8

Back at the ranch, the Sunday tried to be normal, but it wasn’t, not at all. Bragg shook his head as a drift of snow on the air brushed across his face. He heard Tony tell Tiffany right after the prayer service that they’d do brunch some other time. Or not. It was said with a twinkle that let Bragg know for sure the animosity was gone. And he’d returned a big grin.

His heart sang, recalling Tiffany’s relief, and his skin tingled, recalling the touch of her hand.

Ma insisted Tony come to the ranch for Sunday dinner. With the new peace between them, Bragg relented and took Tony for a trail ride. Although Tony had learned horses as a kid, he spent most of his years thereafter in a pool, and when he told Bragg he wanted to saddle up once more, Bragg believed him.

“We were quite a team back at church,” Tony said, atop Sugarfoot, a fine buckskin Bragg had picked for his calm nature. Although, Bragg had to admit to a passing temptation to toss Tony on Thunderstruck, an aptly named roan quarterhorse.

“Yep. You taught us well, way back when.” Bragg told Tony sincerely.

The Lord worked mysteriously, putting the two of them together in front of everybody. No way could they be enemies much longer, not with everyone treating them like heroes. Especially if Tony chose to stick around. Most of all, Bragg realized, he didn’t want them to stay enemies. Still…

“I remember a lot of dates with Resus-a-Annie.” Bragg snickered at recollections of the practice dummy.

Helping save a man’s life changed a guy. Bragg knew he’d never be the same. He’d stop putting stuff off for tomorrow that he ought to get tended to today. As he shook his head again, holding off another wave of shock, he took comfort in the mountains around him.

“Bragg, I…” Tony reined in on the trail at the top of a little pine-studded rise. Below them, Hearts Crossing ranch spread out like some wonderful kind of quilt cuddled by foothills. “I’m not sure why I came back.”

“Well, I’m glad you did. I mean, at least for Pastor Hale’s sake.” Bragg shrugged. He never cared for emotional gigs. Unless, of course, he might be with Tiffany.

Tony’s jaw clenched. “No denying, I’d like the job at the Bar R. I know it’s part-time, but I have money saved and could supplement as a substitute teacher. But I need a purpose.”

“Don’t we all?” Bragg was patient, but despite his lighter heart in terms of Tony, he had yet to hear the man’s desire to clear Bragg’s name.

“The last six months in Reno, in the casino world, didn’t do a thing for me. I know what a good thing I had in Daisy, but truth was”—Tony’s voice slowed—“I stole her from your brother Kenn. I was jealous of y’all and what you have here. And …I wanted what Kenn had.”

Bragg tensed at the admission as Tony paused, pursing his lips. Even though the cold air had reddened his cheeks, they brightened even more. “I was about to do the same with Tiffany. That night we got snowbound. I saw the way you looked at her. It’s a bum competition I started, and I ask you to overlook it. And to forgive me.”

Ah. Big words from a big man. Bragg had no choice but to abide by the Lord’s mandate. And if Tony ever admitted his wrong publicly about the doping, well, that would be gravy. But he knew what he had to do today.

“You got it, Tony. I’ve learned much from Pastor Hale. I want you to know I’m taking my name off the table for the Bar R job. No argument.” Bragg held up a hand at Tony’s protest. It was simply the right thing to do. His heart swelled. The day was turning out pretty fine. Doyle Calhoun had gotten Pastor safely to the Heart Center in Steamboat Springs after he’d stabilized enough, and his kids and their families had all been able to catch earlier flights to be with their folks. Bragg looked Tony dead on. “And if you stick around, it looks like you’ll have the chance to learn from Pastor Hale, too. He’ll be back on his feet in no time at all.”

“Yeah.” Tony nodded. “I might start going to services. And just so you know. I told Tiffany she’s way off the hook about having to go on a date with me. I can see what’s going on with you two.” There wasn’t a tinge of bitterness in his tone. “But…you OK with me staying on to supper?”

Bragg nodded. Of course it would be better if Tony had completed his confession, but Bragg would take what he could get now. The wind was chilling fast, and he wanted to warm up in front of the fire with Tiffany and a massive cup of cocoa.

Hearing some barking, he caught site of Hearts Crossing’s herd of border collies cavorting through the corrals. They were covered with as much mud as snow, and he chuckled, recalling Tiffany’s request for one of them to sleep on her bed. She had, of course, declared her upcoming presence for Christmas Eve and Day. Bragg sighed, deep. No man could ever be more content.

“Gosh, they sure take me back.” Tony was saying as he pointed to the dogs. “Had a great pup on that ranch when I was a kid. Never knew, you know. What happened to him, I mean.”

A kid not knowing what became of his beloved dog smacked Bragg in the gut. It hit him as they cantered off toward the caterwauling dogs. What he had to do and say next. “Tony, I don’t know if you’ve got plans for Christmas. But there’s an open door here at Hearts Crossing for you.” He had to warn Tony, however. “Although you might want to know. Daisy’s parents will be here. They’re kin, now. Her brother and his family, too. And well, her granny’s got a tongue like a straight razor. Just warning you.”

Tony’s face bore both surprise and cold. “Why, that’s pretty nice of you. I’ll think about it.” They rode back to the barn in silence although the wind had decided to go dicey. Another storm stranding people would sure put Ma in her element.

He laughed out loud, mostly because Tiffany waited on the porch of the ranch house, holding two steaming mugs. Aw, she must have been watching his route for a while to get the timing just right. Just at sight of her, his heart turned over and over like a Ferris wheel of forever.

“Hey man, go get your lady. I recall enough about unsaddling horses.” Tony took the reins of both animals after they dismounted, using his free hand to toss Tiffany a wave.

“So how’d it go?” Tiffany asked after a quick, but delicious kiss. The house had a lot of windows, and Bragg didn’t know who might be nosy. After their embrace at church in front of just about everybody, his feelings sure couldn’t be much of a surprise to anybody. But he wanted to savor every second of their blooming relationship and hold it close.

Nose inside his warm mug, he nodded. “We’ve made progress.” He decided to hold off about Tony competing with him for her affection. “We’ve got a ways to go, but nothing in life is easy, is it?”

“You got that right. Come on in. I think there’s a raging game of Hungry Hippos going on. Not to mention a couple of marathons of White Christmas and A Christmas Story.”

He grimaced when the heated air pushed against him as they opened the big front door. “White Christmas is Ma’s favorite. Rachel’s, too. What’s the big deal?” He sniffed, hoping he wasn’t catching a cold.

“The big deal?” Tiffany teased. “Frankly, I’d take a knight on a white horse over a lamp shaped like a leg wearing a fish-net stocking any day of the week.”

“What? A lamp shaped like a leg wearing a what?”

“Sit down and watch A Christmas Story. It’s a couple hours of fun. Then you’ll get the joke.”

“And what’s that? About a knight on a white horse?”

She rolled her eyes. “Bing Crosby sticks a miniature one on a branch for Rosemary Clooney. They hide behind the Christmas tree and he grabs her close…”

“Hmmmmm.” Hunkered behind the coat-strewn hall tree, he hauled her tight and growled into her ear. “How about a cowboy on a Winchester?”

“Mmmmm, good.” She snuggled into him. “Sure works for me.”

The kiss sparked and settled in his belly.

****

Over the next few days, joy overtook the pain in Tiffany’s heart. Something about Hearts Crossing put hope inside with her newfound faith. Sitting at Bragg’s side singing Christmas carols had opened her heart to the Lord in ways that still had her trembling, He’d knocked to come in, and she’d let Him willingly. She couldn’t wait for Pastor Hale to return to church—she had a lot to tell him, and a lot of listening to do. So far, he was making good progress.

Snow and tricky roads kept everybody together at the ranch, although she managed one trip to town for Bragg’s present. She couldn’t deny the sense of belonging and peace that filled her heart and days. Twice she went along with Bragg when he checked the hay supply on the winter range, noticing his pride at how well she followed directions.

Although Tiffany felt right at home, Mrs. Martin fussed over her. She suspected the real reason was because it distracted Elaine from the ache of Pike and Daisy still on their ski honeymoon. She was a devout, devoted woman who bloomed best when her entire family was nearby. At least Hooper and Ella weren’t flying to California to celebrate Christmas with Mallie’s family until after the holiday. But nothing kept Elaine Martin down for long.

“You ought to call that brother of yours,” she directed as she demonstrated her own technique for spiral-slicing a ham. For a most unusual moment, they were the only two in the kitchen. Over coffee one morning, Tiffany had found it easy to share her family mess with Elaine, receiving warm arms and nonjudgmental words in return. “Today‘s Christmas Eve. Perfect timing.”

“I know. But I don’t know.” Tiffany smiled and blinked quick to stem the tears. She had faith now, the confidence borne of it, and knew all about doing the right thing, but such a call would do no good. She’d tried many times before. And Paul, who wasn’t religious at all, would never get that faith was part of her new life, and he would only ridicule. Against that, she had no emotional armor just yet.

Mrs. Martin stunned her with a motherly glare that spoke louder than an inauguration speech, even as she wielded her knife like an exclamation point.

“I’m kind of nervous around big knives,” Tiffany said instead, hoping to sidetrack Elaine’s appeal to make peace with Paul and her family. Her thoughts winged to the acorn-shaped candle she bought for Bragg’s mother. He had said joke gifts only, but the hazelnut-scent smelled nice and was something Olga would have liked.

Olga. Oh, why had Tiffany’s brain turned traitor? Just thinking the name stung her. She forced herself to laugh, and she tossed out something inane. “At Delacruz Drugs, I got Bragg a nightlight shaped like the leg lamp from A Christmas Story.”

Mrs. Martin set down her knife and smiled, eyes wise. “He loved that movie the other night. Likely reminded him of his gadabout days as a rapscallion kid. He’ll crack up for sure.” Her mouth twitched like she wanted to say something else, but all that came out was a loud direction for everybody to get dressed for church. “The service starts at six, and I want us all to leave by five-thirty. No need to rush on those icy roads. Ella’s been flapping those wings since lunch.”

Ella was already in seventh heaven and could recite the announcement from Luke, chapter two, without a mistake.

“Let’s hustle.” Bragg’s voice reached the kitchen before he did, and Tiffany’s blood blasted around her veins in excitement. In longing. Would he…

Yes. He kissed her in front of his mother. Tiffany’s eyelids fluttered and her lips sparked, and Mrs. Martin beamed. To prevent collapse, Tiffany had to reach for the counter. Would Bragg always do this to her, take the air from her lungs and get every skin cell trembling? She managed to untie the apron and show him she was all dressed. The clingy black wrap dress wasn’t new, but it was perfect for church, and both Ella and Elaine had already admired her jingle-bell earrings.

“All we need is a one-horse open sleigh,” Tiffany marveled on the drive to Mountain Cove through a winter wonderland in Bragg’s truck. Although darkness had fallen, the snow-dappled ranches and rangeland sparkled through the dusk.

“Well, we could do that,” Bragg chuckled.

But more than that, Tiffany needed the saving Word of God. Entering Community Church pounded her with blessings rather than loss, and like the kids, she gasped at the beautiful Christmas trees and the glorious organ prelude of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

The same elder from Sunday assisted the associate pastor of their sister church who’d driven in from Rustic Canyon. The congregation besought the Lord’s continued comfort and sustenance upon the Hales, as the pastor continued his return to good health.

Then the choir started with another advent chant while lights dimmed and candles flared.

During the tableau of Jesus’ birth, which included a pair of living sheep and His “mother”, age seven, riding into the chancel on an adorable, well-mannered donkey, Tiffany’s heart swelled and faith bloomed. She knew it wasn’t her need for a job and a new place that had led her to Mountain Cove and the people of Hearts Crossing. It was all part of God’s plan.

To bring her home.

What He had meant by sending her the test of Paul’s abandonment, she had yet to learn, but tonight, Christmas Eve, she finally learned the true meaning of Christmas.

God is love.

Singing her heart out, Hooper’s ex-wife, Lynn, sat near the family, but circumspectly off a ways, her face aglow at her angelic little girl.

Tiffany shook her head. What pain and madness had made the woman abandon her family those years ago? Tiffany pondered the Christian love and confidence that permitted Hooper and Mallie to let Lynn into their celebrations.

“Isn’t she adorable?” Bragg breathed quietly into her ear when Ella took her place, glittered wings sparkling in the candle glow.

Matty cooed in Rachel’s arms nearby.

As Tiffany’s fingers entwined with Bragg’s, she felt the first tick of her biological clock, and the hope someday for children of her own. She trembled.

Children with Bragg. She knew it now. He was The One. The feeling intensified while swarms of little children surged forward to place their handmade Chrismons on the trees. God surely must be smiling tonight. The smaller trees all but exploded in glory.

After the benediction, everyone recessed, singing along with the choir to ”Silent Night.” Another peace beyond her understanding settled on Tiffany. Somehow she knew the words to most of the Christmas songs and realized God had been at work in her heart all along.

Tony. He sat near the back, alone.

Right away, Bragg went to him with an extended hand, and the two quietly spoke.

Back at the ranch for an informal holiday supper, Tony and Lynn gabbed together in a corner, and Bragg and Tiffany cozied together on a love seat with a TV tray of food.

“Somebody’s coming up the drive.” Elaine Martin called out, rising to peer out the big front windows.

Indeed, a pair of headlights bisected the frosty night.

Ella did a happy dance. “Who could it be? Presents?”

Hooper bore a secret grin, so Tiffany knew it wasn’t bad news.

Although Elaine had admitted to an open door policy, she stood like a sentinel at the window in a stance of unease. She gasped. “Why, it can’t be. It…I’m certain that’s Pike’s truck. But he left it at the airport. And he’s on his honeymoon. Why, my heavens.” Her voice choked with a sob. She turned to face her eldest son.“Hoop? You knew about this?”

“Yep. Merry Christmas, Ma.”

Pike and Daisy pounded up the steps and into Mrs. Martin’s arms before another word could be said.

“Merry Christmas, Ma. Everybody!” Pike and Daisy chorused.

“I don’t get it.” Elaine was all but speechless. “What’s going on? We were gonna talk to you on the computer at Vail in the morning.”

Daisy kissed her mother-in-law’s cheek before dashing over to her own parents, themselves stalled in delicious surprise, over their plates.

“We couldn’t miss Christmas at Hearts Crossing,” Pike said tenderly. “We realized we wanted to hang our first stockings over our own fireplace.”

“I…I just don’t know what to say…”

“Just say Merry Christmas,” somebody yelled.

Tiffany clapped and hooted with everybody else. The family’s joy couldn’t help but drift over her, and she once again had to hold back her own sadness. This was not the time for it. The Martins had made a place for her in their home, and Bragg was making a place for her in his heart. She had to concentrate on the goodness of the now. God didn’t make mistakes. As if sensing her roiling thoughts, Bragg hugged her, held her hand tight.

“You didn’t know?”

“Nobody breathed a word.” He kissed the end of her nose. “It’ll be all right, you know.”

This man was following her thoughts. Only God could bring him into her innermost heart. And she did believe him. Someday. “Yeah, I do know. Healing just takes time.”

As they waited for Pike and Daisy to make the rounds, more twin beams glided up the long drive.

“Who now?” Mrs. Martin yelped, but her eyes glowed.

Tiffany submitted to the pull of emotion that maybe it was Paul and Connor. Maybe they looked her up and realized they couldn’t live without her. Maybe Diana had rejoined the family and Olga had let go of some of her bitterness.

Once again she caught sight of Hooper’s secretive grin.

“Oh, mercy me,” Mallie extolled as she caught sight of the passengers emerging from the car after it parked. “It’s…my folks. And Brian!”

Without waiting for her coat, she ran outside into her parents’ waiting arms, and then threw herself at her brother.

“What?” Elaine barked again, eyebrows up to her hairline.

“The doors to Hearts Crossing are always open, Ma.” Hooper all but smirked.

“And that they are. God Himself is present. But you’re all off to California on Monday.” Elaine’s face roadmapped into a frown.

He shook his head. “This was super last-minute. We wanted to surprise Mallie. And her folks want to see Ella as an angel.”

Elaine nodded. Although the main pageant had been this evening, the children were re-performing without the animals at the Christmas morning carol sing. Excited prattle and clomping boots mixed throughout the big room.

Even with Bragg real at her side, Tiffany felt like a spectator watching a spirited melodrama. Although her heart swelled with happiness for those around her, she couldn’t quite hold off the pain for all she’d lost.

In addition to the surprises of the families coming to visit, Nick talked via Skype with Rachel and his baby boy. Rachel’s radiant face still glowed. For everybody at Hearts Crossing, love was complete.

Except for her. But God didn’t make mistakes. She chanted the reminder throughout her brain even as the threat of tears overtook her. Quickly she blinked them away.

Bragg rejoined her after helping with the Camerons’ bags, and she squeezed his hand. “What wonderful surprises. Did you know?”

“Nope. Hoop kept a pretty tight lip.”

“They’re so happy.”

“It’s going to be a great Christmas.” Bragg leaned close and dropped a kiss, quick but scrumptious, and his eyes glinted with manly longing.

“More dessert!” Elaine said loudly, herding everybody around the kitchen table, now overloaded with goodies that had taken her and Kelley days to make.

Then the chop of a helicopter clicked through the night.

“What the…?” Elaine’s mouth snapped shut.

Tiffany could understand. So far, it had been a night of nights. Each gift was as special as the one before.

Like the shepherds who likely swarmed the hills above Bethlehem at the angelic chorus, the Martins and all their guests dashed outside, most without pausing for jackets and gloves.

“Doyle,” Bragg yelled over the noisy machine swirling above in the cold air. “I recognize his ‘copter.”

“Bragg, what’s going on? Is everything OK?” Tiffany’s words puffed in the freezing air.

“I’d say so.” He held her tight and warm against his side. “All lines of communication are intact and roads open. I’d say we’re in for one more major surprise.”

At his words, Kelley’s face broke into a smirk of triumph. After the helicopter safely landed and the rotors halted, a group descended to the ground.

A group that had Tiffany pinching herself. No way could the scene be real. But the little boy screaming her name couldn’t be a figment of her imagination. Not with a God of love now on her side.

“Bragg, that’s Connor.” She couldn’t move. “Paul, and Diana, too. I don’t get it. I don’t…did you?”

He stood like stone, too. “No. I didn’t. Wish I had but…sorry.”

“Don’t you be sorry. This is a Christmas beyond any other. It’s a dream come to life! It’s God’s true design!”

She ran into Connor’s little arms.

“Aunty Tiffy, where did you be?”

Unable to speak and not knowing what words to use, anyway, she took tight hold of him as sobs overtook her. Behind then, she could hear Bragg’s boots slip-slide across the snowy yard to the ‘copter.

“Doyle.” Bragg managed. “What? How? Why?”

The rancher laughed deep down. “Aw, I took Joanne Hale over to Steamboat Springs to be with the reverend for Christmas Eve. Got wind that these fine folks wanted to cut short their ski trip. For a very good reason.”

“Mr. Calhoun, it’s Christmas Eve. You should be home.” Tiffany, barely finding breath, forced herself to her feet, before reaching for Connor. It was all she could think to say, with Paul hovering.

“Naw, naw. I’ll get back to the Hills in time for midnight candlelight service. I got time for a quick howdy for Elaine.”

With an encouraging squeeze of her shoulder, Bragg walked off with Doyle, leaving her with Paul and Diana.

“Paul? Di?” Finally able to halt the trembles that had nothing to do with the cold night, Tiffany beseeched them as her brother grabbed her tight. Diana stood back, and Tiffany remembered her thoughts of a few days ago, how wrong it was to judge and not forgive.

Paul pulled back and smiled at her in the ‘copter headlights. “Got a phone call from somebody named Kelley. I guess she called my boss, first.”

“What?” A spurt of something like awe rolled through her. Kelley? “Kelley? But why?”

Her brother took his little boy from her and they moved toward the house.

“Why? Mostly because…I miss you, Tiff. And I wronged you. Kelley was right to call.” Paul’s gaze dropped to his feet. “Well, I was missing you and something else. Diana and I, well, we’ve been working things out.” He waved his hand at his wife, and she stepped close to share an embrace with Tiffany.

Then Diana took her son. “I’ll go on ahead. Tiff, we’ll catch up later. I guess that’s Kelley waving over there at me.”

“I just…” Tiffany needed a chair. “You’re awfully chummy, it seems. Well, if you’re happy, that’s good then, I guess.”

“It is. I love her, Tiff. And it wasn’t her fault.”

“What wasn’t?”

Paul leaned down to give her cheek a kiss, then sighed, deep. “I’m as much to blame as she is. Our marriage was floundering. I told her to go to that reunion by herself. I pushed her away.”

“What about the biological father.”

“She contacted him, and he agreed to let us have Connor, no strings attached, if Diana kept quiet to his wife. Apparently they have five kids...”

Tiffany’s heart tugged. If only she’d done the right thing and talked to Diana way back when…been friend and sister, she might have been a help, not—

Paul interrupted her thoughts. “But no matter what really went down, I was wrong to cast you out, Tiff. I just wanted to blame everyone but myself. And Connor, well, he seriously needs you in his life. I do, too.”

Finally she found her voice. “There aren’t any real words to describe how happy I am. I have missed you with a pain I hope never to feel again. I’m so glad you’re standing at her side. But I still don’t understand…I mean…you could have just called.”

“No. I came here for Christmas. For you.” He paused a bit. “And for a job interview.

“A job interview? What? Here? You got laid off?” Would the knee-weakening sensations of the night ever end?

“Oh, no. Yesterday this Kelley Martin”—his eyes twinkled with reflected Christmas lights—“called me up and put me on to applying for a position as Doyle Calhoun’s publicist. And I can’t deny she told me a ton about you.” Shyness and regret husked his voice. “When I mentioned how weird Christmas would be without you, she and Doyle arranged the pick-up ride. Diana and I knew we’d just gone skiing to run away. And well, Connor’s nuts about ‘hairplanes’ and anything with rotors. How could I deny him?”

“Paul, Kelley. I just…”

“Come on.” He took her hand and pulled her toward the house. “And don’t you get mad at Kelley. She was right to do it. She loves you. Anyway, I got interviewed on the flight, and I’ve got the job. And…” He didn’t look at her directly for a second, but when he did, she saw a tear flicker. “Doyle’s got a small cabin on his ranch for us. For our new start.”

More than ever, Tiffany had the distinct notion she was stuck in a fiction story with an impossibly happy ending. The Last Real Rancher?

“Unbelievable. Doyle Calhoun, he’s your hero.”

“I know. I can hardly believe it. I’ll get to live the dream.”

“I’m so happy for you, but don’t you have other clients?”

“Yeah. The producers of the show don’t have a lot of money for public relations. Part of the gig on the ranch is free rent. And my boss said I can telecommute and pop in the office a few times a month. Diana and I are really looking forward to a…change of pace. Mostly though, I won’t be far from you. That is, if you’re staying in these parts. Kelley seemed to think…”

Tiffany blushed and pointed to Bragg through the big window. As her heart pulsed with joy, he stood silhouetted by the Christmas tree in another perfect moment. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be staying. But…” She trembled at God’s goodness. Everything sounded too good to be true, but there was one major player nowhere near. The architect of it all. “But there’s our stepmom. Where is she?”

“Back home.” Paul’s jaw tightened. “She’s not a skier, as you likely recall. And she’s had a new load of health issues. But…we’re all trying to work things out. After all, our dad loved her.” His gold-flecked eyes implored her. “She needs you to forgive her, Tiffany. And I do, too. To forgive me, I mean.”

The heaviness of the moment and the burden across her shoulders drizzled into the wind. “Oh, Paul. Of course.” She hugged him tight. “You’re my brother. And our mom, well…”

“I was thinking.” Paul said, slow, not looking at her. “I was thinking. Maybe you wouldn’t mind, us calling her and wishing her merry Christmas.”

Tiffany’s heart soared. “Yeah. But let’s do her even better. Let’s tell her to come to Hearts Crossing for Christmas dinner.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure. It’s not a bad drive, and I know Elaine, Kelley’s mom, will love the idea. She’s been rooting for this reunion for days. And me, I’ll welcome her back. Because I think it won’t be too long before she needs to give a certain kind of permission. Not quite yet, mind you, but likely sometime in the coming year.” Eager for Bragg’s strength, she glanced at him again as she and her brother stomped up the steps. By now, she was shivering from the weather and too many emotions to count.

Paul squinted through the window. Obviously he wasn’t wearing his contacts, him and his no-glasses vanity. She grinned. Paul, Paul…here at last.

“Guess I better get inside and meet him,” he said. “Well, from what I know, these are good people.”

“That they are, Paul. That they are. You’re going to love everybody. His name is Bragg, and by now, his ma will have beds made up for this entire crowd. There’s still supper on, too.”

Bragg stood in the front doorway, proud, stalwart like some famous lawman or cattle baron of old.

After endless introductions, Tiffany accused but in a most delightful way. “Did you play a part in this?”

“I honestly did not.” He grinned, the half-lidded one that so far had always hitched her breath. “But Kelley’s pleased as punch. Don’t fault her for being a busybody.”

“Fault her? She saved me.” Catching Kelley’s eye, Tiffany waved and blew a kiss. In a bit, she’d make her way through the throng for a real thank-you. Her gaze landed on the Hummel nativity scene on the mantle. “I mean, she and Somebody else, of course. Now, if I could just spread the Word.”

Paul and his family busily conversed with Elaine and Kelley.

“Well, it’ll happen. Paul isn’t going anywhere, far as I’ve learned.” Bragg pulled her behind the big Christmas tree, and pulled a package from a branch. She chuckled. Of course, it would be…a knight on a white horse.

But the wrappings gave way to a statuette of a cowboy on a horse that looked just like Winchester.

She burst into laughter. “I love it. It’ll have the place of honor everywhere I lay my head.”

“Well, after you went on about White Christmas, I went on the hunt for a knight. But I happened to see this in the catalog Ma orders from for the gift shop. Took a lot of wangling and wheeling and dealing to get it here in time. And I hope”—Bragg’s voice turned breathlessly shy—“I mean, if I’m not too forward, I hope it’ll happen.”

“What?” Her anticipation emptied her lungs of air.

His eyes sparkled, from the lights, and something else that she saw right away. “That my head is always the one laying next to yours.”

She batted her eyelashes. “Is that an indecent proposal, Mr. Martin?”

“Not on your life.” His cheekbones colored. “I guess it means…I think I love you.”

“You only think it?” She couldn’t help the tease even though she felt it, too.

Pulling her close, he mumbled into the top of her head. “I don’t expect it to take too long before I know for sure.”

“Me either.”