Christmas Gifts: Cinderella and the Cowboy / The Boss's Christmas Baby / Their Little Christmas Miracle

“Of course he will,” Elizabeth said with sorrow as she thought about how much Tom would miss having Jack around.

And so would she.

Elizabeth and Jack walked into a happy family scene. Tom and Brady were playing cards and Carol was cuddling Jenny. A fire was burning in the fireplace and there was a heavenly scent coming from the kitchen.

“Carol, you fixed dinner! It smells great,” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“Shopping always makes me tired and I thought it might have the same effect on you,” Carol said.

“Yes, it does,” Elizabeth said as she shot Jack a dirty look.

Carol looked at Elizabeth then back at Jack. “Did you two have an argument?”

Elizabeth straightened and wiped all emotion from her face. “No, of course not. We just…disagreed.”

Jack sighed before saying, “We’ll talk about it later, Elizabeth.”

“Maybe if we eat, everyone will feel better,” Tom suggested.

“I feel fine,” Brady pronounced.

“Yeah, but I think you’ll want some of that banana pudding Carol made.”

“Yeah!”

Smiling, Elizabeth ruffled her son’s hair. “How’s Jenny?”

“Oh, she’s just the sweetest thing,” Carol cooed as she talked to the baby. “She has the biggest blue eyes for such a little thing.”

“Just like her mother,” Jack pointed out.

Carol didn’t notice any disagreement then. “Yes, just like her mother,” she agreed.

Tom began stacking the cards, saying, “We’d better get these cards put away, Brady, so Grandma can serve us dinner.”

Brady looked up at Carol. “‘Grandma’? Are you going to be my grandma?”

Carol beamed at the little boy. “Yes, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be your grandma.”

“Okay.”

“Come on, Brady,” Jack said. “I’ll help you clean up. Maybe we can wash our hands together.”

“I’ll come, too,” Tom said following them.

Elizabeth stared at them wondering why all three of the “men” were going into the downstairs bathroom.

“What’s wrong with Elizabeth?”

Before Jack answered Tom he shot a look at Brady. He wasn’t sure they should be talking in front of the boy. “Um, we got into a discussion about the, uh, wedding.”

“Does Mommy not want to go?” Brady asked, reminding Jack that he was right to worry. He came up with some story to satisfy the child.

“Sure she does. But she wanted pink roses on the cake and I wanted red roses.”

“So who won?” Brady was certainly amused by the contest.

“I guess she did because we’re having pink roses,” Jack answered.

“Do they taste good?” Brady asked.

“I think so. Go ask your mom, if your hands are clean.”

After Brady scurried out, Tom asked, “What is Elizabeth really upset about?”

“What you and I discussed the other night.”

Tom frowned and shook his head. “I wish I could change my mind, Jack, but I want the ranch for Brady.”

“It’s okay, Tom. I understand. I just thought when you get back from your honeymoon I should start looking for a new ranch.”

Tom gripped Jack’s shoulder in a large rugged hand. “It seems a poor way to pay you for your loyalty.”

“You’ve paid me a good salary, Tom, and I’ve been happy here. But change is good for all of us.”

“I won’t argue that, because I wouldn’t want the kids or Elizabeth to go. I’m feeling better now and I want to help out around the ranch, but I don’t think I can run it.”

“We’ll find someone for you before I leave. Just enjoy your honeymoon.”

“Thanks, Jack.” Tom started to leave and then turned and looked Jack in the eye. “You know, you could just marry Elizabeth.”

Chapter Nine

JACK thought a lot about what Tom had said. He’d realized Elizabeth had only been widowed a short while, but according to Elizabeth, Reggie had seen little of her since Jenny had been conceived.

That thought occupied his mind through the rest of the week and throughout the wedding ceremony. As he listened to Tom’s vows to Carol, he imagined taking the same step with Elizabeth. She looked beautiful in her blue gown, just as little Jenny did. Elizabeth carried Jenny in her arms, with the baby scarcely aware of what was going on around her.

At the reception, held at a venue in town, Elizabeth was still a little shy around the women she’d met this week. It seemed natural to put an arm around her for reassurance. At least, that’s what Jack told himself. Then he picked Brady up in his arms, and Jack really began to feel like this was his little family.

“They aren’t coming back to the house, are they?” Elizabeth asked. “I didn’t get the bed made.”

“I think they’re heading straight for the airport. Do you want me to go ask them?”

She shook her head. “I guess it doesn’t matter. You already hung the television over the fireplace. Maybe I should take the kids and run home and fix up the linens.”

“Let me go talk to Tom. Then we can make a decision.”

“We?”