Thanks, but I’m sure Travis will be needing your help,” Megan said. “You need to get back to the ranch. Just take us home. We’ll be fine.”

She was right, Conner conceded. He’d left Travis to rescue the sleigh and horses and take care of any customers who came to buy trees. He needed to get back. But he also needed an excuse to see her again and explore the secret she’d kept from him.

For better or for worse, he was hooked.

* * *

Conner returned to the ranch to find the sleigh in the yard and the horses in the barn. Travis was waiting on a family who’d come to buy a tree. By the time Conner had inspected the sleigh for damage and moved it under the shed, the family had taken their tree and gone.

“Thanks for coming to our rescue,” Conner said to his partner. “I owe you a favor, or maybe a steak dinner. Was it hard righting the sleigh?”

“It was easy enough with the right tools,” Travis said. “But before we take folks out, we’ll need to inspect every inch of that trail to make sure it’s solid. We can’t have that happening again. How’s Megan’s brother?”

“Fine. Just a dislocated shoulder. Life’s dealt the kid some tough cards, but he’s game for whatever comes. You can’t help admiring him—or liking him.”

“What about his sister? Did you make any points with sweet Megan, or has she written you off as a lost cause?”

Yes, sweet Megan. Conner smiled a secret smile as her husky-voiced song rose in his memory. For an instant, he was tempted to share his discovery about her. But, no, it was too soon for that. For now, the secret would be safer—and far more delicious—if he kept it to himself.

“I’m waiting to hear how it went with Megan,” Travis said.

Conner shrugged. “All right, I guess. Today was mostly about Daniel, especially after he got hurt. So, no, I didn’t light any fires with her. But I haven’t given up.”

“Good,” Travis said. “You’d be a fool to let that one get away. She’s a keeper.”

“And what about my dream woman?” Conner teased, playing devil’s advocate and enjoying it. “That long black hair and those gypsy eyes—are you saying I shouldn’t wait around for her?”

“Hell, you don’t know anything about her. For all you know, she could be a forty-five-year-old divorcée living in a run-down trailer park with an arrest record and a herd of bratty kids. And even if she’s the real deal, there’s no guarantee she’ll show up.”

“Want to bet?” Conner asked.

Travis raised an eyebrow. “Bet what?”

“Fifty bucks says she shows up. Another fifty says I get to meet her.”

Travis snorted derisively. “I think you’re crazy, but fine. I can always use a hundred. It’s a bet.” He held out his hand for Conner’s shake to seal the deal. “Now let’s get back to work. With the weekend coming up tomorrow, we’ve got to have that trail ready for the sleigh. And somebody will need to be here to show folks the trees.”

“I’ll check the trail.” Conner knew that walking every step of the sleigh route to make sure the snow was firmly packed would be a long, cold task. But there’d already been one mishap, and it couldn’t be allowed to happen again. Thank heaven Daniel’s injury hadn’t been more serious.

With Bucket at his heels, he headed for the toolshed, then turned back as a thought struck him. “One last question,” he said.

“What?” Travis looked up from arranging a tree against the rack.

“I was just wondering if you’d taken my advice and called Maggie about the wedding.”

Travis scowled. “I’m still thinking about it. But whatever I decide, it’ll be between me and Maggie.”

“Fine,” Conner said. “But don’t wait too long to call her. A great woman like Maggie doesn’t come along every day. She deserves a royal wedding with all the trimmings, if that’s what she wants.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away. Travis would come to his senses—he’d be crazy to risk losing the love of his life over a silly disagreement. But right now, Conner had his own concerns. The most pressing one was finding an excuse to see Megan again, and what to do if he found himself falling in love with her.

* * *

Daniel’s boss at Shop Mart, a nice-looking man in his twenties, had been understanding about the shoulder injury and approved his taking a few days off. But Daniel’s mother hadn’t handled the news so well. After they’d returned from the store and Daniel had gone to his room, she took Megan to task.

“How could you have let him sit on that bench?” she scolded. “Heavens, he could have broken his neck! He could have been paralyzed, even killed!”

“I know, Mom. I feel terrible.” Megan’s burden of guilt, already heavy, pressed down with the weight of a giant anvil. She knew how much Daniel wanted to be treated like the “normal” people around him. But Daniel’s “normal” was defined by his condition. All his life, as his big sister, it had been Megan’s job to protect him. Today she had failed. She had put him at risk, and he’d been hurt.