Page 37 of One-of-a-Kind Bride (Home to Texas #1)

“Good.” He bounced out of the SUV and high-fived him.

Garrett ruffled his shaggy dark hair.

“How come you’re out here?” the boy asked.

“Well, I’m all through for the day and I couldn’t wait to see you.”

“Why?”

“For one, pal, I miss you when you’re at school, and for two, I thought we’d do something fun this afternoon. How does that sound?”

Cody grinned. “Really?”

“Really. Let’s say good-bye to Paulette first and thank her, okay?”

The boy nodded and walked over to her. “Thanks, Paulette.”

“You’re welcome, Cody. Have a great weekend you two.”

“Same to you, Paulette. Thanks again,” Garrett said. “Drive safely now. The roads are a little slick.”

“I will.”

Garrett took hold of Cody’s hand and began walking toward the house. The connection filled him up and made him think of his sister and all she was missing out on. She’d adored her son and had worked hard being a single mom after her husband passed.

“The snow’s still on the ground, Uncle Garrett.” Jubilant, Cody kicked a patch of snow with his boot and the ice went flying.

“I see that. It was a freak storm. They don’t usually get snow in this part of Texas, Code.”

“But it’s here now.”

“Yeah, for a little bit.”

“Maybe it will come again. For Christmas.”

Garrett winced. “I wouldn’t count on it. This is not Denver, where it snows a lot, bud. Even the weatherman was surprised at the storm that moved in and out quickly last night. So let’s not get our hopes up.”

Cody eyed the snowy surroundings for a moment, his eyes filled with wonder as if he hadn’t just heard what Garrett said.

Then his nephew dropped his backpack and bent down, picking up a clump of pure white snow and drew back his arm.

Thenwham! Garrett saw a flash of white before the snowball hit him right smack on the shoulder. Cody burst out laughing.

“Oh yeah? You want a fight?” Garrett bent, gathered up his own snowball and lobbed it at Cody, hitting him on the arm. “Bang.”

The snowball fight lasted all the way to the house, with the two of them running and jumping out of the way of the next cold toss, Cody’s joyous shouts piercing Garrett’s ears. Both were freezing cold when they walked up the steps to take off their coats and shake them out.

“That was fun,” Cody said.

“It was. I think you got me good.”

“I did.”

He ushered them into the house, a work in progress.

Garrett had torn down a bedroom wall, to make the living area into a great room, turning the place into a four-bedroom house instead of five.

But the great room was where people lived, and more space was needed.

The kitchen was partly done with new flooring and cabinetry ready for installation, but still needed new appliances.

It was home, for now and Garrett tried to make it as comfortable during the process as possible.

Once they got dry, they opted to pop some popcorn in the microwave that was their only source of cooking at the moment, and watch a movie together.

Luckily, Garrett had replaced the old fireplace last week and the wall-to-ceiling stacked stones really had eye appeal.

He set wood logs to burn, and soon the room got warm and cozy.

For a change, Garrett let his work go to spend some quality time with Cody.

He had to do that more often. The boy needed it. And, maybe, so did he.

Cody took out the Battleship game and they sat across from each other and played for a good hour.

Cody “beat” him twice, and Garrett won three games.

Cody pouted a bit, moping around. Garrett knew enough to let him be, he didn’t like to lose.

The boy got that trait from him so he’d have to work out the loss on his own.

When it was time for dinner, Garrett microwaved a frozen casserole he’d picked up at the market.

He lacked skills in the kitchen, and that would have to change once they settled in California.

The boy deserved more than frozen meals, but at the moment, it couldn’t be helped.

The only appliance they had, besides a refrigerator, was the microwave.

Thank goodness, Cody ate everything Garrett put before him.

“Code, how about some ice cream for dessert?”

The boy’s face lit up; his brown eyes sparkled. “Yes!”

“I thought you’d like some. But you have to—”

“I know, I know. I have to brush my teeth for an extra minute.”

“At least. You don’t want to—”

“Lose all my teeth before I’m thirty.”

Garrett grinned and ruffled the boy’s hair.

Cody was sharp and bright, which was great, but it also posed problems because the boy knew he’d been orphaned, and he’d never see his father or mother again.

He was different than most children, being raised by his bachelor uncle who moved around a lot and showed up when he was in between jobs.

Garrett had a restless nature and went where the job took him, but had kept a small studio apartment a few miles from his sister’s place in Denver, to be close to them.

After eating a big bowl of his favorite ice cream, chocolate cherry chip, which Cody devoured, he wandered over to the window in the great room and peered out at the snow.

“Think it’ll be there tomorrow?” he asked.

“Probably. At least for some time. But once it warms up, the snow’s likely to melt.”

“But it could be here tomorrow, right? If it was cold enough?”

“That’s right. It could, but Code, don’t…”

Cody closed his eyes, a solemn look gracing his face as if he were wishing to the darkened skies for more snow.

Garrett only shook his head. He didn’t want to burst the boy’s bubble.

“C’mon Cody. Let’s get your teeth brushed and get you into bed.”

He lifted the boy and Cody curved his arms around his neck.

It was the best feeling in the world, and the scariest, having Cody’s love and trust. Garrett was all the boy had now.

It’d been just less than a year since he’d taken him in and the responsibility weighed on him still.

He wanted so much to do right by the boy.

To provide a safe home for him and Garrett would do that as soon as he sold Uncle Rand’s place and moved on to their forever home.

After Cody brushed his teeth and got into bed, Garrett kissed the boy’s forehead and then covered him up to his chin with a thick plaid quilt. “Night, Code. I love you.”

“I love you too, Uncle Garrett.”

*

Nicole got up extra early on Friday morning to bake sugar cookies for Cody and his uncle.

The morning was brisk, and she turned up the heat in her little apartment.

She’d thought by now she’d be living in a house with her new husband Johnny, but that dream was gone.

And she wasn’t going to wait around for anyone else to make her dreams come true.

She’d learned a hard lesson, to make her way in the world by herself, and if anyone wanted to jump on the wagon, well, she’d see about that.

She was taking matters into her own hands from now on.

After Christmas, her first order of business was to buy a house of her own. She longed for a yard and a bigger kitchen, someplace to call her own.

And today, she was taking matters into her own hands by driving out to Cottonwood Ranch. She wasn’t about to wait for Mr. Brown to respond—he hadn’t all week.

When the timer dinged, she pulled the cookies out of the oven. Christmas trees, bells, snowmen, and ornament shapes had turned out perfectly. The aroma of sweet vanilla filled the air and made her mouth water. This batch just might be her best cookies ever. The fun part came next, decorating.

True, it was more fun decorating with her friends, but she was on a mission today, and these cookies were not only a welcome-to-town offering, but a please-help-with-the-fundraiser plea.

Her cell phone rang, making her jump. She glanced at the screen and smiled. “Hi, Taylor. How are you this morning?”

“I’m good, a little busy. I’ve got three orders to fill before Valentine’s Day.

” Taylor was a masterful wedding gown designer.

She’d opened her own shop in Last Stand last spring and her business had taken off.

She’d actually designed Nicole’s wedding gown that never made it down the aisle.

“But I’ve got it handled. Julie said you’re in charge of Honeysuckle’s fundraiser this year. And Coop, Cassie, and I want to help.”

“That’s sweet, Taye. And yes, I’m sure I can use the help.”

“Coop says put him down for any hard labor you need.”

“Your husband is one-of-a-kind, Taylor.”

“Thanks. I know.” She giggled. “Oh, and by the way, Coop bumped into Garrett Brown at the lumber yard. Says he’s quite accomplished at flipping houses which is why he’s here in town. He plans to renovate and then move on.”

“Funny you should say that. I’m just on my way out to Cottonwood Ranch. Seems Garrett Brown’s been dodging my notes about the fundraiser.”

“Really? He’s holding you up?”

“Not to worry, I’m going out there armed with my best weapon.”

“Let me guess. You baked.”

“Christmas cookies. A good batch of ’em.”

“That should do the trick. You know what they say about the way to a man’s heart?”

“Bite your tongue, Taylor. I’m not aiming for anyone’s heart anymore.”

Taylor sighed on the other end of the phone. “Well, good luck. And be sure to let us know how we can help.”

“Will do. Thanks again.”

After the call ended, Nicole placed her cookie creations onto a large Santa Claus plate and covered them with clear wrap. On top, she put a pretty red-and-green bow.

At nine o’clock in the morning, Nicole turned off the road that led to Cottonwood Ranch.

The place was spotted with mesquite, otherwise known as cottonwood trees and that was how legend said the place got its name.

Randolph Brown had lived and worked the land for two decades as a cattle rancher, before the ranch went belly up.

But Rand loved the place, and didn’t want to live anywhere else.

So, he eked out a modest but happy life here until his passing last year.