Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

“My shoulder was hurting a little. Sam, my new boss, drove me home. He told me to rest until tomorrow. He’s a really nice guy.”

“Yes, I had that impression when I met him.” Megan remembered the man—not only handsome, but with a good job. If he wasn’t spoken for, Branding Iron’s single ladies would already be taking notice.

“How was the party?” Daniel asked.

“Fine.” Megan remembered Katy’s surprise announcement. She sat down across the table from him. “Daniel, have you and Katy made plans to get married?”

“Sure, we have.”

“So you’ve already asked her?

”

“I asked her a long time ago. She said yes.”

“But how will you manage? You’ll need a place to live.”

“Katy’s folks want her to stay close. When we get married, we can live in their basement. It’s got a bathroom and a little kitchen and everything we need. But I want to get a car first. Katy says maybe her dad can fix up an old one for us. But first I need to pass this test.”

“So you’ve got it all figured out.” Megan shook her head. “How do Katy’s parents feel about all this?”

“They’re worried about us. But they want Katy to be happy. Her mom talked to a doctor. It’s pretty much for sure that we can’t have babies, so it’ll be just us—Katy and me and her kitty.” He looked up from the pages of the driver’s manual, his dark eyes full of purpose. “I know Mom and Dad want to keep me here. But I’m a man, Megan. Katy’s a woman. We love each other. We have the right to be together.”

Megan blinked away a tear. Her brother was right. Their parents protected Daniel because they loved him. But that didn’t make it fair to treat him like a child. He was a man, and as far as his limitations would allow, he wanted to live a man’s life.

Here, in this family, he needed an ally. She would be that ally, Megan resolved. She would do it out of respect for his loving heart and for the man he wanted to become.

“Here you are.” Their father entered the kitchen, his cheeks flushed from the cold. Still wearing his coat, he laid a manila envelope on the table. “This is for you, Megan. I know you haven’t made up your mind to stay, but today when I went by the district office, I took the liberty of picking up an application for that first-grade teaching job. They’re still needing somebody. Whatever you decide, it wouldn’t hurt to have that application in place, or even to interview for the job.”

“Of course. Thanks, Dad. I’ll fill it out and drop it off.” Megan picked up the envelope, planning to look at the application later. “I don’t have a Texas teaching credential. Would that be a problem?”

“It shouldn’t be. They could issue you a provisional certificate. But you won’t want to waste too much time. The district office will be shutting down for the holidays after next week.”

Slipping out of his coat, he moved around the table to look over Daniel’s shoulder. He scowled when he saw the driver’s handbook. “I can’t believe you’re still wasting time on that,” he said. “Why not just give up?”

Daniel turned to the next page. “If I give up, I’ll never learn to drive.”

“But that’s just for the written test, son. Even if you pass, you’ll still need to learn how to handle a car. I’m not qualified to teach you. You’ll need somebody with special training.”

“I’ll work it out.” Daniel didn’t look up.

“Well, I’ll say this for you. You’ve got determination. Maybe too much for your own good.” He hung up his coat and went into the studio to greet his wife.

Megan rose and walked around the table to squeeze her brother’s shoulder. “Don’t be discouraged,” she said. “We’ll find a way.”

“Thanks. I know.”

Leaving him, Megan went down the hall to her room. She’d planned to make spaghetti again for her family, but it was early yet. She had more than an hour of free time ahead. Maybe she could work on her song. But after strumming a few chords, she realized that her concentration was off. She couldn’t stop thinking about her brother. There had to be some way she could help him.

There had to be state agencies that served people with disabilities. Maybe she could find a source for classes or instructors that helped such people learn to drive.

Opening her laptop, she began a search, starting with the state government site, breaking it down to the Department of Public Safety, then to the Department of Public Education. Under the disabilities section was a long list of services, none of which involved driver training. The last item on the list was Contact us. Megan selected it, got an e-mail address, and composed a message describing what Daniel needed. By the time she finished and sent it, her free hour was up.

There was no guarantee that she’d get an answer or, even if she did, that it would be useful. But at least she’d made an effort to help Daniel. Given the late hour, there was no point in waiting for a reply. It was time to shut down her computer and start supper.

* * *

Megan had just climbed into bed when her cell phone rang. “Sorry to call so late.” Conner’s voice sent a deliciously warm quiver through her body. She nestled against the pillows, enjoying the intimate feel of their connection. “Did I wake you?” he asked.