Daddy's Christmas Miracle: Santa in a Stetson

“The McFarlands live spectacular lives.”

Too spectacular. “Amen to that. I found out her brother-in-law traced her to Wisconsin and broke the case. He’s former CIA. Hopefully he’ll be able to track Natalie down. Kathryn’s going to call me tonight and let me know one way or the other. If he can’t do it, then I’ve got to find someone who can.”

“That’s got me worried, Colt. There’s an old saying about being careful for what you wish for. You might get it.”

Lines marred his features. “You try telling that to Allie.”

“Oh, no. That’s your department.”

Meeting their mother face-to-face, if they could locate her, might be so traumatic for Allie and Matt that they’d never recover. But he’d made a promise to them and had to follow through. He heard the sound of footsteps coming down the back hall. “Dad?”

“I’m in here, Matt!”

He came rushing in. “Have you started watching the Utah game yet?”

“Not without you.”

Noreen flashed him another smile. “Do you want your spaghetti in here?”

“We’ll take care of it. You and Ed do what you want.”

“I think we’ll run into town and see that Twilight film Allie keeps talking about.”

“You’ll like it,” Matt assured her.

Within a few minutes they’d planted themselves in front of the TV and started to watch the recorded game while they ate. By the end of the third quarter it looked like Utah would win if their defense stayed focused. Matt got totally into it, but Colt couldn’t concentrate and went back to the kitchen with the empty plates to pour himself a cup of coffee.

While Matt whooped it up because Utah had just scored another touchdown, Colt’s cell phone rang. He’d been waiting for the call, needing to hear Kathryn’s voice.

It turned out to be her area code, but a different number.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Brenner? This is Jake Halsey.”

“I appreciate your phoning me, Mr. Halsey.”

“The name’s Jake. Kathryn told me about the frightening incident with your daughter. I’m glad she’s back home safe with you.”

“Your sister-in-law had everything to do with a quick resolution and reunion. I’m indebted to her.”

“I’m married to a McFarland. They’re the most remarkable people I’ve ever known. To be honest, I’m still in awe of my wife, Maggie.”

Jake had just described Colt’s sentiments about Kathryn. Colt liked him for his frank speaking and gripped the phone tighter. “I’m assuming Kathryn explained I’d like to hire you to track down the children’s mother, but only if you have the time and inclination.”

“I’d do anything for Kathryn.”

Jake Halsey appeared to be a remarkable man, too. “Thank you for your willingness to help. The last thing Natalie would want is to be found, but Allie’s need to know more about her is so great, she went to Salt Lake without telling me. It’s anyone’s guess what happens if or when Natalie is located, but my daughter’s in crisis.”

“I agree,” Jake murmured. “Tell you what. Since you’re anxious to get going on this, Kathryn and I will make arrangements to take Monday off. Maggie will fly us to Bozeman and we’ll brainstorm with you, but only if it’s convenient.”

As Colt’s eyes closed tightly, he could hear Allie coming down the hall. His pulse shouldn’t be racing at the thought of Kathryn coming with Jake. “It’s an ideal time. Your wife’s a pilot?”

“She’s a brilliant attorney, too, and has access to resources we’ll need.” The sisters were superwomen. “Between the four of us, we’ll come up with a game plan.”

“Only after we settle on a fee first.”

“I wouldn’t take your money. Maggie and I want to help.”

“What about your son?”

“My stepmother will tend him while we’re gone.”

When you dealt with the McFarland family, every impediment was removed. “You have no idea how grateful I am. What time do you think you’ll fly in? I’ll meet your plane.”

“Eight-thirty? It’ll give us the better part of the day to strategize before we have to head back.”

“Perfect.” The kids would already have left for school.

“We’ll see you on Monday then. If it looks like bad weather will delay our flight, Kathryn will keep you informed. I’m going to ask her to stay on in Bozeman for a few days to do some legwork for me. She has uncanny instincts. Any clue she picks up could be crucial to the case.”

He ground his teeth unconsciously. The twins would be ecstatic. As for himself … “I look forward to meeting you, Jake.”

“The feeling’s mutual, Mr. Brenner.”

“Call me Colt. See you Monday morning.”

He hung up. Judging by all the noisy excitement coming from his kids in the other room, the Utes had won the game. But it couldn’t compare to the conflicted emotions building inside Colt. To see her another time was only asking for trouble, the kind he couldn’t afford.

Hell. He already felt like he did the time he’d picked the wrong bull at the Calgary Stampede. The legendary Genghis Kahn had taken him for the ride of his life. The rush had been beyond exhilarating until he found himself hurtling through space. When he woke up in the hospital, he realized a worse concussion would have cost him his life. It had taught him an important lesson.

Some rides you knew in advance to stay away from—like a ride with Kathryn McFarland—because you knew it couldn’t last. Another world champion gold buckle was more attainable.

IT WASN’T UNTIL Sunday morning after Kathryn had gotten off the phone with Jake that she remembered Monday was Colt’s birthday. She knew his children had to be planning something special for him. Kathryn didn’t want to arrive at the ranch empty-handed, yet the wrong gift from her could send out the wrong signal to the elusive rancher.

Since the birth of the twins, he’d been guarding his space jealously against foolish, starry-eyed females. There had to have been an endless line of them over the years, but none had managed to break through the walls of defense he’d set up around his heart.

Maybe she could find something on the internet to do with the rodeo that would suggest a gift idea he wouldn’t reject the moment she was out of sight. Ever since he’d told her about the children’s mother stealing his gold buckle, she hadn’t been able to get it off her mind.

After a half hour of searching, she found a sports memorabilia shop at one of the hotels in Las Vegas. They were auctioning off an officially authenticated, framed poster celebrating thirty-five years of world champion bull riding from the executive’s private collection.

Represented were the sketches of four champions in their cowboy hats with their signatures to the side. To her delight she saw a younger Colt’s likeness among the grouping, complete with his bold handwriting. It sent her heartbeat skittering off the charts. Beneath the four sketches was an enlarged picture of the gold buckle prize.

This twenty-four-by-thirty-two-inch poster was an absolute treasure.

Rather than go through the online bidding, she made several phone calls until she reached customer service and asked to speak to the manager. After offering him a price he couldn’t refuse, he told her the framed poster was hers. She made the transaction with her credit card and told him she’d be in later to claim it.

After she’d clicked off, she called the airport and chartered a plane to Las Vegas. A few hours later, she flew in and picked up her precious purchase. The artist hadn’t only caught Colt’s chiseled profile, he’d captured his commanding presence and aura of focused energy requisite of a true champion.