Abby opened the back door and stepped into the mudroom to shed her boots and coat and closed her eyes in sheer bliss at the aroma of roasted turkey and buttery sage dressing filling the air.
The turkey was already resting on the counter, waiting to be carved, and it smelled like the homemade rolls and dressing were still in the oven but nearly done.
But what captivated her most was the sound of laughter coming from the living room. After washing up, she passed through the dining room—where the table was already set and decorated with candles and a fall flower arrangement that Dad must’ve brought—and found everyone inside.
Betty and Darla were on the floor in front of the fireplace with the twins, and all four were playing the girls’ second-favorite board game, Chinese checkers.
Dad was in one of the leather club chairs, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs and a big, affectionate grin on his face as Darla purposely flubbed her next turn and gave Sophie the chance to hop two of her marbles.
The crackle of the fire, the aromas of Thanksgiving and the easy camaraderie between the adults and children created such a happy glimpse of family life that Abby felt a catch in her heart. This was everything she’d longed for as an only child.
Jess came up behind her and curved an arm around her waist, just like he would have years ago. “Looks like we’ve been missing all the fun.”
She gave him a teasing nudge with her elbow. “Actually, Bart and I had a lot of fun helping with the cattle. It already feels like Christmas out there with that beautiful snow falling.”
“Says the girl who doesn’t have to actually deal with all the snow.” He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling. “But thanks again for coming outside. I really did appreciate the company and the help.”
The timer on the stove chimed and Betty awkwardly started to rise, but Darla shook her head. “I’ll get that and start putting things on the counter. You’ve worked too hard already.”
Abby followed her. “I’ll help. Just tell me what to do.”
“Um...can you carve the turkey? I’m not very good at that.” Darla scanned the kitchen. “Otherwise, the mashed potatoes are done and staying warm in the slow cooker. Betty already made the turkey gravy. The fruit salad and broccoli salad are in the fridge, and I’m ready to pull the dressing, sweet potato casserole and rolls from the oven.”
Abby pulled a carving knife from the knife block and got to work. “I honestly didn’t expect to put you to work like this, but I really appreciate all of your help.”
“I was happy to do it. Don and I would have been home alone otherwise, and this is so much more fun. I’m afraid he and I aren’t very good cooks, but we fumbled through making the mashed potatoes and the sweet-potato casserole. If they didn’t turn out, it’s all our fault.” Darting a quick, tentative glance at Abby, Darla started pulling food from the oven and resting each of the pans on trivets set along the longest counter. “Betty says she always sets up a buffet in here for holidays because it’s just easier. Is that okay with you?”
“She’s the boss, not me. I’m just the hired help.” Abby grinned at her, both surprised and relieved at Darla’s demeanor. Until now she’d been brittle and defensive, but now she seemed almost...happy. “A buffet sounds like a good idea.”
Darla bustled around the kitchen putting out the food, finding ladles and serving spoons. She stood back and looked at all of the food filling the counter, and at the end, four pies and a plate of cookies. “Wow. I’ve only seen a Thanksgiving spread like this in magazines. I didn’t realize people actually did all of this.”
“Do you miss being with your own family today?” Abby asked gently.
Darla cut a glance at her, then looked down. “There’s no one left, really. My brother died in Iraq a long time ago. My mom and dad have been gone even longer.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I know what you think of me. What everyone in town thinks.” Darla’s voice caught. “But I promise you, marrying Don was never about his ranch or his money. He’s just so kind and thoughtful. I never met anyone like him. And he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He’s the first man in my life who ever treated me like a real lady.”
“Then I think he must love you very much.”
Darla took a shaky breath. “I love him so much that I would die for him.”
Abby thought about the one man she’d ever really loved. The one she would never have. “Believe me, I understand. I—”
The twins burst into the kitchen. “Is it time? Can we eat now? Everything smells so good!”
“Thanks to Betty and Darla, I think we’re all ready.” Abby reached for Darla’s hand and squeezed it gently, thankful for the interruption before she’d said too much. “Let’s all hold hands and say grace.”
She waited a moment, then began. “Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful family gathering. For Darla and Dad, who have joined us today. We hope this will be the start of many more dinners together. Thank You for Betty and Darla, who have made such a beautiful meal, and for Your healing and grace that has brought Betty back to this ranch. We give thanks for the two little girls with us, and ask that You shower them with blessings now and forever. And we thank You for Jess, who works so hard and provides such a wonderful example of what a father should be. Finally, please bless this food, our companionship today and the coming weeks of preparation for Jesus’s birth. Amen.”
A chorus of amens joined hers, and then she stepped back. “Let’s let Bella and Sophie go first. I’ll help them with their plates. Then just grab a plate from the table, everyone, and come on through.”
Betty joined Darla and Abby at the stove as the men went through after the twins.
“I want to thank you both again,” Darla said quietly, looking down at her hands. “It meant a lot to Don and I to be here today. It’s been...quiet, for us, since we got married.”
Abby looked over at Betty and raised an eyebrow.
It wasn’t hard to read between the lines. There’d been no well-wishers calling on the newlyweds. No dinner invitations or cheerful chats outside church. And Darla, who’d never lived here before, must still feel isolated and alone.
Betty turned to Darla. “I realize now that I’ve been a terrible neighbor to someone so new to Pine Bend. All of us have.”
Darla gave her a startled look. “I—I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’d like to introduce you to some people you might enjoy. We’ll start by picking you and Don up for church next Sunday. And, maybe you could help me and some of the other ladies with the refreshments for the Sunday School Christmas program. Then you’ll meet more of the younger ladies.”
Abby smiled to herself as she headed to the dining room to check on the twins.
Under Betty’s wing, it would be no time at all until Darla became a part of the community—and perhaps even busier than she wanted to be.
* * *
“I am still thinking about that wonderful Thanksgiving meal,” Jess said, looking over Lucy’s withers at Abby. “I think it was the best ever.”
Her cheeks rosy from the cold, she looked down at him from atop Bart and laughed. “I’m sure it isn’t too hard remembering it, since we’re still eating the leftovers.”
“And I’m glad.” Jess lifted Sophie up and settled her in front of Abby, then mounted Lucy and leaned down to pick up Bella. “Are you ready?”
“We’re really going to cut down a Christmas tree? A real one?” Sophie wiggled with excitement. “We never done that before.”
“And you girls get to pick which one,” he reassured her. “Unless you can’t agree. Then Abby and I will need to help.”
They rode side by side up into the north pasture where he knew there would be plenty of blue spruce to choose from.
“You’ve been planting them, I see,” Abby said as she surveyed the field up ahead.
“Dad started years ago. He would plant a dozen or so every year and I’ve kept up the tradition. Of course not all survive and some have grown way too big, but they’re beautiful all the same, and we always have good trees to choose from.”
Bella pointed excitedly to a tree off to the right that had to be eighteen feet tall. “That one, Uncle Jess. That one there!”
“It is beautiful. But it’s too tall and wide. It wouldn’t fit. We need to find something nine feet or under, with a straight trunk so it will stand up nicely in the house. How about you, Sophie? Do you see anything?”
She shook her head.
“Abby?”
“Don’t ask me. I think this should be the girls’ decision.”
They rode up and down the hills, past dozens of trees of every shape and size. Everything the girls liked was too tall, too wide to get through the door or too gnarled to stand up straight, until Bella suddenly pointed to one farther up the hill.
“That one!” She screamed with delight. “It’s so pretty!”
Jess studied it long and hard. “You know what, I think you might be right. That is a fine tree. What do you think, Sophie?”
Sophie’s lower lip trembled. “Not that one.”
Abby gave her a hug. “So what do you like? Do you see something pretty?”
She nodded, and pointed to a small, scraggly tree they’d passed earlier. “That one.”
Jess and Abby reined the horses toward the tree and stopped next to it.
“That is a sweet little tree,” Abby ventured. “But maybe it needs more time to grow. What do you all think?”
“That’s not a pretty tree at all,” Bella announced stubbornly. “I don’t want that one.”
“But I do,” Sophie said sadly. “No one else will ever love it ’cause it’s not pretty enough and it will always be lonely.”
Abby and Jess exchanged glances, and Jess felt a little catch in his throat. This wasn’t about a small, wind-battered tree. It was about a little girl’s heart, and maybe a fear that she’d been left because she wasn’t good enough.
“You know what? I think it would be perfect to bring both trees back. What do you say? The big one could go in the living room, and the girls could decide where they’d like the smaller one.”
“Yes, please,” Sophie whispered. “It needs a home.”
Jess dismounted and handed his reins to Abby, then pulled a folding camping saw from one of his saddlebags and untied his lariat from the front of his saddle. In no time, he had both trees cut down and trussed so he could drag them behind his horse.
Abby reached into one of the saddlebags behind her own saddle and pulled out a thermos, plus some small paper coffee cups with plastic lids. “Who wants some hot cocoa?”
She handed them out to Bella and Sophie, then filled a larger cup for Jess. “I always wanted to do this when I was a little girl—ride up into the foothills on horseback and bring back a Christmas tree. My dad always went out with his tractor and brought one back, and my mom had it decorated when I woke up the next morning.”
Sophie turned to look up at her. “Can we decorate our trees? I’d like that. Bella would, too.”
Abby gave her a hug. “Of course, sweetie. I think that would be a lot more fun. I’m not sure if we can get it done tonight, though. When we get home, you need to go to town for your first Christmas-program practice at the church, and after that will be supper. Jess?”
“We’ll see. Maybe we can put up both trees today and at least decorate the smaller one.” His phone chimed. He looked at the screen and turned away to take the call.
After a few minutes, he got back on his horse, avoiding Abby’s curious expression.
This wasn’t anything to discuss in front of the girls. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to tell Abby, because she’d probably blame herself. And sad as this was, it definitely wasn’t her fault.
* * *
After they got back to the ranch, Jess brought the big tree into the house and got it set up in its tree stand, then let the girls help him bring the smaller tree into their room, the puppy romping beside them as if he thought they’d just brought him the world’s biggest toy.
“So, what do you think?” he asked.
The girls nodded. They’d both wanted it in the far corner, so they could sit up in bed and see it when hearing their nightly stories.
Bella gave him a heartfelt look. “Can we put on the lights? Please?”
“We need to leave in just fifteen minutes,” Abby said, looking at her watch. “I made chili in the slow cooker, so everything will be ready after we get home from church. We can have an early supper, and then there’ll be plenty of time to decorate your tree before bed.”
“I’ll take the girls to town.” Jess adjusted the tree and picked up a few stray pine needles from the floor. “But I need to talk to you for minute first.”
The phone call.
Had it been the girls’ mother saying she was on her way? Someone who he’d hired to become the new nanny? Whoever it was, she’d seen the expression on Jess’s face and knew this couldn’t be good.
Abby hesitated in the doorway. “Girls, you need to wash your hands and faces and change your clothes before we go back to church. As soon as you’re ready we need to leave.”
With the puppy at her heels, she sought out Jess in the living room, where Betty was napping under an afghan in her favorite chair, then looked in the kitchen, and finally found him at his desk.
He looked up, his expression grave. “Where are the girls?”
“Washing up and changing their clothes. I figured you would want them occupied for this. What’s up?”
“Phil did steal that silver SUV in town the night he escaped. And...it apparently was him parked out on the highway on Thanksgiving when the gate was opened.”
“None of this is a surprise. We figured as much.”
He nodded. “Well...when we got that call from a passerby about the loose cattle he must’ve realized he’d been spotted, because he took off. He passed a patrol car in the next county doing ninety, so the deputy went after him. Then Phil went around a corner and disappeared.”
Abby felt a queasy sensation in her stomach. “So he could still be in the area?”
“The snow was falling heavily enough to hide his tracks on the side of the road. Some cross-country skiers called 911 this morning to report a car in a ravine, the driver deceased. Phil must have skidded, hit a guardrail and gone airborne.”
Abby dropped into a chair in front of the desk. “I...don’t know what to say. If I hadn’t—”
“None of us would have wished him harm. But he chose his actions. He escaped. He chose to come back here for a little revenge, and he chose to run from the law.”
“Do...do you have anything on his job application about his family? Someone to contact?” Abby closed her eyes briefly, imagining the family that would mourn him.
“That’s where it gets interesting. A deputy told me that Phil’s name didn’t match his fingerprints. Apparently he had quite a rap sheet and was wanted for theft, so he was using a stolen identity. That’s why he tried so hard to escape.”
“But what about his references?”
“Faked. The phone number I called probably belonged to a buddy who vouched for him.”
“I’m just sorry this happened.”
“You did the right thing, Abby, and I’m grateful. The thought of him so much as looking at you and the girls makes me angry. And I’m even more angry at myself for not realizing what kind of man he was.”
Jess had always been a protector—the kind of man who cared about family more than himself and did what was right. That he’d immediately believed her words about Phil and now shouldered the blame for the man’s presence was just one more facet of Jess that she would never forget.
The woman who won him over would be the most fortunate woman on earth. Abby just wished it could be her.