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What is Christmas? It is the tenderness of the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future.
– Agnes M. Pahro
The voice from out of the darkness and then the figure standing in front of Jordyn caused such a surge of surprise and emotion that she just stood and stared. It seemed like long minutes passed, but surely they were only seconds.
“Chad?” She blinked a few times, partly in an effort to her clear her cloudy eyes, and partly to see if the image remained—or was only a figment of her imagination. Her heart flailed and flopped in her chest at the sight of the man she had tried so hard to forget. The impulse to run into his arms—and run away—were both so strong, she wasn’t sure what to do. “W-what are you doing here?”
“I work here.” His voice was low and gravelly.
“You work here?” Jordyn’s gaze shifted to the moon that was setting over Chad’s shoulder, trying to clear her mind and slow down the tumble of thoughts running through her brain. The conversation from yesterday replayed in her mind, as did the look on Kristy’s face. So this is what she had almost told her before being stopped by her mother. The ranch was so big, her mother probably thought they would never run into each other this soon.
“When? Why?” Her eyes went back to the man she had once known so well, but hadn’t talked to for more than a decade. He had not shaved yet this morning, giving him a rugged, cowboy kind of look. His memorable black hair curled from beneath the brim of his tan cowboy hat, but was not overly long. His shoulders were broader than she remembered, and he seemed a good two inches taller. But those long dark lashes and deep blue eyes had not changed one bit. They were still mesmerizing.
“Long story. Anyway, I thought you were a guest, and didn’t want you to get hurt with these horses.” He turned and started to walk away. “Sorry to interrupt.”
Jordyn’s heart flopped again, but this time it was definitely with disappointment at his cold, detached demeanor. As often as she’d thought about seeing him again, which was often, this is not the way it had played out.
“Wait...”
Chad paused, but did not turn around to face her. The fact that he seemed so anxious to get away increased Jordyn’s desperation to get him to stay. This had been her best friend growing up...a guy she could tell anything to. Heck, people used to think they were siblings because they were never seen apart. Chad had come to Painted Sky Ranch to get away from an abusive household, and Jordyn’s father had somehow seen potential in the wild, rowdy teen. From the age of thirteen to almost twenty, Chad had pretty much been part of the family.
“Kristy said there are some new cabins that I’ve never seen. Want to ride over there with me?” She lifted the bridle she held in her hand for him to see.
She watched his back stiffen. “The Gala is two days away. I have a lot of work to do.”
“It’s not even sunrise.” She nodded toward the East where only the slightest glimmer of light had begun to show. “You’re not on duty yet, are you? I don’t think Mom requires you to work this early.”
He turned...just his head, and gave her a sideways glance of annoyance. “Till we get saddled up and over there and back it will be—”
“No saddle. I was planning on riding bareback.” Jordyn slid the bridle on Blackjack as she talked. “Saves time.”
Her casual statement caused Chad to turn all the way around. “Bareback? Blackjack?” He scoffed. “When was the last time you were on a horse?”
“Phooey. It’s like riding a bike.”
“It’s Blackjack,” he said. “Not a bike. He hasn’t been ridden in years and he was never easy to control even when he had regular exercise.”
“Okay. Well, I’m going. And I’m going bareback. Maybe I’ll see you later.”
Jordyn watched Chad’s gaze shift from her, to the horse she held, and could tell he was fighting an inner battle. It was obvious he didn’t want to accompany her, but he was too much of a gentleman to let her go by herself. He’d always been protective and caring. Maybe that part of him still existed beneath the cold, stand-offish disposition he now displayed.
“Some things never change.” His tone suggested impatience and aggravation, as he turned and started walking way.
“Is that your way of saying I’m still stubborn?” Jordyn spoke loudly, but tried to keep any trace of triumph from her voice.
Chad glanced back at her with a look that reflected he’d been thinking of something a little less polite than the word stubborn, and spoke over his shoulder. “I’ll grab a bridle for Kosmo. Hold on.”
