A Cowboy's Christmas Proposal

Was eight forty-five an ungodly hour? Apparently for Nora it was.

“I assume this is Homer’s great-nephew.” Removing her coat, she gave Owen careful consideration. “He didn’t mention you were easy on the eyes.”

Owen grinned. “He didn’t mention you were, either.”

Her dour countenance magically transformed into a delighted grin. “And charming to boot. I do believe this next month is going to be quite enjoyable.”

“For me, too.”

She twittered. Owen didn’t think he’d heard a woman twitter since he first met his former mother-in-law.

“Are you a witch?” Cody glowered at her. “I don’t like witches.”

Owen was tempted to cover his son’s mouth before the boy embarrassed him further. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries. Your children are adorable. Emily asked me to watch them while you’re busy marrying folks. Got a half-dozen of my own grandkids, so I’m plenty experienced.”

Owen thought her assessment of his kids was much too kind. “I’d be very grateful and will compensate you.”

“Emily’s paying my salary. Said childcare was part of her arrangement with you.”

It was, but Owen didn’t want to take advantage.

“Did Grandma tell you she was eloping?” Molly asked Nora.

“I’m her best friend. She called me last night.”

Molly scowled. “She left us a note.”

“Don’t go getting bent out of shape. She didn’t tell you because you’d have tried to talk her out of it.”

“I absolutely would have.”

“See?” Nora moved her suitcase-sized purse to her other arm. I’m also supposed to take over guest relations for you.”

“What?” Molly drew back. “No!”

Nora shrugged. “Suit yourself. But it’s either that or wedding coordinator, and I’m thinking you’ll be a whole lot better at coordinating weddings than me, considering you have experience planning two of your own.”

Molly ignored the comment and faced Owen. “I’ll fetch the cabin key and meet you there. Number six. Drive around back. Farthest one on the left.” With that, she left.

Owen watched her retreating back. Molly had been married twice?

“Touched a nerve, apparently,” Nora said, erupting in laughter.

CHAPTER TWO (#u4ba41d38-ea7f-5a4c-8454-326533601e69)

MOLLY WALKED TO the cabins, ruthlessly zipping her jacket against the late-November chill. She shouldn’t care what Owen thought of her. She hardly knew the man. They’d met mere minutes ago. So what if he was good-looking. He had three children and was probably married.

Then again, would a husband leave his wife for a month and take the kids? She doubted it, and he wasn’t the type. Owen Caufield had responsible written all over him.

Rather than continue fuming, she directed her anger where it belonged. At Nora for blabbing what was Molly’s personal business to a complete stranger, and at her grandmother for leaving her and Bridget in this predicament. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, no less.

True, Molly would have tried to talk Grandma Em out of eloping, but that was no reason to hide her plans. As her trusted employees who were expected to cover for her, and as her granddaughters, Molly and Bridget should have been told. Had deserved to be told.

Despite what Owen said, his great-uncle must have convinced Grandma Em to elope. There was no other reasonable explanation. According to him, Grandma Em and Homer were trying to be fair. Really? There was nothing fair about excluding everyone from the wedding.

Twice Molly had come very close to walking down the aisle. Both times she couldn’t have imagined the day without her parents, sister, extended family and friends there to share in the celebration. Not having loved ones present seemed almost...a sacrilege. It was certainly selfish, inconsiderate and hurtful to those not invited.

Love makes people do crazy things.

Bridget’s words echoed in Molly’s ears as she cut through the courtyard, bypassed the gated swimming pool and clubhouse, and skirted the storage room that contained bikes, hiking equipment, lawn games and a washer and dryer for the guests’ use. She emerged on the other side at the same moment a silver pickup truck, Owen’s she presumed, proceeded slowly along the dirt lane circling the back of the ranch house.

Ahead of Molly were six cabins, spaced approximately twenty yards apart. Constructed of pine to resemble the main house built in the 1880s, the cabins were new and blissfully without quirks. Rule number one in the hospitality industry: guests didn’t like being disturbed by clanging pipes, the periodic flickering light and a furnace that grumbled like an old man.

The stables and carriage house were a short distance away. Also part of the original homestead, the twin structures had been refurbished by the same contractor who’d built the cabins. Two draft horses resided in the stables, their job to pull the wedding carriage on romantic rides through town—Sweetheart Ranch’s signature amenity for the happy couple. In addition to the carriage, the ranch also had an old farm wagon used for hayrides.

Big Jim, a semiretired wrangler from one of the many cattle ranches in the area, worked part-time for the O’Malleys. He saw to the horses’ care and drove the team. He was in the stables now, cleaning stalls in preparation for the open house, which would include tours of the cabins and the horse facilities.

Grandma Em had insisted on everything being spic-and-span. Except she wasn’t here to see it.

Molly fought against the rush of tears threatening to fall. She wasn’t about to let Owen Caufield see her cry. She was on the verge of enjoying her first successful job of a thus-far lackluster hotel administration career. Without her grandmother’s guidance and support, history might well repeat itself.

Could this be a test? Was Grandma Em attempting to determine if Molly had the necessary skills to assist managing Sweetheart Ranch and potentially take over one day? For all Molly knew, her grandmother could return tomorrow morning after the open house had bombed and tell Molly her previous employers had been right to let her go.

Failures. Her life was full of them. Failed relationships. Failed engagements. Failed jobs.

“Not this time,” Molly promised herself and headed toward cabin number six.

Owen had already parked in front of the cabin when she arrived. His son immediately jumped out of the back passenger seat and landed on his feet with a thud. He then bolted for the cabin’s shaded front stoop.

“Cody, get back here,” Owen hollered.

Molly suspected Cody misbehaving and Owen reprimanding him was a regular occurrence.

“I gotta go, Daddy. Bad.”

Ah. A bathroom emergency. Molly hurried, the key jangling in her hand. Sweetheart Ranch didn’t use plastic cards. Grandma Em had been firm on that issue. Keys enhanced the old-fashioned ambience.

“Hold on,” Molly said, glad to set her emotions aside. Climbing the stoop, she nudged Cody’s hand away. He’d been repeatedly twisting the uncooperative knob.

“If you wait a minute, I’ll be right there.” Owen had managed to lift the toddler from her car seat. His other daughter refused to stop fidgeting despite his requests, making freeing her difficult.

“It’s okay. No rush.” Molly opened the door. “I’ll watch him.”

Watch him like a hawk. She’d bet money Cody would find trouble if left unsupervised.

“You stay here,” Cody demanded and charged inside. “Going to the bathroom is private.”