A Cowboy Family Christmas

“The Rocking Chair Ranch. The rodeo will be sponsoring them in the spring, so I’m working on the promotion.”

“Is that the retirement home for cowboys?”

“And ranchers.” He’d been reluctant to mention anything about rodeos or cowboys since the night she found out her husband, rodeo star Craig Baxter, was having another affair. The stress from the confrontation with him and his lover had caused her to go into premature labor.

When Drew got word of the public blowup and learned that Kara Lee had been hospitalized, he’d wanted to beat the tar out of his brother-in-law. But Kara Lee had begged him not to, and he’d been reluctant to do anything to upset his kid sister, especially when the survival of her son was precarious. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be tempted to knock Craig’s lights out the next time he saw him.

Kara Lee had told Craig to pack his crap and to get out of the house, which he did. But she hadn’t yet filed for divorce, mostly because she wasn’t able to deal with the legal proceedings when she was lying flat on her back. But once the baby came, Drew would do whatever he could to facilitate a fair and amicable split. One of his friends was a divorce attorney in Houston, and he’d already mentioned the case to him. He just hoped his sister didn’t soften and take Craig back.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked her again.

“Yeah, especially since I’ve made it to the twenty-sixth week. At least the baby now has a chance to survive.”

“That’s good to know.”

As silence filled the line, he decided to change the subject. “So what are you doing?” The moment the question rolled off his tongue, he wanted to reel it back in. Hell, what could a bedridden pregnant woman possibly do, other than read or watch TV?

She let out a sigh. “I wish I could work on the nursery, but I’ll have to wait until after little Robby gets here.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Drew said. “As soon as I finish this project at the Rocking C, I’ll spend a few days at your place. Make a Pinterest board of stuff you like. When I get back, I’ll be your hands and feet. We’ll have it done before you know it.”

“I love you, Drew.”

“Aw, for Pete’s sake. Don’t get all sappy on me, Kara Lee.” She’d been a tomboy when growing up—and a barrel racer in high school. So he wasn’t used to seeing her softer side. It must be her hormones.

“You’re the best, Drew.”

“No. I’m not.” He’d taken on a demanding job that required him to travel, so he hadn’t been there for her recently, like he’d always been in the past.

He kicked himself for that now. If he’d been around more, he might have talked her out of marrying Craig. But that was all muddy water under the bridge now. From here on out, Drew was going to be the brother she deserved.

If Kara Lee suffered yet another miscarriage, losing the baby she’d already named and loved, there was no telling what it would do to her.

“By the way,” he said. “I called an agency that provides home health services and asked them to send someone out to your house for a few hours each day. She’ll do some light cleaning and run errands for you while I’m gone.”

“You didn’t need to do that.”

“I know, but I wanted to. It makes me feel better to know someone is with you or at least just a phone call away.” He thought she might object, more out of pride than anything else. But she surprised him by accepting his effort to help.

“You know what, Drew? You’re going to make some woman a wonderful husband.”

He laughed. “My last two relationships didn’t fare very well, thanks to all my travel.” Well, that and the fact that he was beginning to enjoy being a tumbleweed, rolling through life on the whim of the wind.

Just like your old man? He winced, then discarded the thought as quickly as it came. He wasn’t at all like his father.

“Besides,” he added, “I’m not cut out for marriage, family or a home in the suburbs. If I was, I wouldn’t enjoy being on the road so often.”

“A woman who really loves you wouldn’t complain about you being gone.”

“I don’t know about that. You’d be surprised.”

“At least, you’d never cheat on her.” She paused for a beat. “You wouldn’t cheat, would you?”

“Me? No, I’ve always been honest with the women I date. From the very first time we go out, I make it clear that I’m not the domestic type.”

“I’m not buying that,” Kara Lee said.

Drew wasn’t about to let his little sister psychoanalyze him. Who knew what assumptions she’d come to, right or wrong.

When he spotted the big yellow sign that indicated he’d reached the Rocking C, he said, “Listen, I have to hang up now. But I’ll give you a call this evening.”

“You don’t have to. I know how busy you are.”

“I’m never too busy for you.”

And that was the truth. Kara Lee was the only family Drew had left, and after all they’d been through, especially her, she deserved to be happy—and to finally be a mom.

“I’m curious,” she said. “Where will you be staying while on the ranch?”

“They’re putting me up in one of the cabins so I can get a feel for the daily routine. It’s not just a retirement home, it’s a working ranch. So the whole enterprise is new and innovative. I’d like to check it out.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks. I’m actually looking forward to having a change of pace—and to being in the same place for longer than a few days.”

“So says the family rover. Maybe you’re more cut out for home and hearth than you think, especially if you meet the right woman.”

“Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that.” Drew turned onto the long, graveled drive that led to the Rocking Chair Ranch. “I’ll talk to you later.”

When the line disconnected, he slowly shook his head. If there was one thing he’d learned over his thirty-one years, it was easier to be a rover than to deal with the countless people who weren’t what they seemed and were bound to disappoint you.

Thank goodness he wasn’t likely to meet any of that type on the Rocking C.

* * *

It had been two days since Mr. Carlton had hired Lainie to write the Dear Debbie column, but she still hadn’t made any headway in answering a single letter.

She’d been busy settling into her temporary job. But that wasn’t the whole story. In fact, none of the problems of people seeking Debbie’s advice had triggered a clever or witty response, and Lainie was stumped.

She sat at the kitchen table, reading through the letters, trying to choose an interesting one or two to include in her first Dear Debbie column. While she pondered, her fingers tapped softly on the keyboard without typing out a single word. She glanced at the clock on the microwave, noting how much time had passed since she’d done the breakfast dishes, and blew out a sigh. Her midnight deadline loomed.

“You can do this,” she whispered aloud. Then she reread the letter on top of the stack.

Last year, I met John, the most handsome, amazing man in the world, and I knew I’d finally met Mr. Right.

Last month, Lainie had met Craig...

Darn it. She had to stop projecting that jerk into each of these stupid letters written by someone who’d either been jilted or disappointed by various people in their lives.