Daddy's Christmas Miracle: Santa in a Stetson

The snow had been heavier on the mountain, but last night’s storm hadn’t developed into anything ferocious. By the time Colt turned his car onto the highway, the plows had already been out to clear it for the rest of the drive into Bozeman. The clouds had opened up, allowing the sun to shine through.

Under normal circumstances, it was his favorite kind of winter day, but today had a different feel about it. An intangible gloom had descended over his household and none of his efforts could shake it. He’d left Allie seated in front of the fire to work on the puzzle with Ed. Between her red-rimmed eyes and his broken arm, they made quite a pair.

When Matt had brought Ms. McFarland’s suitcase down to the Xterra, she’d moved ahead of him and had climbed in the backseat. His son got in front with him. So far Colt hadn’t looked in the rearview mirror. He didn’t want to meet a pair of blue eyes and be electrified by them again. It had happened with every chance glance since yesterday.

Matt turned his head toward her. “Katy? Are you going to the Utah-BYU football game on Saturday?”

“It’s possible, especially because they’ll be playing at the U, which is five minutes away from me. But I might have to work.”

“Rich and I are going skiing, so I’m going to record it and then watch it after. Maybe I’ll see you on TV.”

She chuckled. “I’ll probably end up having to tape it, too. I’m hoping we win. Last year we lost in overtime and it about killed everybody.”

Colt listened while they talked about the flaws and virtues of both teams’ quarterbacks. Once they passed the airport security check, he obtained permission to drive on through to the area where the white Cessna was parked on the tarmac.

“There’s my ride. Have to run so I don’t hold them up.” She opened the back door and got out so fast with her suitcase, neither he nor Matt had time to assist her.

She eyed them without really looking at them, then smiled. “It’s been a pleasure meeting Allie’s family. Thank you for your hospitality. I won’t forget.” She extended her gloved hand, which they both shook. “Tell her to stay well, now.”

Colt nodded, finally allowing himself to take in the sight of her shapely figure clad in the white parka. “I hope you know how indebted I am to you.”

“I do know.”

Yes, she did. The found Kathryn McFarland knew it better than most anyone else in the world.

“If I get sick, will you come and nurse me?”

Gentle laughter escaped her throat. “You’ve got a whole wonderful family to help you, Matt. Just take care you don’t break a leg skiing on Saturday or you’ll let your wrestling coach down.”

He grinned. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

Still clutching her suitcase, she turned and started toward the open door of the plane. Colt watched her disappear inside. Disturbed by the odd sensation that swept through him, he wheeled around and strode back to his car. The second Matt got in, Colt started the motor and they took off.

On the way out of the airport he saw the Cessna gaining altitude. As it changed to a speck before vanishing from sight, he could suddenly put words to what was going on inside him.

Hell, hell and hell …

“Dad? Are you okay?”

Trust Matt’s radar to detect the slightest irregularity. “Of course. Why do you ask?”

He hunched his shoulders. “I don’t know. You’ve been acting kind of weird since Katy brought Allie home.”

Colt drew in his breath. “That’s because your sister has a lot of explaining to do. Now that Katy’s gone, I’m going to get to the bottom of Allie’s disappearing act.”

Katy had taken his daughter’s secret with her. Though he admired her integrity, he wished he hadn’t been such a bad parent, that Allie didn’t feel comfortable approaching him rather than turning to a stranger. Colt accepted total responsibility for this impasse. By a strange twist of circumstance, Ms. McFarland’s unexpected intervention during Allie’s crisis had underlined his need to deal with this problem head-on before the day was out.

“Are you mad?”

He made a gruff sound in his throat. What a question! Yes, he was mad, but not for the reasons his son was no doubt entertaining. “Let’s just say she gave us both a scare I never want to live through again.”

“Me, neither. What she did was crazy.”

“Not to her.” Not to her.

“Katy was totally cool.”

High praise, coming from his son. “I agree.” To say anything more would encourage him. He didn’t want to talk about her.

Colt turned at the entrance to the ranch where his tire tracks were still noticeable in the snow. They began the climb to the house.

“As soon as we get back, is it okay if I take Blackie on a short run? I want to see how his leg is doing now.”

“Go ahead.” Nothing like a ride to put life back into perspective.

Colt walked into the house expecting to find Allie in the living room, but Noreen told him she was in her bedroom on the phone. If he didn’t miss his guess, she’d called Jen. “She’s pretty broken up about Katy leaving.”

Tell me something else I don’t know, Noreen. “As long as I’m free for the moment, I might as well tackle the disposal.” Anything to get his mind off the woman he’d thought of as Kathryn from the moment he’d read her full name on the brochure. He knew he hadn’t liked the shortened version. It didn’t suit her.

“Then I’ll leave you to it. If you need me, I’ll be at the other house.”

“Thanks for all you do, Noreen.”

Half an hour later, he’d finished the job and was washing his hands when his cell phone rang. It was the bus depot telling him Allie’s backpack had just been brought in on the bus from Salt Lake. He thanked them and let them know he’d be by for it later.

In case Allie was thirsty for something besides water, he grabbed a couple of colas out of the fridge and headed up to her room. He knocked on the door. “It’s your dad.”

“Come in,” she answered in a flat voice.

He opened the door and found her sprawled on her stomach across the top of her bed with her shoes off and the phone in hand. She peered up at him with a crestfallen expression. “Is Katy gone?”

“Yes. By now she’s been back in Salt Lake for a while.” He moved a chair over to the side of the bed and sat down. “I brought you a drink.”

“Thanks.” She sat up cross-legged and took it from him. They both opened the tabs and drank. Colt liked the way Kathryn had done her hair with the neck scarf. “I apologized to Jen and her parents,” she volunteered.

“That’s good.” After finishing off half the can, he put it on the floor. When he looked up, her eyes were swimming in tears.

“I’m sorry for what I did, Dad. I mean … about everything.”

“Honey.” He took her can from her and put it on the floor next to his. “I’ve the gut feeling this has to do with your mother, so before this talk goes any further, I want you to know I take full blame for what happened. This is about your mother, right?”

She nodded before burying her face in her hands.

“Dad?” Matt’s voice sounded from the hallway.

“In your sister’s room!” he called back. “Come on in.”

Matt stood in the doorway staring at the two of them. “What’s going on?”