Her Cowboy Till Christmas Read online

  “You check on her most days and get her groceries.” She shivered. It was really cold out here.

  “Yep.”

  “She doesn’t seem fit to drive anymore.”

  “I don’t think she is. Lois Dern takes her to the beauty parlor every other week, so she is getting her hair washed, and one of the other church ladies, Gretchen Sable, I think, takes her to the doctor if she needs to go.”

  Just what she’d suspected—Nan was trapped in this house, far away from help. It couldn’t be safe for her.

  “I think her days living alone are numbered.” Brittany sighed.

  “She’s fine.” His expression hardened. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

  “You?”

  “Yeah, me.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ve taken care of her this long. I’ll take care of her for good.”

  “She’s my grandmother.”

  “Could have fooled me.”

  “Wow. Really?” She raised her chin and glared at him. “Oh, that’s right, you know everything there is to know about me, and I must still be the selfish liar who left town ten years ago. I couldn’t possibly care about anyone but myself, right?”

  “If the shoe fits.” His face grew red, but he continued to sit there, ankle resting without even a twitch on his knee. How could he be so calm?

  “Forget it.” She got up, spun away from him and looked out over the porch rail. “Go back to your ranch. I’ll take care of Nan.”

  “And how are you going to do that, California?”

  Did he really just call her California? Her temper didn’t flair often, but when it did, things could get ugly, and she felt the storm brewing inside her. Lord, help me stay calm. Grant me patience.

  She whirled and caught her breath. He’d moved to stand behind her, and his nearness, his height slammed her with memories. She knew exactly how those hands would feel at her waist. The precise height she’d need to rise up to wrap her arms around his neck and...

  She couldn’t get mushy. It had taken her years to get over him. One touch and all could be lost.

  “Why don’t you get it all out right now, Mason? Say all the miserable things you’ve been thinking about me. Go on. I can take it.”

  His jaw shifted but he kept his mouth shut.

  She was tired of carrying around the shame about him and their past. She’d been a stupid teenager. And it had cost her dearly.

  “I’m sorry for hurting you back then.” She stood tall. “I should have broken up with Parker before I came here that summer. He and I weren’t right for each other. I’d known it for months. I thought with me being away, he’d figure it out, too.” Saying the truth out loud deflated the bravado she’d had moments ago. “It doesn’t matter—I should have told you about him. I should have done a lot of things differently that summer.”

  “Yes, you should have.” His voice was hard.

  “I know.” And she did. But even if she had... “It wouldn’t have changed the ending, though. I couldn’t have stayed here. You and I both know it.”

  His throat worked as he swallowed. He took his time mulling it over. Then he met her eyes, and she relaxed. Those were the eyes she remembered. The warm, caring man she used to know was still in there somewhere.

  “I reckon you’re right.” The words were soft, sincere and they slammed into her heart. “I’ve missed you, Brit.”

  She’d missed him, too. More than he would ever know.

  “I only came around today to thank you for introducing me to Ryder.”

  “You’re welcome.” She looked at this rugged man and saw beneath the tough exterior to the hurts inside. He’d lost too much in his life. How she’d wanted to be there for him when his grandparents died, and then Mia... But she wouldn’t have been welcome. “You always wanted a brother. I couldn’t deny you that.”

  “Thank you.” He nodded. “And don’t worry about Nan. She’s not sick. She’ll be fine. We look out for our own in Rendezvous.”

  “I know you do. I appreciate all you’ve done for her. But I can’t handle worrying about her every day. And I will worry. I think it’s time I consider moving Nan to California with me.”

  * * *

  “What?” His mind reeled. One minute he was flinging out ugly words he’d never meant to say, the next she was apologizing for that summer and hitting him with the truth like a slap to the face. He believed she regretted her actions that summer, and deep down he knew she was right about not being able to stay. But this—taking Nan from him—was going too far. “No, it’s not necessary. California? Really, Brittany? Can’t you think about anyone but yourself?”

  “Now who’s the one being selfish?” She gave him a cool glare. “I’m thinking about Nan. What if she falls and no one finds her for hours?”

  “We’ll get her one of those emergency buttons.” Even as the words left his mouth, he wondered if Brittany was right. Was he being selfish for wanting to keep Nan right where she was?

  “She’s barely keeping up with basic hygiene. I feel like she’s living on yogurt and cheese crackers. The house is dirty. And so is she. She’s confused.”

  “I’ll hire someone to help out with the cleaning once a week. We can pick up frozen dinners for her. All she’ll have to do is pop them in the microwave.” Easy solutions. No need for her to move Nan to another state.

  “But will she?”

  “Yes.” But he wasn’t so sure she actually would. He tried to imagine how Nan must appear in Brittany’s eyes, and he admitted, the picture wasn’t great.

  “How long can this last? Six months? A year? I have to think long-term.” She covered her face with her hands and wiped her cheeks. She rose on her tippy-toes again, a movement he knew meant she was conflicted.

  For the first time, he allowed himself to really see Brittany. Fine lines creased around her eyes and between her eyebrows. Her life might not have been as happy-go-lucky as he’d imagined.

  That didn’t change things. He wasn’t letting her rip Nan away from here.

  “Nan should have a say in it, too.” And so should he.

  “I know.” She bit the corner of her lip, worry running through those pretty blue eyes.

  “Look, I know you have a busy life in California,” he said as gently as possible. “I’ve been watching out for Nan a long time. She’s like a grandmother to me.”

  “But she’s my grandma.”

  That point stung a bit. Technically, Nan was Brittany’s grandmother, but he’d spent enough time with her to lay claim to the title, too, hadn’t he?

  “And I don’t appreciate your tone when you talk about my busy life in California. You don’t know anything about my life. And it is busy, just not in the frivolous way you’re implying. If I move Nan in with me, I’ll be able to take care of her.”

  “How are you going to do that? You’ll have to drag her out of this house kicking and screaming. She’s lived here for over sixty years. I’m sure it will do wonders for her health being stuck in the smog and surrounded by people all the time.”

  “Look, I didn’t say I was moving her out there for sure. I merely said I was considering it.”

  “Will you even be around to take care of her?” In his mind he’d always pictured Brittany laughing and living a social life surrounded by adoring friends. Honestly, the thought made him jealous. His life had been full of responsibility since he was a young boy.

  “What do you think I do? I’m not some party girl flying around. I teach children and teens dance lessons at night and work part-time at a diner on weekends. During the day, I pick up side jobs doing data entry from home. So, to answer your question, no, I won’t always be around to take care of her. But you aren’t, either, so I don’t think you can talk.”

  She worked three jobs? A diner? Data entry? It wasn’t meshing with his idea of her at all. “Why so many jobs?”

/>   “Because being a dance teacher doesn’t pay the big bucks, I’ve been trying to pay off my student loans, Santa Ana is expensive and I want to open my own dance studio.”

  “Oh.” Shame didn’t feel very good. For years he’d wanted to tell her off, to see her miserable, and all the while, he’d believed she was living the fabulous life. He’d been wrong, and gloating didn’t appeal even the tiniest bit.

  For the first time in a decade, he wouldn’t mind if Brittany was happy.

  “If it’s tough making ends meet, how will you be able to take care of Nan, too?”

  Her shoulders drooped. “I don’t know. I’ll find a way.”

  “Why don’t you take some time to think about it?” Maybe if she went back to California without Nan, she’d forget about moving her. Or, at the very least, it wouldn’t feel as urgent. Then he’d still be able to drop by here every afternoon and nothing would change.

  He was sick of changes that meant losing the ones he loved.

  “I can do that.” She stared out at the distance, then nodded. “I’m not going back to California until after Christmas.”

  His mind blanked. She was staying until after Christmas? Two whole weeks?

  “I thought you were flying back with Ryder.”

  “No, I wanted to spend Christmas with Nan.” She met his eyes. “I can check out assisted-living facilities and look into having someone come here a few days a week. If neither of those seem like good options, I’ll have to consider moving her to California with me.”

  “I want to have some say in Nan’s future, too.” He didn’t care if he wasn’t blood related.

  “Fair enough.” Her half-hearted smile didn’t light her eyes. “I owe you that. Thanks for everything you’ve done for Nan. I... I can’t thank you enough.” She reached over and covered his hand with hers.

  Her touch instantly transported him back to when she was his. Back to when life seemed full of possibility, not trouble and death.

  He slipped his hand out from under hers.

  “You gave me my brother. Let’s call it even. I’ve got to pick up Noah.” He tipped his hat to her. “I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon.”

  He hurried back to his truck. Once inside, he exhaled loudly. Brittany’s touch, her presence had made him do and say things he hadn’t planned. As he drove away, he gripped the steering wheel. Between Ryder and her, his life felt unrecognizable.

  He frowned. For the first time in three years, he’d completely forgotten about Mia. In fact, he hadn’t thought about her in hours.

  His throat tightened and his vision blurred.

  He couldn’t forget her. Wouldn’t forget her.

  He would not let ocean-blue eyes erase her memory. Mia was the love of his life, and Brittany being in town for two weeks wouldn’t change it.

  Nothing would.

  Chapter Four

  “What about this sweater?” Brittany held up a cardigan at Sissy’s Bargain Clothes in downtown Rendezvous. The cream-colored sweater was a size medium. Nan had been wearing a large for years, but the way her clothes hung on her now, Brittany assumed a medium was the right size.

  “It would look nice on you.” Nan clutched her purse and stood stiffly.

  “No, Nan, I meant for you.” Christmas music played in the background, and gold tinsel garland was draped above them. None of it was getting her in the Christmas spirit, though. After yesterday’s revealing chat with Mason, she was more confused than ever. Did he still hate her or had he meant it when he said he missed her? Either way, he thought she was a lousy granddaughter.

  That made two of them.

  “Why don’t you try it on?” Brittany pasted on a bright smile, but she felt it sliding away at Nan’s blank expression. Stay cool, Brit. She gamely held the garment up to her grandmother. Would the sleeves be long enough?

  “Oh, no. I’ll just watch you shop.”

  The entire morning had been a struggle. From trying to convince Nan to shower—Brittany had won that battle—to searching for Nan’s car keys—they were on the bookshelf, behind a shepherdess figurine—she’d been all too aware that Nan’s pace and hers were worlds apart.

  Even getting to town had been difficult. The old Ford truck in the detached garage had coughed back to life after several wheezing attempts at starting it. At least none of the tires had been flat. From the layers of dust on the hood, dash and seats, she guessed it had been many months since Nan had driven it anywhere.

  It was a good thing Nan wasn’t driving, but her homebound state weighed on Brittany. She must be very lonely.

  “I’ll grab a few pairs of pants and another sweater, and you can try them all on at once.” She kept her tone cheery as she rounded up three pairs of the elastic-band pants Nan favored, another sweater and two sweatshirts. “The dressing rooms are back here.”

  Brittany carried the clothes to the doors decorated with Christmas wreaths along the wall. Nan shuffled behind her.

  “Here you go.” She hung up the clothes on the hooks provided. “I’ll be right out here. Let me know when you have them on. You can model them for me.”

  Nan’s forehead furrowed as she slunk into the room. Brittany sighed. Was she pushing her too hard? Well, what was the alternative? The woman needed new clothes.

  A minute ticked by. Then two. She strained to hear movement from inside the dressing room. Finally, she knocked.

  “Nan? How’s it going in there?”

  The door opened and there stood Nan, still in her winter coat with the clothes pristinely hanging up as if they hadn’t been touched.

  “Did you try them on?”

  “No.” She glanced back at the hooks.

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know.” Nan looked lost. “I suppose I forgot.”

  Her heart squeezed. She’d only been in there for a few minutes! How could she have forgotten? Brittany put her arm around Nan’s slim shoulders. “It’s okay. Let’s go ahead and buy them. I think they’ll all fit. If not, we can return them.”

  Brittany collected all the clothes and made her way to the checkout. She waited for the chatty clerk to ring up everything and fold them into neat bags. After she paid, she turned around, expecting to see Nan behind her.

  But she was gone.

  Brittany scanned the store, saw no sign of her grandmother and jogged outside. Looking left then right down Centennial Street, the main drag in Rendezvous where most of the shops and businesses were located, she tried to catch a glimpse of her. Maybe she’d gone back to the truck. Brittany stretched her neck to see the truck parked down the block, but it was empty.

  Don’t panic.

  Where would Nan go? The sun was shining, the temperature brisk. Too cold to be outside for long. She scanned the area. Christmas garlands, bows and twinkle lights bedecked the storefronts. Cattle Drive Coffee was across the street. A beauty shop was next door. A Western store, bakery and insurance office filled out this side of the block.

  She’d have to check each one. Quickly, she peeked inside the first set of front windows. Up ahead, the door to the bakery opened, and Nan walked out with a small bag. Relief weakened her knees, but she raced up the sidewalk. “Nan, over here!”

  “I was hungry for fritters.” She held the bag up, a big smile on her face.

  “Why didn’t you wait? I would have come with you.” She tucked Nan’s arm in hers and tried to will away the fear in her throat. “Next time, let me know you’re leaving, okay?”

  “What time is it?” Nan frowned. “I need to get home. Mason will be coming.”

  “He won’t be there until later.” Brittany took out her phone and showed her the time. “Let’s get lunch.”

  Nan patted her arm. “I’d like that. Mason loves Roscoe’s chocolate chip cookies. Can we pick him up a few before we leave?”

  And just like that, Nan seemed
herself again. Brittany breathed a sigh of relief. Roscoe’s Diner was a staple in Rendezvous. She steered Nan in its direction.

  Maybe Mason’s daily check-ins were grounding her grandmother more than Brittany had considered. She might not love that he was demanding to have a say in Nan’s future, but like it or not, he deserved it. He’d been taking care of her for this long.

  A sharp pain of guilt stabbed her conscience, but she refused to wallow in it. She’d neglected her grandmother, but she wouldn’t anymore. Nan’s health and happiness were too important. Thank You, God, for Mason’s kindness to Nan.

  As they crossed the street, she mentally made a list. She needed to make a doctor’s appointment to find out exactly what was wrong with Nan. Was her forgetfulness a normal sign of aging? Or was it something worse, like dementia or Alzheimer’s?

  Every day with her grandmother brought new questions. Someone had to have answers.

  Maybe Nan’s friends, Gretchen and Lois, could give her some insight, too.

  * * *

  Mason stirred the pot of beans on the stove later that evening. The hot dogs were sizzling on his indoor grill pan. “Noah, it’s time to eat!”

  There was a knock on the front door. His palms grew sweaty. He’d invited his in-laws over. The time had come to have the twin talk.

  “I’ll get it, Daddy!” Little footsteps pounded from the living room where a cartoon played on the television.

  “No, Noah, let me.” With long strides, he reached the foyer at the same time as Noah. “What did I tell you about opening the door?”

  “Not s’posed to.” He hung his head. “Could be a stranger.”

  “Right.” He peeked out the window at the top of the door. His in-laws had arrived early.

  “Grandpa!” Noah launched his body toward Bill.

  “Hey, Spurs, didn’t I just see you?” Bill’s face was full of affection as he lifted Noah in his arms. He was short, barrel-chested and physically tough, even though he’d turned sixty-five last month.