Darn Good Cowboy Christmas (32 page)

Christmas Eve wasn't exceptionally cold but it was nippy. The O'Donnell family had decided to have their dinner and present exchange that day, and then on Christmas Austin and Rye could take Rachel to Tulsa to spend the day with the other side of the family; Liz and Raylen and Blaze and Colleen could all go to Claude.

“Got to be accommodatin' to the other folks,” Cash had said.

Liz awoke in a state of excitement. She'd already wrapped ten presents for Raylen and hid them in a spare bedroom. In the living room, piled up on the sofa and waiting for Raylen to arrive, she had at least one present for everyone in the O'Donnell family and one for Blaze who would be there also.

There was a pretty shawl for Colleen, a sweater for Gemma, several baby toys for Rachel, who had stolen her heart. A lovely crystal bowl for Maddie, and a Christmas CD for Cash, and a big box of Dewar's favorite Christmas chocolate covered cherries from a special candy factory in Wichita Falls. She'd chosen a silver picture frame for Austin and Rye with a gift certificate to a fancy photography shop to have a family portrait done. Today Raylen got a silver belt buckle with the ranch brand engraved in the middle in gold, and Blaze got the biggest bottle of his favorite shaving lotion that she could find.

Raylen was running a little late that morning. A mare was down in the horse barn trying to deliver a foal too early and he'd called the vet in for an opinion. Medicine had been given, but the vet didn't think it would save the foal brought on by one of Danny Boy's escapes.

“Merry Christmas Eve,” he said with a sweet kiss. “You ready?”

“Once we get all these presents out to the truck.”

“That's a lot of presents,” he said.

“Buying them was so much fun. I love shopping and I got to buy so many this year. Usually it's one for Momma, one for Aunt Tressa, for Poppa, and for Blaze. I love Ringgold,” she said.

“Did you buy something for everyone in town?” he asked as she stacked presents in his arms.

“I would have if they were coming to Christmas at your folks.” She giggled.

Colleen met them at the door and helped Liz unload the presents from Raylen's arms and arrange them under the tree.

“So how are things between you and Raylen?” she whispered.

“First, tell me about you and Blaze,” Liz said.

“I'm in love.”

“Me too,” Liz said.

Dinner was loud and noisy just like all affairs at the ranch. Presents afterwards left the room covered in paper and ribbons and more noise and laughter. Liz opened her presents slowly, savoring every single moment and enjoying watching others open what she'd shopped for.

Gemma gave her a lovely horseshoe pendant dangling from a chunky bead chain. Colleen's present was a snow globe with an angel inside and a note that said she'd still be glad to buy Liz's wings. Austin and Rye gave her two bottles of Austin's watermelon wine in a crystal wine bucket. Dewar's gift was a set of horse head bookends and a gift certificate to the nearest bookstore. Maddie and Cash gave her a quilt rack to sit in the corner of her living room, and Granny and Grandpa's present was a hand quilted throw to put on it.

She loved all of the presents and the thought that went into them, but they would never know how much fun she'd had agonizing over what she gave them that year. To have friends so close that she knew what they would like was the biggest gift of all.

Raylen looked strange when he opened her gift, as if he didn't like it or she'd intruded on some kind of private ground by commissioning a silversmith in Amarillo to make the buckle. He kissed her on the cheek and thanked her, but something wasn't right.

Before she could ask him what was wrong, Maddie dug her phone from her hip pocket and answered it. “Oh, no!” she said.

“What?” Raylen asked.

“It's that mare we've been watching. She's delivering early. I knew she was too old to breed. Damn that horny Danny Boy,” she fussed.

“You stay here. Liz and I will take care of her,” Raylen said. “Everyone doesn't need to go.”

“Get rid of those shoes and use my boots, and, darlin', you'd better shuck out of that fancy dress and put on my coveralls too. They're hangin' on a hook by the clothes dryer,” Maddie told Liz.

Liz was a little disappointed that she couldn't finish the day in the glow of the family in full Christmas spirit, but she nodded in agreement. She hurried into the utility room and changed into the coveralls, kicked her high heels off, and donned a pair of worn cowboy boots. They were half a size too big but they beat ruining her expensive high heels.

The mare was down in one of the stalls with a hired hand standing over her when they reached the stables.

“I'm on stall duty every two hours. When I left last time she was fine,” he said.

“The vet checked her early, Carl. We both thought we had it under control. It's not your fault. Go on home to your family. We're here and we'll take care of her.” Raylen knelt beside the black horse. “And Merry Christmas, Carl.”

“Same to you and Miz Liz.” Carl headed out of the barn.

“Come on, girl,” he said softly.

Liz dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the mare's neck. “We won't ever let Danny Boy close to you again if you'll have this foal and not die.”

“How do you plan to keep that promise?” Raylen asked. His tone was edgy but he'd felt terrible when he didn't have a present for her. Now she'd think he was a total jerk and in front of his whole family. Even Blaze had thought to bring something for Colleen which made matters even worse. But he'd been so wrapped up in his present for the next day he'd forgotten about the gift exchange among the family that day. He gave gift cards every year to everyone. To fancy restaurants for Rye and Austin, to Toys“R”Us for Rachel, to a spa for each of his sisters, and a cruise for his parents. Dewar got one to a George Strait concert and…

“Shit!” he said. He hadn't gotten Blaze a damn thing either. Now Colleen would be mad at him too.

“What is the matter with you? Didn't you like my present?” Liz snapped.

“Hell, yes. It's beautiful and I love it. But I didn't have a thing for you or Blaze. Dammit!”

Liz walked across the stall on her knees and wrapped her arms around Raylen. “Tell me you love me.”

“You know I do.”

“Tell me.”

“I love you.”

“That's the best Christmas present in the world. Now let's take care of this horse. She's just about ready. Look at those little hooves coming out.”

“It's premature, so it's probably not going to make it.”

“Oh, yes it will. Little or not, it's not going to die. That momma horse has worked too hard not to have her baby, and it will live,” Liz declared as the next contraction pushed more of the foal out into the world.

It was black except for one white ear and a white splotch on the forehead that faintly resembled a star. When it was fully out Raylen was everywhere at once, wiping its nose, shaking it gently to make it suck in air, and cussing under his breath the whole time.

Liz stayed out of his way until the newborn finally heaved and started breathing, then she helped wipe it down with warm towels. “What now?”

“We baby-sit for a while. See if it can stand on its own and hope his momma survives,” he said.

“Do we call the vet?”

“No, nothing he can do that we can't now,” Raylen said.

“Where'd that blaze come from? His momma and daddy are both solid black.”

“He's thrown one other one with a blaze. He's won two major races and is almost as famous as Danny Boy,” Raylen said.

At midnight, the mare was standing on her own and everything looked fine. The tiny little horse had fed even though it had to stretch its neck to the full extent to reach his mother's teats.

“I'm going to get a shower and grab a few hours sleep,” Raylen said.

“Me too. Santa Claus is coming at five in the morning, right?”

Raylen grinned. “Leave milk and cookies.”

***

Liz woke up Christmas morning to the aroma of coffee wafting down the hallway. Without opening her eyes she patted Raylen's side of the bed, only to find a pillow and cold sheets. Then she remembered that he was going to his house after the foal had been born. He'd promised to be at her house at five o'clock because Santa was coming that morning. She jumped out of bed, pulled the curtains back, and gave a sigh of relief. The weatherman had said there was a slim possibility of freezing rain, but the sun was peeking up over the eastern horizon. After presents, she and Raylen should have dry roads all the way to Claude where they were having Christmas with her family.

Raylen slipped his arms around her from behind, clasping them under her breasts and pulling her back to his chest. “Merry Christmas, darlin'.”

“Merry Christmas to you.” She wiggled in closer and sniffed the air. “Do I smell cinnamon rolls? Does that mean the gig is up? Did you find the milk and cookies on the bar, Santa?”

“I found my milk and cookies. Blister talked me out of the milk and Hooter begged for the cookie so that was their Christmas present. The cinnamon rolls are
not
canned. Wilma had them in the refrigerator with a note on top that said to heat for ten minutes on Christmas morning.”

“Guess that rules out a quickie,” she teased.

“They've been in the oven seven minutes. Three minutes is even too fast for me unless you want to dance for me this morning. It
is
Christmas,” he said.

He nuzzled into her neck, nibbling gently at the sweetness offered there before he clasped her hand in his and led her to the kitchen. Coffee, juice, and two forks were already on the table. He brought the cinnamon rolls from the oven and put them on a hot pad in the middle of the table.

Excitement and a tiny edge of fear mixed together to curb his appetite. This was the day, and he hoped he had planned it well enough.

Excitement reigned in her heart. She'd gotten what she wanted for Christmas. A house that wasn't on wheels and not just any old cowboy picked up under a tumbleweed or behind a mesquite tree, but Raylen O'Donnell. Miracles did happen. She had living proof.

She nibbled at the cinnamon rolls but was too nervous to eat more than a few bites. She'd put out all ten of his presents before she went to bed the night before, had awakened at two o'clock and checked to make sure they were arranged just right and to see if he'd snuck one in for her. At four she woke up again and padded up to the Christmas tree to rearrange them one more time. Still nothing from Raylen.

“All finished?” she asked.

He pushed back the coffee cup. Butterflies the size of half-grown buzzards flittered about in his stomach. It was time.

“Wait right here,” he said.

He disappeared down the hallway and into the spare bedroom where she'd kept all her presents until the night before. When he returned he was carrying something wrapped in an old quilt.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Your Christmas present,” he whispered.

He laid it in her lap, and a little white head and two black hooves shot out from under the quilt. The foal made a noise that reminded her of a baby and looked up at her with big, round black eyes.

“Oh!” Other than one word she was totally speechless.

“His momma died about an hour ago. He's going to need lots of care to make it. So Merry Christmas, Liz. If he lives, it'll be because you made a miracle.”

Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

“The first of my own herd. And he's staying in the bedroom until he's big enough to go outside in the yard. Did you put some hay in there for him to sleep on?”

Raylen grinned. “Yes, and the quilt which will have to be washed every day. And formula in the refrigerator which will have to be warmed so he can eat every four hours. Momma says she'll take care of him today and tomorrow morning, but we're on our own after that.”

“Do I get to name him?”

“He's your baby,” Raylen said.

“His name is Glorious Christmas Star because of the star on his forehead, and because all winners have to have three names. I'm calling him Star.”

Raylen cocked his head to one side. “Sounds fine to me, but are you sure that's a star? It looks more like a lightning streak to me.”

“It's a star that got smeared a little, but it's still a star.” Her tone left no room for argument.

“You are going to be a fine racer, aren't you, Star, and we're going to win the same prize that Danny Boy did. Your momma didn't die for nothing, darlin'.” She crooned to the foal and used her nose to pet the white splotch on his forehead.

Raylen kissed her on the top of her head and smiled.

She looked up and meant to kiss him on the lips but missed and got the side of his mouth. “Now it's your turn. I'm going to sit right here and hold Star while you open your presents. The big, round one first with the red paper and gold bow.”

Raylen's eyes widened. “All of these for me?”

He didn't have a single present under the tree for her. He should have bought a hundred presents for her to unwrap in addition to the unwrapped ones out in the yard.

He ripped into a box with a brand new Stetson.

She hugged Star and said, “I promise not to stomp it or throw it on the ground.”

The next present was a bottle of Stetson.

“That scent turns me on,” she said with a smile.

He could hardly wait to give her the rest of his Christmas present. Anxiety, hoping that she would like it, made him open faster so he could take her to the backyard and show her how much he loved her.

Liz was suddenly worried that she'd overdone it. He had only given her the horse because the momma died, and he'd think she was smothering him. Dammit!