Page 22 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy (Home to Texas #2)

A t nine o’clock on Saturday morning, Nicole walked into the big barn at Cottonwood Ranch, leading a troop of ten older children to help decorate the wagon.

Their arms were filled with boxes of donations to create a pretty awesome Santa’s sleigh and their excited chatter made Nicole glad she chose teaching as her profession.

There was nothing better than filling a child’s heart with fun and thrills and a sense of purpose.

But she stopped up short when the wagon came into view. “Oh, wow.”

The wagon wasn’t only fixed, and looking sharp, but it was painted Christmas cherry red from top to bottom, all except the wheels.

They were snowy white. They’d never wanted to ask Rand Brown if they could paint the wagon, as he had notions of one day using it again for something.

But this, this was off-the-charts wonderful.

And they had only Garrett to thank for it.

“Look at that,” she told her crew. “I think Mr. Brown has been hard at work.”

“It wasn’t so hard.” Garrett’s voice came from behind the children.

She spotted him by the barn doors and immediately her stomach flip-flopped. Her nerves did a happy dance. She had no control over her emotions once Garrett showed up.

“It seemed like the right thing to do.”

She put her hands on her hips. “What have you done with Mr. Grinch?” she asked, unable to hide the joy in her voice.

“He may still be lurking somewhere and show his face again. No one knows.”

But she knew. Garrett wasn’t fooling her and it warmed her heart. “It’s perfect. Isn’t it, kids?”

The kids nodded and turned his way to thank him.

“You’re all welcome. Have fun decorating,” Garrett told them, and then walked back outside.

Nicole got busy, setting the kids up with garland, tinsel, ornaments, and big throw blankets to make the sleigh cozy for a winter’s ride.

The fifth-grade class had made big banners for the sides of the wagon and others had wrapped empty gift boxes to use for display.

The sleigh rides started and ended by the barn doors.

So, they’d decorated those too and on the day of the fundraiser, the barn would keep the people nice and snug as they waited in line.

The older kids had a handle on decorating, so Nicole walked outside and headed for the corral where the booths were being constructed.

Each committee member had a crew, and she counted about twelve men and women working.

There was an area designated for food and an area for games.

Other booths would sell items, and one table near the Christmas tree would be for the silent auction.

Paulette was here working alongside her mother, Louisa Sanchez.

They were both constructing the hot cocoa and bake sale booth and Cody was following Paulette around, lending his help.

She walked up to the booth Garrett was working on with Coop for a soda bottle ring-toss game. Relieved to see them together, she sighed. Coop would tell Garrett to back off if he tried to do something too strenuous.

Some creative volunteers had covered the bottles with red felt with white collars around the bottle necks, Santa style, and designed handmade miniature wreaths as the rings to toss. “This looks great, you guys.”

Coop looked up from the booth. “It’s coming along.”

Garrett pounded away with a hammer. Some of the wood from last year was still viable and some was generously donated by the local lumber company.

There was little cost involved and, therefore, Nicole had expanded the booth count this year to twelve, so with the snowman contest and the sleigh rides there would be plenty for the participants to do.

“How’s it going on your end?” Coop asked.

“Great, except we’re not having any luck finding tumbleweeds for the snowman contest.”

Garrett stopped pounding and turned to look at her. “Really?”

They locked eyes and she hoped he couldn’t read her thoughts. She liked the way he looked in his tool belt. “I’m afraid so. The snow’s destroyed the tumbleweeds in the area. I hate to cancel the event; it’s always a lot of fun.”

“Yeah, the kids really enjoy it,” Coop said. “Last year, Cassie and I came in second. We were hoping for a chance at first place.”

“Well, I suppose I could take a drive tomorrow. Head south and see if I can find some. It didn’t snow everywhere.”

“That might be a long drive,” Coop said.

“It’s got to be done. I don’t want to give up on having the contest,” she said.

“I’ll take you.” Garrett put his hammer down, as if he was laying down the law. “I’ve got a truck and besides, it’s not as if I can do any real work tomorrow.”

“Garrett, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Nicole, when are you gonna learn? You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”

She grinned. “I guess I’m a slow learner.”

He chuckled and folded his arms over his middle. “You said that, not me.”

“It may be a wild-goose chase,” she warned.

“Maybe, but I think we’ll find them.”

“Yeah,” Coop added. “And at least you won’t be tempted to work on the house. A good long drive will do you good.”

“Really now?” Garrett said, pursing his lips. “So glad I came to Cottonwood to be bossed around by the two of you about what I can and cannot do.”

But his lips curled up as he spoke making her believe he wasn’t too very miffed at all.

*

Garrett knocked on Nicole’s apartment door at eight thirty Sunday morning, wondering what in hell he was so darn giddy about.

He had a life plan that didn’t include staying in Last Stand, that didn’t include her in his life.

But hell if that mattered. He enjoyed being with Nicole and she needed his help.

The last thing he’d wanted her to do was to drive out to parts unknown by herself.

Not with her car, which probably wouldn’t hold more than half a dozen tumbleweeds anyway, if she did find them.

She opened on his second round of knocks and he came face-to-face with her. She looked adorable, with all her long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing a pink puffer jacket and a pair of black boots over a slick pair of jeans.

“Good morning,” she said.

“You look… nice and warm.” He refrained from calling her adorable, because where would he go from there?

Telling her he dreamt about her at night or liked kissing her?

Nope. He couldn’t go there. Especially since he’d heard from Blake Charles early this morning.

He was getting some inquiries about the ranch, his clients wanting to know when the renovations would be complete.

Blake wanted to know the same thing since Garrett’s injury had put him behind schedule.

But as soon as he got the okay, he’d have to work twice as hard to catch up.

“I am warm. I’ve got layers on top of layers. It’s unseasonably cold this winter.”

“That’s what I’m hearing from just about everyone in Last Stand.”

“Come in for a second,” Nicole said, with her usual sweet smile. She ushered him inside and led him over to the kitchen. “I just finished making muffins for the drive. I hope you like blueberry and lemon?”

“I wouldn’t refuse any of those,” he said.

“I made us a thermos of hot coffee too. Tell me it’s not too bad out there.”

“I would, but then I’d be lying.” He smiled. “The heater in my truck works really well.”

“That’s a relief.” Then she bit her lip as if realizing something. “Where’s Cody? I thought he’d be coming along.”

“Normally, he would jump at the chance of a tumbleweed search. But I wouldn’t do that to you.

That boy doesn’t sit still in the truck for long periods of time without getting bored.

Taylor and Coop invited him over to play with Cassie.

She’s watching Muffy for a few hours and Cody thought that a better option. ”

“Hmm, do you get the idea that our friends are doing a bit of matchmaking?”

“They don’t need to,” he said, then squeezed his eyes shut.

“No, I guess they don’t,” Nicole answered way too quickly. She’d taken it the wrong way.

“I didn’t mean that it’s not possible for the two of—”

“Didn’t you?”

“I only meant if things were different, I…” He put a cork in it.

If he was staying, he’d be asking her out nonstop. If he was staying, he’d make sure no more Johnnys would darken her door. But Blake had already gotten some interest in the ranch from eager buyers. His path was pretty much set.

He sighed heavily. “Never mind.”

Nicole blinked, and gave her head a shake. “I… think,” she began slowly, “we… should… stick to our search.”

He agreed. He’d already put his foot in it. “Yep, let’s do that.”

Nicole packed up her muffins and thermos in an insulated bag and grabbed her gloves. “I’m ready to go.”

“Me too. Let me take that bag.” He slid his hand over her fingers, feeling the soft warm skin there and their eyes met for a brief instant. He couldn’t keep from looking at her, from feeling the sharp pangs invading his gut, whenever he touched her.

“Here we are,” he said, cloud puffs coming out of his mouth from the frigid cold.

He tossed the bag in first, then offered his hand.

She grabbed on and climbed into the cab of his truck.

She fussed a bit with the seat belt, and he helped buckle her in, then closed the door.

Though it was only a drive to find elusive tumbleweeds amid a snow-laden landscape for a charity event, this had the feel of a real date.

There were no friends around, or Cody, for that matter to provide a buffer between the two of them.

He climbed in and gave her a look. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

“You’ve lived here all of your life, would you say heading south is our best bet?”

“Yes, south makes sense. We should only have to drive an hour or so.”

He nodded and started the engine. It roared to life and he pulled out and headed down the highway, going south out of town.

“Do you like music,” he asked, one hand on the radio dial. “Or do you like quiet?”

She wrinkled her nose adorably, making a cute face. “Do you mind if we just drive quietly right now?”