Her Mistletoe Cowboy (12 page)

By now Kendall was smiling too.

Rhett spoke again. “You do know I didn’t dent your truck on purpose. Someone ran into the back of me.”

Peta clicked her fingers. “Keys. Cowboy.”

Kendall giggled. “I’ll drive.”

“No,” Rhett and Peta said in unison.

Rhett handed the keys to Peta who, with a twinkle in her eyes, slipped them into her coat pocket and then patted them.

Stewart looked at Ivy, a ghost of a smile playing across his mouth.

“There’s a reason Kendall drives a small sedan. The last time Kendall drove a truck she knocked over three fence posts.”

“In my defense,” Kendall said, “I was trying to avoid hitting a deer.”

Rhett chuckled. “And the time you backed Peta’s truck into the barn door?”

“It’s not my fault your truck doesn’t have a reversing camera,” Kendall said to Peta.

Peta settled her hat on her head as a wind gust caught beneath the wide brim. “It does now.”

“Girls, let’s go,” Stewart said, pulling the collar of his jacket higher. “I’m colder than a duck that forgot to fly south for winter.”

They all said their goodbyes and soon Ivy and Rhett were alone on the sidewalk. With the snow swirling around them, despite the nearby noise and lights, it was as though they were cocooned in their own world.

Rhett smiled and dusted the snowflakes off her beanie.

“You already have the obligatory dusting of Marietta snow so now you need a button and you are good to go for the Christmas Stroll.”

He delved into his coat pocket and produced a round button. He pulled off his gloves, stored them in his coat pocket and moved toward her. She made no comment about being able to pin the button on her jacket herself. Her hands were warm and toasty in their gloves and Rhett was far more used to the Montana chill.

He brushed the long curls that covered her right jacket lapel over her shoulder. It was only her imagination but his fingers seemed to linger on her hair. She stood still while he bent to pin the button on her jacket. As she breathed in the woody scent of his aftershave she realized she’d made the wrong decision. Frozen fingers were a far better option than having Rhett so close she could see the laugh lines fan from his eyes and the long length of his lashes.

“There you go. You’re all set.” His hands lowered to his side but he didn’t step away.

Chest tight, she gazed into his face. His words were light but his eyes were dark. The snow falling around them thinned and the lights and sounds of the Stroll returned, bringing with them reality.

“Thanks,” she managed, her voice sounding husky even to her own ears.

He nodded and dug his gloves out from his coat pocket. The cold must have rendered his fingers clumsy because he took a long time to pull on his right glove.

*

“Where would you
like to start?”

Rhett prayed his words emerged coherent and calm and didn’t reflect his struggle to keep his hands off the woman in front of him.

“Maybe we could walk up Main Street and come back via the other side to look at the lights and decorations here in Community Park?”

“That makes sense.”

He jammed his left glove on and willed his testosterone to settle. Ivy needed a friend not a cowboy with one thing on his mind. Even if she stared at him, her hazel eyes luminous and her pink lips parted, he couldn’t repeat their mistletoe kiss. Ivy might think cowboys weren’t scared of anything but she was wrong. The stronger his feelings grew for her the more fear settled deep into the pit of his stomach that the bond between them could be a substitute for what she’d lost with James. Time is what she needed to heal and time would provide an opportunity for perhaps something real to develop between them. So instead of obsessing about kissing her, he needed to find a way to make her stay longer than just for Christmas.

He hesitated then offered her his arm. Kissing her might be off the table but a companionable amble down a very busy and public Main Street would be fine.

She tucked her hand around the crook of his arm.

“Christmas Stroll here we come.”

His jaw clenched. There was no reason why such a simple action of her taking his arm should make his heart pound like a little drummer boy’s drum in his chest.

They retraced Ivy’s steps past her parked car and as they turned onto Main Street, she stopped, her eyes round.

“I can’t believe how beautiful the town is. Look at those lights draped above the street like pitched circus canopies. Even the lampposts have garlands and red bows. I’m in decoration heaven.” She firmed her grip on his arm and led him forward. “Come on, let’s go and take a closer look.”

He slowed their pace with a grin. “What’s the rush? We have all evening. If we go too fast we’ll miss something.”

He ignored his inner voice that said prolonging the time he spent with Ivy had nothing to do with making the most of the Stroll activities. And as they entered the throng of revelers, he wished it wasn’t only their pace he could control. If he could have slowed time, he would have.

The delight on Ivy’s face and the way she’d squeeze his arm and lean in close made him wish Main Street didn’t end at the courthouse. When he was with Ivy grief didn’t bite so hard and the world seemed a brighter, more hopeful, place.

Ivy turned to watch a dog wearing a pink coat walk past on a lead.

“I could have brought Miss Milly.”

He chuckled. “Thankfully she’s with Rusty in your kitchen. I don’t think Marietta is ready for Miss Milly yet. There wouldn’t be a single decoration left when she was done playing.”

“True. I’m still hopeful of putting up a tree. It is only early December. She might calm down a little.”

“I think you may be right to have a tree … by next Christmas.”

Ivy laughed and Rhett guided her around the group of children huddled around an iron fire pit toasting marshmallow on long skewers. Sparks from the flames shot into the now inky sky.

To their left a Santa-hat-wearing trumpet player played the opening notes of ‘Away in a Manger’. The clear notes added their strong sound to the mix of carols, guitars and drumming that drifted from further along Main Street.

A high school student, dressed in a green Christmas tree costume complete with flashing lights, stopped to offer them some candy. When Ivy took a single piece, the girl insisted they take a handful. Pockets full, they continued to stroll. When they neared Marietta Western Wear, Rhett changed course and led Ivy into the warm store.

As the door closed behind them, he removed his gloves and answered the unspoken question in her eyes.

“I always do my Christmas shopping the night of the Stroll. Chocoholic Kendall is easy to buy for. On our way back we’ll call into Copper Mountain Chocolates, but Peta is a different story.”

Ivy slipped her hand from his arm. A sense of loss held him still as she moved away to touch a display of men’s western shirts.

“What about your father?”

Rhett pushed his beanie out of his eyes. “Kendall’s organizing his gift.” He paused as memories flooded him. “Mom always did a combined family present.”

“I’m sure whatever Kendall will choose will be perfect. From how you have described your mother, Kendall seems a lot like her.”

“She is. Peta is also like Mom but she’s more …”

“Practical.” Ivy suggested.

“Yes. And would rather be out on the ranch than anywhere else.”

“So I guess she already has enough cowboy boots?”

Ivy picked up a red boot and ran her finger over the intricate stitching. “I came close to buying these the other day. My sister and I used to have a similar pair when we were little.”

“You should buy them. It is Christmas and they’d match your candy cane socks and red coat.”

“They would. But Trinity promised to take me shopping and when it comes to shoes she is the shoe-queen. So they still might come home with me to Rose Crown.” She carefully placed the boot on the shelf. “But not tonight. Let’s find a gift for Peta.”

After suggestions from Ivy and the helpful sales associate, Rhett settled on a pair of butter-soft leather riding gloves. Their last ride together out on the range, Peta had ripped her regular riding gloves freeing a calf from wire.

When they exited the heated store, Rhett didn’t realize he’d held his breath until Ivy’s hand curled around his jacket sleeve. He relaxed. It shouldn’t matter as much as it did that Ivy felt comfortable taking his arm and sharing the same space.

“How’s your feet?” he asked, looking at her black snow boots.

“Good. Why?”

“Fancy getting off them and having a hay wagon ride?”

“Yes. Please.”

He surveyed the street ahead. The sidewalks and road were now congested with pedestrians. The more people there were the closer Ivy would have to walk next to him. But he suddenly craved peace and quiet and the simplicity of only the stars above him and Ivy beside him.

They passed Grey’s Saloon and he guided Ivy around the corner. The less busy route past Roccos Italian Restaurant would take them to Crawford Park and the wagon ride.

As they strolled along First Street, he caught sight of a group of familiar faces. Payton strolled along with old Henry Watson, Cordell and his twin brother, Ethan. Rhett waved and the group crossed the road to meet them.

Ivy’s hand slipped from his arm but she remained close to his side. Rhett introduced Ivy to Cordell and Ethan and as he did so he caught a glint of approval in Henry’s shrewd gaze. Henry’s respect both warmed and reminded him he hadn’t always made good choices.

Henry smiled at Payton. “Do you know Ivy’s last name?”

The cowgirl shook her head and the pom pom on her red and white beanie bounced. Since going out with the broad-shouldered cowboy beside her, Payton had found a better work-life balance and the fun-loving friend he’d met in first grade had returned.

“No. What is it? Please tell me it’s not Watson? You’ve already surprised me enough for a lifetime.”

Henry chuckled. “No, Payton. I haven’t suddenly found myself a daughter. Ivy’s last name is … Bishop. Her great-grandmother was Maude Bishop.”

Payton’s eyes widened as she looked at Ivy. “No way.”

Ivy laughed as Payton then hugged her.

“I know why I liked you as soon as I saw you,” Payton said. “Your great-grandmother was one of the women who started the tradition in our part of Paradise Valley of naming ranches after local wildflowers. My ranch is Beargrass Hills, Henry’s is Larkspur Ridge and Rhett’s family’s is Bluebell Falls.”

“And mine is Rose Crown. There must also be a Hollyhock Creek Ranch as Rhett mentioned that name the other day.”

“That’s right, plus there’s also Fire Weed Ranch.” Rhett thought of his high school friend’s rundown ranch. “Not that it is much of a ranch these days with Brent still in Australia.”

As Payton, Henry and Ivy chatted about the ranch names, Rhett turned to Cordell and Ethan. While the brothers weren’t identical twins they were still very similar with their dark hair, blue eyes and firm jaws. Despite Payton having tamed her restless cowboy, Cordell still retained an edge that let people know not to mess with him. Ethan was just as strong, but in a quieter and more measured way.

“So how are those fences coming along?” Ethan asked with a grin. “I’ve got some fine looking cattle that’ll be ready for a new home come spring.”

“The fences will be done. I’ve a bull from Brock Sheenan coming too so don’t want any trouble like Payton had with that rogue bull of hers going where he wasn’t wanted.”

“Tell me about it. That bull was called Trouble for a reason,” Cordell said, his voice deep. “If spring comes early and you need a hand finishing the fences, let me know.”

“Thanks. Will do.”

There had been a time when Cordell and Rhett hadn’t been friends. But any rivalry and clash over Payton was now all in the past.

Payton moved to Cordell and slid her arm around his waist. “We’d better keep moving, honey, if we’re to meet Eliza and Seth at Grey’s Saloon.”

Everyone made their goodbyes and when it was just Rhett and Ivy on the sidewalk, she again took his arm. They passed St. James Church and paused to admire the large outdoor nativity scene.

To their left, a woman’s husky laughter sounded. In the shadows, Levi and Selah stood close together, their arms wrapped around each other. The light from the nativity scene was just enough for Rhett to catch the love on the red-haired cowboy’s face as he gazed at his fiancée.

Rhett’s mouth dried. The look on his face would be no different when he stared at the woman beside him. He briefly closed his eyes.

He could no longer ignore or deny the emotion that had been building since the day Ivy had walked into his cabin and into his life. Her laughter and her compassion filled the empty hollows of his loneliness. Her beauty and her sweetness decorated his darkened world with color and light.

Pain slashed deep. Being Ivy’s rebound guy was the least of his worries. Even if he found a way to grant them more time to allow something real to grow between them, what then? The woman Levi loved was a local girl who’d returned from Seattle to stay. The woman Rhett … loved … was a city girl whose corporate career would take her far away from him and small town Marietta.