A Rancher for Christmas

He pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and a pen, quickly writing something on the back before handing it to her. “That’s the information for the alarm system. And you can call if you have any problems. I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.”

She took the card, glanced at it then slipped it into her purse. “I’ll make lunch.”

He gave her a look but then he nodded. “You can do that.”

Breezy walked down the stone steps to her car, her mind reeling. As she backed out of the drive Jake Martin still stood on the porch. He raised a hand as she pulled away and she returned the gesture.

It was the beginning of a truce. Truce, but not trust. Jake Martin wasn’t the type of man who would give trust easily. She understood because she was the same way.

* * *

Jake walked back inside. He found Marty waiting for him.

“Are the girls down for a nap?” he asked on his way to the kitchen, knowing Marty would follow.

“Yes. They were asking again.” She shook her head, and he knew that meant the girls wanted their mommy and daddy. “They’re a little lost, of course.”

Jake tossed his hat on the counter as he went for a glass of iced tea. “Aren’t we all?”

“Yes, but I worry about you, Jake, about you taking on one more burden.”

He shook his head at that. “The twins are family, not a burden.”

“You’ve raised a family. You’ve been taking care of people your whole life.”

Of course, he’d raised a family. His brothers and sisters had been counting on him for as long as he could remember. He’d made sure they were fed. He’d been the one to hire Marty years ago when his dad was sick and not really paying attention. He’d made sure the ranch kept making a profit.

Now he’d make sure Rosie and Violet were loved and protected.

Marty handed him a cup of coffee and then patted his arm the way she’d been doing for a long time, since she and her husband first came to town. Long before she was the cook and housekeeper, she’d figured out what life was like at the Circle M for a bunch of ragtag kids trying to make do with a mom that had left and a dad who had checked out.

“Brody called,” she said as she moved back to the counter and a bag of carrots that suddenly held her interest.

“And?” His younger brother had a knack for finding trouble.

“He and Lincoln had a fight. He’s coming home.”

Brody and his roommate and traveling partner were always one argument away from killing each other so Jake wasn’t surprised. He shrugged and took a drink from his cup. Marty started peeling carrots again.

“Well, I guess he’ll figure it out. The bull-riding season is almost over. He’s probably tired of being on the road.”

“He does get homesick, even if he doesn’t admit it.”

He set the glass in the sink and leaned a hip against the edge of the counter, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited for Marty to tell him what he needed to do. She was good at giving him advice. And, even if he wouldn’t admit it, she was usually right.

“Don’t lecture him,” she finally said. “I heard something in his voice.”

“I’ll go easy on him. He’s a grown man. It’s time he made his own decisions, anyway.”

Marty put a hand on his arm. “Is it really possible for you to do that?”

He grinned at her fairly unsympathetic tone. “No, probably not. What’s for dinner?”

“I’m making beef stew.”

“Okay.” He waited, watching. He could see the furrow in her brow and knew she had more on her mind than the stew.

“It’s okay for you to let this young woman help. I know you have reservations...”

“Because we don’t know her at all,” he reminded.

Marty shot him a look that he couldn’t fail to understand. He was being too “Jake” for her liking. He did like to take control. He liked to know his family was taken care of and safe. Old habits were hard to let go of.

“You’ve raised your siblings. Now you’re looking at raising two little girls. And I’m sorry, but they need more than you, Jake. I think Lawton was right. These girls need Breezy. I might not know her well, but I think I’m a good judge of character and she seems like someone you can trust.”

“It’s possible she won’t stay.”

Marty stopped dicing up an onion. “Because of her childhood? All I see is a young woman that was a victim of her situation.”

He grinned and kissed the top of Marty’s head. “I love you, Marty.”

She sniffled and wiped at tears trickling down her cheeks. “Silly onions.”

“Onions never make you cry.”

“Oh, hush. Go to town.”

As Marty cried, he placed a hand on her shoulder. She covered that hand with her own.

“I’m okay.”

“Of course you are.”

She was always okay. He’d known Marty most of his life. She and her husband had moved to Martin’s Crossing to pastor the Community Church at the edge of town. That had been close to twenty-five years ago. After Earl passed away, Marty had stayed on. She’d been the cook and housekeeper for the Martins. Then she’d gone to work for Lawton and Elizabeth after the girls were born.

“I need potatoes,” Marty said on a sigh.

“I’ll get a bag in town.”

“I should have planned better.”

He shrugged it off. “I’m sure there are other things we need. I’ve got a calf to check on, then I’ll come back in for a list.”

As he reached for his hat, she stopped him. “Give her a chance. I don’t think she’s had a lot of them.”

“That’s the Marty I know and love. You always see the good in people.”

“This is the Marty who knows that God doesn’t need us to judge for Him. That doesn’t mean she gets a free pass. Our baby girls come first.”