Christmas On The Ranch: The Rancher's Christmas Baby / Christmas Eve Cowboy

While he worked, Fawn spoke softly to the cow, patting the animal as if it was a pet. Dixon didn’t recognize any of the words she used, the language unlike any he’d heard. As swiftly as possible, he molded the self-adhering mesh around the wounded limb. To his surprise, the heifer barely moved. He glanced at the head of the stall to find Fawn feeding the cow from her hand.

“What are you giving her?”

“Crackers. Cows like them because they’re salty.”

“Obviously. She’s not been eating. I’ve been trying to tempt her with sugar, but she’s not been cooperating.”

“She’ll eat now,” Fawn said, lengthening the halter rope. As he finished off the bandage, she crumbled crackers into the feedbox. When he went to add more grain, the cow already had her nose buried deep in the box, her tail swishing happily.

Dixon took the hobble and let both himself and Fawn out of the stall. “Where’d you learn about cows?”

“My grandmother has a milk cow. And chickens and rabbits. How come you don’t have chickens?”

“Too much trouble. With the cattle and horses, I have my hands full.”

“You have a good place for a chicken coop,” she said. Then, abruptly, she asked, “Why do you have three horses when you can only ride one?”

“The two geldings, Phantom and Jag, are cutting horses, very useful on a ranch. The stallion, Romeo, is a moneymaker, or will be once he’s trained and shown.”

She tilted her head, a sign, he had come to realize, that she was thinking. “Do you always name your horses after expensive automobiles?”

Dixon chuckled. She was quick. “Caught that, did you?” He moved to Romeo’s stall and hung his forearms on the top rung.

“Rolls Royce Phantom, Jaguar and Alfa Romeo.”

He nodded. “Yep. The point is, I’d rather have these guys than those cars.”

Laughing, she said, “Clever and appropriate.”

“I thought so.” He cut her a curious look. “What was that you were speaking earlier? It wasn’t English.”

“Well, it’s primarily Unami. Some call it Lenape, though that word means man or people. My mother was almost full-blood Leni-Lenape, what you would call Delaware Indian.”

“Then you’re Native American.”

She smiled. “Mostly.”

“No wonder you’re so beautiful.” She looked as shocked as he felt, the words slipping out completely unintended. “I mean, no wonder your hair and eyes are so black and your skin is so...smooth.”

Her “Thank you” came out in a strangled voice, but then she quickly said, “I’d better get back to the house.”

Dixon muttered, “Gonna work the horses.”

She hurried away, and when he finished mentally kicking himself, he determined to do his very best to keep his distance.

He put his hand in his coat pocket and felt the half-filled baggie there.

Clearly the woman was dangerous to his good sense. If nothing else.

Chapter Five (#ue7056940-6668-57ed-a224-d6854caee1d9)

No wonder you’re so beautiful.

Those unexpected words haunted Fawn—and apparently drove Dixon away, because she saw him only at breakfast and dinner for the rest of the week. With the baby, he made faces and silly noises, perfectly pleasant, but he ignored Fawn and Jackie. He did, however, eat and eat plenty. Once, Fawn asked how the cow was doing.

“Getting along,” he muttered, not even looking up.

She didn’t ask again.

By Friday, the pantry and the baby were nearly bare, so Fawn did what her grandmother had taught her to do: she took stock, devised a menu, made a list, estimated the cost of every item and counted out the cash. What little disability and survivor’s Social Security Jackie and Bella drew monthly was currently entrusted to Fawn’s care, and she was careful not to pay her own expenses from it. The shopping list and the cash she left on the breakfast table next to Dixon’s plate. When he came in to eat, he couldn’t help seeing it, and he wasn’t happy.

“You sure make yourself at home, don’t you? Guess you think you’re just going to take over around here.”

Stung, she turned her back to him and began scrubbing the countertop. “Actually I think I’m going to clean the kitchen.”

Jackie shuffled in a few moments later, the fussy baby in her arms. Fawn began rinsing and drying her hands.

“Someone woke up early,” Dixon commented, sounding pleased.

“Rather, she slept late,” Jackie corrected, yawning. “She slept through until just now.”

“I have a bottle ready for her,” Fawn said, coming to take the baby so Jackie could sit down. “Did you change her?”

“I did. We’re running low on diapers, by the way.”

Fawn said nothing to that. She could always take Bella to town with her and do the shopping, but she hated to leave Jackie alone. It had been too long since Jackie had seen a doctor, another matter Fawn needed to take up with Dixon soon. Feeding Bella took precedence, however. She picked up the waiting bottle and slipped the nipple between the baby’s quivering lips.

“I think it’s warmer in the living room,” Jackie murmured, but before she could turn away, Fawn stopped her.

“Sit down and eat while your breakfast is still hot.” She carried the baby back to Jackie and waited for the older woman to take a seat at the table before handing the infant to her. Jackie cuddled her daughter close while Fawn quickly removed Jackie’s breakfast from the warming oven. She placed the food on the table and took Bella back.

“This looks good,” Jackie said, picking up her spoon and casting a careful glance at her son.

“It is,” Dixon confirmed, surprising Fawn with the compliment.

No wonder you’re so beautiful.

Flustered and confused, given his combativeness that morning, Fawn turned away, gently rocking the baby, who finished the bottle in record time. Fawn lifted Bella to her shoulder, got the expected hearty burp and tucked the little one onto her hip while she continued wiping down the counters.

“You seem to have ample experience with infants,” Dixon commented after a few minutes.

The words flowed over Fawn in a series of tiny shocks, but she neither turned nor flinched.

“I started babysitting when I was eleven. Besides, Lenape women are raised to multitask.”

“I thought Lenape meant man.”

“Or people,” Fawn reminded him.