Christmas Short and Sweet, page 7
Cassie held on tightly. “I would. I mean, yes, I would marry you. I mean–”
Before she could clarify her jumbled thoughts, he caught her up in his arms spinning them both around. Mandy barked and barked.
Putting Cassie on her feet, he leaned over and pet the dog. “She said yes!”
Mandy looked at both of them her tail wagging.
He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it, holding it so she could see the lovely solitaire diamond on a plain gold band.
“I almost asked you at the restaurant,” he said, “But then I thought if you said no it’d be awkward to have to drive back here together.”
She laughed, touching the ring lightly. “I would never have done that.” She looked up at him. “I love you, Josh.”
He flushed and leaned over to brush his lips across hers. “I love you, Cassie. So much. I think I knew it about month five. Then hoped I wouldn’t get killed and that you wouldn’t find someone else before I could get here for the wedding.”
He took the ring and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly.
“How did you know my ring size?” she asked as she admired the ring in the sparkling lights from the tree.
“Suzanne told me,” he said, taking her hand in his and kissing her gently.
“It’ll be a major change,” he said a moment later. “Getting married. I hope you don't want a wedding as big as Scott's.”
She shook her head and smiled. “I'm much better suited to a small one with my friends. You'll want your family, of course.”
“We'll invite them, but don't be surprised if they don't come. They may already have plans.”
She looked startled. “They wouldn't want to be there for your wedding?”
“When did you want to get married?” he asked.
“I haven't had time to even think about it,” she said.
“I thought between Christmas and New Year's.”
“What?” She laughed. Then thought about it for a moment. “Why not? A small wedding can be put on in no time.”
“Then you can move with me to Washington. That'll be another big change. I won't be staying on base with a wife. We'll have to find a place—that will also take Mandy. Can you rent out your house or something? It'd be nice to keep if we decide to move back here.”
“I'm sure we'll find a way. And I always wanted to see Washington, D.C.”
“We'll explore it together. I can’t guarantee I’ll always have a state side assignment, but I’ll do my best.”
“Whatever the future holds we can face together,” she said, relishing the feel of his strong arms around her. The future would be a wonderful adventure with Josh.
“This will be my best Christmas ever,” he said, holding her gently.
“Mine, too, soldier. The best ever!” Her heart swelling in love and happiness, she reached up to give him a kiss. Who would have predicted watching a dog would end like this!
The Cowboy’s Special Christmas: Chapter One
Cole Martin parked his pickup truck and climbed out, scanning the sky. Snow was predicted. The wind that blew steadily from the west was biting cold. Dark clouds billowed in the distance. Experience told him he’d better hustle. He settled his cowboy hat more securely and headed into the Shop and Save.
The grocery store was practically empty. Most people had done their shopping for Thanksgiving long before now. For a while he’d planned to just make do. But since he was in town today anyway, he decided to check out the frozen dinners to see if there were any with turkey and gravy.
Ordinarily he’d be sitting down tomorrow to the feast his mom made every year. Or as he had last year, spend the day with Gloria and her family.
He shied away from that thought. They were never going to share Thanksgiving again, thanks to her betrayal.
Even the cowboys who worked on the Circle M Ranch had other plans this year.
He was alone–at Thanksgiving–one of the most family-oriented holidays there was.
He headed to the back of the store where the freezer section was. Scanning the boxes, he moved gradually down the aisle toward the only other person looking at frozen foods.
He noted she was staring at the boxes in front of her. Tall, slender and bundled up in a thick coat with a knit cap covering most of her blonde hair. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her. Was she a cousin of one of the ushers at church? Some friend of Gloria’s?
He stepped closer. She was staring at frozen dinners.
She glanced at him, then back at the display.
He stopped next to her.
She looked again. “Am I in your way?” she asked. Her voice was soft.
“No. I’m looking for something for tomorrow.” He kept his gaze on the array of dinners-- chicken pot pies; chicken dinners; beef stew; Chinese. Cole frowned. Shouldn’t there be turkey dinners with all the trimmings for folks like him?
She held out a slip of paper. “I have a two-for-one coupon. If we choose the same brand, we can share.”
He nodded, “Thanks. I’m hoping for turkey with gravy.”
She opened the door and reached in near the bottom and withdrew two dinners. “Like these?” she asked, showing him the picture of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes and what looked like apple crumble in a portion of the tray.
“I guess.” He wondered if he should explain that he normally didn’t eat frozen dinners for Thanksgiving, but then he thought he didn’t need to. She was in the same boat.
“It’s the largest they have. Though I’ll miss leftovers. I didn’t want to do all that cooking for one, but leftovers are my favorite part of Thanksgiving,” she said looking at the colorful cover.
“Turkey sandwiches piled high with meat and cranberry sauce,” he said. His mother always cooked the biggest turkey that would fit in the oven so they had plenty of leftovers.
She smiled at him. Her eyes sparkled. They were a silvery grey and caught Cole unaware. He could hardly look away.
“I’ve never had sandwiches with cranberry sauce, but it does sound good.”
“The best.” He reached out and took one of the frozen dinners, looking at the cover. The photograph made it look wonderful. He knew it would never compare to a home-cooked meal, but he wasn’t going to cook either.
“Did you need anything else?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“I’m picking up some sparkling cider to celebrate, then I’ll be ready to check out and we can share that coupon.”
“What are you celebrating?” he asked as they started up the aisle toward the front of the store.
“Thanksgiving, of course. And all the good things that have happened in the last year.”
“Oh. Yeah, that sounds right.” His mom always made a big deal of going around the table and having everyone tell some of their best memories of the previous year.
He wondered what he had to celebrate this year. He was alone at Thanksgiving. He and the woman he’d been half way in love with had split. He’d finished the house he lived in about a half mile from his folks’, but it was scarcely furnished. He’d lost interest when he and Gloria stopped seeing each other.
He was solely in charge of the ranch while his parents cruised down the Amazon. And the approaching storm promised to be a doozy, which meant making sure the cattle had feed and access to water.
She glanced at him again when she paused by the sparkling cider. “Shall we take advantage of this special as well?”
He looked. The cider was marked two for one.
Suddenly he decided he’d like some sparkling cider for dinner. To make it more festive.
“Sure.”
Four items on the belt at the checkout stand. She produced her coupon, and the checker rang up the total.
Cole brought out his wallet and handed the clerk a twenty-dollar bill just as she did the same. The checker looked confused.
“We’re splitting it down the middle,” Cole explained.
“Oh.” The young man frowned, but made change for both bills and handed the money to them. “Shall I bag them in one or two bags?” he asked.
“Two,” she said.
As they left the store together, Cole paused for a second. “I don’t even know your name and we’re practically sharing Thanksgiving dinner together.”
She smiled brightly and nodded. “Practically. I’m Jennifer Carleton. I’m sort of new in town. This is my first holiday here.”
“Cole Martin. From the Circle M ranch outside of town.”
“I know that ranch. I treated one of your horses when he was cut badly with barbed wire.”
“You’re the new vet in town? Dad told me he’d called you in when Smoky’s leg wouldn’t stop bleeding.”
“A few stitches and he was good as new,” she confirmed.
Cole nodded, wondering how such a pretty woman had decided to become a large animal vet. It seemed more the job for some robust cowboy used to wrestling with cattle and horses and other ranch stock.
“Well, good night. Happy Thanksgiving,” she said, turning to walk to a truck nearby.
“Wait,” Cole said.
She turned with an inquiring look on her face.
“We should eat Thanksgiving together. I mean, we bought the food together, why not? I don’t have any other plans and it looks as if you don’t either. You can come out to the ranch and we’ll heat the dinners, drink the cider and spend an afternoon watching the football games.”
“Your folks don’t have other plans?” she asked.
He held up his bag. “Do you think I’d be eating this if my mother was around? They’re on a cruise down the Amazon. I’m alone for the day.”
He glanced at the sky again. The storm front looked even closer. Maybe it was a bad idea. If it snowed as much as predicted, he’d have his work cut out for him tomorrow. And he shouldn’t ask her to drive out to the ranch in case the roads were bad. “Never mind, bad idea. If it does snow, sometimes the roads become treacherous.”
She nodded. “Okay, then, how about you come in to town if the roads are passable. My place is small, but you’d be welcome. Say around one o’clock?”
“Sounds like a plan. Unless the storm changes things. If it does, I’ll call you.”
She nodded and turned to continue to her truck.
Cole watched a moment, then feeling the icy cold wind, he hurried to his own pickup. For a moment he felt elated. He wouldn’t be alone for the holiday after all.
The Cowboy’s Special Christmas: Chapter Two
Jennifer drove to the small apartment building where she now lived. The apartment was on the ground floor and had a small patio off the dining area. The kitchen was galley style and suited her. She ate a lot of meals at the diner in town or on the fly as she drove to the outlying ranches and farms that needed her services.
She put away her frozen dinner and refrigerated the cider. Her invitation had been impulsive, but she didn’t regret it. Since she couldn’t be with family this holiday, she was glad she’d spend a portion of it with someone. She was lonely since moving to Wyoming. She had begun attending the local church and had met a few people. She knew some of the ranchers and their wives and knew in time she’d become part of the community. But she didn’t know anyone well enough to be invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
And returning home wasn’t an option. Not so soon, maybe in a year or two when she could forget the past and the future she’d once thought she’d enjoy.
Refusing to dwell on things she couldn’t change, she set about cleaning the apartment from top to bottom in anticipation of her first guest.
It didn’t take long. While she vacuumed she thought about Cole Martin. She’d met his father when she’d stitched up that horse. He’d been friendly and talked with her the entire time she was there. Cole resembled him a bit. Both were tall with dark hair. Cole’s blue eyes had to come from his mother, she suspected. His father’s eyes had been more hazel.
Wyoming was totally different from her home in Texas, but cowboys and ranchers and stock animals were pretty much the same. She loved working with the larger animals and knew she’d found the perfect spot when she had bought out the old veterinarian’s practice. Ben Hazlet had introduced her around before moving to Florida to fulfill a life-long dream to live by the sea.
The major difference was the weather. The area near San Antonio didn’t have the extremes she knew she could expect here–hot in summer, freezing cold in winter. And the wind was an aspect she’d never anticipated. It seemed to blow all the time.
Still, she was satisfied with her decision to move. It’d be best for all concerned as the years rolled on. Though it was hard this first Thanksgiving away from her family. At some point she’d have to spend a holiday with everyone, but not yet. Not this soon.
Cole woke at four in the morning, rolling out of bed and feeling the cold floor beneath his feet. He dressed quickly. He wanted to see any damage caused by the storm and make sure the animals had access to food and water. And with any luck, he’d be able to get to town by one.
It was pitch black outside as he stood by his sink sipping hot coffee, a bagel with cream cheese in one hand. As far as he could tell from staring into the darkness, the snow had stopped.
Stepping outside only moments later, he was hit full force by the wind. It felt like it came straight from Alaska.
On the other hand, it had kept the snow from piling up. There was barely four inches crunching underfoot as he headed for the barn. He’d feed the horses and make sure they were set for the day. He wouldn’t stay late in town and have to repeat the chore again later. There wasn’t much to do to feed them and the task was quickly finished.
When dawn began to lighten the eastern sky, he saddled up and headed for the creek that traversed the pasture where they’d driven the majority of the herd last week. There was plenty of grazing for the animals if they could forage beneath the snow. And the creek rarely froze. He had to make sure it hadn’t today. Then he’d check the outlying regions for the cattle that hadn’t been moved.
It was late morning when he returned to the house. A quick shower, shave, and clean change of clothes and he was ready to go.
As he drove into town, he couldn’t help thinking of last Thanksgiving. How much things had changed in only one year. Who knew what the future would hold. He hoped his folks didn’t plan on a Thanksgiving trip each year. It sucked to be alone. Not that he resented their trip. It had been a long-held dream for both of them, and he was glad they were able to go this year.
Jennifer wished she had a fireplace in her apartment. She loved her parents’ place with the large fireplace in the family room that always had a roaring fire whenever the weather was cold enough. And often they’d have a cold snap around Thanksgiving so everyone watched TV warmly ensconced together celebrating the holiday.
Where they’d all be today except for her.
Trying to ignore the sadness that swept through, she tried to keep busy until her guest arrived. She hoped there’d be no emergencies requiring her services today. If there were, of course she’d respond, despite the weather and her expected guest. He’d understand, she knew. He was a rancher and they all seemed to put their animals ahead of themselves.
She wished now she’d picked up a frozen pumpkin pie for later. The invitation had been spontaneous after they left the store and she never thought of pie until she was home. Oh well, they both had the same meal, it would have to do.
As one o’clock approached she felt vaguely nervous. What if he didn’t show up? She looked out the window for the hundredth time. The snow wasn’t deep. The wind saw to that. So driving might be okay. Would the ranch have fared well so he wasn’t needed to feed cattle or break ice in watering troughs?
The phone rang. Jennifer’s heart sank. He was calling to say he couldn’t come. She went to the phone on her small desk. It was the extension to her office line. She hadn’t given Cole her cell number so if he needed to reach her it would be the office line.
Unless it was someone in need.
“Dr. Carleton,” she answered.
“Oh, honey, that sounds so formal. Happy Thanksgiving,” her mother said.
“Hi mom. Why are you calling this line? It’s my work phone.”
“Your cell went right to voice mail. Did the battery die or were you on the phone with someone else?”
Jennifer thought about it for a second. “It needs to be charged, I bet. I’m glad you called. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“It’s not the same without you here, honey,” her mother said softly.
Jennifer didn’t respond. Things were as they were.
“Anyway, do you have plans for today?” her mother asked brightly.
“I do. I have a guest coming over so we can eat dinner together.” No reason telling her mother they were eating frozen dinners. She’d be horrified.
“Oh, what fun. I was worried you’d end up spending the day by yourself. Who is she? Did you two meet at church?”
“She who?” Jennifer asked.
“Your guest.”
“It’s a he, Mom. Cole Martin. He’s a rancher. I stitched up one of his horses a couple of weeks ago.”
Jennifer could hear the commotion in the background. She was one of five sisters–two of whom were married with children. She smiled when she heard the baby cry. Blinking back tears, she knew the next time she saw little Jason he’d have grown so much she might not recognize him.
“Well, that’s interesting,” her mother said at last.
“No big deal. He’s alone today and I am too, so we decided to share dinner. Maybe watch a football game. We hardly know each other. I mean, we just met and all. But he’s the son of a rancher I do know and he’s nice, too, so I expect like father like son.” She closed her mouth abruptly. She was babbling. A tendency when she was nervous. Which she was not.
Not about Cole. They’d truly just met. This wasn’t a date or anything.
“Well, you’ll have to let me know how the day goes. Here’s Susannah to say hi. Then your dad’s next in line.”
