Page 26 of Merry Christmas, Cowboy (Home to Texas #2)

S aturday morning sun took the frigid chill out of the air, and puffy marshmallow clouds dotted a bright blue sky. Nicole thought it a blessing the weather lightened up a bit because rain or extreme cold would’ve been hard to deal with on a day when so much was happening.

A big sign announcing the fundraiser, made by the students at Honeysuckle Elementary, hung above the gates of Cottonwood Ranch.

Everything looked great and Nicole took pride in what was accomplished.

It was another hour before the event would open but, as she walked around, she nodded and smiled at the volunteers putting the finishing touches on their booths.

Ticket sales were good, and with the added revenue from the bake sale, silent auction, and sleigh rides, they should make their goal.

From a distance, she caught her parents shaking hands with Garrett over at the barn. He and Coop were helping unload the horses from the trailers and getting them situated. They had a team of four horses; two would pull the sleigh wagon at a time. And they would rotate them every few hours.

Cassie and Cody were working the hot cocoa station. Garrett hadn’t been too sure about allowing Cody to work, but it was clear he was taking it seriously. “Would you like some hot chocolate?” he asked her.

“Sure, thanks, Cody.”

Cody went about setting out the cup and Cassie poured the steaming liquid.

“How much do I owe you?” she asked.

“Fifty cents or one ticket.”

“Okay, here you go,” she said, pulling out a long row of tickets. “One ticket and well worth it.”

“Here you go, Miss Russell.” Cassie handed her the cup.

“Thanks, Cassie. So, how long are you working the station here?”

“For two hours,” Cassie said proudly. “It’s fun. So far we sold five cups to the volunteers.”

“And are you having a good time too, Cody?”

Cody nodded. “I am. Uncle Garrett said I have to be careful.”

“Yes, that’s true. But I see you’re doing a good job helping Cassie.”

“He is,” Cassie said.

“At least the sun’s out,” she said. “So, it won’t be too cold today for our visitors.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cody shuffled his feet. “I’ve been praying for snow every night, but I guess it’s good it didn’t snow today.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” She gave Cody a smile.

He wasn’t giving up on the idea of another snowfall in Last Stand.

The poor kid. She’d lived here all of her life, and other than some hail a few times, this was the first snow she’d ever seen in Last Stand.

The weather forecast for the next two weeks was looking at warmer temps and not the other way around.

“Well, thank you both for helping. Be sure to take a sleigh ride later on. And I hope I see you both at the snowman making contest.”

She walked off, making her way to the barn just as Garrett walked out. “Morning,” he said.

“Hello.”

They stared at each other for a minute, Nicole feeling a bit tongue-tied seeing him again. He was filling a hole in her heart and every time she laid eyes on him, she felt something beautiful happen to her inside.

“Are you ready for today?” he asked.

“I think so. Things are going smoothly right now, and we’ll be getting our first visitors soon.”

“Right, that’s what they tell me. Got the horses all hitched up, ready to give their first rides.”

She darted a glance behind the barn. “The sleigh wagon looks amazing. The kids worked hard on it.”

He nodded.

“Pretty soon, you’ll have your ranch back. But, Garrett, let me thank you again for allowing us to do this here. It’s really the perfect place to hold this event. And I think the entire town thanks you too.”

He scratched his head and gave her a smile. “I really didn’t have much choice. You made me a deal I couldn’t refuse.”

She giggled. “Our pact?”

“That’s right. It’s been good for Cody. He’s having a good holiday so far and I think it’s primarily because of you.”

His compliment gave her warm flutters. “I only showed him, and you, how we do Christmas in Last Stand.”

He nodded. “Okay, so you’re being modest, but the truth is, you’ve had an impact in our lives, Nic. In a good way.”

“It wouldn’t be a stretch for me to say the same goes for you too.”

“Well, then, we’re in agreement,” he said softly.

“I guess we are.” The words lingered on her tongue. They were in agreement on many things lately, and her feelings for him were getting stronger every day.

He was first to break the connection. “Wanna see the tumbleweeds, uh, I mean, snowmen? I stored them at the back of the barn, and well, we have a surprise for you.”

She shook her head. “What kind of surprise? And who’s we? You and Cody?”

“Miguel and Coop and me. And I’m not saying another word. You have to come see.”

“Of course, I’d love to see them.” She followed him inside the barn finding a row of twelve snowmen against the wall. Her hands went to her face, this was a surprise. “Oh my goodness, you painted them white! I didn’t think we’d have time. When did you find time to do this?”

“With the three of us, it didn’t take all that long to spray-paint them. I’m only glad they dried in time.”

“You and me, both. They look so much better now, Garrett. Like true, fake snowmen. Thank you.”

“Welcome.”

She couldn’t help gushing. “I mean it, these came out great. Did you put them together yourself?”

“Coop came out a little earlier this morning to help. Thanks for your suggestion to use zip ties to keep their bodies connected.”

Her cell phone beeped. It had been like a jumping bean this morning, with volunteers texting questions since six a.m.

“Sorry, I’d better get this,” she said.

But the second she looked at the screen, she frowned.

“What is it?” Garrett asked. “A problem?”

It was her ex again. The guy wasn’t giving up texting her. She’d already told him she didn’t want to talk to him. She didn’t want to see him.

He was the last person on earth she wanted to deal with now.

“It’s Johnny, wishing me luck on the fundraiser today.

He says he knows it’ll be a success. And…

” He missed her. “Never mind,” she told Garrett.

She didn’t want to involve him any further in her situation with her ex. “It’s not important.”

“Nicole?” His voice held concern.

“I’m fine, Garrett. I’d better get back out there. We’re opening the gates in ten minutes.”

She held her head up high and walked out of the barn, so Garrett wouldn’t see her distress.

It wasn’t Johnny so much anymore; she was over him.

But it was the whole fiasco that upset her.

He was a reminder of a sorrowful time in her life, when all she wanted now was to move on.

She supposed she’d have to tell him to his face how she felt to straighten him out.

But today wasn’t about her love life, it was about running this event and making sure nothing went awry.

*

By eleven o’clock, the grounds were full of visitors.

Last Stand families, parents, students of all ages were having a great time, drinking hot cocoa, eating brisket sandwiches or having sweet treats from the bake sale.

The wagon sleigh rides were a big hit, if the long lines at the barn were any indicator.

Santa drove the sleigh on the bench seat up front and two others won the chance to sit with him.

The rest of the guests sat in the back and halfway through the ride, Santa’s elves would jump out from behind a storage shed to sing a jolly tune and hand out cellophane-wrapped candy canes.

Judging from the faces on the children when the sleigh returned, the surprise was well worth the effort.

Nicole walked over to where Julie and Miguel were hosting the pine cone painting booth. “Hi, guys. How’s it going?”

They had six little ones working at the table, using washable paint, thank goodness, to decorate the pine cones and, afterward, Julie or Miguel would help them dust their creation with silver or gold glitter.

The end result made for a great table decoration.

“We’re all having fun,” Julie said. She was used to a classroom of twenty, so having six munchkins to guide through a craft was easily a piece of cake for her.

“It looks like you are. And the pine cones look fantastic, kids.”

A few of them looked up to smile, but the others were too intent on their creation to answer.

“So far so good?” Miguel asked, looking up from the glitter jars.

“I think so.” She scanned the grounds. “Everyone’s doing a great job. The volunteers haven’t let me down.”

“Have you seen Coop and Taylor?” Julie asked.

“I think they’re helping at the wishing tree. I’m headed that way now.”

“Okay, say hello to my cousins for me. Tell them I’ll see them later.”

Nicole walked toward the very center of the arena, where the Christmas tree stood.

It was especially busy there, Taylor handing out paper ornaments and Sharpies.

At least a dozen people were making their wishes and putting them onto the tree.

Coop stood on a ladder to place some of the wishes higher up, so it wouldn’t be bottom heavy.

“Hey, guys. Julie and Miguel say hi. They’ll see you later, once your shift is over.”

“Sounds good,” Coop said, from the ladder.

“Looks like we’ll be here awhile, the wishing tree is popular,” Taylor said. “Great idea, Nic.”

“Thanks, I’m glad it’s working out. I’m here to help, if you need a break.”

“I’m good,” Taylor said.

“Me too,” Coop added. “I think we’ve got this for now.”

“Okay.” She backed up a step and bumped right into Garrett. “Oh, sorry.”

“I’m not,” Garrett said, giving her a smile.

She laughed—flirty Garrett was back.

He was helping Cody write out his wish. The boy had one word scratched out on the paper ornament, snow. She met with Garrett’s eyes.